Hiram Gabriel Bithorn Sosa (March 18, 1916 – December 29,<!-- mlb.com and baseball-reference.com indicate December 29; thebaseballcube.com and retrosheet.org indicate December 30; see talk page --> 1951) was a professional right-handed pitcher who became the first baseball player from Puerto Rico to play in affiliated Major League Baseball.

Standing and weighing about , Bithorn was a hard-throwing pitcher who commanded attention when he began his delivery with a distinctive windup, raising his long left leg high in the air and throwing a blazing fastball toward home plate. Bithorn was born as Hiram Gabriel Bithorn Sosa in Santurce, a heavily populated area in the city of San Juan, and was one of five children born to Waldemar G. Bithorn, a municipal employee, and María Sosa, a public school teacher. The Bithorn family traveled frequently to the United States. María taught her children English and at one time produced a radio program called Abuelita Borinqueña (Puerto Rican Grandmother). The young Hiram attended Central High School in Santurce, and his two older brothers, 11 and 10 years his senior, encouraged and assisted in training him to become an athlete.

Bithorn was signed by the Chicago Cubs in September 1941 and debuted in the Major Leagues on April 15, 1942, making history as the first Puerto Rican to play in organized baseball. Bithorn won nine games and lost 14 in his first season,

On November 26, 1943, after his second season, Bithorn joined the United States Navy. While in the navy, he served at Naval Air Station San Juan in Puerto Rico where he became the player-manager for the baseball team at the station. He was discharged from the navy on September 1, 1945. His promising start did not last once he returned from military service. By this moment his weight had risen to 225 pounds, which led to rumors that he may not have the same abilities. on December 28, 1951, in El Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Bithorn's achievement of making it to the majors remained a source of pride in Puerto Rico, and he was honored in 1962 when the biggest ballpark on the island was built and named after him. Hiram Bithorn Stadium is located next to Roberto Clemente Coliseum and across the street from Plaza Las Américas Mall, the stadium has also hosted world championship boxing fights, major professional wrestling events from the World Wrestling Council, the 1979 Pan American Games, and important musical spectacles. The Montreal Expos played 22 home games there in the 2003 and 2004 MLB seasons, while Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2006 and 2009 World Baseball Classic editions also were played there, including teams from Group C and Group D. In 2013 the World Baseball Classic Round 1, Pool C was played in the stadium, featuring Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Spain and Venezuela national teams.

See also

  • List of Puerto Ricans
  • List of players from Puerto Rico in Major League Baseball
  • Baseball in Puerto Rico
  • Sports in Puerto Rico
  • List of countries with their first Major League Baseball player

Notes

References

  • Biography at Autógrafo TV