When the selection committee voted Alejandro "Alex" Pompez into
the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006, some cried foul. A Negro-league
owner during baseball's glory days, Pompez was known as an early
and steadfast advocate for Latino players, helping bring baseball
into the modern age. So why was his induction so
controversial?
Like many in the era of segregated baseball, Pompez found that the
game alone could never make all ends meet. To finance his beloved
team, the New York Cubans, he delved headlong into a sin many
baseball fans find unforgivable--gambling. He built one of the most
infamous numbers rackets in Harlem, eventually arousing the ire of
the famed prosecutor Thomas Dewey. But he also led his Cubans, with
their star lineup of Latino players, to a Negro-league World Series
championship in 1947.
In this effervescent biography, the historian and sportswriter
Adrian Burgos, Jr., brings to life the world of professional
baseball during a time of enormous change. Following Pompez from
his early days to the twilight of his career, Burgos offers a
glimpse inside the clubhouse as both owners and players struggled
with the new realities of the game. That today's rosters are filled
with names like Rodriguez, Pujols, Rivera, and Ortiz is a testament
to Pompez and his lasting influence.
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