He was accustomed to it. It was part of the territory. Felipe Alou was the second player from the Dominican Republic to make it to the major leagues, but the first to become a star. Nearly 30 years later, the Dominican Republic had become a booming baseball factory.

Whenever he returned home, people would approach Alou, boasting about their child being the next Dominican star. Alou would humor them for a few minutes. What was the harm?

However, even for Alou, this encounter was a bit excessive.

The child in question was only two years old.

And, overall, Alou may have underestimated the child.

On Tuesday, at 5 p.m. CT, the child will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. He will likely receive the highest percentage of votes ever received by a Dominican player. He may even receive more votes than any other third-baseman in history. He could end up having one of the top five voting percentages of all time.

No matter what the Mount Rushmore of Dominican players in the majors looks like, it will include the face of Beltré. Maybe Albert Pujols was a better hitter. Maybe Manny Ramirez had more power. Maybe Juan Soto has tools that will surpass them all one day. They might join Beltré, but can any of them claim to be the best all-around player?

Beltré’s father, known as “Negrito,” promised that his son would become a major leaguer and a star. But a Hall of Famer?

“I don’t know if it was destiny or if he was joking,” said Alou, now 88. “But he was right. I held that baby in my arms, and he told me he was going to be a big leaguer. I can never forget that. Adrián was a complete player, and he did it without bragging or making anyone feel inferior. It’s difficult to find a person like that. It’s even harder to find a player like that. Adrián is the number-one guy. He is humble, respectful, passionate, and deserving. If he had become an architect or a doctor, he would have been one of the best in the world too. But he was the perfect third baseman.”

The story from 40 years ago goes like this: the general manager of the team that Alou managed in the Venezuelan winter league requested a fighting roster for the following year. Alou attempted to fulfill the request.

One thing led to another, which led to a meeting with Negrito, who also trained roosters. He promised Alou a champion. Since Alou was heading to San Pedro de Macoris to watch the Dominican team Escogido play, Negrito asked if he could join. When Alou arrived in his Volkswagen Beetle, Negrito brought out the baby, sat him on his lap in the front seat, and off they went. Adrián watched the game from on top of the dugout as his father bragged about the player he would become.

“And you know what? That rooster became famous in Venezuela too,” said Alou.

Alou wasn’t the only Dominican to share a remarkable story about his connection to Beltré. While Alou held Beltré as a baby, Manny Mota held his hand when he was a teenager.

Mota spent 20 years in the majors, with the last 12 as a pinch-hitting virtuoso for the Dodgers. Shortly after, he joined Tommy Lasorda’s staff and was tasked with helping Beltré adapt to the majors.

“He was like a diamond,” said Mota, now 85. “And we had to polish that diamond until it shined the way it did. A lot of people expected too much from this young man. But we were patient. Tommy wanted to build his confidence. He wanted Beltré to believe that he belonged. I kept telling him over and over again, ‘They want you to be here, and they want you to be the best you can be. They believe in you.’”

Beltré had special talents that were evident in the minor leagues. He loved the game and his teammates, but his primary focus was working. He listened, focused, and applied himself to improve his skills. There was little that could be done to enhance his fielding, as he was already unparalleled in that regard. Nonetheless, they continued to work together.

Like Alou, Mota listed Beltré’s attributes that extended beyond his performance on the field: his intelligence, humility, passion, and respect for others.

As an example, in early 2023, the Dodgers honored Mota as a “Legend of Dodger Baseball” in a ceremony at Dodger Stadium. Beltré surprised Mota by presenting him with his fully restored bicycle.

“That was incredibly special,” said Mota. “But what will please me even more is when they announce him as a Hall of Famer. He deserves everything. He’s an excellent human being.”

His father recognized this long ago.