An accomplished finance and real estate professional in the New York City area, Edward Espinal draws upon nearly two decades of experience in his role as the CEO of Cash Flow Partners and Real Estate Masters. An avid baseball fan outside of his professional life, Edward Espinal was introduced to the game in his native country of the Dominican Republic.
Over the past few decades, Major League Baseball has featured many stars hailing from the Caribbean island country of the Dominican Republic, where baseball has been popular since the 19th century. Despite this long tradition, it wasn’t until Ozzie Virgil Sr. joined the New York Giants in 1956 that Dominican players began playing in the major league.
Born in the Dominican city of Monte Cristi, Ozzie Virgil moved to the United States with his family as a teenager. A gifted baseball player, he was signed by the New York Giants in 1953 for a $300 signing bonus. Three years later, he made his major league debut, going hitless in four at-bats. Virgil went on to play for nine seasons with multiple teams, compiling modest statistics that are dwarfed by his impact on the game.
Since Virgil broke the barrier for Dominican players, hundreds of players have crossed the Caribbean to play in the U.S., including legends such as Pedro Martinez, David Ortiz, and Albert Pujols. Additionally, the baseball industry has added thousands of jobs and tens of millions of dollars to the Dominican economy.
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