Phillies Hispanic Player History
While the Phillies were the last National League team to have a Black player (1957), they were the first to have a Hispanic player 80 years ago.
The following details the history of Latino players with the Phillies during Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), an annual celebration of the history and culture of the U.S. Latino and Hispanic communities.
MEXICO
2B José “Chile” Gómez, a native of Mexico, becomes the first Latino to play for the Phillies and in the National League, and the second Mexican-born player in the Majors (Mel Almada, Red Sox, 1933). Wearing No. 22, the 26-year-old made his debut on July 27, 1935, at Braves Field in Boston and went hitless in three at-bats while batting eighth. Hit .230 in 67 games followed by .232 in 108 games the following season. Broke in professionally in Mexico (information unavailable), spent 1933-34 in the Minors with the Reds. Phillies signed him on July 26, 1935. Sold to N.Y. Giants, Jan. 25, 1937.
Ruben Amaro Sr. was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. He had the longest tenure as a Latino in Philadelphia. He was a Gold Glove shortstop for six seasons, a Major League coach, Minor League manager, winter league manager, scout, Minor League field coordinator and director of Latin American affairs.
In all, he spent nearly 50 years in pro ball between numerous organizations. He was inducted into the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1986.
CUBA
RF-PH-RHP Rene Monteagudo, first Cuban-born player for Phils. Purchased from the Washington Nationals, Nov. 29, 1944. April 17, 1945, debut came at Brooklyn Dodgers, the Phillies 11th game of the season. 1-for-4, RBI, batting third as the right fielder; wore No. 22. Finished .301 for 114 games; 0-0 for 14 relief appearances. Played final game of career Sept. 30 of the same season, Dodgers at Shibe Park. Singled in final AB. Before 1946 season jumped from Phillies to Mexican League.
1B Pancho Herrera. A black Cuban, the Phillies purchased his contract from Kansas City of the Negro American League after the 1954 season. After three seasons in the Phils' Minor League system, he made their 1958 Opening Day roster. His debut was April 15, in Cincinnati as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. He was sent to the Minors in mid-May and returned to the Majors on Sept. 11 . . . He was in the Opening Day lineup in 1961 (2B) and 1962 (1B) . . . After that season, he was traded to Pittsburgh along with homegrown black OF Ted Savage for 3B Don Hoak. Pancho never played another big league game.
SS Chico Fernandez, born in Cuba, was the first player of color for the Phillies, the Opening Day shortstop after being acquired in an April 5, 1957, trade with the Dodgers (five players and $75,000). Fernandez was a light-colored Cuban and was considered a Negro by newspapers of the time. (baseball-reference.com). Traded to Detroit after three seasons. Broke in with Brooklyn in July 1956.
PANAMA
RHP Humberto Robinson, a slender 6-foot-1, 155-pounder, was the first Panamanian to wear a Phillies uniform, ending a five-year big league career in Philadelphia, 1959-60. He was acquired from the Cleveland Indians for Granny Hamner, May 16, 1959. After spending 1961 with the Phillies’ Triple-A club (Buffalo), he was released.
CF Adolfo Phillips was the first homegrown player from Panama having been signed in September 1960. His Major League debut came Sept. 2, 1964, age 22. In his first four Minor League seasons, he hit 82 homers, stole 86 bases and hit over .300. He was the key player in a five-player trade with the Cubs, April 21, 1966, veteran right-handers Larry Jackson and Bob Buhl for Phillips, OF John Herrnstein and RHP Fergie Jenkins.
PUERTO RICO
C Valmy Thomas made his Phillies debut April 14, 1959, their first player born in Puerto Rico. According to baseball-reference.com, he was born there but spent his childhood in the Virgin Islands. He was acquired along with RHP Ruben Gomez from San Francisco for RHP Jack Sanford.
INF Luis Aguayo, signed Dec. 27, 1975, became the first homegrown Puerto Rican player when he debuted April 19, 1980. His nine-year career is the longest for a Hispanic Phillies position player.
In July, 1974, the Phillies created a stir by making 14-year-old Jorge Lebron, the youngest player ever to sign a professional baseball contract. The shortstop from Patillas, Puerto Rico, was signed for a reported $30,000 by Ruben Amaro Sr., then director of the Phillies’ Latin American affairs. Lebron’s pro career began that summer with the Auburn (NY) Phillies (New York-Penn League). His manager was Larry Rojas, a native of Havana, Cuba. By age 17, Jorge’s career was over after three seasons in the lower Minor League levels.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
PH, 3B, 1B Rick Joseph is the first player from this baseball hotbed island to play for the Phillies when the 27-year-old started at first base in Pittsburgh, Aug. 31, 1967. The season was his ninth in pro ball. The Phillies selected him from the Kansas City Athletics in the 1966 Minor League Rule 5 Draft.
Alejandro Sanchez. The 23-year-old became the first homegrown player from this country to play for the Phillies when he pinch ran for Bo Diaz, Sept. 6, 1982, at the Cubs’ Wrigley Field. The Phillies had signed the 19-year-old as an international free agent out of San Pedro de Macoris, D.R, April 10, 1978.
VENEZUELA
INF-OF Cesar Tovar is the Phillies first native of this country. The 32-year-old was acquired from the Minnesota Twins after the 1972 season for OF Joe Lis, Ps Ken Reynolds and Ken Sanders. Following the 1973 season, he was sold to the Texas Rangers.
2B Manny Trillo is the first homegrown Venezuelan to player in Philadelphia. It was a winding road. Originally signed by the Phillies in 1968 as a skinny 17-year-old catcher, he was a Rule 5 Draft by the Oakland A’s (1969), traded to the Chicago Cubs (1974) before returning to the Phillies in an eight-player trade (February 1979). He was a World Series champion in 1980, riding down Broad Street.
NICARAGUA
RHP Porfi Altamirano, the first player with the Phillies from Nicaragua. His contract was purchased from the Miami Amigos of the Inter-American League in his first pro season (1979). Pitched for Phillies in parts of 1982-83 seasons.
COLOMBIA
INF Jackie Gutierrez (1988) and C Jorge Alfaro (2016-2018) are the two players from this country who have played for the Phillies.
CURACAO
1B Randall Simón, the first player from this country with the Phillies, 23 games in 2006. Purchased from the Texas Rangers, Sept. 1 of that season.
PERU
LHP Jesús Luzardo is the Phillies’ first player born in this country. Acquired from the Miami Marlins for OF Emaarion Boyd and INF Starlyn Caba, Dec. 22, 2024.