Synopses & Reviews
This work, from noted expert Peter Bjarkman, is the complete history of Cuban baseball from its earliest beginnings through over 50 years of post-revolution play. Included are portraits of a century's top Cuban ballplayers, including recent stars like Omar Linares and Osmani Urrutia. The book also features year-by-year summaries of every Cuban professional and amateur league season, details on every Cuban national team appearance (1926-2006) in amateur and professional international tournaments, and Cuban legends, like the often misrepresented tale of Fidel Castro's amateur pitching career.
Synopsis
"In this book, Peter Bjarkman follows the full arc of Cuban baseball history, including coverage of the nearly five decades since the Sugar Kings' ejection from the International League. Dispelling the mystery and disinformation that surround Cuba, its leader, and its teams, early and late, Bjarkman gives us the first balanced history of baseball on the Caribbean island"--Provided by publisher.
Synopsis
Major League Baseball's 2006 World Baseball Classic shocked an international audience when an amateur team from Cuba met Japan in San Diego for the sport's first true world championship. But those who had paid attention to international tournaments were hardly surprised by Cuba's showing against all-star teams of American, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Venezuelan professionals. Cuban national teams have now reached the finals of 38 consecutive major world tournaments and reigned for more than half a century as undisputed champions of global baseball. In this groundbreaking book, expert Peter Bjarkman follows the full arc of Cuban baseball history, including close coverage of the nearly five decades since the Sugar Kings? ejection from the International League. Dispelling the mystery and disinformation that surround Cuba, its leader, and its teams, early and late, Bjarkman gives us the first truly balanced history of baseball on the Caribbean island.