New documentary profiles SABR member Adrian Burgos Jr. and Latinos in baseball
The Big Ten Network and the University of Illinois examine the history of Latinos in baseball in a new documentary, “Playing America’s Game,” which premiered Saturday, May 21, 2016, on the Big Ten Network.
The documentary profiles SABR member Adrian Burgos Jr., a University of Illinois history professor whose work discusses the trials faced by Latin players in the days of baseball segregation. Darker skinned Latinos such as famed Chicago White Sox player Minnie Minoso were forced to start their careers in the Negro Leagues. “His story was of black Latinos breaking into professional baseball in the United States,” Burgos said. “And Orlando Cepeda said it himself, ‘Minoso is our Jackie Robinson.’”
Watch the film online at YouTube or by clicking play on the video below.
Burgos will be included on a Latino Baseball Authors panel at the SABR 46 convention this summer in Miami, along with SABR members Peter C. Bjarkman, Cesar Brioso, and Anthony Salazar. Visit SABR.org/convention to learn more.
Originally published: May 23, 2016. Last Updated: May 23, 2016.