Cooperstown vibrates to the rhythm of merengue and celebrates David Ortiz‘s induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame
With the characteristic joy and passion of the Dominicans and the presentation of renowned merengue artists, the city of Cooperstown vibrated with emotion as it celebrated the induction of David Ortiz into the Baseball Hall of Fame with the “Cooperstown Dominican Latin Fest” event.
More than 5,000 Dominicans, Americans, Latin Americans and David Ortiz fans from around the world gathered at the Ommegang Brewery in Cooperstown, New York, where they enjoyed the music of merengueros Fernando Villalona and Sergio Vargas.
The event, which also featured DJ Adonis, urban exponent El Alfa and salsa artist Yiyo Sarante, had to be ended before the scheduled time due to a thunderstorm and rain in the city of Cooperstown, but even so, those present and viewers were able to enjoy the contagious music of El Mayimbe and El Negrito de Villa.
Since 8:00 p.m. on Sunday night, a large crowd chanted Big Papi’s name, excited after his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame, an achievement that not only rejoiced Dominicans, but also thousands of fans of the former professional baseball player.
The artistic show began with Fernando Villalona, performing his iconic song “Dominicano soy”, awakening the patriotic feeling of the Dominicans. He was accompanied by a corps of dancers, with a set of lights that gave a showy performance.
After this song by El Mayimbe, merenguero Sergio Vargas took the stage, accompanied by the “Sinfónica de Villa Altagracia”, as he calls his band, with which he made a compilation of the hits that became hits since he belonged to the orchestra of Dioni Fernández, passing through Los Hijos del Rey, until he managed to hit them with his own group.
Then Fernando Villalona returned to the stage before a euphoric fan, who performed the songs Déjame volver, Amaneciendo, Confundido, Armonicemos, Música Latina and Mi pueblo, with which he closed his participation on a high note.
A moment of great emotion was experienced when Fernando Villalona interpreted the song Mi pueblo and David Ortiz took the stage waving the Dominican flag, awakening the patriotic feeling of the Dominican diaspora and the compatriots who traveled to accompany him to this great event.
Also, when former Major League Baseball player, Alex Rodriguez, took the stage, with the flag in hand, to accompany David Ortiz and danced a merengue by Fernando Villalona.
The general production of the “Cooperstown Dominican Latin Fest” was in charge of Miguel Medina and Ramón Carmona, and the artistic production of Nelson López.
The event was broadcasted throughout the Dominican Republic by a television network, with Telemicro, channel 5 
as the parent station, as well as Digital 15. Also, by the State Corporation of Radio and Television (CERTV), channel 4, RNN, channel 27; Telesistema, channel 11 and Teleantillas channel 2.
Big Papi’s gratitude
The new Hall of Famer, David Ortiz, thanked all those present and those who watched him on television and social networks, for their great support in a moment that he defined as the most transcendental of his career, as well as important for the city of Boston and the Dominican Republic.
At one point during the event, a video was shown about the altruistic work carried out by the former baseball player through the David Ortiz Foundation, for the benefit of children suffering from cardiovascular diseases and who have received his helping hand, saving their lives with surgeries financed by this foundation.
One of the first girls that David helped to perform surgery, now healthy and grown into a woman, accompanied by her two daughters, took the stage. Also, a boy who would have died if the surgery had not been performed and today is a healthy young man. Yolfelina and Joaquin gave thanks on behalf of the hundreds of children that Ortiz helps through his foundation.
At the “Cooperstown Dominican Latin Fest”, David Ortiz was accompanied by authorities of the city of Boston and baseball players such as Pedro Martinez and Alex Rodriguez.
On behalf of the government of the Dominican Republic, this event was supported by the Banco de Reservas, the Central Electoral Board, the Ministry of Tourism, the Administrative Ministry of the Presidency, the Ministry of Sports, and the Customs Department, among others.
David Ortiz became the first Dominican player to enter the Cooperstown Hall of Fame, in his first year of nomination with a score of 77.9% of the votes, the first time a Dominican has been inducted in his first appearance.
With Ortiz, there are now 4 Dominicans in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame. Previous inductees include Juan Marichal, Pedro Martínez and Vladimir Guerrero.
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