Unanimous Baseball Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera Received LiS PIONERO Award at Miami Convening
LiS: Latinos in Sports™, the premier platform connecting leagues, teams, and brands with the Hispanic community, returned to Miami on May 1 during the city’s buzzing Formula 1 weekend, hosting an impactful Convening at the Kaseya Center, home of the Miami Heat.
At Friday’s event, LiS proudly bestowed its highest recognition – the PIONERO Award –on MLB icon Mariano Rivera. Recognized as the greatest closer in MLB history, Rivera’s accolades include winning five World Series as a member of the New York Yankees, earning 13 All-Star selections, recording an MLB record 652 career saves, and being the first and only player unanimously voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
“Sports are important to culture, commerce and community….and Latinos are important to sports,” said Xavier A. Gutierrez, LiS Co-Founder and CEO of ImpactX Sports Group. “Our Convenings are a reminder that Latinos are making a significant impact across the globe, particularly in the sports industry.”
The highlight of the evening was a fireside chat featuring the Hall of Fame closer known as “Sandman” and CNBC’s Alex Sherman. The pair discussed several topics including Rivera’s illustrious career, the state of baseball and his entrepreneurial efforts after baseball.
At the event, Rivera revealed his latest entrepreneurial venture, an authentic line of hot sauces from his beloved Panama that is officially sanctioned by MLB and the NY Yankees. “Mo’s Heat” features three sauces named after his pitches: The Cutter, The Sinker, and The Curve. The official launch event for Mo’s Heat is set for May 15 at the flagship store at MLB headquarters New York City.
The event drew 175 influential attendees to celebrate and elevate the role of Latinos in the global sports industry. The organization activates at key tentpoles across the country, most recently in partnership with the NFL at Super Bowl LX in the Bay Area.
“This event was more than a celebration of a legend in Mariano, it was a statement about what is possible for Latinos in the world of sports and business,” said Mike Valdes-Fauli, LiS Co-Founder and President of Chemistry Cultura. “Latinos are not just participants in the sports industry. We are leaders, owners, marketers, and storytellers redefining the future of sports on a global scale.”
The Miami event served as a dynamic forum for dialogue, networking, and strategy, reinforcing Latinos in Sports’ commitment to advancing Hispanic influence and equity across the sports ecosystem.
Friday’s LiS Miami event was made possible in part by Latinos in Sports’ brand partners, including Morgan Stanley Global Sports & Entertainment, LiS media partner CNBC, and Mo’s Heat.
For more information on Latinos in Sports, visit https://latinosinsports.com/.