10 Books Every Fan of Latinos in Sports Needs to Read
Latinx athletes have made tremendous contributions in sports all over the globe. The books below, quite simply, are the best books for anyone curious about the various ways that these athletes have overcome obstacles, how they have been portrayed, and how they have continued to have influence inside and outside the sports world.
1. Adrian Burgos Jr.’s Playing America’s Game: Baseball, Latinos and the Color Line is a thoroughly researched transnational story of how Latinos have been a significant presence in professional baseball since the 1880’s to the present.
2. A Home on the Field by Paul Caudros tells a great story about a North Carolina high school soccer team fighting for belonging in a town and state hostile toward Latino immigrants.
3. When Mexicans Could Play Ball by Ignacio Garcia, tells the story of San Antonio high school basketball team who won two state titles with the help of a Mexican American coach.
4. Little Pancho: The Life of Tennis Legend Pancho Segura by Caroline Seebohm profiles Pancho Segura from his early life in Ecuador to his college tennis career at University of Miami followed by a 20 pro tennis career.
Now retrieving an image set.
Blink Subscription Plus Plan with monthly auto-renewal
$11.99 (as of January 30, 2026 13:32 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
Apple EarPods Headphones with USB-C Plug, Wired Ear Buds with Built-in Remote to Control Music, Phone Calls, and Volume
$17.99 (as of January 30, 2026 13:32 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
Apple AirPods 4 Wireless Earbuds, Bluetooth Headphones, with Active Noise Cancellation, Adaptive, Transparency Mode, Personalized Spatial Audio, USB-C Charging Case, Wireless Charging, H2 Chip
$119.00 (as of January 30, 2026 13:32 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds, Active Noise Cancellation, Live Translation, Heart Rate Sensing,Hearing Aid Feature,Bluetooth Headphones,Spatial Audio, High-Fidelity Sound, USB-C Charging, White
$199.00 (as of January 30, 2026 13:32 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Now retrieving an image set.
Apple AirTag (1st Generation) 4 Pack Keep Track of and find Your Keys, Wallet, Luggage, Backpack, and More. Simple one-tap Set up with iPhone or iPad, Bluetooth
$69.99 (as of January 30, 2026 13:32 GMT -05:00 – More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
5. Mustang Miracle by Humberto Garcia is an inspiring story about a South Texas high school golf team that overcame racism and discrimination in the 1950s to win a state championship.
6. Who Let the Mexicans Play in the Rose Bowl? By Hank Olguin is a memoir by a former football player that describes his successful college football career including playing in the Rose Bowl.
7. Futbolera: A History of Women and Sports in Latin America by Brenda Elsey and Joshua Nadel traces the history of women’s participation in sport in Latin America.
8. Latinos in U.S. Sport: A History of Isolation, Cultural Identity and Acceptance by Jorge Iber, Samuel Regalado, José M. Alamillo and Arnoldo de Leon is a comprehensive history of Latinos and Latinas in U.S. sports from the 16th century to the present day.
9. Deportes: The Making of a Sporting Mexican Diaspora (Latinidad: Transnational Cultures in the United States) is described by Dr. Vicki L Ruiz, as providing “the first transnational history of organized sports as recreation, occupation, and cultural identity among ethnic Mexicans in the Southwest.”
10. In Baseball as Mediated Latinidad: Race, Masculinity, Nationalism, and Performances of Identity, Jennifer Domino Rudolph, “examines the perception by media and fans of Latino baseball players and the consumption of these athletes as both social and political stand-ins for an entire culture.”
We are grateful for the assistance of Dr. José M. Alamillo, Professor and Coordinator, Chicana/o Studies Department, California State University Channel Islands. The editors would also like to note that Dr. Alamillo had no role in the selection of Deportes.
