El Profe: All in the family

The leadership at the Hall of Fame did not intentionally schedule its 2018 induction ceremony to coincide with the celebration of Father’s Day in the Dominican Republic. As Induction Weekend unfolded, though, the date couldn’t have been more appropriate.

The Hall was not only welcoming six new members in this year’s class, but in Vladimir Guerreror it also welcomed its third member from the Dominican Republic.

To witness Guerrero over the course of the weekend’s events was to see a man who had always emphasized family, has stayed true to the person he always was, and remained proud of his roots in Don Gregorio, Dominican Republic.

We also got a glimpse of another side of Guerrero in Cooperstown, N.Y. It was the one his teammates admired throughout his 16-year playing career. It was the fun-loving Vlad who enjoyed spending time with his people; except that the definition of his people had widened.

Friends and Family Plan

The Guerrero contingent was everywhere in Cooperstown. You could locate them by their laughter, Dominican Spanish accents or sheer numbers. All of Vlad’s children made the trip to Cooperstown. His siblings came with their kids as well, including brother Wilton, who played eight seasons in the major leagues.

And, of course, Guerrero’s mother Altagracia Alvino was here for the festivities. The agreement was that she would not have to cook this weekend as she is still  doing her “boys,” including grandson Vladdy Jr. and so many major leaguers over the past three decades.

José Mota, the Angels broadcaster who served as translator for Guerrero’s speech Sunday, let us in a little secret. While Altagracia was not cooking this weekend, her flavors were still present. Before leaving for upstate New York, she insisted on preparing the sazon (special mixture of spices) that would be used for the food that would be cooked while the Guerrero contingent was in Cooperstown.

The special bond and acknowledgement of what his mom had done for so many was on full display during the Parade of Legends. Guerrero made sure that Altagracia was along for the ride. She sat in the extended cab to also soak in the admiration of the cheering thousands who lined the parade route.

Party On

Each day there was a celebration put on by owner Arte Moreno and the Angels’ organization to honor the first player to go into the Hall of Fame as an Angel.

Following Saturday’s parade was a party at the open-air Brookwood Gardens along Lake Otsego. The setting could not have been more ideal. The sounds of Dominican music reverberated through the trees. Then later as a tribute to Altagracia a fireworks show was lit above the lake.

The stars were not just in the night skies. Fellow Hall of Famers Juan Marichal, Tony Pérez and Johnny Bench mingled with the crowd, enjoying the sounds, good food and conversations.

Vladdy, Jr., spent most of the night hanging out with his siblings and his relatives, much like any other 19-year-old at a family reunion.

Vladi Querido, El Pueblo Esta Contigo

An enthusiastic crowd estimated at 53,000 came to Cooperstown to celebrate. Dominican flags were everywhere. So were “27” jerseys with Guerrero emblazoned across the back.

They came from Boston, New York, Montreal and from towns throughout the Dominican Republic. They arrived in chartered buses, having awoken at dawn to make the trip to Cooperstown.  Once at the Clark Sports Center, they exited their buses chanting their admiration of Vlad.

It was a party to celebrate one of their own. It was also a family reunion of a different kind. Proud residents of Don Gregorio, neighboring town of Bani, and other players in the Nizao were there. They greeted each with hugs and big smiles.

Cooperstown had become the site of reunions of friends, family, and former neighbors. Former teammates of Guerrero from his days playing in the Dominican Republic and others from Don Gregorio and Nizao also joined in the fun, beaming with pride that one of theirs had made it onto this stage.

Post Game Fun

Guerrero enjoyed his time in Cooperstown. The Angels threw a celebratory event every day in his honor. Family and friends from Don Gregorio accompanied him touring New York before they made their Cooperstown excursion.

Each step of his weeklong journey was documented by his social media team led by Virgilio Rojo. They shared a newer Guerrero, one who was actively sharing his story with the public.

On Sunday, his speech came from the heart. He acknowledged that the day was doubly special. He was being inducted on Father’s Day in the Dominican Republic, with his own father in attendance and all of his own children.

That Guerrero was having a blast was clear in the press conference following the induction ceremony. He reiterated that as a player he took pride in letting his bat and performance on the field do the talking, but now as a Hall of Famer he takes the responsibility of talking with the press and to the public more seriously.

When I asked him in Spanish how it felt to have the people from Boston, NYC, Montreal, Don Gregorio, and other parts of the Dominican Republic in Cooperstown supporting him, showing their love for him, he jokingly asked me “de donde?” (Where?)

He wanted to hear those words again: Don Gregorio.

Thus we got to see the endearing Vladi, who loves to poke fun and have a good time, and remains forever proud to have come out of Don Gregorio.

Featured Image: Jean Fruth / La Vida Baseball