The Luis Aparicio Award arrives at the Cooperstown Hall of Fame courtesy of Johan Santana
The legacy of Venezuelan baseball will experience a historic moment this Wednesday in Cooperstown. Johan Santana, who was the first player to receive the prestigious Luis Aparicio Award, will officially hand over the statuette to Josh Rawitch, president of the Hall of Fame, so that it may be permanently exhibited in the hall of immortals.
The ceremony, scheduled for August 12, coincides with the 42nd anniversary of Luis Aparicio’s induction into the Hall of Fame. The piece will be placed next to the legendary shortstop’s plaque, thus consolidating the recognition of Venezuelan talent in Major League Baseball.
For me it is an honor, and even more so because of the master, for what he has represented for us as Venezuelans. This award is very special for all Venezuelans.
Johan Santana
The event will feature the presence of Mikel Pérez, creator of the award and president of Line Up Internacional, as well as the honoree’s children: Luis Ernesto, Karen Rose, and Nelson Manuel Aparicio Llorente. This occasion will also serve to commemorate seven decades since Aparicio’s debut in the best baseball in the world and the 60 years since his unforgettable conquest in the 1966 World Series with the Baltimore Orioles.
A recognition of Venezuelan excellence
Since its creation in 2004, the Luis Aparicio Award has served as a thermometer for the excellence of Venezuelan players in Major League Baseball. Johan Santana stands out not only for being the first recipient, but for being one of the 13 players to receive the distinction and the first to obtain it on two occasions.
The list of historic winners includes high-caliber figures who have left their mark on the MLB:
- Miguel Cabrera
- José Altuve
- Ronald Acuña Jr.
- Félix Hernández
- Francisco Rodríguez
- Magglio Ordóñez
- Carlos González
- Eugenio Suárez
- Salvador Pérez
- Luis Arráez
- Jesús Aguilar
- Anthony Santander
With this step, the Luis Aparicio Award reaffirms its commitment to keeping the legacy of the only Venezuelan inducted into the Hall of Fame alive, ensuring that future generations know the importance of his career in professional sports.
