¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and in the Big Leagues/En Los Barrios y Las Grandes Ligas by Margaret Salazar-Porzio and Adrian Burgos Jr.

Abstract

Reviewed by: ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and in the Big Leagues/En Los Barrios y Las Grandes Ligas by Margaret Salazar-Porzio and Adrian Burgos Jr. Jorge Iber Margaret Salazar-Porzio and Adrian Burgos Jr. ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and in the Big Leagues/En Los Barrios y Las Grandes Ligas. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press, 2020. 148 pp. Cloth, $28.95. As an historian whose principal area of research is the role that Latinos/as have played in American sport, it is a thrill to see the publication of this work. This topic has been long neglected by both academicians and those who write for the general public. While there has been much work done on how other ethnic/racial groups (African Americans, Jews, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and others) have incorporated American sports into their communities, as well as on how individuals of these backgrounds have gained entry into all levels of these athletic endeavors, the Spanish-surnamed male and female athlete has been mostly unnoticed (particularly at the non-professional level). Fortunately, that pattern is now changing, and this book is a perfect example of that trend. While Latinos/as have played all American games, no game has a longer and more important history in the barrios and comunidades in this country than baseball. This book is a direct response to the previous years of "willful neglect" of a key aspect of our communal and individual lives. This work makes abundantly clear that the game has been important to these people for a very long time across the entirety of the United States. Additionally, action on the field has not been the only significance of baseball. As the authors repeatedly and effectively point out, the diamonds in these communities have served as locales that have reinforced cultural identity, as spaces for assimilation, and as settings for resistance. Stories that highlight these elements (for both men and women) are presented throughout this work. This study provides broad coverage of the story of Latinos/as and the sport of baseball. The texts and artifacts tell the story of the game at the local and professional levels from various parts of the country. Additionally, it covers the story of how the "color line" was manipulated to permit, or prohibit, Latinos from playing at the highest levels of the game. Of course, it is necessary to spend time discussing "the Great One," Roberto Clemente. The chapter on [End Page 212] his life, and his various artifacts, is certainly well done. It warmed the heart of this fan, who grew up admiring the Pirate legend. Here was a man who challenged the way Latinos in the majors were perceived, and whose efforts off the field (as well as his brilliance on the diamond) helped make it possible to "the present and future of baseball [to be] Latino." While the Clemente story is certainly well known, the role of Latinas in the AAGPBL is less so. The sections on the way women made their marks on the field and off of (as with the discussion of the events at Chavez Ravine) are certainly important contributions. The connection between how the Latino/a population of southern California was treated by the Dodgers and how these people "claimed their space" in Dodger Stadium is unquestionably a crucial point of discussion. With the demographic changes in the United States over the past half-century, if the majors are to survive, then surely all of the teams (of course, some more than others) in the AL and the NL must reach out to the Spanish-speaking population (via radio, TV, and in-park promotions). This is clearly shown in the section of the book that deals with the often-overlooked fanaticos whose hard-earned money helps to keep the professional game going. Further, the sections on Linda Alvarado and Jessica Mendoza demonstrate that the role of Latinas was not exclusively on the field of play, or in support roles. These two Latinas have more than capably filled the functions of owner and national broadcaster. The section on earning money through baseball is fascinating. While it is obvious a chosen/talented few make multiple millions playing this...