Cepeda refused offers to play in the Negro leagues in the mainland United States as he abhorred the racism endemic to American society at the time.

His aggressive baserunning was evocative of Ty Cobb, as he would slide into an opposing player defending a base with spikes up.

In the first four years of the Puerto Rican League's existence, he was its leading hitter, collecting 293 hits in 713 at bats for a .411 average.

[4] Cepeda was selected for the 1947 Puerto Rican All Star that played the World Champion New York Yankees, who were engaged on a Latin America tour.

According to his son Orlando, Perucho was a hot-headed man who lacked the inclination to put up with racial segregation nor the temperament to endure racism.

His nature was so volatile that he was known for regularly battling with hecklers in the stands into his 40s, for which he would be arrested then sent home with an admonishment by the authorities.

Before he died, he ensured that his son Orlando, whom he had mentored as a ballplayer, had been signed to a pro contract with one of his old teams, Santurce.

[4] After Orlando was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York on July 25, 1999,[5] he toured the museum.