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MLB Players: The all-time Cuban team, Part 1 (The Professionals)

By Yusseff Diaz

BALTIMORE - AUGUST 12: Rafael Palmeiro #25 of the Baltimore Orioles watches from the dugout as his team plays against the Toronto Blue Jays August 12, 2005 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Palmeiro returned to his team yesterday following a 10 day suspension for testing positive for steroid use, but did play as the Blue Jays defeated the Orioles 12-0. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE - AUGUST 12: Rafael Palmeiro #25 of the Baltimore Orioles watches from the dugout as his team plays against the Toronto Blue Jays August 12, 2005 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. Palmeiro returned to his team yesterday following a 10 day suspension for testing positive for steroid use, but did play as the Blue Jays defeated the Orioles 12-0. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /
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Martin Dihigo, pitcher and outfielder for Caracas (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

MLB Players: The All-Time Cuban Team (Part 1)

The Infielders

Rafael Palmeiro is the best hitter from the island to ever grace the field and my first baseman. The native of Havana is the only Cuban to have 3,000 hits, 500 doubles, 500 homers, and 1,000 runs batted in.

His lifetime batting average of .288 and slash line of .371/.515/.885 are elite, and I’m being humble when I say this. His three gold gloves, two silver sluggers, and four all-star selections make him easily the best Cuban at this position.

Martin Dihigo is a member of the Hall of Fame and my second baseman. Known as “The Immortal”, Dihigo isn’t only in MLB’s Hall but is also enshrined in Mexico’s and Cuba’s Hall of Fames.

During his storied career, he was selected to two Negro League all-star games and hit .307 during his stint there. “The Maestro “ as he is also known, won four MVPs in the highly competitive and talented Cuban Professional league. In 1938 the slugger led the Mexican League in hitting with a gaudy .387 average.

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Dagoberto “Bert” Campaneris, who stole nearly 700 bases in his big league career, is my shortstop. “Campy” as he’s also known by Oakland’s faithful was a spark plug for the three-time champion swinging A’s in the ’70s.

Aside from stealing all those bases, he had more than 2,000 hits to go along with 313 doubles and 86 triples. The native of Matanzas, Cuba also was selected to six all-star games and won six stolen base titles in the AL.

My choice for the hot corner is Antanasio “Tany” Pérez. The slugger is also a member of the Hall of Fame and went to seven all-star games during his storied career. He had more than 2,700 hits, 505 doubles, and drove in 1,652 runs. The native of Ciego de Avila, Cuba was a key cog in “The Big Red Machine” during the ’70s.

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