Press Release: Mets Create Latin Hall of Fame

The New York Mets today announced the creation of the Mets Latin American Hall of Fame. The Mets Latin American Hall of Fame will honor and highlight the numerous contributions of Mets Latin players, coaches and executives that have passed through the organization over the last seven decades and into the future.

Coach and advisor Osvaldo José “Ozzie” Virgil Pichardo and Mets Spanish broadcaster Juan José Alicea have been selected to represent the inaugural class.

The Mets senior leadership collaborated with Los Mets ERG to establish the Mets Latin American Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame will reside at the Mets Academy in the Dominican Republic in Boca Chica.

“We are thrilled to establish the Mets Latin American Hall of Fame,” Mets Owners Steve and Alex Cohen said. “It is tremendously important to honor our organization’s Latin culture and the individuals who have impacted the franchise and those that will continue to do so in the future. We hope our young players and staff in the DR will pass by this Hall of Fame each day and feel a sense of pride and representation.”

Virgil, 91, became the first Dominican-Born MLB player when he made his debut with the New York Giants on September 23, 1956. He played with five different teams over the course of nine seasons, as well as in the Dominican Winter League from 1955–1970. Virgil served as a coach and advisor in the Mets organization from 2009–2021. He is a pioneer who forged a path for many Latinos to follow.

Alicea, who passed away at age 85 in 2022, will be honored posthumously. He joined the organization in April of 1969 and served in a variety of capacities including scouting and community relations before finding his home in the Spanish broadcasting booth in 1982, where he remained through 2019. Alicea was behind the mic for over 4,000 Mets games, including being the leading voice on the International Spanish Network during the 1986 postseason which aired throughout the United States and Latin America. In 2021, the Mets named the Spanish Radio Booth at Citi Field in his honor.

“Ozzie and Juan were trailblazers in their respected fields,” Steve and Alex Cohen added. “Both have had an enormous impact on our organization, and are wonderful representatives for the inaugural Hall of Fame class.”

Each class will be selected by a committee that has been established to nominate players, coaches, broadcasters, or executives guided by the criteria set forth by its bylaws.

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