Baseball's Puerto Rican All-Time Dream Team

Roberto Clemente is obvious. But who else should be included on an all-time dream team for players born in Puerto Rico?

Issue #28

Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 to 1972, winning four batting titles, 12 Gold Gloves, two World Series, and an MVP award. It was 50 years ago that Clemente died at the age of 38 in a plane crash shortly after takeoff, while attempting to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua on New Year’s Eve in 1972.

Today is Roberto Clemente Day. Always held in September, it was first observed in 2002. But last season MLB set September 15 as the official annual date of Roberto Clemente Day to coincide with the start of Hispanic Heritage Month in the United States.

Clemente was born in Puerto Rico on August 18, 1934. Who besides Clemente would make an all-time dream team for players born in Puerto Rico? Here is what I’ve come up with:

Again, this roster includes players who were born in Puerto Rico. I emphasize that because Mike Lowell was born in Puerto Rico, but according to his Wikipedia page identifies as Cuban-America since his parents were born in Cuba and he left Puerto Rico at the age of four. Similarly, Roberto Hernández was born in Puerto Rico, but was in New York by the age of two. And Javier López was born in Puerto Rico, but grew up in Fairfax, Virginia.

On the other hand, Mariners great Edgar Martinez was born in New York, but grew up in Puerto Rico. His parents were Puerto Rican, but divorced when Edgar was only two years old, at which time he was taken in by his grandparents in Dorado, PR. His hitting accomplishments would clearly be strong enough to make this roster, but my criteria was where each player was born, not where they were raised.

As a result, this roster includes four Hall of Famers in Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Alomar, and Ivan Rodriguez. Relatively speaking, I’d say this dream team is strongest at catcher with Rodriguez, Posada, and Molina. Rodriguez is the clear #1, though you could debate how to rank Posada (stronger offense) and Molina (stronger defense).

On the other hand, the starting pitching corps is relatively weak for such an all-time dream team. Beyond Vazquez, Pizzaro, and Figueroa at the top, you could certainly debate the order for the others that I’ve included here.

For relievers, there are three solid closers, two long-time relievers, and the Mets lefty specialist Pedro Feliciano, who led the NL in games pitched each year from 2008-2010, while averaging less than an inning per appearance.

Here are some possible lineups:

Against RHP:

1. Roberto Alomar 2B (S)

2. Francisco Lindor SS (S)

3. Roberto Clemente RF (R)

4. Carlos Beltrán CF (S)

5. Carlos Delgado 1B (L)

6. Juan González DH (R)

7. José Cruz LF (L)

8. Iván Rodríguez C (R)

9. Mike Lowell 3B (R)

Against LHP:

1. Roberto Alomar 2B (S)

2. Carlos Correa SS (R)

3. Roberto Clemente RF (R)

4. Juan González LF (R)

5. Orlando Cepeda 1B (R)

6. Danny Tartabull DH (R)

7. Bernie Williams CF (S)

8. Iván Rodríguez C (R)

9. Mike Lowell 3B (R)

There were several platoon possibilities with these lineups. Both Beltrán and Williams were switch-hitters, with Beltran having even splits, and Williams hitting somewhat better against lefties. Cruz hit RHP much better than LHP, so I platooned Gonzalez with him in LF. Correa and the switch-hitting Lindor can form a platoon at SS, and Cepeda and Delgado are a natural platoon at 1B.

Amongst position players, several others deserve honorable, starting with three more catchers: Javy López, Benito Santiago, and Sandy Alomar Jr.. Others include Vic Power, Sixto Lezcano, José Vidro, and active players Eddie Rosario and Kiké Hernández.