B.A.T. Talk
Cuba is Baseball Crazy!
HAVANA, Cuba Feb. 25, 1939– Greetings from the sunny shores of this beautiful Caribbean Island. What a privilege it is to experience such a luxury in the middle of winter (and on the company’s dime to boot).
But while I lounge near blue waters on a pristine beach, my wife reminds me that millions back in the U.S. continue to suffer joblessness, homelessness, and hunger as part of what is now known as the Great Depression. And as I mentioned last week, many Europeans face the loss of freedom in the shadow of growing Fascism on many fronts. In fact, there are even rumblings of war. Oh, God help us! We are just 20 years after the “War to end all Wars.”
I should also note that this is a working vacation. There have been numerous reports that our great sport of baseball has been exported throughout the Caribbean islands. I have convinced <wink, wink> my editors that there is a story to be told here in Cuba.
It turns out, I was more correct than I expected. Cubans love their baseball. Everywhere we traveled these last few days, we saw children playing a form of baseball in streets, fields and even junkyards. I say a form of baseball because most do not have gloves, proper bats or real baseballs. They laugh, scream, shout, and all with huge smiles on their faces.
In one location I found a more tailored baseball field and two teams wearing uniforms. It seemed to be a school-organized contest between high-school aged young people. However, the pitcher for one of the teams turned out to be a taller 12-year-old. This young man, who identified himself as Fidel, had a quick fastball and devastating curve ball for his age.
After the game, Fidel made a beeline towards me. His keen eye had already identified me as a foreign journalist. For the next 2 hours, I couldn’t lose the kid. He stuck with me like glue. Finally, I agreed to buy him some ice cream and grant him an “interview.”
Fidel had a vast knowledge of many subjects, including baseball history in Cuba and the Major Leagues. The kid also had a deep interest in the economics and politics of his country. He would talk so fast, I barely understood much of what he was rambling about. Much of it had to do with recently reading a copy of Communist Manifesto. He was fascinated with Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin and Bolshevik Russia. Whoa! I did not expect all that in Cuba.
The kid’s baseball history stories sent me to the library to research the legitimacy of his claims. I’m so glad I did. I learned a ton, and I thought I had a good grasp of baseball knowledge. Turns out, my MLB knowledge is rather myopic.
As we approach Opening Day of the 1939 season, there have been 20 Cuban-born players who have played on a Major League roster. This does not include Esteban Bellan’ who played in 1871 for the Troy Haymakers of the National Association (NA) of Base Ball Players. The NA was the first professional baseball league. When it folded in 1875, several of the teams became part of the National League.
For the first 20 years of this century, there seemed to be a greater acceptance of Cubans into the major leagues. The 1919 World Champion Cincinnati Reds featured two Cuban players, pitcher Dolf Luque and utility fielder Manuel Cueto. Luque had a wonderful MLB career from 1914–1935. He led the National League with 27 wins in 1923 and finished with 194 for his career with a 3.24 ERA.
Despite the success of Luque, the 1930s have seen a dearth of players from Cuba. In fact, the only player born in Cuba found on a 1939 MLB roster is Bobby Estella for the Washington Senators. What happened?
I will try to answer that question in my next column. For now, my wife has signed us up for a rumba lesson. Arrrriba!
