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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Culture & Society

Luis Aparicio Award Statuette Arrives at Cooperstown Hall of Fame

From El Nacional · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • The Luis Aparicio Award statuette will arrive at the Cooperstown Hall of Fame on August 12, marking 42 years since Aparicio's induction.
  • Hall of Famer Johan Santana will present the statuette, representing the first winner of the award, to Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch.
  • The event also commemorates other significant anniversaries in Luis Aparicio's career, including his MLB debut and his World Series win.

Cooperstown, New York, will welcome a significant piece of Venezuelan baseball history on August 12 as the Luis Aparicio Award statuette arrives at the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This event coincides with the 42nd anniversary of the legendary Venezuelan shortstop Luis Aparicio's induction into the Hall of Fame.

The ceremony will feature Hall of Famer Johan Santana, a recipient of the Luis Aparicio Award himself, presenting the statuette to Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch. This marks the first time the award, established in 2004, will be permanently housed in Cooperstown, joining Aparicio's plaque and other memorabilia from Venezuelan players.

Santana expressed his honor in participating, emphasizing Aparicio's importance as a representative of Venezuela. The Luis Aparicio Award holds special significance for Venezuelans, and Santana recalled receiving it in Maracaibo 23 years prior. He is one of 13 players to have won the statuette, and notably, the only one to have won it twice.

For me it is an honor and even more so for the maestro (Aparicio), for what he has represented to us as Venezuelans.

— Johan SantanaHall of Famer Johan Santana on the significance of presenting the Luis Aparicio Award statuette.

The award's history includes notable recipients such as Miguel Cabrera (five times), José Altuve (four times), and Ronald Acuña Jr. (three times). The event will also be attended by Mikel Pérez, president of Line Up International and the award's creator, along with Aparicio's children, who will share insights into their father's legacy and take a private tour of the museum.

Beyond celebrating Aparicio's Hall of Fame induction, the occasion honors two other major milestones: the 70th anniversary of his MLB debut in 1956, where he became the first Latin American to win Rookie of the Year, and the 60th anniversary of his World Series victory with the Baltimore Orioles in 1966, making him the first Venezuelan to achieve this feat.

This award is very special for all Venezuelans. It's been 23 years since we were in Maracaibo for the first time receiving it.

— Johan SantanaJohan Santana reflecting on the importance of the Luis Aparicio Award.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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