Puerto Rican culture is rich, vibrant and colorful. Over five million people who identify themselves as being such inhabit the United State’s mainland — almost two million more than the number of residents that call the small Caribbean island home.
Such a small space geographically and in terms of its populace, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico has produced a number of valuable contributors to the world stage. Among many other distinguished people, Academy Award winning actor Benecio del Toro was born in San Juan, as was musician/humanitarian Ricky Martin. To name another, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Nicholas Dante was born in NYC to Puerto Rican parents.
But beyond the mainstream arts and other worthy causes that have put many people of Puerto Rican heritage in a revered class, the nation is also well recognized for producing world-class baseball players.
In honor of the 59th annual Puerto Rican Day Parade that has taken place every year in New York City’s Manahattan borough since 1958, here is an all-time team composed of Puerto Rican-born superstars who have left (or are leaving) their mark on MLB.
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