La Vida Voices: Nilson Pepén

When you meet Nilson “Junior” Pepén, you immediately feel his passion for the Red Sox and everything Dominican.

He arrived in Boston in 1998, which coincided with Hall of Famer Pedro Martínez’s first season with the Red Sox. He has covered the greatest era in Red Sox history while Dominican superstars Martínez, Manny Ramírez and David Ortiz played crucial roles for the franchise.

He has become a familiar voice in Boston’s Latino community. He is best known for his work on Boston’s Univision station, including his show El Informe de Sports.

Nilson has enjoyed watching a couple of his countrymen inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame over the past few years. When I was in Cooperstown, N.Y., last summer Pepén was there with busloads of fans to celebrate Vladimir Guerrero. He organized a similar trip three years prior for Martínez’s induction ceremony.

I recently caught up with him to chat about his work covering Boston sports and his journey from the Dominican Republic to Boston.

Adrian Burgos, Jr: What sparked your love of baseball and inspired you to become a broadcast journalist? Who were some key influences on your journey from the Dominican Republic to Boston and to becoming a voice for the Dominican community?

Nilson Pepén: Since a young age I have been in love with sports, especially with basketball and baseball. Those two sports were the first I learned how to play at the local Sports Club in San Carlos, Dominican Republic. I have followed baseball passionately since becoming familiar with the game, but when I moved to Boston in 1998 the love escalated. Being in the presence of Pedro Martínez ignited not only my passion, but all of the Dominicans that were living in Boston.

We would never miss a game when Pedro would pitch for the Red Sox. We were blessed to not only see Pedro pitch, but also be part of Manny Ramírez and David Ortiz’s career with the Red Sox who played a key role in breaking the curse and bringing Boston its first World Series Trophy in 86 years. I can say that I was blessed to cover the Red Sox since the 2003 season and be part of all four championship runs, but most important to have the chance to interview and get to know each one of those players.

AB: Some call the Dominican “the Republic of baseball.” What do people need to understand about the passion for baseball among Dominicans?

NP: In the Dominican Republic, baseball is a nationwide passion that impacts all aspect of social life. All of the kids play baseball at some point of their life. Most kids are poor, so they make balls out of socks, bats out of broom sticks, and gloves out of cardboard boxes. There are no obstacles when it comes to playing the game. Kids will do anything to make it possible.

I cannot go on without mentioning that everyone in the country, from every single town, share a common pride in their respective local teams (Licey, Águilas, Escogido, Estrellas, Toros and Gigantes).

Also, they feel this same exact pride when they think about the 700 plus Dominican born players that have reached the MLB. Names like Juan Marichal, Felipe Rojas Alou, Pedro Guerrero, Tony Fernández, Jorge Bell, Sammy Sosa, Pedro Martínez, Manny Ramírez, Vladimir Guerrero, David Ortiz, Adrián Beltré and Albert Pujols are monumental and will forever be known in the country.

Every day I can see how Dominican players are influencing the development of the game, rather it be opening doors to Latino workers, merengue and bachata music inside the stadiums, celebration of Dominican heritage night. It makes me proud to see my home country leave its mark at such a grand stage.

AB: What role has baseball and the Boston Red Sox played in making the town a better place for Dominicans? How has this had an impact on you as a journalist and as a Dominican?

NP: The city of Boston has always been very appealing to Dominicans, opening its doors to the culture and allowing us to progress and be able to help our families.

Baseball has obviously played a huge role in the process of attracting Dominicans and showing the city that Dominicans are hardworking individuals who can contribute a lot to the society. Dominicans owe part of their success in Boston to Pedro Martínez and David Ortiz, who not only were amazing baseball players but also played key roles during tragic moments in the city of Boston. They have also created foundations to help kids both back in the Dominican Republic and all-around New England.

Throughout my career as a sports analyst, I have had the blessing to be able to cover the most amazing sport moments in the best sports city of the United States. I have been part of five Super Bowl wins for the New England Patriots, four World Series for the Red Sox, one Stanley Cup for the Bruins, and one NBA championship for the Celtics. This city has given me a sports analyst dream. Every single year there is something exciting happening for at least one of these teams.

And the best part is not just witnessing the game but having the chance to interview the hundreds of players that have been part of this city and have left their mark. Interviewing the players was definitely the most rewarding part, especially David Ortiz, who was the player I most interviewed in my entire career. I got to know Ortiz on a whole different level, and I got to see what a huge heart he has.

AB: What did it feel like for you to see the Dominican flag on the Green Monster when David Ortiz’s No. 34 was retired?

NP: Seeing the Dominican flag fly across the Green Monster was special for two reasons. First, because as a native Dominican I feel proud to see my flag being flown in a different country. Second, it solidifies the fact that David Ortiz’s career was legendary. He retired as a great one, and the treatment he received from the Red Sox organization and the city of Boston speaks for itself.

When the flag is flown across the Green Monster, it symbolizes impact, impact left by players such as Pedro, Manny and Ortiz. People in Boston who aren’t Dominican immediately correlate the country to those three greats. This was not always the case. Even the mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh, uses these players’ names as examples of Boston greats. That is something that makes us Dominicans proud.

AB: You have organized bus trips for Dominicans to go to Cooperstown for the induction of Pedro Martínez and last year for Vladimir Guerrero. Why is organizing these trips important? What is it like to travel with busloads of Dominicans from Boston and then to celebrate the induction?

NP: My radio show “Conversando De Deportes,” which has been on the air for almost 19 years, has organized multiple bus tours to Cooperstown for the Baseball Hall of Fame. We were able to be there for Pedro Martínez’s induction ceremony, in which we took five buses, and for Vladimir Guerrero’s ceremony with three buses. These bus tours have served as a way for me to celebrate the anniversary of the radio show and to also have the opportunity to be part of Dominican history in the world of baseball.

The trip to Cooperstown in itself was amazing. The bus rides are always filled with lots of emotions and excitement. The people are telling jokes, singing and playing instruments such as the “guira” and “la ‘tambora.” We were able to hold raffles as well, giving away T-shirts, autographed baseballs, and much more.

As a sports analyst, I felt honored and proud to be able to cover the induction ceremony for Pedro and Vladimir. Those players are two of only three Dominicans that have made it to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

I am more than sure that those two players won’t be the last Dominicans to make it to the Hall of Fame anytime soon. Players such as David Ortiz and Adrián Beltré will one day join them, and I look forward to being there again with my fellow Dominicans.

AB: I love your passion for your fellow Dominicans and the Boston sports scene. You can enjoy more of Junior’s voice by following him on Twitter.

Featured Image: Nilson Pepén