Mexican American Baseball in Sacramento explores the history and culture of teams and players from the Sacramento region. Since the early 20th century, baseball diamonds in California's capital and surrounding communities have nurtured athletic talent, educational skills, ethnic identity, and political self-determination for Mexican Americans. The often-neglected historical narrative of these men's and women's teams tells the story of community, migration, military service, education, gender, social justice, and perseverance. Players often became important members of their communities, and some even went on to become professional athletes—paving a path for Latinos in sports. These photographs serve as a lens to both local sports history and Mexican American history.
Mark A. Ocegueda is an assistant professor of US and Mexican American history at California State University, Sacramento. Christopher Docter is a baseball researcher and professional in museum, library, and archival fields. Richard A. Santillán is professor emeritus of ethnic and women studies at California State Polytechnic University at Pomona. Ernie Cervantes Jr. is a member of Sacramento’s Mexican American Hall of Fame Sports Association and was inducted in 1989. Cuno Barragán is a former major-league baseball player with the Chicago Cubs and inductee to the Sacramento Mexican American Hall of Fame Sports Association.