The Martinez Brothers: The Untold Baseball Story

Talent

The Martinez Brothers: A Baseball Memoir

Discover the captivating story of the Martinez Brothers, Horacio, Julio, Aquiles, and Antonio - four incredibly talented professional baseball players from Santiago, Dominican Republic.

They played for legendary teams including the National Champions Santiago Baseball Club (aka.Santiago Águilas), General Trujillo, Licey Tigres, Escogido Leones, and Águilas Cibaeñas across the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico. Horacio was a member of the 1947 Negro League Champions, the New York Cubans.

Follow their journey through triumph, tragedy, and the lasting legacy they left behind. This documentary will take you on an emotional rollercoaster, showcasing the power of talent, the impact of tragedy, and the enduring legacy of these remarkable brothers.

Members of the 1935 New York Cubans (Horacio Martinez, 2nd, Left to Right)

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Martinez Béisbol Films is producing a documentary of four brothers who collectively played, coached, and scouted professional baseball starting in 1928 through 2001 in the Dominican Republic with their legacy extending into the Negro Leagues, Major League Baseball, and Latin American leagues (Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Venezuela, and Panama).

Your donation will enable us to film on-location and share these never-heard-before interviews with the world before these stories are lost to history forever. Please CLICK HERE to make a DONATION and invest in the making of this important film. Any amount is greatly appreciated. And you can potentially see your name in credits as a producer! Sign up today!

These are the first two official trailers for the documentary, "The Martinez Brothers: The Untold Story of Talent, Tragedy, and Legacy." Follow us on social media, support us by making a donation, and subscribe to our newsletter for exciting updates and events.

Tragedy

The Brothers' Journey

The Santiago Base Ball Club of the 1930s and 1940s was hailed as one of the most legendary and cherished teams in Dominican and Latin American baseball history. In 1948, they competed in a prestigious national tournament, with the ultimate prize being a chance to face the iconic Brooklyn Dodgers in an international series.

On January 11, 1948, the Santiago Base Ball Club triumphed in their final game against Las Estrellas Orientales, securing their place in history. But their journey was tragically cut short. While returning to Santiago, their plane crashed into the Barahona mountains, claiming the lives of all 32 aboard, including two Martinez brothers, Antonio and Aquiles, as well as reporters, team staff, and the flight crew. This devastating event marked the first recorded aviation disaster to wipe out an entire professional sports team.

Miraculously, the team's catcher, Enrique Lantigua, survived—though not by chance. Lantigua reportedly experienced a chilling premonition, leading him to forgo the flight and instead drive back to Santiago, forever altering his fate. Julito Martinez, the mascot and youngest Martinez brother was also sparred due to a baseball game he played with another team.

The Santiago Baseball Club team players, coaches, doctors, reporters, and some family members board their plane after winning the National Championship on January 11, 1948. Except for catcher Enrique Lantigua, who had a premonition and drove instead, everyone onboard perished including Toñito Martínez, the catcher, and Aquiles Martínez, the second baseman. Julito Martínez, their youngest brother and the club’s teenage mascot, also escaped because his own team had scheduled a game.

Legacy

Unveiling the Untold Stories

Julio "Julito" Martinez: A Legacy Built on Resilience and Dedication

The youngest of the Martinez siblings, Julio "Julito" Martinez, became a cornerstone of the Santiago baseball community after the tragic loss of the original team. Joining the reformed Águilas Cibaeñas, Julio dedicated over five decades to the sport as a player, coach, and mentor, leaving an indelible mark on Dominican baseball history.

Julio was a key member of the 1952 Águilas Cibaeñas squad that captured the team’s first of 22 national championships. His extraordinary career earned him countless accolades, including the retirement of his iconic number 29. Renowned for his skill on the field and his exceptional ability to mentor young talent, Julio played an integral role in shaping future generations of Águilas players. His contributions extended beyond Dominican borders as he scouted talent for Major League Baseball's Pittsburgh Pirates.

Today, Julio’s legacy is immortalized in a life-size statue at the Plazoleta a las Águilas Cibaeñas, part of the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration in Santiago, D.R., standing tall alongside other Dominican baseball legends.

Horacio "Rabbit" Martinez: A Trailblazer and Talent Scout Extraordinaire

The oldest Martinez brother, Horacio "Rabbit" Martinez, broke barriers as a standout player for the New York Cubans in the Negro Leagues. Despite attracting the attention of MLB teams like the Brooklyn Dodgers and Washington Senators, Horacio was denied the opportunity to play in the Major Leagues due to the racial segregation of the era. Undeterred, he pivoted to a groundbreaking career as a scout, becoming a pivotal figure in the Dominican Republic's talent pipeline to MLB.

Horacio's keen eye for talent led to the discovery and signing of legendary players, including Felipe, Jesús, and Mateo Alou, as well as Manny Mota, widely regarded as one of baseball’s greatest pinch hitters. Among his crowning achievements was signing Juan Marichal, the first Dominican player inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

Though Horacio was nominated in 2005 as a Negro League candidate for the Hall of Fame, he was not inducted in the 2006 election. However, his legacy endures through the players he mentored, many of whom considered him a father figure. Together, they reshaped baseball, breaking barriers and elevating the Dominican Republic's prominence in the sport.

Horacio and Julio Martinez exemplify resilience, dedication, and a profound love for baseball. Their contributions transformed lives, communities, and the very fabric of the game, ensuring their stories remain woven into its history forever.

Plazoleta a las Águilas Cibaeñas in Santiago, D.R.

Horacio “Rabbit” Martinez played shortstop for the New York Cubans in the 1940s. Photo Credit: Negro League Beisbol Museum.

About Martinez Béisbol Films

Martinez Béisbol Films is dedicated to producing a compelling documentary that showcases the remarkable lives of the Martinez Brothers. Through their story, we aim to shed light on the challenges faced by professional Afro-Latino and Negro baseball players and honor the legacy of these extraordinary individuals.

Tony Peña, manager of the Águilas Cibaeñas, based in Santiago, Dominican Republic, celebrates the series sweep over Licey Tigres during the historic "Titanes del Caribe" three-game exhibition at Citifield in November 2023. Before the Águilas, Peña was the first base coach for the New York Yankees, managed the Kansas City Royals, and is a four-time MLB Gold Glove winner who was a catcher for the Pittsburgh, Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Houston Astros. He was first signed by Julio Martinez, one of the Martinez Brothers, to play professional baseball with Águilas Cibaeñas before joining Major League Baseball.

Get an exclusive look into the making of Martinez Brothers: The Untold Baseball Story of Talent, Tragedy, & Legacy'. Explore the behind-the-scenes footage, interviews with original players, surviving family members, and historians. Learn of the challenges we faced during production. Dive deeper into the untold stories that shaped this captivating documentary.

Do you know someome we should interview or are you interested in learning more about our documentary? Please fill out the contact form below and we'll contact you.

Danae Tjionas is ready for the big leagues during the historic Titanes Del Caribe series between Águilas Cibaeñas and Tigres Del Licey at CitiField, Flushing, NY in November 2023. The Martinez Brothers played for both teams and they are featured in the documentary.

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