Honoring Hispanic Heritage Month through sports

Throughout the 20th century, many Hispanic athletes became “firsts” in their respective sports, blazing a trail for those to come.

⚾ In 1902, Lou Castro became the first Hispanic player in the MLB. He played in 42 games and posted a .245 batting average for the Philadelphia Athletics, but little is known about the rest of his life.

Castro paved the way for Puerto Rican right fielder Roberto Clemente, the first Latino player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Clemente enjoyed 18 stellar seasons in the league after joining in 1955 but sadly died in a plane crash at the age of 38 on his way to Nicaragua to bring relief supplies to earthquake victims.

• Today, MLB honors Clemente’s legacy on and off the field with the annual Roberto Clemente Day, during which one player receives the Roberto Clemente Award for their extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy, and positive contributions.

🏈 In 1927, Ignacio “Lou” Molinet became the NFL’s first Hispanic football player. Many assumed Molinet’s background was French due to his last name, but he was actually born in Cuba in 1904. Molinet, who was known as both “Iggy” and “Molly,” played his entire career at fullback with the Frankford Yellow Jackets.

🎾 Chilean tennis player Anita Lizana de Ellis was the first Hispanic woman to win a Grand Slam singles title, achieving the feat at the U.S. Championships in 1937 and blazing a trail for players like Rosemary Casals.

• Casals, whose parents immigrated to California from El Salvador, is perhaps best known as an equal pay advocate. She was one of the nine women who fought to close the gender pay gap in tennis alongside Billie Jean King in the 1970s.

🏀 Alfred “Butch” Lee Jr. became the first Latino in the NBA when he made it to the association in 1978 and the first to win an NBA title when he hoisted the trophy with the LA Lakers in 1980. Lee played for the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers before joining the Lakers.

In more recent history, the likes of Rebecca Lobo (WNBA), David Ortiz (MLB), Tony Gonzalez (NFL), Carmelo Anthony (NBA), and Laurie Hernandez (USA Gymnastics) elevated conversations around Hispanic athletes from trailblazers to Hall of Famers.

• While the history books are full of Latine accomplishments, living legends are changing the culture and contributing to the sports they love at the highest levels.

⚽ Lionel Messi has been professionally breaking ankles, records, and goalies’ hearts for two decades. After spending most of his career in Europe, in 2023, the Argentine surprised the world by taking his talents to South Beach, signing with Inter Miami FC.

• Whether it’s an MLS game or the upcoming 2026 FIFA men’s World Cup, seeing the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner play live is an experience that unites all soccer fans.

🏀 Speaking of Argentine GOATs, the three-time WNBA champ and six-time Olympic gold medalist Diana Taurasi’s family also hails from the country. DT’s mom was born and raised in Argentina, where she met her future husband, an Italian-born professional soccer player.

• Although Taurasi was born in LA, she’s fluent in Spanish and always happy to talk about her Latina roots (...and soccer legend Diego Maradona).

⚽ And you can’t talk about current Latine legends without bringing up Marta. The Brazilian footballer has left a mark on the game as unforgettable as her signature bold lip. Marta is a six-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner and is currently riding a 19-game regular season unbeaten streak with the Orlando Pride. Still got it.

🏈 There's plenty of Hispanic and Latine talent on the rise, too. Quarterback Diana Flores led Mexico’s national women’s flag football team to a World Games title in 2022 and a runner-up finish at this year’s World Championships.

• Flores is a pioneer in the sport, serving as an ambassador for the NFL and becoming the first flag football player to ink a deal with Under Armour. Breaking glass ceilings techos de cristal. 

🏀 After winning the 2024 NCAA women’s national championship with South Carolina, Brazilian-born center Kamilla Cardoso was the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft and has had a major impact on the Chicago Sky as they fight to lock up this year’s final postseason spot.

🤸 Fellow Brazilian Rebeca Andrade is also having a banner year, becoming the most decorated Olympian in her country’s history, including leading Brazil to their first team medal in artistic gymnastics this summer in Paris.

⚾ Hailing from the Dominican Republic, young Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez made his debut in 2022 at just 21 years old. Happy to prove that age is just a number, Rodríguez was named an All-Star and eventually took home the 2022 American League Rookie of the Year.

• And J-Rod hasn’t slowed down since — he’s settled into his role, breaking records and leading the Ms in hits this season.

From the boardrooms to the sidelines, Hispanic leaders are making moves at the helm, too.

In the early 1990s, businesswoman Linda Alvarado bought a 1% stake in the Colorado Rockies to become the first Hispanic — and first woman — to own a portion of a team. Nowadays, Alvardo can often be found chatting with players during warmups and batting practice. Iconic.

Sadly in the last 30 years, the number of Latine or Hispanic majority owners in major pro sports has not changed very much, with the number decreasing after Cuban American Alex Meruelo sold the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes this summer.

• But on the bright side, the number of minority owners is growing, especially as people continue to see the value in women’s sports leagues. Imagine that.

So, as Hispanic Heritage Month begins next Sunday, let’s celebrate the folks changing the game and working to increase representation and opportunities for the Latine community. It’s a year-round cause for celebration.