Francisco E. Balderrama - Mexican American baseball in Los Angeles

The publication of Mexican American Baseball in Los Angeles is largely due to the dedication and hard work of the men and women associated with the Latino Baseball History Project. Further information about this organization is presented on page 127. Individuals involved with the project who have supported the writing of this book include California State University, San Bernardino library dean Csar Caballero; CSUSB Special Collections curator Jill Vassilakos-Long; CSUSB administrative analyst Iwona Contreras; Baseball Reliquary executive director Terry Cannon and artist and art consultant Toms Benitez.

Since the inauguration of the project at California State University, Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Dodgers have also lent their assistance. Furthermore, Cal State L.A. students in the class Chicano Studies 490/History 450: Mexican American Baseball and Oral History played essential roles. The students conducted oral histories and collected photographs for the highly successful exhibitions designed and assembled by Terry Cannon, first at Cal State L.A. and then elsewhere. Many of the photographs and other artifacts, as well as recollections and testimonies appearing here, were drawn from those exhibitions. Unless otherwise noted, all the images appear courtesy of the Latino Baseball History Project. Other local historical organizations and libraries also uncovered materials. Among them were the La Historia Society of El Monte and the Los Angeles Public Library. An especially important contribution to the book has been the impressive artwork of Ben Sakoguchi, which presents an unauthorized history of Mexican American baseball.

The donors of photographs are too numerous to mention individually. However, former players Al Padilla, Art Velarde, and Richard Pea (in addition to other members of the Pea family) spent considerable time encouraging others to contribute photographs. Professional photographer Ron Regalado also made available the invaluable Manuel Regalado baseball collection of photographs and documents. Furthermore, the scholarship of historian Samuel O. Regalado was a critical resource for this pictorial history. The authors were delighted when he graciously agreed to write the foreword. Terry Cannons encyclopedic knowledge of baseball was called upon at a number of critical moments during the writing of this book. In addition, research assistant Mark Oceguedas commitment to the project and book was inspirational.

The authors are most grateful to the players, as well as their families and fans, who have contributed their photographs; by doing so, they have told us the story of American baseball in Mexican Los Angeles. We also thank Arcadia Publishing and editor Jerry Roberts.