On occasion of the 50th anniversary of the first professional ball tournament in the DR, President Hipólito Mejía honored famous Dominican baseball players by appointing them honorary ambassadors and decorating them with the Order of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella (grado de Caballero). The event took place at the Salón de Embajadores of the National Place. Those honored were: Alex Rodríguez, Pedro Martínez, Samuel Sosa, Vladimir Guerrero, Felipe Rojas Alou, Moisés Alou, Manny Ramírez, Bartolo Colón, Miguel Tejada, José Lima, Neifi Pérez, Tony Batista, Ramón Martínez, Tony Peña, Raúl Mondesí, José Offerman, Luis Castillo, Stanley Javier, Luis Polonia, Armando Benítez, Antonio Alfonseca, Felix Fermín and Winston Llenas. He also honored oldtime players: Manuel Mota, Manolete Cáceres, Ricardo Carty, Miguel Diloné, Osvaldo Virgil, Mario Soto, Alfredo Griffin, Julián Javier, Dámaso García, Mateo Rojas Alou, José Rijo, George Bell, Gallego Muñoz, Alcibíades Colón y Julio Martínez. Sports writers Felix Acosta Núñez, Ramón de Luna and the late Hector Stefan were also honored. (24 November 2000)
