Sports in Puerto Rico can be traced from the ceremonial competitions amongst the pre-Columbian Native Americans of the Arawak (Taíno) tribes who inhabited the island to the modern era in which sports activities consist of an organized physical activity or skill carried out with a recreational purpose for competition. One of the sports which the Taíno's played was a ball game called "Batey". The "Batey" was played in U-shaped fields two teams;however,unlike the ball games of the modern era,the winners were treated like heroes and the losers were sacrificed.
Iván Rodríguez Torres,nicknamed "Pudge" and "I-Rod",is a Puerto Rican former Major League Baseball catcher. A member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum,Rodríguez is widely regarded as one of the greatest catchers in MLB history. He played for the Texas Rangers,Florida Marlins,Detroit Tigers,New York Yankees,Houston Astros and Washington Nationals.
Bomba is an umbrella term that refers to a variety of musical styles and associated dances originating in Puerto Rico. It was developed by enslaved Africans and their descendants in sugar plantations along coastal towns,most notably Loiza,Mayagüez,Ponce,and San Juan,during the 17th century. It is the island's oldest musical tradition.
Eduardo Atanasio Pérez Pérez is an American former professional baseball player,coach,and current television sports color commentator. He played in Major League Baseball and the Nippon Professional Baseball league as a first baseman,third baseman,and outfielder from 1993 to 2006. After his playing career Pérez became a baseball analyst with ESPN,ESPN Deportes,and ESPN Latin America as well as a host on SiriusXM's MLB Network Radio.
The Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League is the main professional baseball league in Puerto Rico;it is colloquially referred to as the Puerto Rican Winter League. Consisting of six teams as of the 2023–24 season,the league's champion participates in the Caribbean Series.
The Indios de Mayagüez are a baseball team in Puerto Rico's Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente. Based in Mayagüez,the Indios have won 19 national championships and two Caribbean World Series. The Indios have participated in a league’s record 40 Finals. It is one of three teams remaining from the original six incorporated into the LBPPR at its founding on November 13,1938.
The 1978 Minnesota Twins finished 73–89,fourth in the American League West.
The 1981 Minnesota Twins finished a combined 41–68,seventh in the American League West. In the strike split season,the Twins were 17–39,seventh place in the first half and 24–29,fourth place in the second half. 469,090 fans attended Twins games,the lowest total in the American League. It was also their 21st and final season at Metropolitan Stadium,before moving their home games to the Metrodome the next season. The franchise would not play another outdoor home game until 2010,when Target Field opened.
JoséManuel Morales Hernández is a former designated hitter in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between 1973 and 1984. Listed at 5' 11",187 lb.,Morales batted and threw right-handed.
Francisco "Pancho" Coimbre Atiles,more commonly known as Pancho Coimbre,was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player. He was born in the municipality of Coamo and moved to Ponce early in his life. It was in Ponce where he would begin to actively participate in sports,both in sprinting and baseball. Coimbre played thirteen seasons in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League (LBPPR),with the Leones de Ponce. During this period the team won five league championships. He finished his career with an average of .337,and had an average of 2.2 strikeouts per season,this included four consecutive seasons from 1939 to 1942,without any strikeouts. Coimbre also won two LBPPR batting titles and the league's Most Valuable Player Award in 1943.
Germán Rivera Díaz is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball third baseman. He played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the 1980s.
James Edward Dwyer is an American former baseball player who was an outfielder for 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for seven different teams between 1973 and 1990. Listed at 5' 10",185 lb.,he batted and threw left-handed.
The 1978 Montreal Expos season was the tenth season in franchise history. The team finished fourth in the National League East with a record of 76–86,14 games behind the first-place Philadelphia Phillies.
Carlos Alberto Rivera is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Luis Antonio DeLeón Tricoche is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched all or parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1981 and 1989. He was the co-closer for the San Diego Padres in 1982 and 1983,sharing the role with Gary Lucas.
Aaron Bates is an American former professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox in 2009. He is currently one of the hitting coaches for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Felix Juan "Felo" Maldonado was a scout and player development official for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. A 48-year veteran of the Red Sox organization starting as a minor league outfielder after being traded to the club during the 1963 season,he went on to become a minor league manager in the farm system.
Francisco Librán Rosas was a Puerto Rican athlete who distinguished himself for performing professionally on all three major sports in the island. Most notably,Librán played as an infielder in Major League Baseball during the late 60s. He batted and threw right-handed,and was listed at 6 ft (1.8 m) tall and 168 lb (76 kg). Librán also practiced track and field,and softball. Because of his versatility,he is usually referred to as "the most complete Puerto Rican athlete". He is survived by his two daughters Yeidie J. Librán and Yara E. Librán.
Baseball is the most popular sport in Puerto Rico. In terms of spectators and active participants,it is the premier sport on the island.
