Showcased: San Benito Public Library patrons and visitors are being treated to colorful and educational displays showcasing Dia de los Muertos, and the history of area baseball. (Courtesy photos/Rene Torres)
By ARABELLA SERRATA
editor@sbnewspaper.com
The San Benito Public Library has debuted two special displays: an altar for the Day of the Dead and a commemoration of San Benito’s rich baseball history.
Library Assistant Director Jonathan Mills shared that Dr. Enriqueta Ramos and her husband funded the community altar. The altar has been shared with the museum but has returned to the library earlier this year. The community visits the altar to pay their respects to past relatives.
Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a Mexican holiday that bridges the gap between the living and the dead for two nights. During this time, loved ones are reunited for nights full of festivities. During the holiday, the living make altars for their loved ones on the other side. These altars are full of pictures and things the dead enjoyed in their life.
According to Mill’s the library’s baseball display was a collaboration between Rene Torres and the Library Director Agustin Carrera.
Torres channeled “over 20 years of research” into the exhibit; most of the items on display are from his personal collection. He hopes those who see the exhibit feel the “passion and love for the game.”
Torres, a retired assistant professor from Brownsville who writes history columns for the NEWS, chose San Benito for the display because he believes “America’s game is in every corner of this country, including San Benito.”
He wanted to bring the rich history of baseball within San Benito to the public eye. Several photos of old baseball history in the Rio Grande Valley can be seen on display. This exhibit marks the first one Torres has done in San Benito, as he previously did multiple exhibits around the Valley.
Torres’ passion for baseball was inspired by his father, a semi-pro player in Brownsville. His father stepped away from playing the game after an injury but continued as a coach. Torres learned the game as a bat boy. He went on to research and write over 200 articles on the game. He was inducted into the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Hall of Fame for his efforts in the game. Torres also received an honor from the Latin American International Hall of Fame as a Hispanic Sports Historian.
“What I call it is community service, one way or another,” said Torres. “It’s not just about baseball, it’s about the passion for the game…I hope that people from San Benito and the Valley visit the exhibit. You won’t regret it.”
The San Benito Public Library is located at 101 W. Rose St., San Benito, Texas. For more information, contact the library at (956) 361-3860.
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