SALON DE LA FAMA INDUCTS FOUR NEW MEMBERS

The Salon de la Fama in Monterrey was the scene of an induction ceremony July 2 as four new members were brought into the fold: Pitchers Mercedes Esquer and Teodoro “Teddy” Higuera, outfielder Jimmie Collins and executive Dr. Arturo Leon Lerma (pictured, L to R) were honored at the Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma brewery grounds, home of the Salon.

Esquer is one of the best left-handed pitchers in Mexican baseball history. He spent 24 seasons in the Liga, mainly with Monterrey and Yucatan, winning over 200 games. Esquer also topped 100 career wins in the Mexican Pacific League.

Higuera had a 94-64 record in nine major league seasons with a 3.66 ERA, becoming the first Mexican-born 20-game winner in American League history with a 20-11 mark for Milwaukee in 1986 (appearing in the All-Star Game that year). Higuera also spent six seasons in the Mexican League, mostly with the Juarez Indios.

A Southern University product, Collins spent seven seasons in the Atlanta Braves system before playing in Mexico between 1978 and 1987, batting .354 for his LMB career (third on the all-time list) and topping .400 twice.

Leon Lerma has spent more than 40 years in the front offices of Mexican baseball teams and leagues. President of the Mexican Pacific League for 15 years, he is currently the Executive Chairman of the LMP’s Hermosillo Naranjeros.

HIGUERA, THREE OTHERS NAMED TO MEXICAN HALL OF FAME

Former Milwaukee Brewers All-Star pitcher Teodoro “Teddy” Higuera (pictured) was among four men elected Monday to Mexican baseball's Hall of Fame, the Salon de la Fama in Monterrey. Also chosen were pitcher Mercedes Esquer, outfielder Jimmie Collins and team executive Dr. Arturo Leon Lerma.

Esquer, who was 212-141 in 26 Mexican League seasons between 1977 and 2005, received the most votes among the Players with 304; Higuera, who had 69 wins and 746 strikeouts for Milwaukee from 1985 through 1988, got in with 294. Catcher Alex Trevino, who hit .249 over a 13-year Major League career, was a distant third with 105 votes.

Collins, who batted .354 with 1,596 hits and 190 steals over 11 Liga campaigns, was the lone Veterans selection with 313 tallies while Lerma (a longtime president of the Hermosillo Naranjeros and Mexican Pacific League) had 309 votes in the Directors category.

The Salon de la Fama began in Mexico City with five inductees in 1939, but was dormant until moving to the Cuauhtemoc brewery grounds at Monterrey in 1964. The Salon has 187 members (including several North American legends like Josh Gibson and Roy Campanella) and is open six days per week.

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