A Boricua Celebration in Boston

Puerto Ricans had lots to celebrate at Boston’s home opener when the Red Sox faced the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. For us Puerto Ricans, April 9 in Boston was special for two reasons — managers Álex Cora and Charlie Montoyo.

My abuelita Mercedes would have been beaming with pride. Mind you, we are Yankees fans.

However, we are also Latino baseball fans. In fact, she taught me how to be a Latino baseball fan. I have never forgotten her response when I asked about her favorite team. She was a Yankees fan first, but she didn’t root against the Mets because they too were from New York. Then, she rooted for whichever team had the most Latino players.

What unfolded prior to Tuesday’s game was inspiring.

The Red Sox’s World Series ring ceremony, which also was held Tuesday afternoon, reminded us of Cora’s grand achievement as the first Boricua to lead a major league team to a World Series title.

Then there was the exchange of lineup cards between Cora and Montoyo. This was the first time that two island-born Puerto Ricans were managing against each other in a major league game.

De Caguas Pal Mundo (From Caguas to the World)

A lifelong baseball fan, abuelita’s last home in Puerto Rico was in Caguas before she migrated to New York in the late 1950s. My mother and most of her siblings were born or raised in Caguas.

To see a native son of Caguas enjoy such success as a major league manager and remain so rooted in his love for his hometown is one of the reasons Puerto Ricans celebrate Cora’s success.

Cora’s achievement forced fans like my mother and me to weigh our Yankees fandom against our Puerto Rican baseball pride. Yes, my mother inherited the love of baseball from abuelita. So, even though it comes at the expense of our Yankees, seeing Cora succeed in guiding the Red Sox to a World Series triumph is something worthy of celebration.

Puerto Rican Managers

Puerto Ricans waited a long time to see one of our own enjoy success as a major league manager.  Cora achieved what others had not even had the opportunity to fully pursue.

Sandy Alomar, Jr. and José Oquendo were often mentioned as managerial candidates but never hired to a permanent post although Alomar did get to serve as Cleveland’s interim manager in 2012 after the firing of Manny Acta. Oquendo has seemingly moved from the perpetual candidate to almost an afterthought in managerial hiring discussions.

Puerto Ricans also acknowledge the accomplishment of Edwin Rodríguez, who became the first Puerto Rican to manage in the big leagues when he managed the Florida Marlins over parts of the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

But April 9, 2019 will remain special in the memories of Puerto Rican baseball fans everywhere.

What a Pair

The embrace of Cora and Montoyo at home plate will rank among my favorite memories for the 2019 season. This is the kind of moment we live for as Puerto Rican and Latino baseball fans — to witness history.

The path the two took to their managerial posts also made the moment special, showing that there is more than one path to success and that persistence can lead to the opportunity one was always waiting for in Montoyo’s case.

Cora comes from a proud Boricua baseball lineage. His father was revered in Caguas and in Puerto Rican baseball for his contribution as a broadcaster, journalist, and youth baseball organizer. He and his brother Joey both enjoyed major league playing careers that lasted over a decade.

Montoyo had a different route to becoming a major league manager. He had a brief major league playing career—four games with the Felipe Alou managed Montreal Expos in 1993. A native of Florida, Puerto Rico, he spent more than two decades (22 seasons) managing in the Tampa Bay Rays farm system before he was hired by the Blue Jays.

It was wonderful to see Cora and Montoyo give each other un abrazo fuerte (a strong embrace) in recognition of their special moment before the April 9 game. I only wished my abuelita had lived long enough to witness such a moment.

Featured Image: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images Sport