There have been numerous famous Dominican baseball players since the ground-breaking time of 'Ozzie' Virgil. The sport has for many years inspired the hearts of most young Dominicans who dream of one day joining the 'Hall of Fame' and perhaps making their own contribution to the improvement of their homeland like so many players have already done.
Here is a brief summary of just some of the noted Dominican baseball players... (be sure to let us know if we have missed anyone who really ought to be listed, and we will try to add them to the list as soon as we can!)
Famous baseball, or as the Dominicans call it 'beisbol', players from the DR include:
Latterly amongst the biggest names of famous Dominican baseball player has been Sammy Sosa. One of seven children from a very poor family, Sosa 'shined shoes' as a youngster for a few pesos, to help the family before almost drifting into baseball at 14 years of age - having given up 'boxing' to please his mother.
His potential was soon spotted and he joined the Texas Rangers as soon as he legally could at the age of 16 in 1985. He reached the peak of his performance in 1998 when he was rated the US National Leagues Most Valuable Player. He then had several years of exceptional performance.
In more recent seasons he has experienced injuries and other problems as is wont to happen, later in a career. Some now suspect that he has passed his prime as a player. However he too will most likely enter the Baseball Hall of Fame - in 2011 when he will become eligible to be 'voted in' - for he has surely been one of the most successful and best known famous Dominican baseball players of all time.
Players like these keep the dream alive for the young sons of almost all Dominican families who eagerly bat the ball all over the training grounds in the Dominican Republic every year, hoping that the scouts from the big American Major League teams will spot their potential. What is certain there will always be more famous Dominican baseball players in the making!
(NOTE: Be sure to check out our Dominican Republic Baseball article specially written for us by former US Major League player, Bill Bathe.)