In the new film "Viva Baseball," documentary filmmaker Dan Klores explores the history and culture of America's pastime and its Latin American players. Baseball's meteoric rise in popularity in Latin countries throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America in the 20th century is well known, but "Viva Baseball" showcases the regions' greatest players and thecultural significance baseball has in Latin America in a never-before-seen way.
"Viva Baseball" is ambitious in its scope. On one hand, the film certainly will be a history lesson to many fans of the game, especially those out there who know every middle reliever on waivers' WHIP, but have no idea what team Juan Marichal played for.
Filled with many stories previously never revealed, "Viva Baseball" is more than just rehashed history. The raw footage and interviews alone are fun to watch for any young baseball fan who never saw or even heard of some of the legends of yesteryear. The role of dictators and military coupes, natural disasters and hundreds of families left behind is unparalleled in any other demographic of athletes in American history, and these stories come alive. Set against the backdrop of the integration of the sport, Latin ballplayers were challenged by the dual obstacles of playing in a racist society with dark skin and not speaking more than a handful of words in English.
At a time when the racial climate at the University couldn't be worse, "Viva Baseball" provides an illuminating angle on some of our own issues on Grounds. On one hand, racial tensions are greater than just black and white issues.
Furthermore, as Klores himself wrote in an article published in the New York Daily News, "Since its establishment in 1939, the Hall has inducted only six Latin players: Roberto Clemente, Juan Marichal, Luis Aparicio, Rod Carew, Orlando Cepeda and Tony Perez. Both sportswriters and the veteran's committee should consider the barriers of color, culture, and most significantly, language, that prevented some Latin stars from competing in the big leagues, and robbed others of their prime years."
Do you have any idea how ridiculous this is? I realize baseball hasn't been dominated by Latin players since 1939 at the rate they dominate today, but SIX since 1939! Either racism during their careers kept great players out of the spotlight or racism now prevents deserving candidates from making it to the Hall of Fame or both. Surely, many of the Latin stars of today (many of whom appear in the film) will increase the Latino presence in Cooperstown, but how many great players will remain in the dustbin of history as the years pass on?
Mr. Klores' first two films, "The Boys of Second Street Park" and "Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story," both were screened as part of the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, and "Viva Baseball" is a fine addition to his repertoire. It premieres next Friday, Sept. 23 at 9 p.m. on SpikeTV.
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