Hispanic Heritage

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Hispanic Heritage

The players for the Detroit Tigers are from many countries, united by a passion for baseball. For decades, baseball marveled at the skills and talent of players from Latin American countries, but systematically barred them from participation. When Ozzie Virgil stepped on the field at Briggs Stadium in 1958, the Tigers took the first step in becoming a global team. Thanks to talented, proud men, the impact of Latino players on Tigers baseball history is significant.

HISPANIC TIGERS PLAYERS IN THE NEWS

Avila receives Heart and Hustle Award
Tigers All-Star catcher Alex Avila was honored with the MLB Players Association's Heart and Hustle Award, presented annually to one player from each big league team who demonstrates a passion for the game of baseball and best embodies the values, spirit and tradition of the game. Full story »

Ex-Tiger Guillermo Hernandez honored
The Tigers brought back Hernandez to honor him at Comerica Park as part of their 2011 Fiesta Tigres celebration. Full story »

Valverde: Part showman, part shutdown
Jose Valverde has a personality larger than life. He also has a life larger than one personality. Full story »

OTHER STORIES:
Ordoñez part of great Venezuelan talent »
Guillen found challenge in learning English »
Santiago's long journey to big league ball »

PAST NEWS & EVENTS

Magglio picks up 2,000th career hit
Magglio Ordoñez became the sixth Venezuelan-born player to reach 2,000 career hits on April 29th. Full story » I Video »

OTHER STORIES:

VIDEO

Miguel Cabrera's Milestone Game
7/22/12: Miguel Cabrera blasts two homers in a win over the White Sox, the second of which marks the 300th home run of his 10-year career. Watch »

Miguel Cabrera Walk-off HR
9/13/11: Miguel Cabrera crushes a towering walk-off home run to deep left field, giving the Tigers a 9-8 win in the ninth inning. Watch »

Ramon Santiago Walk-off HR
8/30/11: Ramon Santiago hits the game winner in the 10th inning to get the Tigers by the Royals, 2-1. Watch »

2009 World Baseball Classic »

Ordoñez hits two HRs in an inning on August 12, 2007 »

Ordoñez' pennant winning HR October 2006 »

Cabrera's walk-off HR June 12, 2007 »

Polanco's 5-for-5 night in Anaheim, 2007 »

Tiger Carlos Guillen hits for the cycle August 1, 2006 »

PHOTO GALLERIES

2012 ¡Fiesta Tigres!
Tigers players and fans enjoy this annual celebration of hispanic heritage at Comerica Park.
Launch Gallery »

PAST TIGERS PLAYERS

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

OZZIE VIRGIL
The first Tigers player from a Spanish-speaking country, Ozzie Virgil made an immediate impact, going 5-for-5 in his Briggs Stadium debut.

MEXICO

HANK AGUIRRE
Hank Aguirre's Tigers career included an All-Star appearance and league ERA title in 1962, but his establishment of Mexican Industries in Southwest Detroit made him a civic leader in the City. Aguirre's company provided employment for over 900 people for over two decades.

MEXICO

AURELIO RODRIGUEZ
The sure-handed Rodriguez anchored the left side of the Tigers infield throughout the 1970's. Rodriguez led the American League in fielding percentage twice and won a gold glove in 1976.

PANAMA

JUAN BERENGUER
The right-handed pitcher from Panama won 25 games for the Tigers during his four-year stint in Detroit. His best year was the World Championship year of 1984 when he went 11-10 with a 3.48 ERA.

MEXICO

AURELIO LOPEZ
A member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame, Señor Smoke was a fixture in the Tigers bullpen from 1979 to 1985. In 1984, Lopez posted a 10-1 record for the World Champion Detroit Tigers.

PUERTO RICO

GUILLERMO HERNANDEZ
Arriving in Detroit shortly before the start of the 1984 season, Guillermo Hernandez was a dominant closer for the Tigers. With 32 saves and a 1.94 ERA, Hernandez won the 1984 Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards.

PAST TIGERS PLAYERS

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Luis de los Santos -- 1991
Fausto Cruz -- 1996
Rudy Pemberton -- 1995
Jose Capellan -- 2007
Luis Garcia -- 1999
Ramon Peña -- 1989
Marino Santana -- 1998
Eulogio De La Cruz -- 2007
Francis Beltran -- 2008
Mel Rojas -- 1999
Pedro Santana -- 2001

Deivi Cruz -- 1997-2001
Juan Encarnacion -- 1997-2001
Carlos Peña -- 2002-2005
Luis Polonia -- 1999-2000
Danny Bautista -- 1993-1996
Juan Samuel -- 1994-1995
Franklyn German -- 2002-2005
Jose Lima -- 1994-2002
Junior Felix -- 1994
Alexis Gomez -- 2005-2006
Alejandro Sanchez -- 1985
Esteban Yan -- 2004
Nelson Cruz -- 1999-2000
Neifi Perez -- 2006-2007
Fernando Hernandez -- 1997
Beiker Graterol -- 1999
Geronimo Berroa -- 1998
Andujar Cedeño -- 1996
Wilson Betemit -- 2011
Luis Marte -- 2011-

Jose Paniagua -- 2002
Julio Santana -- 2002
Elias Sosa -- 1982
Victor Santos -- 2001
Roman Colon -- 2005-2006
Roberto Duran -- 1997-1998
Timo Perez -- 2007
Jose Bautista -- 1997
Francisco Cordero -- 1999
Denny Bautista -- 2008
Jose Mesa -- 2007
Roberto Novoa -- 2004
Luis Piñeda -- 2001
Willis Roberts -- 1999
Aquilino Lopez -- 2007-2008
Freddy Dolsi -- 2008
Placido Polanco -- 2006-2009
Fernando Rodney -- 2002-2009
Jose Valverde -- 2010-2012

MEXICO

Aurelio Rodriguez -- 1971-1979
Aurelio Lopez -- 1979-1985
Karim Garcia -- 1999-2000
Gabe Alvarez -- 1998-2000
Juan Acevedo -- 2002
Sid Monge -- 1984
Joel Zumaya -- 2010
Gerald Laird -- 2009-2010, 2012

PUERTO RICO

Edwin Nuñez -- 1989-1990
Omar Olivares -- 1996-1997
Luis Alvarado -- 1977

Guillermo Hernandez -- 1984-1989
Melvin Nieves -- 1996-1997
Raul Casanova -- 1996-1998
Jerry Morales -- 1979
Juan Gonzalez -- 2000
Andres Torres -- 2002-2004
Pedro Garcia -- 1976
Javier Cardona -- 2000-2001
Ruben Sierra -- 1996

Mike Rivera -- 2001-2002
Julio Navarro -- 1964-1966
Hiram Bocachica -- 2002-2003
Ed Romero -- 1990
Julio Gonzalez -- 1983
Orlando Mercado -- 1987
Ivan deJesus -- 1988
Tony Bernazard -- 1991
Ivan Rodríguez -- 2004-2008

Colombia

Edgar Renteria -- 2008

VENEZUELA

Omar Infante -- 2002-2007
Cesar Gutierrez -- 1969-1971
Roger Cedeño -- 2001
Luis Salazar -- 1988
Wilfredo Ledezma -- 2003-2007
Felipe Lira -- 1995-1999
Lino Urdaneta -- 2004
Ugueth Urbina -- 2004-2005
Al Pedrique -- 1989

Oscar Henriquez -- 2002
Johnny Paredes -- 1990-1991
Yorman Bazardo -- 2007-2008
Urbano Lugo -- 1990
Oscar Salazar -- 2002
Juan Rincon -- 2009
Enrique Gonzalez -- 2010
Armando Galarraga -- 2008-2010
Magglio Ordoñez -- 2005-11
Carlos Guillen -- 2004-2011

CUBA

Chico Fernandez -- 1960-1963
Tony Taylor -- 1971-1973
Barbaro Garbey -- 1984-1985
Alex Sanchez -- 2003-2004
Tito Fuentes -- 1977

Orlando Peña -- 1965-1967
Sandy Amoros -- 1960
Orlando McFarlane -- 1966
Manny Montejo -- 1961
Ossie Alvarez -- 1959

PANAMA

Juan Berenguer -- 1982-1985
Ben Oglivie -- 1974-1977
Jose Macias -- 1999-2002
Orlando Miller -- 1997

CURRENT TIGERS PLAYERS

Al Alburquerque
Bio »
Alex Avila
Bio »
Rafael Belliard
Bio »
Joaquin Benoit
Bio »
Miguel Cabrera
Bio »
Octavio Dotel
Bio »
Avisail Garcia
Bio »
Omar Infante
Bio »
Victor Martinez
Bio »
Luis Marte
Bio »
Brayan Pena
Bio »
Jhonny Peralta
Bio »
Ramon Santiago
Bio »
Anibal Sanchez
Bio »
Brayan Villarreal
Bio »

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