Ozzie Virgil Sr., the first baseball player from the Dominican Republic to play in the major leagues, has sadly passed away at the age of 92, as announced by MLB on Sunday.

In 1958, Virgil made history by becoming the first nonwhite player for the Detroit Tigers, joining the team 11 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball. Virgil was not only the Tigers’ initial Latino player but was also seen at the time as the first Black player for the franchise.

He came to Detroit through a trade with the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for Jim Finigan and $25,000. Playing for the Tigers from 1958 to 1961, he participated in 131 games and recorded a batting average of .228, with seven home runs and 33 RBI. Over his nine-year career across five teams, Virgil maintained a .231 batting average, hitting 14 home runs and 73 RBI.

“I would rank his legacy alongside those who helped shape our nation,” remarked Dominican baseball icon David Ortiz to ESPN in 2006.

Until Virgil made his debut, the Tigers were one of only two MLB teams that had yet to integrate their rosters, the other being the Boston Red Sox. After taking over as general manager in 1957, John McHale advocated for roster integration, starting with Virgil and later adding Larry Doby, the first Black player in the American League, who played briefly for Detroit in 1959.

“We were definitely slow to embrace the 20th century,” McHale stated in a 1979 interview with the Free Press. “Integrating with Black players was one of my main objectives.”

During his time with the Tigers, Virgil played various positions including third base, second base, shortstop, and even had one game as a catcher. While in Detroit, he was regarded as Black by both fans and the media.

In 2008, late federal judge Damon Keith commented, “Ozzie was neither white nor Black; he found himself caught in the middle, which was not his fault.”

During his debut at Briggs Stadium, Virgil achieved an impressive 5-for-5 batting performance and mentioned in a 2008 Free Press interview that he received a standing ovation he would always remember.

After retiring from playing, Virgil dedicated 19 years to coaching in Major League Baseball, working with teams like the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Giants, and Montreal Expos. His son, Ozzie Virgil Jr., enjoyed an 11-year MLB career with the Phillies, Braves, and Blue Jays from 1980 to 1990. Additionally, Ozzie Sr. was a veteran of the Marine Corps.