19,000 guys have played MLB, coming from 60-some different countries. Not quite 18,000 came from the good ol’ USA, but Canada, Cuba, the DR, Mexico, and Venezuela all have over 100.
Makes you kinda wonder … How many are singletons? How many players are the only MLB alumni to come from the country of their birth? Let’s see!
Coupla notes:
- I’m listing them from scrubbiest to studliest
- I’m not including places that really aren’t countries (American Samoa, Hong Kong, “at sea” …)
China
Harry got in 4 games with the 1914 Yanks, going hitless in 3 at-bats. A first baseman, he played 2 innings in the field (and with no errors!).
Harry Kingman
Harry was born in Tienstin (modern Tianjin), basically Beijing’s port. His parents were missionaries, bringing Harry back stateside at age 7.
Harry was one of the few guys in this blog to return to the country of his birth. He was mostly involved with the YMCA there, moving to Japan to coach some university-level baseball.
Returning to the States in 1927, he spent more time with the YMCA, coached the Pomona baseball team (he’s the only Pomona grad to play in MLB), and then retired to become a full-time civil rights activist in 1957. He passed away in 1982, at the age of 90.
Latvia
Joe ZapustasJoe got in 2 games for the Philadelphia A’s back in 1933. Over 5 ABs, he got 1 hit, for a 200 average. He too had 2 errorless innings.
Joe was born in Liepaja, a resort town on the Baltic. Of course, that town was part of the Russian Empire back in 1907, when Joe was born.
Zapustas was actually quite a good athlete, playing football for Fordham (he’s in their Hall of Fame), as well as the New York Giants (playing in 2 games in 1933 for them). Joe’s most well-known, however, for being a boxing referee, calling fights for Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray, and Joe Louis.
He passed away only in 2002, living to the ripe old age of 94.
Finland
John Michaelson
Michaelson pitched in 2 games for the 1921 White Sox, He went 2 and 2/3 innings, gave up 4 hits and 3 runs, for a 10.13 ERA.
He was actually born August E. Mikkola, in Tivalkoski, a tiny town in the far north of country (i.e., absolutely nowhere). He emigrated with his family at age 5, so his dad could work in the copper mines in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. John probably would have ended up there as well if it wasn’t for baseball.
After kicking around the minors for a good half dozen years, he returned to the Yoop, where he died at age 74, in 1968.
Greece
Al Campanis
This guy’s so famous off the field, you may forget that he actually did spend some time on it.
Yup, Campanis played for the Bums for 1 year, for 7 games, 24 at bats, and 57 innings in the field as a second baseman (and with no errors!).
After his playing days were over, he became a scout and then a GM for the Dodgers, He gave up the latter after some rather insensitive racial comments he made on Nightline.
Al was born on the Island of Kos as Allesandro Campani. Yup, Greek place, Italian name – but actually reflecting his mixed heritage (Greek mom, Italian dad). In fact, the Dodecanese islands (of which Kos is one) were Italian at the time of Al’s birth, 1916, and his dad was a captain in the Italian army.
Al passed away in 1998, at age 81.
Peru
Jesus LuzardoJesus is our first still-active player. In fact, he should be moving up this list tout suite. He’s something of a phenom.
Just 22, he’s already got a couple of years in MLB, with a fine 3.00 ERA (and 2-0 record) over 12 games and 39 innings pitched, all with Oakland.
Jesus was born in Lima, of Venezuelan parents. His father had come there for a job. Another job would have the family moving to Florida when Jesus was one.
Afghanistan
Jeff Bronkey
Jeff was a middle reliever type who was up for 3 years in the mid ‘90s, playing for Texas and Milwaukee. He finished with a 2-2 record and 2 saves over 45 games and 69 innings pitched.
He was born in Kabul to an Afghan father and an American mother. Mom would return to the US when Jeff was only 2 months old. Wish I knew more.
Currently, Jeff coaches with Fuel, a baseball training facility. His daughter Sierra played softball for Arkansas.
Lithuania
Dovydas Neverauskas
Dovydas, like Jesus Lazardo, is still an active player. Considering, however, that he has a lifetime ERA of 6.98 and a record of 1-4, Dovydas may not be shooting up this list like Jesus.
On the other hand, seeing as Dovydas has spent his whole major-league with the woeful Pirates (and is pitching with them in 2020), we do know he’ll probably get at least a few more opportunities to turn things around. All told, he’s notched 67 games and 68 innings.
Dovydas was born in Vilnius, the capital city, where his dad just so happened to be a baseball coach. Unfortunately, there are no baseball fields in Lithuania, though, so Dovydas was trained in Italy, at the European Baseball Academy.
Singapore
Robin Jennings
Robin played for 4 teams over 4 years, from 1996 to 2001. Mostly an outfielder, he got 213 at-bats in 93 games, compiling a 244 average and hitting 3 homers.
Interestingly, he got over 132 at-bats (well over half his total) in 1 year, 2001. That year also accounted for all of his homers. Even more interestingly, that career year was divided among no less than 3 teams.
Hate to say it, but I know absolutely nothing about the circumstances of his birth. He does look slightly Asian though.
Robin would bounce around the minors for 6 more years. Last I heard of him, we was a youth pitching coach in Park City, UT.
Indonesia
Tom Mastny
Tom was your basic reliever, up for 3 years with the Indians (2006-2008). Over 80 games and 94 innings, he compiled a 9-5 record, 5 saves, but – unfortunately – a 6.13 ERA.
Not too surprisingly, his nickname was ”Nasty.” He musta earned it, though, as his SO/9 IP was 8.1. Being 6’6” helped as well, I’m sure.
There’s a little confusion about his birthplace. Turns out his parents are from Indiana, where they would subsequently raise Tom, the family leaving Indonesia when Tom was 18 months. What were two corn-fed Hoosiers doing over there? His dad had an accounting job with an oil company, but according to Tom, they really just “wanted to travel the world.” Not sure where else they got up to.
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Mastny did return to Asia, to play in Japan, but, alas, never to the country of his birth. Looks like Tom in now an EVP with Palladin, health insurance advisors down in Georgia.
Belgium
Brian Lesher
Brian was an outfielder for the A’s for 3 years back in the late ‘90s. Over 108 games and 263 ABs, he would notch 9 HRs and a 224 average.
Brian was born in Wilrijk, just south of Antwerp. Once again, I’m afraid I have no idea of the circumstances. He looks, and his name sounds, totally American, so I’m guessing it’s just another American military family.
Looks like his post-MLB career included coaching some Little League in New Jersey.
Belize
Chito Martinez
Chito was an outfielder for the Orioles, from 1991 through 1993. Overall, he got in a decent 158 games, totaling 429 ABs and 18 HRs, and notching a 259 average. I’m surprised he didn’t get a little more playing time – doesn’t seem like a bad player at all.
Chito was born in Belize City (the capital), back when Belize was still a British colony (and went by the name of British Honduras). He came to the US at age 2. "My parents came here because there was more opportunity," Martinez told the Baltimore Sun, "It was a better place to raise a family."
You can currently find Chito on LinkedIn – he’s a Business Development Manager at Professional Technologies Group, in Memphis. Sounds like he’s also done more than his fair share of coaching youth baseball. A son, Drew, played in the minors.
Philippines
Bobby Chouinard
Bobby pitched for 5 years in the bigs, from 1996 thru 2001, for 4 teams. His career stats include an 11-8 record, 1 save, and a 4.57 ERA. Though he began as a starter, the rest of his career was as a middle reliever.
Bobby was born in Manila. Other than that, I know next to nothing about that or his early years. He does look like he might be part Filipino.
Unfortunately, Chouinard was last in the news for a domestic violence assault. Hope things are going better for him.
Denmark
Olaf HenriksenOlaf was up in the bigs for 7 years, all with the Red Sox. One of the majors’ first real pinch hitters, he never got more than 100 ABs in any one year, notching 487 total in 321 games. Other accomplishments include a 269 batting average, 3 World Series titles, and pinch-hitting for Babe Ruth.
Henriksen was born in the tiny town of Kirkerup, just west of Copenhagen. His family emigrated to the US the same year he was born. Somehow or other, his nickname became “the Swede.”
After the majors, Henriksen played a ton of semipro and also coached Boston College’s baseball team. He passed away in 1962, at age 74.
Vietnam
Danny Graves
Danny played in the majors for 11 years, including 9 of those with the Reds. Over 800+ innings, he notched a 43-44 record, 182 saves, and a 4.05 ERA. He was a 2-time All Star and was the 2002 recipient of the Lou Gehrig Award. He was known as the “baby-faced assassin.”
Danny was born in Saigon of a Vietnamese mother and an American serviceman father. The family fled the country in 1973, when Danny was 14 months old, and right before Saigon fell. Danny originally spoke Vietnamese at home.
Graves had a major battle with depression (and alcohol, and drugs), both during his last years in MLB and then for a number of years after. He’s since gotten his act together and works as a broadcaster.
Danny and mom
Switzerland
Otto Hess
Otto Hess
Otto was up for 10 years, from 1902 to 1915. He played with 2 teams, Cleveland and the Boston Braves. Over 198 games and 1418 innings, he compiled a 70-90 record, with a fine 2.98 ERA. Unfortunately, the only things he ever led the league with were hit batsmen and wild pitches. A decent batter, he did make himself useful by playing 57 games in the field.
Otto was born in Berne, the Swiss capital, emigrating at age 10 with his family. He would die at the young age of 36, from TB he contracted while serving in WWI.
