Every fan knows them. They are cheer. Some times not.
Albert Pujols is known as “El Hombre” in St. Louis and possibly could win his third career National League MVP award.
Felix Hernandez is known as “El Rey” in Seattle and possibly could win his first career Cy Young award.
Elvis Andrus is regarded the next best shortstop in the model of Omar Vizquel in the majors. Fans of the Texas Rangers are waiting to see if he will be this season's American League Rookie of the Year.
Fans know many more of them and have high regards of them.
Hanley Ramirez of the Florida Marlins is this season's National League batting champion; superstar New York Yankees Mariano Rivera and Jorge Posada; Carlos Lee in Houston and Miguel Cabrera in Detroit.
Of course, there is always in Dodger Blue Manny being Manny in Los Angeles and new names to follow in the other side of Los Angeles' Angels, Kendry Morales.
All of them Latinos.
They all come from the passionate countries of Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Venezuela.
We know them today but through history all this countries have supplied the best of the best to the majors.
As of the end of the 2009 season, these are the top Latinos by country:
At Bats
Cuba: Rafael Palmeiro, 10,472
Dominican Republic: Sammy Sosa, 8,813
Panama: Rod Carew, 9,315
Puerto Rico: Roberto Clemente 9,454
Venezuela: Luis Aparicio, 10,230
Batting Average
Cuba: Tony Oliva, .304
Dominican Republic: Albert Pujols, .334
Panama: Rod Carew, .328
Puerto Rico: Roberto Clemente, .317
Venezuela: Magglio Ordoñez, .312
Hits
Cuba: Rafael Palmeiro, 3,020
Dominican Republic: Julio Franco, 2,586
Panama: Rod Carew, 3,053
Puerto Rico: Roberto Clemente 3,000
Venezuela: Omar Vizquel, 2,704
Doubles
Cuba: Rafael Palmeiro, 585
Dominican Republic: Manny Ramirez, 531
Panama: Rod Carew, 445
Puerto Rico: Ivan Rodriguez, 547
Venezuela: Bobby Abreu, 483
Triples
Cuba: Tony Taylor, 86
Dominican Republic: Juan Samuel, 102
Panama: Rod Carew, 112
Puerto Rico: Roberto Clemente 166
Venezuela: Luis Aparicio, 92
Home Runs
Cuba: Rafael Palmeiro, 569
Dominican Republic: Sammy Sosa, 609
Panama: Carlos Lee, 307
Puerto Rico: Carlos Delgado, 473
Venezuela: Andres Galarraga, 399
Runs Batted In
Cuba: Rafael Palmeiro, 1,835
Dominican Republic: Manny Ramirez, 1,788
Panama: Carlos Lee, 1,103
Puerto Rico: Carlos Delgado, 1,512
Venezuela: Andres Galarraga, 1,425
Wins
Cuba: Luis Tiant, 229
Dominican Republic: Juan Marichal, 243
Puerto Rico: John Candelaria, 177
Venezuela: Johan Santana, 122
All-Time Latino Wins Leader is Nicaragua’s Dennis Martinez, 245
ERA
Cuba: Mike Cuellar, 3.14
Dominican Republic: Juan Marichal, 2.89
Puerto Rico: John Candelaria, 3.13
Venezuela: Johan Santana, 3.13
All-Time Latino ERA Leader is Panama’s Mariano Rivera, 2.25
SAVES
Cuba: Danys Baez, 114
Dominican Republic: Jose Mesa, 321
Puerto Rico: Roberto Hernandez, 326
Venezuela: Francisco Rodriguez, 243
All-Time Latino ERA Leader is Panama’s Mariano Rivera, 526
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