Strand
Social Studies
Objectives
Research the lives and experiences of three Latino stars of Major League Baseball. Identify the contributions that these Latino ballplayers have made to the national pastime. Identify challenges these players have had to face and consider how their experiences shed light on the larger challenges Latinos face in American culture.
Cultural Perspective
Ethnicity and baseball have been intertwined since the 1800s. As waves of immigrants entered the nation, many learned the game on the sandlots of the cities and small towns. When young players became good enough and lucky enough to play for the major leagues, they also became heroes to their respective ethnic communities. The immigrants’ dreams of achieving success in America were wound up in the success of their beloved sons on the ball field. Baseball quickly became a popular sport throughout the Hispanic world. It is especially adored in the Caribbean nations. Indeed, many players in the Major League have come from these cultures.
Beyond ethnicity, race played perhaps a bigger role in the history of American baseball. In the earlier part of the 20th century, baseball operated under the social rules of segregation. Some Cubans, for instance, began to play in the U.S. major leagues in the first decade of the 20th century, but only those whose skin was light enough to be considered white. Many others, such as the great Martín Dihigo, stepped up to the plate in the U.S. Negro Leagues. After Jackie Robinson integrated Major League baseball in 1947, he opened the door for other players of color from the United States and Latin America to join the rosters. These players have often endured discrimination and faced strong racism but they also drew many fans to the ballparks around the country.
Pacing
Two class periods
Materials
Expository Writing
Students have the opportunity to write a research report (see Extension below).
Key Questions
- What challenges did young, talented Latino baseball players face when they sought to play professionally?
- What role did they play in their ethnic and racial communities?
Point of View
Students will write brief biographical sketches, including significant statistics, from three Latino players’ histories. One side of each card should include an illustration of the player. These cards should be arranged on a poster, which should also include a one-page biography discussing the experiences each player faced confronting racism or discrimination as well as the role they played as a representative of their respective ethnic or racial community. Have the students research their players and the issues using the provided links. The teacher may allow students to choose other players, since there are many included in the database. Encourage the students to use the suggested graphic organizer as they read the articles. Examples of historical baseball cards can be viewed at the American Memory website at the Library of Congress. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/bbhtml/bbhome.html
DBQs
To start students thinking about the contributions made and challenges faced by Latino baseball players, have them read the quote by Carlos Peña.
Key questions they should answer are:
- What does Carlos Peña mean when he says “we all came here for the same reason?” Is this true for all immigrants to the United States?
- What is “tougher than we thought it would be?”
- What is due process?
- · Why has trying to achieve his dream been so difficult for Peña?
“Except for the Native American Indians, we all came here for the same reason. . . . From the Pilgrims on, we’ve come here looking for the same dream, and we’ve all found that it’s a heckuva lot tougher than we thought it would be. Which means we all have had to work a lot harder. That’s all.”
– Carlos Peña
Directions
Distribute the Student Activity sheet or have students access it via The Latino American Experience’s Classroom Resources. Tell students they will be preparing a poster that highlights the experiences of three Latino baseball players. Students will research the players and the history of baseball in America in order to assess the contributions these players have made to the game and to note the challenges they faced. One part of the poster should be a student-illustrated baseball card for each of the players they chose. Tell the students to use the Three-Column Chart Graphic Organizer to take notes.
Assessment
Use the Media Presentation Rubric to assess students’ performance. Have students reflect on their performance and use the list of expectations to judge how well they met the criteria.
Extension
HHave students use The Latino American Experience to research and write about the experiences of other sports or entertainment stars from the Hispanic world.
(May be copied for classroom use.)