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About The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame

In the United States, there are Sports Halls of Fame that honor professional and amateur athletes in football, basketball, track, tennis, baseball and other sports. There are also ethnic halls of fame that recognize outstanding athletes from different groups including Italian, Jewish, Irish and blacks to name a few. But, there was not a single sports hall of fame that would recognize, honor and salute the outstanding accomplishments/achievements and contributions of our Latino/Hispanic Sports Heritage not only from the United States but also those who came to this country from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Central and South America and from the vast talent from the Caribbean Islands. The Latin-American International Sports Hall of Fame/Salon de Ia Fama Latinoamericano del Deporte was organized in Laredo, Texas in 1974. At first it was to celebrate, honor and promote local and regional individuals who had excelled at their particular sport but soon it opened the doors to include National and International Professional Athletes. It also recognizes as Sportsman of the Year individuals who continue to preserve and enhance our Latino culture, values and educational opportunities for our youth and who contribute to the betterment of the City of Laredo and South Texas. There have been since its inception an equal recognition of women athletes inductees. It was important to find role models for our youth and the organizers wanted to include all ages, regardless of sex in their programs. The Latin Hall was also created to promote economic development and stimulate business activity in downtown Laredo when local businesses are contracted to provide services to our inductees, their families and guests who visit Laredo during the annual 3-day welcome reception, media luncheon and induction banquet celebration weekend. Through the years. (1975-2014), and with limited amount of funds the organization has, had the opportunity to help the youth of our community with scholarships and other youth activity fundraisers. Plans are to have a Latin Sports International Hall of Fame Museum (downtown) (soon) which will be a first for the United States and to provide clinics (free of charge) to instruct our youth in different sports.

Mission

The Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame was founded in 1975 to recognize individuals with good and proper standing in the community, high morals and values and who have excelled in sports and/or have contributed to the promotion of sports and goodwill in the Latino community.


Latin American International Sports Hall of Fame

47th Annual Induction Banquet

Juan Marichal

Juan Marichal

"The Dominican Dandy"
Baseball - San Francisco Giants
Baseball Hall of Fame- Cooperstown, New York- 1983

Juan Marichal was born in Laguna Verde, Dominican Republic .
"The Dominican Dandy" quit school in the 11th grade to devote his time to baseball and became a star
pitcher for local amateur teams. Marichal was signed professionally by the Escogido Leones, who had a
working agreement with the San Francisco Giants, and was called up to the big leagues for the Giants after
compiling an 11-5 record for Tacoma.
In his first game, he fanned the first two Philadelphia batters. None reached base until the seventh inning,
With two our in the eighth inning, Clay Dalrymple singled to left field for the Phillies' only hit in the Giants '
2-0 victory. Twelve Phillies' batters went down on strikes.
Marichal became an instant winner, especially in 1963 when he won 25 games and lost only eight. He
had more than 20 victories in five of the next six seasons, and waged fierce battles with the Dodgers' Sandy
Koufax throughout the 60's for the title of the best pitcher in baseball.
He displayed remarkable control despite an exaggerated windup in which he raised his left foot headhigh
and his right hand, cl utching the baseball, nearly grazed the dirt on the pitching mound.
On June 15, 1963, Marichal pitched hi s best game of his career when he no-hit the Houston Colt .45s at Candlestick Park- throwing a mere
89 pitches -- and later that season out-dueled Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves 1-0 in 16 innings while allowing only eight hits.
Juan Marichal won 191 games during the 1960s. more than any other National League pitcher (Bob Gibson was second with 164). and posted
20 or more victories six times in seven seasons from 1963-69 and fashioned an ERA in the 2.00's every year. He led the National League in wins
in 1963 (t ied with Koufax and 1968 and won the ERA title in 1969. He also ho lds the Giants season record for wins (26) and strikeoms (248 in
1963).
Marichal's 16-year career numbers arc 243- 142 record with a 2.89 ERA and 2,303 strikeouts. Marichal's pitching repertoire cons isted of a
fa stball, slider and sc rewbal l but was most widely known for his abi lity to deliver them overhand. sidearm and underhand (submarine-style).
Despite his annual success, the Cy Young Award somehow eluded Marichal throughout his career.
1-Je was selected to nine All-Star Games and pitched in e ight of them (tied for the most in baseball hi story with Jim Bunning.)
Juan Marichal is the first Dominican inducted into the Baseball ]-Jail of Fame in I 983 and his uniform No. 27 has been retired by the San
Francisco Giants. Marichal was also recently added to the Natio nal Baseball Hall of Fame 15 member Veterans Committee. replacing Monte Irvin.
who retired from the committee.