By Lino García
Álex Cora, the first Puerto Rican manager to win a World Series, and eight other sports figures will be immortalized next month at the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame.
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In addition to Cora, other athletes who will join the Hall of the immortals include ex-gymnast Luis Rivera – Puerto Rican multi-medalist in Central American and Caribbean Games-, ex-basketball player Eddie Casiano, ex-volleyball and basketball player Eva Cruz, as detailed in a press release.
They will also be joined by former baseball manager Luis “Torito” Meléndez, former basketball players Bobby Ríos and María “Cuca” Cordovés, sports journalist Jesús “Chu” García and José Julián Álvarez as a precursor of the sport.
Álex Cora: gave joy and glory to Puerto Rico
“It will be a special day where we will be recognizing all these sports figures who gave so much joy and glory to our island through their performances on the field of play in their respective disciplines,” Jimmy Thordsen, president of the Puerto Rican Sports Hall of Fame, said in the statement.
“We will also have the opportunity to honor other figures who made their contributions in other areas,” he added.
Historically, the system for selecting new Hall of Fame inductees was the sole responsibility of the agency’s Board of Directors. However, for two years, Thordsen, in his desire to continue exploring alternatives in the election process, added the votes of sports reporters, current members of the Hall, as well as fans.
“It will be a different induction ceremony. We hope that people attend the activity and that they can mingle with these icons of Puerto Rican sports,” concluded Thordsen, himself a former basketball player on the National Team.
Additionally, Raúl Rodríguez, a successful business man and owner of the Criollos de Caguas franchise in the Roberto Clemente Professional Baseball League, historically the most successful team in Puerto Rico winter baseball with 20 championships, was announced as honorary president of the 2023 induction ceremony.
The gala will be held at the Caribe Hilton Hotel in San Juan on October 29th.