Alejandro Cruz
Encyclopedia
Alejandro Cruz was a Puerto Rican
athlete and politician who was mayor of the city of Guaynabo
during the 1980s and early 1990s. He became known across Puerto Rico also as Junior Cruz.
. He progressed in that sport, becoming one of Puerto Rico
's most famous softball players as a young adult.
Cruz was an advocate of statehood for Puerto Rico. Because of that, he became a member of the PNP
party. After he finished his long and achievement-filled career as a professional softball player, he dedicated himself full time to politics.
Cruz was elected as mayor of Guaynabo in 1980. Guaynabo at the time entered a period of economic progress, alongside other cities of Puerto Rico's so-called "metropolitan area", such as Bayamon
. Like his colleague Ramon Luis Rivera
, Cruz became liked by many voters of Puerto Rico's three leading parties.
As Mayor of Guaynabo, Cruz put emphasis on the city's sports programs, and, in 1983, the Mets Pavilion (named after the city's BSN
basketball
team; later renamed Mario Morales
coliseum) was opened. He was also president of the Puerto Rican Softball Federation during much of his period as mayor of Guaynabo.
In 1989, Cruz became a founding member of a group directed towards uniting mayors of all parties in Puerto Rico, alongside Caguas
mayor Angel O. Berrios
, himself a member of the PPD
party (PNP's main rival) and two other mayors.
In his latter years, Cruz suffered from cardiovascular disease. He kept serving as mayor; re-elected three times from 1984 to 1992.
In 1993, Cruz suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage. The day after his death, his photo appeared on the covers of newspapers like El Nuevo Dia
and El Vocero
.
Alejandro Cruz was elected to the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame in 1993. He is one of ten Puerto Ricans, including Jorge Tanco, Juan Pachot
and Ivelisse Echevarria
, to be inducted at that sports museum.
He was also honored with the naming of a high school
,
Alejandro Junior Cruz High in Guaynabo, after he died.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
athlete and politician who was mayor of the city of Guaynabo
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Guaynabo is a municipality in the northern part of Puerto Rico, located in the northern coast of the island, north of Aguas Buenas; south of Cataño; east of Bayamón; and west of San Juan...
during the 1980s and early 1990s. He became known across Puerto Rico also as Junior Cruz.
Biography
As a child Cruz demonstrated interest in sports, particularly softballSoftball
Softball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of 10 to 14 players. It is a direct descendant of baseball although there are some key differences: softballs are larger than baseballs, and the pitches are thrown underhand rather than overhand...
. He progressed in that sport, becoming one of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
's most famous softball players as a young adult.
Cruz was an advocate of statehood for Puerto Rico. Because of that, he became a member of the PNP
New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico
The New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that advocates for Puerto Rico's admission to the United States of America as the 51st state...
party. After he finished his long and achievement-filled career as a professional softball player, he dedicated himself full time to politics.
Cruz was elected as mayor of Guaynabo in 1980. Guaynabo at the time entered a period of economic progress, alongside other cities of Puerto Rico's so-called "metropolitan area", such as Bayamon
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
. Like his colleague Ramon Luis Rivera
Ramón Luis Rivera
Ramón Luis Rivera is a Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the New Progressive Party. He was Mayor of Bayamón from 1977 until 2000. He is considered by many, public and political critics alike, to be one of Puerto Rico's greatest mayors in history, as well as Bayamón's greatest.Rivera became...
, Cruz became liked by many voters of Puerto Rico's three leading parties.
As Mayor of Guaynabo, Cruz put emphasis on the city's sports programs, and, in 1983, the Mets Pavilion (named after the city's BSN
National Superior Basketball League of Puerto Rico
The Baloncesto Superior Nacional or BSN is the main Puerto Rican men's basketball league. It currently has 10 teams, but has had many teams in several cities of the island. The league was established in 1929. It has produced players that have distinguished themselves in the NBA, European Leagues,...
basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team; later renamed Mario Morales
Mario Morales
Mario Morales , aka "Quijote" Morales, for his ability to conquer both scoring and team championships in the Puerto Rican BSN league, is one of Puerto Rico's most famous basketball players.-Professional career:...
coliseum) was opened. He was also president of the Puerto Rican Softball Federation during much of his period as mayor of Guaynabo.
In 1989, Cruz became a founding member of a group directed towards uniting mayors of all parties in Puerto Rico, alongside Caguas
Caguas, Puerto Rico
Caguas , founded in 1775, is a city and municipality of Puerto Rico located in the Central Mountain Range of Puerto Rico, south of San Juan and Trujillo Alto, west of Gurabo and San Lorenzo, east of Aguas Buenas, Cidra, and Cayey....
mayor Angel O. Berrios
Ángel O. Berríos
Ángel O. Berríos was a native of Caguas, Puerto Rico. An engineer of profession, Berríos became the 22nd mayor of Caguas for the first time in 1973, after winning the 1972 elections, as a member of the Popular Democratic Party .Berrios was defeated in the 1976 elections by the New Progressive...
, himself a member of the PPD
Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico
The Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico is a political party that supports Puerto Rico's right to self-determination and sovereignty, through the enhancement of Puerto Rico's current status as a commonwealth....
party (PNP's main rival) and two other mayors.
In his latter years, Cruz suffered from cardiovascular disease. He kept serving as mayor; re-elected three times from 1984 to 1992.
In 1993, Cruz suffered a fatal cerebral hemorrhage. The day after his death, his photo appeared on the covers of newspapers like El Nuevo Dia
El Nuevo Día
El Nuevo Día is a Puerto Rican newspaper based in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico and distributed daily throughout Puerto Rico and some parts of the United States.- History :...
and El Vocero
El Vocero
El Vocero is a Puerto Rican newspaper that is published in San Juan.Published since 1974, El Vocero was at first the third of the four largest Puerto Rico newspapers, trailing El Mundo and El Nuevo Día and leading The San Juan Star in sales...
.
Alejandro Cruz was elected to the International Softball Federation Hall of Fame in 1993. He is one of ten Puerto Ricans, including Jorge Tanco, Juan Pachot
Juan Pachot
Juan Pachot is a former softball player from Puerto Rico.Pachot enjoyed a long career as a professional softball player, establishing himself as one of the best known Puerto Rican players in that sport. His career spanned 25 years...
and Ivelisse Echevarria
Ivelisse Echevarria
Ivelisse Echevarría was inducted into the International Federation Softball Hall of Fame in 2003 and is considered by many to be the greatest softball pitcher born in Puerto Rico.-Early years:...
, to be inducted at that sports museum.
He was also honored with the naming of a high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
,
Alejandro Junior Cruz High in Guaynabo, after he died.