Luis Aparicio Award trophy arrives at Cooperstown Hall of Fame

On August 12, the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, hosted a ceremony to commemorate 42 years since the induction of Venezuelan legend Luis Aparicio. To mark the occasion, the Luis Aparicio Award trophy—which recognizes the top Venezuelan player in Major League Baseball annually—was officially presented to Hall of Fame President Josh Rawitch to be permanently displayed at the museum.

The ceremony was led by former pitcher Johan Santana, the first recipient of the award in 2004. Santana was joined by Mikel Pérez, president of Line Up International and creator of the award, as well as the children of Luis Aparicio. The event also served to honor the 70th anniversary of Aparicio’s Major League debut in 1956.

Since its inception in 2004, 13 Venezuelan players have received the trophy, including notable names such as Miguel Cabrera, José Altuve, and Ronald Acuña Jr. The permanent placement of the award alongside Aparicio’s plaque aims to preserve the legacy of the Hall of Famer, who was known for his nine consecutive stolen base titles and his historic career with the Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Boston Red Sox.