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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

Constantino "Tino" Martinez

Tino

Constantino “Tino” Martinez is remembered as one of the key players in the New York Yankees 1990’s dynasty while serving as a third and first baseman

 He was selected in the first round of the college draft Class of the 1990’s by the Seattle Mariners. Tino had one of his best years in 1995 when he hits 31 homerun, drove in 111 runs and batted .297 as the Seattle Mariners won their Division. Following that season, he was traded to the New York Yankees to replace legendary first baseman and team captain, Don Mattingly.

Martinez helped lead the Yankees to four World Series Championships in 1996, 1998, 1999 2000. He also won the Home Run Derby in 1997. He hit two memorable homeruns as a Yankee in a World Series, first in the 1998 series when he hit a grand slam to help the team win in game one and the other in 2001 when he hit one to tie the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

His best season as a Yankee came in 1997, when he was second in the American League with 44 Home Runs and 141 runs- batted- in and finished second as the league’s Most Valuable Player.

In the 2001 World Series, Yankees played against The Arizona Diamondbacks. the series went to game 7, which Arizona won when Luis Gonzalez, his childhood friend, hit a single against Yankee ace reliever, Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th to win the series. Gonzalez later recalled that when he went back home to check his answering machine, the first message of congratulations was from Martinez. In 2002, he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinal baseball club in the National League. While at St. Louis Cardinals, Martinez first visit to Yankee Stadium was met by a long cheering crowd in appreciation of his championship years in pinstripes. In 2005, Martinez ended his successful 16-year baseball career and began working as a game analyst for ESPN and continues contributing to baseball as a batting instructor for different clubs.