Trailblazer

Infielder Ozzie Virgil becomes the major leagues’ first Dominican-born player 67 years ago today, starting at third base for the New York Giants and going 0-for-4 in a 6-2 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 6,134 at the Polo Grounds.

Virgil finishes the 1956 season strong as just a week later he picks up five hits in eight at-bats during a doubleheader split with the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium.

He eventually spends all or parts of nine seasons in the majors, mostly in a bench role.

His debut in 1956 starts the path for Dominicans to play in the majors, a path that since then includes 893 fellow countrymen.

That path includes his son, Ozzie Virgil Jr., as well as four Hall of Famers in pitchers Juan Marichal and Pedro Martinez, outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and designated hitter David Ortiz; and a couple of future Hall of Famers in first baseman Albert Pujols and third baseman Adrian Beltre.