# Don't like the MLB tradition in regards to wearing 42 today. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 16, 2014, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-like-the-mlb-tradition-in-regards-to-wearing-42-today/686297 "2014-04-16T23:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-like-the-mlb-tradition-in-regards-to-wearing-42-today/686297/21 "2014-04-17T20:10:28Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > But then the question becomes “who gets to wear it, and why?” MLB did the easy thing and made everyone wear the number. > > I have heard a rumor that the Latino players want to have a similar honor for Roberto Clemente and his number 21. I don’t know how much steam this has gathered, but there are so many latinos in baseball, I can’t see them not doing something like this eventually. > > I think it would be a nice gesture to honor Clemente in the same way, because he did not have an easy time of it when he came up, either. Not nearly at the level of Robinson, but apparently it was ugly. > > I don’t believe he was the first Latino, but he was the first who really made a significant mark on the game and was the first latino enshrined in the HOF… He is apparently an idolized figure in latin America in general and P.R. in particular. Roberto was the first Latino MVP of the National League in 1966, and was the first Latin player in the Hall of Fame. However… 1. Minnesota Twins shortstop Zoilo Versalles, a Cuban, won the MVP award in the AL in 1965 2. Cleveland Indians second baseman Bobby Avila, a Mexican, led the AL in hitting in 1954, and was 3rd in the American League MVP voting. Avila and black teammate Larry Doby split the pro-Cleveland vote, allowing Yogi Berra to win it. 3. That same year, Cuban Minnie Minoso was 4th in the voting. 4. In 1959, Venezuelan Luis Aparicio was 2nd in the AL MVP voting. 5. Orlando Cepeda made his mark in the National League before Clemente did. Great as Clemente was, he was not a real groundbreaker. There were a lot of Latin stars before him. Also worth noting: while there’s an excellent chance Clemente would have been the first Latin Hall of Famer anyway, he was made eligible for induction without having to wait 5 years. If he’d lived, I assume he’d have played a few more seasons, and then would have had to wait 5 years to be elected. Some other Latin player (Marichal? Aparicio?) MIGHT have been elected before him. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-like-the-mlb-tradition-in-regards-to-wearing-42-today/686297/22 "2014-04-17T20:34:15Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > Oh, if only Jose and Ozzie Canseco were still playing (not to imply that Ozzie could field)… Wasn’t Jose like fifty pounds heavier? ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-like-the-mlb-tradition-in-regards-to-wearing-42-today/686297/23 "2014-04-17T20:35:46Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > Wasn’t Jose like fifty pounds heavier? Pre or post 'roids? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-like-the-mlb-tradition-in-regards-to-wearing-42-today/686297/24 "2014-04-18T00:25:11Z")
> [@leftfield6](#): > > Pre or post 'roids? > > 🆒 At birth. No? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dont-like-the-mlb-tradition-in-regards-to-wearing-42-today/686297.md?page=1)