For a legend to persist, multiple voices must replicate its legacy. Otherwise it is impossible for it to last.
Martín Dihigo, the most complete Cuban baseball player in the history of baseball and who belongs to the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, is one of these sports figures who deserves to be remembered as a legend.
Gilberto Dihigo, journalist, academic and writer, is aware of this and for this reason he created the Martín Dihigo Foundation, a space that serves to maintain the historical legacy of his father and at the same time with the aim of training good young people through sport.
“Our mission is to promote comprehensive sports, cultural, and educational development in children and young people and to become useful citizens for society. We cannot have men of integrity in society if we do not have educated children, and that is the main objective of our foundation” .
“El Inmortal” Martín Dihigo was a unique baseball player, a true sensation. He played in all positions on the field, with a passion and responsibility beyond his contemporaries.
He made his debut in the Negro League of the United States, at just 17 years old with a team made up solely of Cuban players, called the “Cuban Team”.
He accumulated exceptional statistics with a batting average above .300, a slugging percentage above .500 and 110 home runs for life, including his time in Latin America (Mexico, Cuba and the Dominican Republic). As a pitcher, Dihigo is listed with 51 wins and a 3.57 ERA.
The foundation, which has been operating since 2018, recently began its pilot plan of activities in the Dominican Republic, with the La Rosa Academy in San Pedro de Macorís, directed by Melvin de la Rosa and Henry Castillo, benefiting hundreds of children with clothing. clothing and canned food.
“The greatest satisfaction of the human being is to help others, you have to be supportive and cultivate love above all things,” said journalist Dihigo.
Nicole James, who is the director of the UCE school, also participated in the award ceremony. Marisol Dihigo, wife of Gilberto Dihigo and vice president of the foundation, pointed out that the foundation chose the Dominican Republic because it is one of the main exporters of baseball throughout the world, and because it understands that not only sports practice is needed, but also the educational and social development for Dominican children and youth.
“The program was more focused on education, but we are trying to provide food and clothing to the children, seeing the reality in which most children in this area find themselves, and we will work to obtain more resources that make it possible to meet these needs.”
Resources
The foundation currently receives financial resources from the video game brand PlayStation, which in its most recent video game “MLB The Show 23” includes eight of the greatest players in the Negro Leagues, including the Cuban Dihigo in the “StoryLines” modality.
Invitational Tournament
Thanks to this economic support, the foundation plans to organize an invitational event in the 15-16 year-old category in the province of Puerto Plata in the middle of this year, with teams from Mexico, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.