La Vida Latino Legends: Pan-American

With the World Baseball Classic in full swing, inevitable arguments began in the La Vida newsroom as to who the all-time legends are in each country.

To settle these arguments–and probably start some new ones–we’ve asked some of our favorite writers to give us their picks for five countries (Dominican Republic, Cuba, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela), plus a special Pan-American team with players from Nicaragua, Panama and elsewhere.

Tell us who we missed or who you would add on Twitter using the hashtag #LaVidaLegends or leave us a comment below.

By Nick Diunte

A number of countries in the World Baseball Classic boast a rich enough historical talent base to make up multiple “dream teams.” There are nations, however, that may not have the firepower to match heavyweights such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic but have still yielded perennial All-Stars and Hall of Famers who simply can’t be ignored. This fantasy team, culled from throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, has a formidable lineup loaded with enough power and speed that, if given the opportunity to get the ball to the greatest closer ever, could pull off an upset for the ages.

C Manny Sanguillén
Born March 21, 1944 in Colón, Panama
A wonderful bad-ball hitter, Sanguillén hit .296 overall, ranking 10th all-time among catchers. With the Pittsburgh Pirates, he won two World Series and was a three-time All-Star. Grief-stricken by the loss of his close friend Roberto Clemente, Sanguillén swam for days off the beaches in Puerto Rico in search of his teammate.

1B Rod Carew
Born October 1, 1945 in Gatun, Panama
The first Latino inducted into the HOF on his first ballot, Carew amassed 3,053 hits and averaged .328 in 19 seasons with the Minnesota Twins and California Angels. His 1967 Rookie of the Year campaign foreshadowed his legendary career. He led the American League in batting seven times, featuring an eye-popping .388 in his 1977 MVP season.

2B Orlando Cabrera
Born November 2, 1974 in Cartagena, Colombia
Primarily a shortstop in his 15 seasons, Cabrera spent time at the keystone sack during the bookends of his career. Cabrera won two Gold Gloves, brought home a World Series ring in 2004 with the Boston Red Sox and rapped out an impressive 2,055 hits.

SS Edgar Rentería
Born August 7, 1976 in Barranquilla, Colombia
He played to the moment. Rentería will forever be a hero in Florida, as his walk-off single in Game 7 of the 1997 World Series gave the Marlins their first championship. He stepped up again in 2010, leading the San Francisco Giants to the title with a true MVP performance, batting .412 with two home runs and six RBI in five games.

3B Clyde Parris
Born September 11, 1922 in Panama, Panama
Nicknamed “The Dude,” Parris started his career in the Negro Leagues in 1946 and five years later signed with the Dodgers. He wasted no time displaying his talents, winning two minor-league batting titles while besting many future diamond stars. He never got to the Big Show, but averaged .296 over 10 Minor League seasons.

LF Carlos “El Caballo” Lee
Born June 20, 1976 in Aguadulce, Panama
@Carlos45Lee
Although caballo means ‘horse’ in Spanish, the nickname loosely translates to “The Stud” or “The Man.” Lee earned that moniker with his powerful blasts, sending 358 balls into orbit over 14 seasons. For 11 years, from 2000 to 2010, he was the model of consistency, hitting 20-plus home runs each year ̶ a streak matched only by A-Rod. Lee also earned three straight All-Star selections and two Silver Slugger awards.

CF Andruw Jones
Born April 23, 1977 in Willemstad, Curacao
At 19, Jones became the youngest player to homer in a World Series game, hitting one off Andy Pettitte in 1996’s Game 1. A true savant, Jones was reminiscent of a young Willie Mays with his shallow depth, raw speed and tremendous power. He finished with 434 home runs and 10 Gold Gloves, but will he join Mays in Cooperstown?

RF Chili Davis
January 17, 1960 in Kingston, Jamaica
Arguably Kingston’s finest, Davis was the first Jamaican to play in the major leagues. Besieged by leg injuries halfway through his career, his bat made him a coveted DH. He hit 350 home runs and served as an important piece on three championship teams: the Minnesota Twins in 1991, and the New York Yankees in 1998 and 1999.

DH Ben Oglivie
Born February 11, 1949 in Colón, Panama
A three-time All-Star, Oglivie enjoyed a career year in 1980 when he led the American League with 41 home runs. A versatile outfielder who played all three positions, as well as first base, Oglivie’s powerful left-handed bat made him a threat every time he stepped to the plate.

SP Dennis “El Presidente” Martínez
Born May 14, 1954 in Granada, Nicaragua
The righty Martínez is the all-time leader among Latinos with 245 career wins. He triumphantly overcame a bout with alcoholism midway through his career to pitch a perfect game with the Montreal Expos in 1991. A tribute to his recovery was his longevity; he pitched 23 seasons, the last one coming at the age of 44.

SP Vicente Padilla
Born September 27, 1977 in Chinandega, Nicaragua
An All-Star in 2002, Padilla amassed 108 wins in 14 seasons as both a starter and reliever. His trademark pitch was his slow curveball, which clocked in at barely 60 miles per hour, making even the toughest of major-league hitters look foolish at the plate.

RP Mariano Rivera
Born November 29, 1969 in Panama, Panama
@MarianoRivera
The best closer in history, Rivera had a vicious cutter that sawed off many bats en route to an MLB-record 652 saves and a 2.21 ERA over 19 seasons. But that paled next to his playoff effectiveness. In 32 postseason series, he posted 42 saves and a 0.70 ERA. If his name is called for the 2019 HOF induction, he may well be the first unanimous selection.

MANAGER Roberto Kelly
Born October 1, 1964 in Panama, Panama
A career .290 hitter, Kelly may not be happy about taking a back seat to Andruw Jones on this team. But he has earned his spurs in the dugout. He helped guide the San Francisco Giants to three World Series titles as a base coach and, before that, led the Augusta GreenJackets to consecutive Sally League half-season division titles as manager.