Leo Najo

One of the first Latinos to play professional baseball in the United States, Leo Najo debuted in 1924 with the San Antonio Bears of the Class A Texas League. After electrifying the San Antonio crowds with his incredible speed and astonishing outfield catches, Najo was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the winter of 1925. Although he has since been largely forgotten by baseball historians, The Washington Post once called him “one of the greatest baseball players of all time.” Overcoming the bitter racism in baseball against all players of color, Najo drew strength from his deep love for the game, rising to the heights of stardom in spite of tremendous obstacles. Through his amazing accomplishments, Najo opened the doors of professional baseball for the many outstanding Latino players that followed. Although his career with the White Sox was cut short by a serious leg injury, Najo persevered and transformed himself into one of the greatest minor league players ever. Selected a “Book of the Year” by The Monitor newspaper of McAllen, Texas, this book presents the incredible story of how a young man who started life with virtually nothing became one of the greatest sports heroes of all time, overcoming the pervasive racism of the time. 3