The Sports Informant

By Patrick Ibarra
Editor

Today marks the Mexican-American celebration of Cinco de Mayo, in which Mexican and American soldiers defeated the French army at Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not Mexican Independence Day, but still a heavily-celebrated holiday in both the United States and Mexico. Click here for some history on why.

While California plays home to 13.5 million Hispanics according to the U.S. Census Bureau, few Mexican-American professional athletes call or called the Sacramento area home.

I dug around to find as many as I could, but I’m sure there are plenty more I’ve missed. Please share those in the comments section.

Eric Chavez

While Chavez is originally from Southern California, the Oakland Athletics third baseman did a stint with the Sacramento River Cats recently in his career, rehabbing an injury while dazzling the local crowd with his star power.

Chavez has played in 1,310 career games in Major League Baseball, hitting 229 homeruns to go with 783 RBIs and a .267 career batting average.

He was drafted in 1996 by Oakland with the 10th overall pick. His salary is listed at $12.5 million this year.

Manny Parra

Parra is another Major League Baseball player. A pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers currently, Parra was born in Carmichael and graduated from Casa Roble High School before playing for American River College.

Parra made his major league debut in 2007 with the Brewers. Parra has pitched in 79 career games, posting a career earned run average of 5.13. He’s seen more success this season coming from the bullpen, where he’d thrown 8.2 scoreless innings before giving up a run in a loss on April 28.

Parra’s 2010 salary is listed at $440,000.  

Diego Corrales

The late Diego “Chico” Corrales was on a tear in the boxing world before he died in a motorcycle accident in 2007.

The ESPN.com article announcing his death called Corrales, “one of the fiercest fighters of his era, a never-say-die warrior who thrilled legions of fans with several action-packed fights.”

Corrales held four world titles in his career, two at junior lightweight and two at lightweight. He was part of an epic battle against Jose Luis Castillo in 2005 “hailed as one of the greatest in boxing history.”

Corrales held a career record of 40-5, with 33 knockouts. As an amateur, he was 105-12. He was born in Sacramento to a Colombian father and Mexican mother, escaped a life of gangs and received a degree in culinary arts.

Tony Lopez

Equally impressive in boxing was Tony “The Tiger” Lopez, a boxer from Sacramento who was a three-time world boxing champion.

Also involved in one of the best bouts of all time, Lopez is remembered for his win in the 1988 The Ring “Fight of the Year,” a decision victory over Rocky Lockridge. Lopez started boxing at the age of 10, and as an amateur fought over 100 bouts. He turned pro in 1983 with his first fight at the Memorial Auditorium.

As a pro, he went 29-1 before winning a unanimous decision over Lockridge for the IBF Junior Lightweight belt.

Lopez is still in Sacramento, promoting fights and running a bail bond agency. His career record was 50-8-1, with 34 knockouts.

Stephanie Cox

The 5-foot-6-inch defender on the U.S. National women’s soccer team called Elk Grove home. Cox, who was born in 1986, has had quite the career already in soccer, fresh out of her time at the University of Portland.

She’s won a gold medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China with the national team, and was the captain of the U.S. squad at the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Championship in Russia. At 21 years old she was the youngest member and only player with college eligibility on the 2007 Women’s World Cup Team. She was also part of the 2005 NCAA Championship team.

The list could go on and on, and if you’re interested, read it here.

She’s more than brawn, though, graduating Elk Grove High with a 4.15 GPA, and from Portland with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Formerly Stephanie Lopez, she married former Portland baseball player Brian Cox in 2007. She was the first player of Hispanic decent to make a major impact on the Women’s National Team.

Know any other Sacramento-area athletes of Mexican-American decent? Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with them by proudly announcing their stories in the comments section.