I Follow: Pedro Gomez

Editor’s Note: “I Follow” is all about ESPN employees on Twitter: what they Tweet, whom they follow and how you can interact socially with anyone and everyone.

As ESPN celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Front Row profiles the Twitter account of our veteran baseball reporter Pedro Gomez.

A regular contributor to ESPN.com, Sunday Night Baseball and Wednesday Night Baseball telecasts, Gomez has countless memories during his career as a sports journalist.

He has gone from the forefront of the historic Barry Bonds home run quest to countless World Series and All-Star games.

However, as a proud Latin, there is one memory he can’t wait to make.

That memory will be made when ESPN celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month during a special Wednesday Night Baseball telecast on Sept. 21, at 10 p.m. ET.

The AL West leading Texas Rangers will face the Oakland Athletics. Coverage details.

As Gomez celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, Front Row had the chance to chat with him about his Twitter account, his admiration for Roberto Clemente and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to him.

Twitter handle: @pedrogomezESPN
Followers: * 7,117
Following: * 239
*(As of 9/20/11)

FR: What do you like best about Twitter?

Gomez: It’s such a great way to directly interact with sports fans and the general public. I often enjoy the back-and-forth that sometimes occurs with those who wish to engage. Sure, it sometimes can get a little nasty, but for the most part, it’s all done with good intentions.

FR: Who is your favorite person to follow on Twitter?

Gomez: It’s probably not conventional choice, but I enjoy Alec Baldwin’s (@alecbaldwin) wit. I saw a retweet of his once and decided to follow him and I’m glad I have. He seems to enjoy what must be hundreds of questions a day and he fires right back with often hilarious quick – and mostly clean — exchanges.

FR: Who is the most exciting person that follows you on Twitter?

Gomez: I’m not sure there’s anyone that’s exciting, per se. I know Michael Cuddyer (@mcuddy5) follows me and I’m honored he does. I’m not sure that I quite give to him what he gives to me.

FR: Which baseball team’s fans are most responsive to your Tweets?

Gomez: Probably the Detroit Tigers’. I’m not sure if it’s because the Tigers tend to fly under the American League’s radar because of the way the Yankees and Red Sox so dominate the league, but I know that whenever I Tweet anything on the Tigers I tend to receive quite a bit of response.

FR: What are your thoughts on ESPN’s celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month?

Gomez: I absolutely love it. Being a Latin, this initiative gives me great pride. It allows me to talk to my children and actually show them highlights of other Latins who have contributed so much toward sports in this country.

FR: Who is your favorite Hispanic baseball player of all time?

Gomez: I know that Roberto Clemente is at the top of many lists and he’s right there with my list as well. Everything he embodied and the absolute dignity with which he carried his professional and personal life is the stuff of legend. There’s a reason he is revered so much and it has little to do with the way he died. He was already held in high esteem well before his untimely death in 1972.