Former Cleveland Indians pitcher Luis Tiant deals against the New York Yankees in this 1968 photo. Tiant is one of the most famous pitchers from Cuba (AP News file photo)
From My Notebook: Cuba Baseball has been a constant for over 100 Years
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
Since the largest island in the Caribbean became a free nation on May 20, 1902, winning independence from Spain, through governments of Presidential Democracy, the Batista dictatorship from 1952 to 1959, and the current Communist State from 1959 to the present.
Baseball has been a constant, no matter what type of government is ruling the island. The Brooklyn Dodgers held Spring Training in Havana, Cuba, multiple times, most notably in 1941, 1942, and in 1947, which was Segregation Avoidance. To escape segregation in the US, the Dodgers trained in Havana.
White players stayed at the Hotel Nacional, while Jackie Roinbosn and other Black teammates like Camapanella and Newxome were housed in a lower-budget hotel outside the city of Havana. The team famously flew to Havana in a team-owned Convair 440 Metropolitan.
No matter what politics were going on here in the United States from before 1947, when a Dodgers’ young star by the name of Jackie Robinson and after, Cuba always welcomed all baseball players, black or white. Therefore,
In Latin America, Cuba is considered a pioneer in baseball. World economists are predicting the collapse of the Cuban economy. Prior to 1959, Cuba provided roughly one-third of total U.S. sugar imports, but under the current system of government, blackouts are common all over the island, shortages of medicine, food, and other essential services, people’s discontent with government repression, and the near-death of their tourism industry.
Prior to 1959, Cuba provided roughly one-third of total U.S. sugar imports. The US blockade of Cuba is also impactful, however. As of early 2026, Cuba’s primary trading partners, with whom it conducts significant import and export activities, include China, Spain, Canada, and various European Union nations .
Key imports consist of food, fuel, and machinery, while exports focus on tobacco, nickel, and medical products. Doesn’t matter what the political situation is; for over a century, Cuba’s baseball has continued year-round, especially until 1960, when Cuba. The Professional Winter League was widely famous, attracting many Major League players, Cubans like Orestes (Minnie)Miñoso, to Camilo Pascua to Luis Tiant to Pedro Ramos and Bill Werele, and many big American stars (which I seen play in that league when I was a teen, guys like Brooks Robinson,
Hoyt Wilherm, Bob Skinner, Jackie Brandt and many others at the old Estadio eel Cerro in La Habana. The biggest difference being that until 1959 Cuban-born players where free to travel to the US, but or decacnes things have changed and many of the Cuban stars today in MLB either defected when they were playing with thei National team outside Cuba, or many risk their lives to escape in homemade boats and arrifve in the US, one that comes to mind was Yoanis Céspedes, whom I used to interpret when I was broadcasting Oakland A’s games.
No matter what happens in Cuba, I believe another change is coming soon. Baseball will always live in Cuba. one popular Cuban sayings and their meanings! 1. “Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.” Translation: The devil knows more because he’s old than because he’s the devil. Meaning: Experience is more valuable than knowledge or cunning.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
While in the Bay Area, great food and great prices. 998cuba.com
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