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Cuban Hall of Fame Baseball Players

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Team World manager Tony Perez talks with the media during batting practice before the All-Star Futures baseball game against Team United States, in Cincinnati, July 12, 2015.
Team World manager Tony Perez talks with the media during batting practice before the All-Star Futures baseball game against Team United States, in Cincinnati, July 12, 2015.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, chronicles the history of the game and honors those who have made the greatest contributions to Major League Baseball and the Negro Leagues.

There are 312 members who have been chosen by a panel of voters and inducted in yearly ceremonies that draw an average of 15,000 people.

Four Hall of Famers are Cuban.

Tony Pérez, inducted 2000
Primary team: Cincinnati Reds
Position: First base
Won two World Series
Seven-time All-Star
Career .279 hitter with 379 home runs and 1,652 RBIs

Martin Dihigo, inducted 1977
Primary team: Cuban Stars
Position: Pitcher
Split career between Negro Leagues and Mexican League
In 1938 threw first no-hitter in Mexican League history

Jose Mendez, inducted 2006
Primary team: Cuban Stars
Position: Pitcher
Led Kansas City Monarchs to 1924 Negro Leagues championship
Struck out twice as many batters as he walked in 19 seasons that included playing in Cuba

Cristobal Torriente, inducted 2006
Primary team: Chicago American Giants
Position: Center field
Nicknamed “The Black Babe Ruth”
Won two batting titles in both Cuba and Negro leagues
Career .347 hitter with 65 home runs

FILE - Former Negro Leaguer and Chicago White Sox player Minnie Minoso stands during the national anthem before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers, in Chicago, Aug. 24, 2013.
FILE - Former Negro Leaguer and Chicago White Sox player Minnie Minoso stands during the national anthem before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers, in Chicago, Aug. 24, 2013.

Three other Cuban players are up for election by a special Hall of Fame committee in 2017

Minnie Minoso, retired 1980
Primary team: Chicago White Sox
First black Cuban player in Major League Baseball
Seven-time All-Star with three Gold Gloves
Career .298 hitter with 186 home runs and 1,023 RBIs

Luis Tiant, retired 1982
Primary team: Boston Red Sox
Pitched 19 seasons with a 229-172 record
Amassed 2,416 strikeouts
Three-time All-Star

Tony Oliva, retired 1976
Primary team: Minnesota Twins
1964 Rookie of the Year
Eight-time All-Star
Career .304 hitter with 220 home runs and 947 RBIs

Sources: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Baseball-Reference.com

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