The tall Mexican : the life of Hank Aguirre, all-star pitcher, businessman, humanitarian

At last in paperback, here is the biography acclaimed as "pure inspiration" and "moving" (Kevin Baxter, __The Los Angeles Times__) of a man who proved himself both on the baseball diamond and in life. Growing up, Hank Aguirre rose every morning long before school to make and deliver tortillas as part of a family-run business. In his free time, the teen-aged Hank played (and practiced endlessly at) Legion baseball and neighborhood pick-up games. After graduation, he signed on with the Cleveland Indians. He enjoyed a successful big-league career with the Indians, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs. But then, instead of basking in his popularity, he went on to found Mexican Industries in the burned-out heart of ravaged urban Detroit. Today the company is a thriving, family-owned business, employing over a thousand people and bringing hope and security where there was once poverty and despair. Drawing on first-hand experience, interviews, and research, Bob...

A biography of the All-Star major-league pitcher whose commitment to his Hispanic heritage led him to found Mexican Industries to help provide economic opportunities to the inner-city Detroit community.

Children's Literature

Born into a poor Mexican immigrant family, Hank Aguirre was to become a professional baseball player, a minor league manager, and later, a successful business owner. As a child, Aguirre's father instilled in Hank a determination and work ethic that bore fruit in many areas. Though he did not make his high school baseball team, the tall, lanky left-hander went on to become an all-star pitcher in a career that spanned fifteen years with four different clubs. The baseball years, however, entail only a portion of Hank Aguirre's biography. Determined to provide a brighter future for minorities, Aguirre founded his own company, Mexican Industries, which employs over 1,000 people, many of them Hispanic Americans. Also chronicled is Aguirre's courageous battle against prostate cancer. Hank Aguirre died in 1994. The author, a longtime friend of Aguirre's, details the many humanitarian achievements of this fine ballplayer and fine man. Sixteen pages of photos accompany the text.

Growing up, young Hank Aguirre rose every morning long before school to make and deliver tortillas as part of a small family business. In his free time, the teen-aged Hank played Legion baseball and in neighborhood pick-up games. After graduation, he signed on with the Cleveland Indians organization. Hank Aguirre enjoyed a successful, award-winning major-league career as a pitcher. Then, instead of basking in his popularity, he went on to found Mexican Industries in the burned-out heart of crime-ridden urban Detroit. His firm gave employment to more than a thousand people, bringing hope where there had once been only despair. Hank Aguirre was a man who pushed beyond mere celebrity to become a genuine hero. Drawing on first-hand experience, interviews, and research, Bob Copley shows us in The Tall Mexican a tough but caring man of talent, faith, and determination—a man who pushed beyond prejudice and mere celebrity to become a true hero.