Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Which players made the starting lineup of our All-Mexico Team?

On Friday night, the Dodgers and Padres will begin a three-game set in Monterrey, Mexico, the first regular-season game to be played south of the border since 1999.
Of course, Major League games or not, Mexico has always had a big impact on baseball history. The country has produced some of MLB's most iconic names, past or present -- enough to make a pretty great lineup out of them, in fact. 
C: Alex Treviño
That tilde up there was important: At every stop in his 13-year Major League career, Treviño insisted that it be sewn onto his uniform -- just like Minnie Miñoso before him.
Not that Treviño had much trouble making a name for himself. He was a true Renaissance man, playing every position but shortstop and center field. He was most often found at catcher, though, where he logged quality seasons for the Mets, Reds, Dodgers and Astros -- while not taking any nonsense from the San Diego Chicken:

1B: Adrián González

Gonzalez was born in San Diego, but both of his parents hailed from Mexico, and he spent his childhood in Tijuana before returning to California for high school. ("I'm Mexican and I'm American," he told the L.A. Times back in 2013.)
Speaking of high school: Gonzalez batted .654 in his senior year, becoming one of the most prized hitting prospects ever in the process. In 2000, he became the first prep position player to go No. 1 overall since A-Rod, and he developed into one of the most consistent stars of his generation -- posting an OPS+ of 125 or higher in every season from 2006 to 2015.
2B: Bobby Avila

Whereas most of the Mexican Major Leaguers that came before him had grown up at least partially in Southern California, Avila was born and raised in Veracruz. And he was good: He became the first Latin player to win a batting title in 1954, beating out Ted Williams and Miñoso at .341 -- despite playing with a broken thumb for most of the year. His Indians went on to face Willie Mays and the Giants in the World Series, marking just the third time that a Fall Classic featured each league's batting champion (and inspiring the picture above).
He finished third in AL MVP voting that season, and went on to make three All-Star teams in his 10 years with the Indians.
SS: Aurelio Rodriguez
Rodriguez broke into the Major Leagues at just 19 years old, and while he was never much of a threat with the bat, he developed a reputation as one of the surest third basemen around. He spent nine of his 17 big league seasons in Detroit, where he won the Gold Glove Award in 1976 -- the first time anyone had beaten out Brooks Robinson since 1959. But he also played shortstop in a pinch, and with a glove like that, we're confident he can handle it.
But enough about that: Let's talk about how he boasted one of baseball's most historically underappreciated mustaches.

3B: Vinny Castilla

Castilla began his Major League career as a Brave, but he became famous with the Rockies, who selected him in the 1992 Expansion Draft. It was a pretty good decision: Over seven seasons in Colorado, Castilla averaged 29 homers a year, making two All-Star teams. And when the Rockies opened the 1999 season in Monterrey, he celebrated his homecoming by going 4-for-5.
LF: Hector Espino

First, we should note that Espino never played a game in the Major Leagues. Not because he couldn't, mind you: After becoming a star in the Mexican League, a 24-year-old Espino was invited to the Cardinals' Triple-A affiliate, where he hit .300/.388/.450 in 32 games ... before promptly heading home, deciding that he liked playing in his home country instead. 
He went on to become the Babe Ruth of Mexico, setting countless records -- including the all-time North American Minor League home run mark of 484, which still stands to this day. 
CF: Mel Almada

Almada wasn't the best Mexican Major Leaguer of all-time: He slugged just .367 over parts of seven big league seasons, never posting an OPS+ higher than 91. But he was the first, making his debut with the Red Sox all the way back on Sept. 8, 1933.
It made him a hero in his native country, where he returned that offseason to play a series of promotional exhibition games. "[His] visit undoubtedly will result in a better kind of baseball being played in this country and a better knowledge of the game by the Mexican players," the Sporting News wrote at the time.
But it also wasn't the only bit of baseball history Almada can claim: He was also the last batter to get a hit off of Babe Ruth.
RF: Jorge Orta
Orta was a very solid player, making two All-Star teams and hitting .278/.334/.412 over 16 seasons spent mostly with the White Sox and Royals. He was never the greatest fielder, but he was a consistently good hitter, putting up double-digit homers seven times in the pitcher-friendly 1970s (and even posting a six-hit game in 1980 with Kansas City).
If you've heard the name Jorge Orta, though, chances are it's because of one play: He was the runner that Don Denkinger called safe at first in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series:

DH: Erubiel Durazo
Durazo only averaged 89 games a year over his seven big league seasons. But what he did, he did really well: Durazo absolutely mashed, especially against righties, retiring with a career 123 OPS+. He was a big part of the 2001 World Series champion D-backs, for which a field at Arizona's Spring Training complex now bears his name:

SP: Fernando Valenzuela
No list like this would be complete without the man synonymous with Mexican baseball. All these years later, Fernandomania is still just jaw-dropping: Five of Valenzuela's first seven starts as a rookie in 1981 were shutouts, three of which featured double-digit K's. He ended the year with a whopping 11 complete games, a 2.48 ERA and the NL Cy Young and Rookie of the Year Awards.
Of course, Valenzuela was much more than a pitcher -- he became a cultural icon, a phenomenon and inspiration to L.A.'s Mexican fans:

(If you wanted to build a full All-Mexico rotation, Teddy Higuera, Esteban Loaiza, Marco Estrada and Yovani Gallardo isn't too shabby.)
Closer: Roberto Osuna
It seems like just yesterday the baseball world was being introduced to Osuna, carving teams up in his first postseason at age 20. He's 23 now, but his stuff is as nasty as ever: So far this season, he's posted a 2.02 ERA with 11 K's in 13 1/3 innings and eight saves, and he became the youngest closer in history to reach the 100 saves plateau.

BarberJordan
beephero
AP_702417634020
NYC
seductrice.net
universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
prowp.net
webmanicura.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
kftz5k.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
casino-natali.com
iprofit-internet.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
healthandfitnesslives.com
androidnews-jp.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
britsmile.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
rajasthancarservices.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
hemendekor.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com