Panamanian Heritage on a Kachi Glove

Panama's MLB output is small in raw numbers and outsized in significance. The country has produced two Hall of Famers, including the only player ever elected unanimously.

The country in baseball

Baseball arrived in Panama via the canal-era American presence in the early twentieth century and remained the country's dominant team sport for generations. Humberto Robinson, a right-handed pitcher from Colón, became the first Panamanian-born player in MLB when he debuted with the Milwaukee Braves on April 20, 1955 — entering with the bases loaded in the ninth and striking out Hank Sauer to record the save. The country's competitive baseball runs through a domestic professional and amateur structure, the national team has been a steady presence at WBC qualifiers (and hosted the qualifier that Colombia won in 2016), and Panamanian players have historically been concentrated in pitching and catching. The Caribbean Series has been held in Panama multiple times.

A moment that defined the country in MLB

September 19, 2011, Yankee Stadium. Mariano Rivera struck out Chris Parmelee of the Twins for the final out of the ninth, recording his 602nd career save and passing Trevor Hoffman for the all-time MLB saves record. Rivera, born in Panama City and raised in the fishing village of Puerto Caimito, finished his career with 652 saves — a record that has stood untouched. In 2019, the Hall of Fame elected him on 100% of ballots, the first and still only player ever named on every Hall of Fame ballot cast. His number 42, retired across MLB after Jackie Robinson, was grandfathered for Rivera, who became the last player to wear it.

Notable players

• Mariano Rivera — Hall of Fame, the only player ever elected unanimously (2019), all-time MLB saves leader (652), five-time World Series champion with the Yankees, 1999 World Series MVP.
• Rod Carew — Hall of Fame, 1977 AL MVP, eighteen-time All-Star, seven-time AL batting champion. Born in Gatún in the former Canal Zone.
• Carlos Ruiz — long-tenured Phillies catcher, 2008 World Series champion, caught four no-hitters including Roy Halladay's perfect game and postseason no-hitter in 2010.
• Manny Sanguillén — three-time All-Star catcher, two-time World Series champion with the Pirates and longtime Clemente teammate.
• Bruce Chen — long-tenured MLB left-handed pitcher, 17 MLB seasons across multiple franchises.
• Humberto Robinson — first Panamanian-born MLB player (Milwaukee Braves, April 20, 1955).

The Kachi flag option

The Panamanian flag is embroidered on the wrist strap or pinky of your custom glove at no extra cost — placement your call. Panama is the country whose pitcher wore #42 in the modern era; on a glove brand built around catchers' mitts and pitcher's gamers, the flag belongs on the spec sheet for that reason alone. Pick your spec, pick the flag, and the build goes together.