Baseball in Cuba

For over 60 years baseball’s best talent has come from Latin America. Baseball, just like soccer, is a part of every child in Latin America. Baseball and bats are mimicked with broom sticks and stones and there are no such thing as cleats. Athletes in Latin America have been able to follow their dreams and play baseball in America but one country’s players have not had the same opportunities. Since 1958 Cuban players have not been able to legally play baseball in the US. But these sanctions did not stop players like Orlando Hernandez, Yasiel Puig, and Yoenis Cespedes. These are only a few players on a long list of players who have broken the law and by any means possible found their way into the U.S. But time cures all problems and recently President Obama highlighted his lift on Cuban trade sanctions with a two day visit to the country.

Cuba is baseball; every citizen loves the game and plays it religiously. Baseball is worshipped as a religion in Cuba and the passion is undeniable. Cuban baseball defectors risk everything they have to be smuggled into the U.S. to have the chance to play baseball. An ESPN film on Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez highlights the story of how he was smuggled into the U.S. like a fine box of Cuban cigars. El Duque pitched game one of the world series in 2001 not knowing if he would ever get to see his family again. But, as of March 22nd, no longer will Cuban baseball players have to worry about their families. This was evident when Dayron Varona of the Tampa Bay Rays saw his family for the first time in three years without breaking any international laws. The Rays were the first team in 17 years to play a game in Cuba. This game is the first of many to come as Major League Baseball plans to jump at the opportunity for a brand new fan base in Cuba. Cuba is unchartered land for U.S. baseball clubs who plan to set up shop in Cuba and eventually reap the benefits of proven talent. Baseball is the true passion of Cuban people and hopefully American baseball clubs can help all citizens enjoy it.