Author with national team and Industriales manager Rey Anglada (February 2008)
"Peter Bjarkman is doing for Cuban baseball what Ry Cooder has done for Cuban music ..." Joseph Arbena, Arete: Sports Literature Association (December 2007)
A recognized authority on contemporary Cuban League baseball and on Cuban baseball history, Peter C. Bjarkman provides a regularly appearing English-language column on the leading Cuban League website (based in the USA) found at www.baseballdecuba.com (click on the top link in the right column). This sight features both English and Spanish pages and up-to-date information on all Cuban baseball events.
Columnists of Havana's Radio COCO Cuban League website, ready to report
all the action for Cuban National Series XLVII (L to R: Yasel Porto,
Ismael Sené, Jesús Suarez Valmaña, and Pete Bjarkman)
Bjarkman also provides regular update reports and his opinionated columns on Cuban League baseball action on the Havana-based RADIO COCO baseball website (click on top link in the right column). This Cuban-based English site also features a Spanish home page.
Pete Bjarkman with Industriales ace and national team starter Yadel Martí (2007)
See Bjarkman's daily reports on Cuba's Gold Medal triumph in the recent Pan American Games Tournament (Río, July 14-19) and the follow-up World Port Tournament (Rotterdam, August 2-12) at www.baseballdecuba.com and www.radiococo.cu
Cuba's July 2007 Pan American Games championship was the tenth in a row (dating to 1971) and also represented the 48th consecutive major international event (back to 1959) in which Cuba has either claimed victory or at least reached a final gold medal game. The greatest winning streak in sport's history includes 43 gold medals and five silver medals in the stretch of 48 years.
(Palabras dedicadas al autor Peter C. Bjarkman) Me conoces y sabes que soy ajeno a los elogios demasiado pomposos, alérgico a la adulonería, pero en un dia tan especial como hoy, no exagero al afirmar que si de los no nacidos en esta bendita tierra, Colón fue nuestro primer descubridor y Humbolt fue el segundo …, tu por tu amor sin limites a este deporte “importado” que enloquece a los nacidos aca, por tu prolífica, enorme y excelente obra sobre el Béisbol Cubano, te has ganado el título de nuestra tercer descubridor!—Jesús Suarez Valmaña, Periodista Cubana (May 19, 2007)
Some Cuban baseball historians (those guided mostly by nostalgia and politics) have suggested that Cuban League baseball reached its zenith in the 1940s and 1950s and that quality baseball on the island died with the 1959 socialist revolution and Fidel Castro's banning of professional play. Nothing could be further from the truth. Cuban baseball is today enjoying its greatest hour in both quality and spectacle, and the recent MLB-sponsored World Baseball Classic answered any still-lingering doubts about the big league level of Cuba's national pastime. One could hardly image a Cuban winter league all-star team of the mid-fifties beating a major league all-star squad even in meaningless exhibition play. But in San Juan and San Diego the Cuban sluggers defeated three star-laced big league lineups in succession and clawed their way to the finals of international baseball's first true world championship tournament.
I discovered the hidden universe of Cuban League baseball in February 1997, during my first research trip to the communist island with Mark Rucker. It couldn't have come at a better time, since I like so many traditional fans had become by the mid-nineties quite jaded about a major league baseball world cheapened by noisy spectacle, greedy players, and profit-minded club owners. Increasingly distasteful was the MLB fare of disconnected and overprice superstar celebrities, supermall stadiums, and a big league game filled with the din of rock music and endless commercialism. Suddenly opened before me in February 1997 was a new baseball universe which retained all the cherished pastoral pleasures, childlike-enthusiasms, intimate ballparks and raw excitement of the game that Americans had once celebrated a half-century ago. American professional baseball is a staged entertainment spectacle (truly a circus) while Cuban baseball remains an untarnished game.
For the past decade I have become a relentless convert to the world of Cuban League baseball. It is indeed a unique universe in which all the ballclubs represent geographinal regions, ballplayers remain afixed to their native province clubs and are never traded, all players receive equivalent salaries, and the athletes truly play for love of the sport and not for economic reward. My ten years of travel in Cuba have taken me to all the island's league ballparks and to more than one hundred Cuban League games; I have followed the Cuban national team to dozens of international tournament games (most recently the World Cup in Rotterdam and the World Baseball Classic in San Juan and San Diego); and I have had the rare opportunity to make numerous media appearances in Cuba commenting on the island's cherished national pastime.
The full story of Cuban baseball is revealed in my new book entitled A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864-2006, which also contains an introductory chapter highlighting some of my personal adventures traveling the Cuban baseball scene. Part of my fascination with the island sport has manifested itself in my collection of Cuban national team game-worn jerseys and Cuban League uniforms—a collection which may well be the most extensive of its kind and which is destined for eventual donation to the planned Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in the historic city of Matanzas.
Anyone seeking information on Cuban League baseball or information on Cuban League uniforms is invited to e-mail me directly. I will try to answer your inquiries as promptly as possible. I can also be reached by regular post at the below address:
Peter C. Bjarkman
PO Box 2199
West Lafayette, IN 47906-2199
USA
Santiago's Alexei Bell became Cuba's new single-season HR and RBI record holder during his breakout 2007-08 National Series campaign.
CUBAN NATIONAL SERIES #47 (2008)
Cuban National Series #47 proved to be a record-breaking season, witnessing new marks for single-season homers and RBIs (Alexei Bell with 31 and 111), career pitching victories (Pedro Lazo with 236), and single season pitching dominance (Yulieski González, with a 15-0 unbeaten mark). And powerhouse Santiago de Cuba repeated as league champion with its eighth overall title. A brief statistical summary of this remarkable campaign will be included here soon (early May).
Las Tunas star Osmani Urrutia, Cuba's career batting leader, won a record sixth hitting crown in seven seasons to highlight the recent 2007 Cuban League season (National Series #46)
CUBAN NATIONAL SERIES #46 (2007)
Another exciting Cuban National Series seasons wrapped up during the final week of April 2007, with a new champion crowned and a number of new stars emerging on the scene to extend the glories of nearly a half-century of post-revolution Cuban baseball. The season is summarized here in capsule:
Championship Series (Best of Seven)
Santiago de Cuba defeated Havana INDUSTRIALES 4-2, reclaiming the crown lost to the same rival one year ago. The championship was the seventh overall for the "Avispas" and their second in three years. Industriales has claimed the other three titles contested since 2002.
Semifinal Series (Best of Seven)
Industriales swept Habana Province, 4-0
Santiago de Cuba edged Villa Clara, 4-3
Quarterfinal Series (Best of Five)
Industrials defeated Sancti Spíritus, 3-1
Habana Province defeated Pinar, 3-2
Villa Clara defeated Las Tunas, 3-2
Santiago defeated Camagüey, 3-1
Santiago de Cuba Avispas reign as 2007 Cuban League Champions
Series National #46 Season Standings
Group A (Occidental)
Pinar de Río (56-34)
Isla de la Juventud (43-47)
Havana METROPOLITANOS (29-61)
Matanzas (26-64)
Group B (Occidental)
Havana INDUSTRIALES (53-36)
Sancti Spíritus (51-38)
Habana Province (46-44)
Cienfuegos (42-48)
Group C (Oriente)
Villa Clara (52-38)
Las Tunas (50-40)
Camagüey (50-40)
Ciego de Avila (48-42)
Group D (Oriente)
Santiago de Cuba (57-32)
Granma (45-45)
Holguín (39-50)
Guantanamo (31-59)
Series National #46 Batting Leaders
BA: Osmani Urrutia, Las Tunas (.371)
Runs: Yoenis Céspedes, Granma (79)
Hits: Jorge Padrón, Pinar del Río (131)
2B: Yulieski Gourriel, Sancti Spíritus (28)
3B: Andres Quiala, Las Tunas (8)
HR: Alexei Ramírez, Pinar del Río (20)
SLG: Juan Carlos Linares, Habana (.586)
Steals: Yoandry Urgellés, Industriales (27)
RBI: José Julio Ruíz, Santiago (72)
National Series #46 Pitching Leaders
Pct: Elier Sánchez, Camagüey (13-3, .813)
ERA: Ciro Silvino Licea, Granma (1.15, 132.2)
Games: Yolexis Ulacia, Villa Clara (39)
Starts: Wilbur Pérez, Isla de la Juventud (21)
Wins: Pedro Luis Lazo, Pinar del Río (13)
Wins: Elier Sánchez, Camagüey (13)
Losses: Yussef Páges, Matanzas (11)
Shutouts: Jonder Martínez, Habana (3)
Saves: Vladimir García, Ciego de Avila (14)
Saves: Jose García, Habana (14)
IP: Ubisney Bermudez, Las Tunas (133)
SO: Aroldis Chapman, Holguín (100)
BB: Maikel Folich, Ciego de Avila (61)
Anyone wanting up-to-date information or complete statistics on current Cuban League baseball should check the excellent Cuban Baseball Federation and Team Industriales Cuban websites (see my links at the left) which provide numerous downloadable photos and full coverage of the National Series, Super League short season (June), and all tournament appearances of the Cuban national team.
A complete and detailed history of post-1962 Cuban League baseball, including summaries of all 45 Cuban National Series seasons and all Selective Series and Super League seasons is found in Chapter 8 of my recent A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864-2006. Detailed post-1962 Cuban League stats (including career stats for all national team players) is found in the Appendices of this same volume.
Author debates baseball in Parque Central as one of first non-Cuban members of Havana's SABR-like Peña Deportiva (December 1999)
English-Language Cuban Press Stories Published by PETER C. BJARKMAN
Articles published with Cuba's Prensa Latina News Agency during the 2006 World Baseball Classic (San Juan and San Diego) and the 2005 IBAF Baseball World Cup (Rotterdam, Holland)
“Only Star Remaining for the WBC Finals is on the Cuban Flag” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (March 21, 2006), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Successful World Cup 36 Begins and Ends with Champion Cuba” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 18, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Weird Weather and Weird Games Spice Final World Cup Weekend” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 17, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Debate Looms Over Identity of Baseball’s True World Cup Event” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 16, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“USA and Japan Again Collapse on the World Cup Baseball Stage” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 15, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Cubans and Americans Face Off in Ancient Baseball Rivalry” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 14, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“New Generation of Cuban Stars Emerges During World Cup Race” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 13, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“World Cup Playoffs Feature Controversial Sudden-Death Format” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 12, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Cuban Radio and TV Voices Are the Souls of the National Pastime” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 11, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Lineups of Manager Higinio Vélez Fuel Controversy Back in Cuba” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 10, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“USA Manager Davey Johnson Stymied by Sub-Par World Cup Lineup” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 9, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Only Small Surprises at Halfway Point of World Cup Action” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 8, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Big Leaguer Robert Eenhoorn Leads Dutch Baseball Revival” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 7, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Baseball’s World Cup Venue Unveils Surprise Paradise” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 6, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“World Cup Action Shows Baseball Diversity” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 5, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“No End on Horizon for Cuba’s World Cup Baseball Domination” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 4, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
“Baseball’s 36th World Cup Opens With Optimism and Much Fanfare” for: Prensa Latina Cuban News Agency (September 3, 2005), on-line news release (www.plenglish.com)
Smoke helped bring the island game to the attention of North American fans
Spanish-Language Articles on CUBAN and Latino Leagues Baseball History by PETER C. BJARKMAN
“Crónica de una muerte anunciada: tras los últimos suspiros de la liga puertorriqueña, se esfuman 70 años de tradición” in: Béisbol Mundial (September-October 2007), 14-15.
“Una historia incompleta: Jackie rompió la barrera de color, pero no fue el primero” in: Béisbol Mundial (June-July 2007), 10-11.
“Ya no es la misma—La serie del Caribe enfrenta una crisis” in: Béisbol Mundial (March-April 2007), 4.
“Desorganización Olímpica—En La Víspera del Preolímpico Cuba es el Gran Favorito y EE.UU. Busca Una Selección” in: Béisbol Mundial (August-September 2006), 5.
“Un Mundo Aparte—Después del éxito en el Clásico Mundial, Cuba culmina una emocionante Serie Nacional” in: Béisbol Mundial (July 2006), 16-17.
“Un Clásico Mejor De Lo Imaginado—En Este Mundo Hay Más De Una Manera De Jugar Pelota” in: Béisbol Mundial (April 2006), 6-7.
“La Hora de Verdad—Por fin Cuba podrá demonstrar su calidad en un torneo con jugadores de grandes ligas” in: Béisbol Mundial (February-March 2006), 16-17.
“El Mejor Jugador Que Nadie Conoce—Yulieski Gourriel, un tercera base de 22 años, es el nuevo Linares de la pelota cubana” in: Béisbol Mundial (February-March 2006), 16.
“En Busca del Wa Ganador—Después de Cuba, Japón es el país con más por demonstrar” in: Béisbol Mundial (February-March 2006), 11.
“Los Mexicanos También Hablan Béisbol—Una nueva cultura pelotera ha levantado el perfil Azteca” in: Béisbol Mundial (February-March 2006), 10.
“¡Ahora y ya: Retiren el No. 21!—Clemente merece el mismo honor que Robinson” in: Béisbol Mundial (November-December 2005), 12-13.
“Campeones Eternos—Algunas Cosas Nunca Cambian ... Cuba Conquista Otra Copa Mundial” in: Béisbol Mundial (November-December 2005), 22.
“Choque de Generaciones (Sobre El Equipo de Leyendas Latinas)—Opinión de un Experto: El Público se Ponchó” in: Béisbol Mundial (November-December 2005), 10.
“¿Palmeiro Quién? En Cuba, aprecian más a los suyos que a los de aquí” in: Béisbol Mundial (September-October 2005), 8-9.
“Hecho en México—El béisbol azteca sale de la sombra de sus hermanos caribeños” in: Béisbol Mundial (September-Otober 2005), 20-21.
“Invasión Latina! Cubanos y Dominicanos imponen su son en el besuboro japonés” in: Béisbol Mundial (June-July 2005), 16.
“Sangre Nueva: Renace El Béisbol Cubano” in: Béisbol Mundial (Inaugural Opening Day Issue, April-May 2005), 16.
“Leyendas del Béisbol Cubano” (“Legends of Cuban Baseball”) in: Cuba Travel Magazine 4:2 (April 2003), 28-30.
“El Romance del Béisbol Cubano” (“The Romance of Cuban Baseball”) in: Cuba Travel Magazine 3:1 (April 2002), 50-53.
Newspaper Serialization of Smoke—The Romance and Lore of Cuban Baseball (by Mark Rucker and Peter C. Bjarkman). In: El Nuevo Herald (Miami), from November 28, 1999 through January 16, 2000 (includes eight different Sunday installments in OVACIÓN section).
Installments included:
“Béisbol y Guerra Fría”
(Sunday, January 16, 2000)
“Cienfuegos: El paso del elefante es lento, pero aplastante”
(Sunday, January 9, 2000)
“El que gane al Almendares se muere”
(Sunday, January 2, 2000)
“El Inmortal”
(Sunday, December 26, 1999)
“El orgullo de La Habana”
(Sunday, December 19, 1999)
“Cubanos en las Grandes Ligas”
(Sunday, December 12, 1999)
“Nace una pasión”
(Sunday, December 5, 1999)
“La pelota es la eternal novia de Cuba”
(Sunday, November 28, 1999)
“Rostros de Duda—La Liga cubana enfrenta un futuro incierto” in: Primera Fila (The New York Daily News Latino Sports Magazine). Volume 2:1 (April 1997), 10-11.
“A Palo Limpio—Nuevo poder latino ataca marca de HR” in: Primera Fila (The New York Daily News Latino Sports Magazine). Volume 2:1 (April 1997), 6.
|
