Culture Honors Baseball Players Who Will Be Inducted Into the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame

Culture Honors Baseball Players Who Will Be Inducted Into the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame
Santo Domingo, December 3 2015

The five celebrity players who will be inducted into the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame on Saturday, received a warm reception at the Ministry of Culture on Thursday.

The players being honored were Dominican Sammy Sosa; Cuban Duque Hernández; Venezuelan shortstop Omar Vizquel; Colombian shortstop Edgar Rentería, and Mexican Jesse Orosco, at a ceremony chaired by the Minister of Culture, José Antonio Rodríguez.

Also present was a delegation of the induction committee to the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame, led by its President, Roberto Weill. At the event, which took place in the Ramón Oviedo Hall of the Ministry of Culture, Minister Rodríguez, Roberto Weill and Sammy Sosa spoke before the audience. The latter did so on behalf of his peers.

In his words of welcome to the celebrities, Rodríguez highlighted the importance of baseball and the baseball players for our country. He said that they are part of the elements that define what being Dominican is.

“When a team member dresses in the uniform of his country, really what he is bringing is the culture.” For the Ministry of Culture and for me, in particular, it is an honor to receive these great Latin American baseball players. We join in the achievements of each of you,” said the Minister.

He said that the Ministry of Culture wished to give a warm welcome to those being inducted into the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame in recognition to their outstanding performances in that sport, their personal example and what they represent for each of their countries. Meanwhile, Roberto Weill praised the gestures of cooperation that Minister Rodríguez has offered him since they met.

“I feel honored by the friendship of the Minister of Culture. The Minister has taken an interest not only in the fate of the Dominican Republic but in that of the world.”

In this regard, he said that he was committed with the initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Culture with respect to valuing culture as an instrument of peace in the world.

“Baseball is something that we consider as being of our culture; therefore, we have a great responsibility. You represent a platform for major international interaction,” said Weill.

Former Major Baseball League player, Sammy Sosa, spoke on behalf of the honorees. He conveyed his and his colleagues’ joy for the distinction received from Minister Rodríguez, who welcomed them at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture. “We are very pleased

Then, the Minister of Culture himself introduced an artistic segment by the vocal group Koribe, led by Nadia Nicola, who interpreted three Christmas songs that are included in the album that will be released during the current month. The songs were “Llegó Juanita”, “A la Zarandela” and “Navidad Luz del Mundo”, which were enjoyed by the audience, which was made of sports personalities and the media.

Among those present were the President of the Dominican Olympic Committee (COD for its acronym in Spanish), Luisín Mejía, and the member of the Latin Baseball Hall of Fame, Luis Sheker Ortiz, among others. The renowned baseball players arrived in the Dominican Republic last Wednesday. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, December 5, in the Altos de Chavón amphitheater.

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