Horacio “Rabbit” Martinez
Trailblazing Player, Coach, and Talent Scout Who Helped Open MLB’s Dominican Pipeline
Horacio “Rabbit” Martinez was more than a Negro Leagues standout-he was a pioneer who helped transform baseball into a global game. From 1935 to 1947, he starred at shortstop for the New York Cubans, earning five East–West All-Star selections (1940, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1945) and hitting .545 in those elite matchups. In 1947, he helped lead the Cubans to their only Negro League World Series title, defeating the Cleveland Buckeyes.
Nicknamed “Rabbit” for his speed and agility, Martinez played in some of the most historic venues in baseball, including Hinchliffe Stadium (Paterson, NJ), Dyckman Oval (NYC), Memorial Park (Belmar, NJ), League Park (Cleveland), Rickwood Field (Birmingham), Hamtramck Stadium (Michigan), Comiskey Park (Chicago), Yankee Stadium, and the Polo Grounds. He is the only known Dominican pro to have played against both Babe Ruth and Jackie Robinson.
Martinez’s career spanned Latin America, with stints in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and as a player-manager in Panama. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he became a vital bridge between American clubs and emerging Caribbean talent.
As Major League Baseball’s first Dominican scout, Horacio “Rabbit” Martinez made history with the San Francisco Giants in the 1950s and 60s-forever altering the game’s future. He discovered and nurtured some of the Dominican Republic’s earliest stars, including Felipe Alou (1955), Juan Marichal (1957), Manny Mota (1957), and brothers Mateo and Jesús Alou.
But Martinez was more than a scout-he was a mentor, protector, and father figure, guiding these young players through the language barriers, cultural shocks, and racial prejudice of mid-century America. His vision and advocacy laid the foundation for the first true talent pipeline from the Dominican Republic to the Major Leagues-one that continues to shape the face of baseball today.
Today, the Dominican Republic produces more MLB players than any nation outside the U.S.-a legacy directly tied to Martinez’s groundbreaking efforts. His influence endures not only in the stars he discovered, but in the generations that followed.
Horacio “Rabbit” Martinez’s life was defined by brilliance, courage, and vision. As a player, coach, and scout, he carried the spirit of the Negro Leagues into the modern era-and helped shape the international face of the game.
To learn more, visit www.martinezbeisbolfilms.com.
Family Member
Max Martinez Almenas is the Executive Producer and Director of Martinez Béisbol Films, a documentary film company committed to uncovering and preserving the untold stories of baseball’s most influential yet under-recognized pioneers. A graduate of the New York Film Academy, Max began his storytelling career in broadcasting with NBC Universal and Mun2 (Telemundo), where he built a strong foundation in media production and culturally resonant programming.
He is the creative force behind the newly released documentary Legends Remembered: Yogi Berra, a poignant exploration of the Hall of Fame catcher’s life, faith, and enduring legacy-featuring exclusive archival footage and intimate interviews.
Currently in production, Max’s most personal work to date, The Martinez Brothers: The Untold Baseball Story of Talent, Tragedy, & Legacy, traces the extraordinary journey of his maternal grandfather and three great-uncles-Afro-Dominican pioneers who helped bridge the Negro Leagues and Major League Baseball.
In addition to his work in film, Max serves as a Marketing Director in the nonprofit sector, where he integrates his experience in music, video, and storytelling to produce deeply meaningful and visually compelling content.
A proud member of the Negro League Family Alliance and the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Max is dedicated to telling intergenerational stories that honor the past, educate the present, and inspire future generations-especially within Black and Latino baseball communities. To learn more, visit www.martinezbeisbolfilms.com.