On the old electronic board of the Hiram Bithorn Stadium, before it was called Stadium, when they wanted to project the name of Ruben Gomez, They simply read 22222222, in honor of the legendary number 22.
And when they wanted to announce Santiago toothpickThey just put IIIIIIIII.
Anyway, this Sunday, if they wanted to maintain that tradition in Fenway Park, the blackboard would also be filled with ‘chopsticks’, IIIIIIIII.
Indeed, José Rafael ‘Palillo’ Santiago, the legendary Puerto Rican pitcher, has been exalted to so many pavilions of fame that at some point he may lose count.
“The one from Puerto Rico, the one from Juana Díaz, the one from Carolina,” began Santiago, who had an outstanding career as a pitcher in the Major Leagues, shortened by injury, and a long history in Puerto Rican winter baseball, as a player – mainly with the disappeared Senators of San Juan-, leader, ‘coach’ and, in recent times, as a prominent baseball commentator and narrator.
In the United States, however, people tend to associate him with the Boston Red Sox, a team with which he had his best seasons and with which, in a memorable feat, he opened two games in the 1967 World Series against the Cardinals of San Luis, including the first, in which they lost 2-1 to Bob Gibson, who produced the only run with a home run.
Therefore, it is logical that this Sunday, September 19, when he obtains one more award, the ceremony will take place at Fenway Park.
This day, before the game between the Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles scheduled to begin at 1:10 pm, Palillo will be recognized by the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum, San Francisco, for his performances as a Hispanic American player, both inside and outside. of the field of play.
“Every year they recognize several Latino players,” said Palillo, who has a family in Boston, where he has been with his wife, Edna, for more than a month.
“About a week ago they were in Cleveland, and they recognized Santos Alomar (Jr.), Carlos Baerga and Candido Maldonado, because they always want to do it in a city where they have played ”.
“They told me that I could take as many people as I wanted to this activity, so I will be with my wife, my children, and many friends from Boston, Connecticut and who will come from Puerto Rico,” he added. Santiago, who started with the Kansas City Athletics in 1963 in the majors, but had his best seasons with Boston in 1966 (12-13 and 3.68 ERA), 1967 (12-4 and 3.59) and 1968 (9-4). and 2.25), the year he was injured mid-season.
“Although if the ceremony is going to be on the ground, for security reasons due to the covid I do not think they will let all those people down … maybe my wife and my children.”
“It is assumed that (the leader) Alex Cora He handed me the plaque or the trophy but I don’t think I would be allowed to have contact with the players, although I would like Kike Hernández, Christian Vázquez, Jack López and (the ‘coach’) Ramón Vázquez, all Puerto Ricans to be with me ”.
“But whatever it is, it is a great honor, both for me and for Juana Díaz, where I am from, from Carolina, my adopted town, and my family,” he said.
“It is good that they do these recognitions while you are alive, when you can enjoy them with your friends and family.”
The author was part of the sports writing of El Nuevo Día from 1981 to 2008 and is the author of Saint-Titus, on the career of Tito Trinidad and the novel The last kamikaze, winner of the contest of the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture in 2016.
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