As a young kid, my favorite Cuban baseball player was Camilo Pascual. He pitched most of his career for the original Washington Senators, who became the Minnesota Twins in 1961.
Culture
We remember Mike Fornieles (1932 – 1998)
We remember Mike Fornieles who was born Jose Miguel (Torres) Fornieles in Havana on this day in 1932. Mike, as he was known, broke into the majors in 1952 with the then Washington Senators now Minnesota Twins.
We remember Don Zimmer and winter baseball in Cuba
We remember Don Zimmer who was born in Cincinnati on this day in 1931. He was drafted by the Dodgers in 1949 as a shortstop. As a player, he hit .235 over 1,095 games with 5 teams.
‘Cuba and the USA: A Musical Journey’: A chat with Fernando Hernandez
Check out my talk with Fernando “Fernan” Hernandez about his book, “Cuba and the USA: A Musical Journey.”
Happy #80 to Tito Fuentes
Tito Fuentes was born in Cuba on this day in 1944. He signed with the Giants as a free agent in 1962. Fuentes broke with the Giants in 1965 at 21 and enjoyed some good seasons with San Francisco, San Diego and Detroit.
1878: Havana vs Almendares and the greatest rivalry in Cuban baseball
It was a lot of fun hearing my late parents tell stories of Cuban baseball. My mother, born in Ciego de Avila, followed La Habana. My father, born in Sagua La Grande, followed Almendares. They spent many nights in their hometowns, writing each other letters and listening to the games on radio. I guess I inherited their passion for “beisbol.”
We remember Paul Casanova (1941 – 2017)
Paulino Casanova Ortiz was born on this day in 1941, in Perico, Matanzas, Cuba. He also played for Almendares in the Cuban winter league. Casanova broke with Washington in 1965 and ended with Atlanta in 1974.
We remember Tony Taylor (1935 – 2020)
We remember Tony Taylor, who was born in Central Alava, Matanzas, Cuba. He was born in 1935 and died today in 2020. Tony broke with the Cubs in 1958 hitting .235 in 140 games. He was traded to the Phillies and enjoyed a very good career: 2.007 hits, a .261 average, 234 stolen bases and 1,005 runs scored.
We remember Zoilo Versalles (1939 – 1995)
Zoilo Casanova Versalles y Rodríguez was born on this day 1939 in Marianao, Cuba. He broke with the Senators (now the Twins) and became a pretty good shortstop in the early 1960s.
Happy #85 to Leo ‘Chico’ Cardenas
Leonardo Lazaro (Alfonso) Cardenas was born in Matanzas, Cuba on this day in 1938. He made it to the majors in 1960 where he got the nickname of “Chico” and “Mr. Automatic” because he was so good at playing shortstop. Cardenas was a 5-time All Star. He played 9 years with the Cincinnati Reds and 3 with the Minnesota Twins. He replaced fellow Cuban Zoilo Versalles as the shortstop for the Twins.
A chat with Cuban American author Victor Triay
Guest Victor Triay, author of “On Freedom’s Shore,” in our 3rd volume about a Cuban family and political changes on the island.
We remember Chico Ruiz (1934 — 1972)
We remember Giraldo (Sablon) Ruiz who was born in Santo Domingo, Cuba on this day in 1934. He died in early 1972 in an automobile accident.