Hispanics in America and the world over, have carved a niche for themselves in different fields including sports. Read the following article to know about some of the famous Hispanic athletes.
Hispanics are people who originally belong to Latin America and Spain. Currently, Hispanics form the biggest ethnic group in the United States of America, constituting 15.4% of its population. Hispanic people have shown their caliber in various fields such as sports, acting, writing, etc. Here is a list of some famous Hispanic athletes, both American as well as international, who have brought laurels to their community.
Alberto Salazar
Sport – Track, Long-distance running
Nationality – Cuban American
Achievements – Salazar is known as a world-class long-distance runner who is known for his performances in the New York City Marathon in 1980s, Boston Marathon in 1982, and holding American tack records of 13:11:93 for 5000 meters and 27:25:61 for 10,000 meters.
Alex Rodriguez
Nickname(s) – A-Rod
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Dominican American
Achievements – By 2007, A-Rod gained the title as the youngest player in MLB history to hit 500 career home runs.
Anthony Muñoz
Sport – American Football
Nationality – Hispanic American
Achievements – Muñoz has played 13 seasons of National Football League with Cincinnati Bengals as an offensive tackle, making him one of the greatest offensive lineman in NFL history.
Bobby Chacon
Nickname(s) – Schoolboy
Sport – Boxing
Nationality – American
Achievements – A 2-time world boxing champion, Chacon has fought 84 fights in total from which he has won 59. In 1982, Chacon was named ‘comeback fighter of the year’ by Ring Magazine and in 2005, he was elected into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Brian Fuentes
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – American
Achievements – A former pitcher, Fuentes has played for Seattle Mariners in 2001, Colorado Rockies from 2002 – 2008, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim from 2009 – 2010, Minnesota Twins in 2010, Oakland Athletics from 2011 – 2012, and St. Louis Cardinals in 2012.
Carlos Arroyo
Sport – Basketball
Nationality – Puerto Rican
Achievements – Arroyo has won 6 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals in the FIBA Americas Championship.
Carlos Bocanegra
Sport – American Football
Nationality – Mexican American
Achievements – Although retired now, Bocanegra is a 2-time MLS Defender of the year and has played professionally in England, Scotland, France, and Spain.
Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Sport – Soccer
Nationality – Mexican
Achievements – Famous for his attacking ability, Blanco is the only Mexican soccer player with the international FIFA competition award because he won the Silver Ball and Silver Shoe awards in 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup.
David Ortiz
Nickname(s) – Big Papi
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Dominican American
Achievements – Hitting 466 career home runs, Ortiz is a 9-time All-Star, 3-time World Series champion, and also holds the Red Sox single-season record for home runs with 54.
Delia Gonzalez
Nickname(s) – Chiquita
Sport – Boxing
Nationality – Mexican American
Achievements – A former flyweight boxer, Gonzalez has a record of 13-9-4 with 3 knockout wins.
Dennis Martínez
Nickname(s) – El Presidente (The President)
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Nicaraguan American
Achievements – Martínez is the first Nicaraguan baseball player to play in the Major Leagues. He has pitched for Baltimore Orioles from 1976 – 1986, Montreal Expos from 1986 – 1993, Cleveland Indians from 1994 – 1996, Seattle Mariners in 1997, and Atlanta Braves in 1998.
Edson Arantes do Nascimento
Nickname(s) – Pelé
Sport – Soccer
Nationality – Brazilian
Achievements – Undoubtedly one of the greatest soccer players of all time, Pelé gave Brazil 3 World Cup titles and was named Brazil’s Minister of Sports in 1994.
Eduardo Nájera
Sport – Basketball
Nationality – Mexican
Achievements – Nájera started his NBA career by playing for Dallas Mavericks from 2000 – 2004, Golden State Warriors from 2004 – 2005, Denver Nuggets from 2005 – 2008, Dallas Mavericks in 2010, and then for Charlotte Bobcats from 2010 – 2012. Currently, Nájera is the head coach of the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League.
Francisco García
Sport – Basketball
Nationality – Dominican
Achievements – Being chosen in the first round by the Sacramento Kings in the 2005 NBA draft, García has played for Sacramento Kings from 2005 – 2013, and then for a year for Houston Rockets.
Jose Canseco
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Cuban American
Achievements – Canseco is best known for his record-breaking Major League Baseball career.
Juan Marichal
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Dominican American
Achievements – Marichal played 14 of his 16 major league seasons with the San Francisco Giants. Before that, he was with Boston Red Sox in 1974 and Los Angeles Dodgers in 1975.
Leandro Barbosa
Nickname(s) – Leandrinho (Little Leandro) in Brazil and The Brazilian Blur in the U.S.
Sport – Basketball
Nationality – Brazilian
Achievements – Currently playing for the Golden State Warriors, Barbosa has also played for Palmeiras (Brazil) from 1999 – 2001, Tilibra/Bauru (Brazil) from 2001 – 2003, Phoenix Suns from 2003 – 2010, Toronto Raptors from 2010 – 2012, Flamengo Basketball (Brazil) in 2011, Indiana Pacers in 2012, Boston Celtics from 2012 – 2013, Esporte Clube Pinheiros (Brazil) from 2013 – 2014, and Phoenix Suns in 2014.
Lionel Messi
Sport – Soccer
Nationality – Argentine
Achievements – Known as one of the best soccer players in the world, Messi has also formed the Leo Messi Foundation that provides opportunities for disadvantaged youths. Also, in 2010, UNICEF named him a goodwill ambassador as he focuses on fighting for children’s rights across the world.
Lorena Ochoa
Sport – Golf
Nationality – Mexican
Achievements – Ochoa has played on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour between the years 2003 and 2010. She’s also the top-ranked female golfer across the globe for more than 3 years (2007 to 2010) until her retirement.
Lou Castro
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Colombian American
Achievements – Castro was the first Latin American born player to play in the Major Leagues in the U.S. and professional baseball (before Cuban player Esteban Bellán).
Lou Molinet
Sport – American Football
Nationality – Cuban American
Achievements – Being the first Hispanic NFL player, 1927, Molinet was some who could play multiple positions for the team.
Manny Ramirez
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Dominican American
Achievements – It was Ramirez who helped the Red Sox win the World Series after an 86-year losing streak.
Manu Ginóbili
Sport – Basketball
Nationality – Argentine
Achievements – Currently, Ginóbili plays for San Antonio Spurs. Before 2002, he was with Andino Sports Club (Argentina) for a year, Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca (Argentina) for 2 years, Viola Reggio Calabria (Italy) for 2 years, and Virtus Bologna (Italy) for 2 years.
Mel Almada
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Mexican American
Achievements – Almada is the first Mexican baseball player to play in the Major Leagues. He has played for the Boston Red Sox from 1933 – 1937, Washington Senators from 1937 – 1938, St. Louis Browns from 1938 – 1939, and Brooklyn Dodgers in 1939.
Nancy Lopez
Sport – Golf
Nationality – Mexican American
Achievements – In 1977, Lopez became a member of the LPGA Tour and won 48 LPGA Tour events during her career.
Nenê
Sport – Basketball
Nationality – Brazilian
Achievements – Currently Nenê plays for the Washington Wizards. Before this, he was with Vasco da Gama (Brazil) from 1999 – 2002 and Denver Nuggets from 2002 – 2012.
Oscar De La Hoya
Nickname(s) – The Golden Boy
Sport – Boxing
Nationality – Mexican American
Achievements – He has won a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics at the age of 19, and went on to win 10 world titles in six different weight classes.
Pancho Gonzales
Sport – Tennis
Nationality – Mexican American
Achievements – Gonzales was World No. 1 tennis player as he held the all-time record for 8 years; from 1952 – 1960. During his career, he has won 15 Pro Slams and 2 Grand Slams.
Rafael Nadal Parera
Sport – Tennis
Nationality – Spanish
Achievements – Considered as one of the finest and most talented professional tennis players of all time, Nadal completed the career Grand Slam by age 24―becoming the youngest in history to achieve the feat.
Roberto Alomar
Nickname(s) – Robbie
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Puerto Rican American
Achievements – Alomar is the 12-time All-Star who has won 10 Gold Gloves; more than any other second baseman in baseball history, along with 4 Silver Slugger Awards, 2 World Series championship, ALCS MVP in 1992, and MLB All-Star Game MVP in 1998.
Roberto Clemente
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Puerto Rican
Achievements – In 1973, the Baseball Writer’s Association of America included Clemente into the Baseball Hall of Fame, giving him his own plaque that now reads, “Roberto Clemente Walker”. Clemente died at the age of 38.
Sammy Sosa
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Dominican American
Achievements – Throughout his career, Sosa played for 4 MLB teams namely Texas Rangers, Chicago White Six, Chicago Cubs, and Baltimore Orioles. He is a 7-time All-Star, has won 6 Silver Slugger Awards, NL Hank Aaron Award, and Roberto Clemente Award, is an NL (National League) MVP, 2-time NL home run champion, 2-time NL RBI champion, and is a Home Run Derby winner.
Scott Gomez
Sport – Ice Hockey
Nationality – Mexican American
Achievements – Currently, Gomez plays for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League. His former teams are New York Rangers, Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks, and Florida Panthers.
Steve Bellán
Sport – Baseball
Nationality – Cuban American
Achievements – Bellán has played as a 3rd baseman for 6 seasons in the U.S. of which 3 were in the National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) and 3 in National Association of Professional Base Ball Players (NAPBBP).
Tony Gonzalez
Sport – American Football
Nationality – Diverse (father being of Cape Verdean, Jamaican, and Scottish descent, and mother being of African-American, Caucasian, Cuban and Native American ancestry)
Achievements – Gonzalez is a 14-time Pro Bowl selection who holds the NFL records for touchdown receptions (111) and total reception yards (15,127) by a tight end.
These famous Hispanic athletes have proved their mettle in front of the entire world, and are looked up as role models, not only by the Hispanics but by everybody.
