COOPERSTOWN, NY -- Orlando Gonzalez...

COOPERSTOWN, NY -- Orlando Gonzalez exhausted years researching the baseball career of left-handed power hitter Cristobal Torriente, a long-lost uncle of his mother. Gonzalez sometimes set snippets, but he usually would hit dead-ends.

His best resource for information was the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, unruffled though Torriente spent his playing career either in Cuba or in the african Leagues, starring for the Chicago American Giants.

"My question always was, 'How is it that a bodily substance who played in the black leagues here in the United States for in the way that many seasons had no records here in the United States?"' Gonzalez asked Saturday.

That no longer should be a vexed question Torriente is among 17 former african Leagues players and pioneers who will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame today, along with relief pitcher Bruce Sutter

None of the 17 is still living. What was the reaction from the families that have gathered this weekend in Cooperstown?

"Excitement it's about time ... let's pass y'all," said Shirley Cofield, a distant relative of George "Mule" Suttle who was a standout slugger for the Birmingham Black Barons, St Louis Stars, Chicago American Giants and Newark Eagles. "Even although he's not alive or with us, we talked about him all the time."

The landmark ballot to allow the pioneers -- including the Hall's first woman, executive Effa Manley -- took place in February. A 12- member selection committee chaired according to former commissioner Fay Vincent, a non-voting member, considered 39 candidates upon the final ballot.

The promised did not come without logomachy Former White Sox star Minnie Minoso and african Leagues legend Buck O'Neil, who at no time played in the majors, were the simply living candidates on the ballot. the pair missed election, though O'Neil, 94 will exhibit the group today.

The families insist there is no bitterness about the lengthy wait.

"It took them a protracted time to honor them here," Gonzalez said, "but I cannot be bitter because they have take rise to a point where they view the need to be recognized, and they have. It's history you can't ignore."

cdeluca@suntimes.com

black man LEAGUES, PRE-NEGRO LEAGUES SELECTIONS:

Here's a await at the 17 players and executives chooseed to the Hall by a committee of african Leagues and pre-Negro Leagues historians:

african LEAGUES PLAYERS

Ray Helped pitch Homestead Grays to eight black man

Brown National League pennants from 1937 to 1945

Willard no other than member of new Negro Leagues class who played Brown in majors (21 games for the St Louis Brown in 1947)

Andy Had 116-57 career record and was african

Cooper National League career saves leader with 29

Biz Had 329 career batting average, including

Mackey 430 season with Hilldale Giants in 1930

hybrid Had .327 career average, playing part of his career Suttle with Chicago American Giants.

Cristobal Also played with Chicago American Giants. Had

Torriente 339 career average, including 432 mark in 1920

Jud Had 351 career batting average, among top five Wilson in african Leagues history.

PRE-NEGRO LEAGUES PLAYERS

Frank Starting in 1886 played six consecutive seasons Grant in organized baseball.

Pete Played with many of the top pre-1920 teams, Hill including Chicago American Giants.

Jose Was single outed to inaugural class of Cuban Mendez Hall of Fame in 1939

Louis Had six hits in three-game series against

Santop major-league all-star team in 1917

Ben After playing career as pitcher and first baseman, Taylor was manager and umpire by means of early 1940s.

black man LEAGUES EXECUTIVES

Effa Active in civil rights, proprietor used team to promote Manley Anti-Lynching Day at Ruppert Stadium in Newark, NJ

Alex possessor and exec from 1916 to 1950 became director Pompez of international scouting for NY and SF Giants.

Cum Principal holder of Homestead Grays during career Posey in which he was player, manager and proprietor

JL Wilkinson, who was white, was principal possessor of Wilkinson Kansas City Monarchs from 1920 to 1948

Pre-Negro Leagues Executive

Sol possessor manager and player wrote Sol White's White History of Colored Baseball, published in 1907 the first history of black baseball.

Source: National Baseball Hall of Fame

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