Field of themes: Puerto Rico in the spotlight at Polar Park

WORCESTER —The Worcester Red Sox held Puerto Rican Night to honor Roberto Clemente and local members of the Puerto Rican community during a ceremony Thursday.

The pregame event came on what would have been Clemente's 88th birthday. The Hall of Famer died in a plane crash during a humanitarian trip to Nicaragua on Dec. 23, 1972. He was 38.

Ritmos Dance Studio’s Yaraceli Reyes and Cassandra Santana, both of Worcester, performed the Bomba dance, a Puerto Rican dance with African roots.

The WooSox presented a check to the Roberto Clemente Foundation, which promotes positive change and community engagement. On behalf of the Roberto Clemente Foundation, retired U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Victor Rivera, along with Fisher College Athletic Director Scott Dulin, accepted the donation.

The WooSox also recognized a group of Worcester youth players of Latino decent. Brisa Betancourt from Jack Barry Softball, along with Lou Gehrig Little Leaguers Juan Betancourt, David Torres, Yarzel Torres, Dylan Gonzalez, Johan Lexis Chinea, Jason Ortiz, John Millet and Ahmed Ortiz participated in the pregame ceremony.

Dolly Vazquez, a native of Puerto Rico who created the Cultural Department at Centro, which is the largest minority-led, community-based nonprofit in Central Massachusetts, was recognized as the WooSox’s Hometown Hero. Vazquez then tossed out the ceremonial first pitch.

Members of the local Puerto Rican community who serve Central Mass. as first responders were also recognized on the field, including Shirley Police Department Chief Samuel Santiago, retired Sgt. Jared Yanis, and officer Jesus Ostolaza; Chicopee Police Department officer Elly Rodriguez; Framingham Police Department Sgt. Richard Pomales; Marlborough Police Department communications officer Marcelle Santiago; Springfield Police Department’s Anthony Santiago; Worcester Police Department officers Danny Diaz, Irving Rosario, Alex Fernandez-Diaz, Nelson Baez, Jovani Mojica, Jose Ortiz, Neftali Batista, Samuel Rivera and Ibsan Morales; Worcester Fire Department Lt. Marcos Naranjo, firefighters Jefferey Ortiz,  Carlos Moro, Malki Velez, Juan Lopez and Joshua Gonzalez.

During the Korean War, the 65th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed “The Borinqueneers,” was a Puerto Rican regiment of the United States Army. The Perez family, all veterans, was recognized during the ceremony.

Acting Worcester City Manager Eric Batista, a native of Puerto Rico, also was recognized on the field.

Linette Benson, of Worcester, performed “La Borinquena,” the official anthem of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

WooSox bench coach Jose Flores was born, raised and resides in Puerto Rico.

“It really means a lot to me,” he said of the pregame ceremony honoring Clemente. “I had the privilege of wearing No. 21 in the big leagues [as a coach], and in 2020, we started a movement, trying to get Major League Baseball to retire No. 21 and get the recognition he deserves.”

Flores was born Jan. 1, 1971, and Clemente died the following December. It was such a big deal on the island that Flores’ father decided to postpone his son’s second birthday.

“The whole island was grieving the accident, so my dad decided to hold off my birthday,” Flores explained. “That’s how big Clemente was on the island. Not a single guy, from Puerto Rico, or anywhere else in the world talked bad about him. That says a lot about his character on and off the field.”

Major League Baseball will celebrate Roberto Clemente Day on Sept. 15.

Contact Joe McDonald at JMcDonald2@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeyMacHockey.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Field of themes: Puerto Rico in the spotlight at Polar Park, home of Worcester Red Sox