A son of Cuban immigrants, Pompez became a pioneer and advocated for recruiting and developing Caribbean players to the majors. Long before he became a scout for the Giants, he owned the Cuban Stars of the Eastern Colored League and later owned the New York Cubans in the Negro National League. Soon after the Negro Leagues folded in 1960, he joined the Giants, and his sharp eye for talent soon led to the signings of future stars Orlando Cepeda, Juan Marichal and the Alou brothers.