Dozens of Dominican flags colored Cooperstown (New York, USA) this Sunday and celebrated an unforgettable day for former baseball player David Ortiz, a three-time Major League champion with the Boston Red Sox, who officially won the Hall of Baseball. Entered Fame.
Ortiz, 46, became the fourth Dominican player to receive the highest recognition in American baseball, behind compatriots Juan Marichal (1983), Pedro Martínez (2015) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2018), and the Dominican people. He showed his closeness.
The Republic’s delegation was led by the Minister of Sport, Francisco Camacho, who in an interview with EFE highlighted the “example to follow” that Ortiz represents for the younger generations.
“He is a true idol for our entire country. And well, he has already crossed our country, he is a true idol for everyone who follows the game of baseball as well as a little further ,” said Camacho.
The small town of Cooperstown was painted in the colors of the Dominican flag, and Ortiz received a long series of heartfelt applause before, during, and after his Hall of Fame induction speech.
The ceremony was held again in July, on its usual dates, after the 2021 ceremony was held in September and the 2020 ceremony was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
And the lush fields around Clark Sports Center were filled with early-morning fans, many of whom were Dominicans, for an event that marks the history of American baseball.
After 1:30 p.m. (-4 GMT) local time, Baseball Hall of Fame Director Jane Clarke inaugurated the ceremony, with dozens of Dominican flags standing among the approximately 10,000 fans present.
The seven newly elected names for baseball immortality were announced and a thunderous applause ensued as Ortiz took the stage wearing a blue suit, red tie and dark sunglasses.
Shortly afterwards, ‘Big Sinner”s daughter, Alex Vega Ortiz, was in charge of singing the anthem of the United States with a heartfelt performance, which caused public applause.
It was the culmination of a legendary career that saw Ortiz win three major league titles with the Boston Red Sox in 2004, 2007 and 2013.
In 20 seasons, Ortiz was one of MLB’s most influential players, thanks to his work both on and off the field.
With the arrival of Ortiz and Cubans Orestes ‘Minnie’ Minoso and Tony Oliva, selected by the Veterans Committee, the total number of Latinos with a spot in this baseball museum increases to 18 players.
And it’s that the party for Ortiz wasn’t limited to celebrations at the Clark Sports Center, as Cooperstown is also preparing the so-called “Cooperstown Dominican Latin Fest,” in which more than 5,000 people celebrate with guests such as Merengueros from Quisque. , Fernando Villalona and Sergio Vargas, Salcero Yio Sarante, exponents of the urban genre El Alfa and musical entertainer DJ Adonis.
