1. mlboffseason: Ozzie Guillen’s Fan Club of 1 Having grown up in South Florida, & counting a handful of Cuban-Americans as some of my best friends dating back to high school, I think it’s safe to say that this controversy will forever haunt Guillen in the Miami market. Ozzie can stand in front of as many microphones as he wants, but I assure you that it will mean very little to that segment of the South Florida community. It is a very proud & passionate people, so while the retired hedge fund manager in Boca will forgive & forget Ozzie’s sentiment, the Cuban-Americans down there will always think of the Marlins manager as an untrustworthy buffoon, to put it mildly. There will be a presser at 10:30, held by Miami’s front office, to announce what action the club will take. My best guess? Maybe a 10-15 game suspension. Guillen will also have to commit to meet with leaders in the community, so that he has a better grasp as to why saying anything positive about Castro in Miami fuels so much disdain. Even then, I doubt Cuban-Americans will ever say the name of the manager of the Marlins, without the tone being one of complete disgust.

    mlboffseason:

    Ozzie Guillen’s Fan Club of 1

    Having grown up in South Florida, & counting a handful of Cuban-Americans as some of my best friends dating back to high school, I think it’s safe to say that this controversy will forever haunt Guillen in the Miami market. Ozzie can stand in front of as many microphones as he wants, but I assure you that it will mean very little to that segment of the South Florida community. It is a very proud & passionate people, so while the retired hedge fund manager in Boca will forgive & forget Ozzie’s sentiment, the Cuban-Americans down there will always think of the Marlins manager as an untrustworthy buffoon, to put it mildly. There will be a presser at 10:30, held by Miami’s front office, to announce what action the club will take. My best guess? Maybe a 10-15 game suspension. Guillen will also have to commit to meet with leaders in the community, so that he has a better grasp as to why saying anything positive about Castro in Miami fuels so much disdain. Even then, I doubt Cuban-Americans will ever say the name of the manager of the Marlins, without the tone being one of complete disgust.





  2. cubabeisbol: Night game at El Gran Stadium of Havana. This photo was part of The Sporting News archive that was up for auction at Mears Monthy Auction in November 201o.

    cubabeisbol:

    Night game at El Gran Stadium of Havana.

    This photo was part of The Sporting News archive that was up for auction at Mears Monthy Auction in November 201o.





  3. cubabeisbol: June 16: On this day in 2001, Sam Jethroe died in Erie, Penn. Jethroe, who played for the Cleveland Buckeyes — among other teams — in the Negro leagues, and for the Boston Braves (1950-52) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1954) in the majors, played three seasons in Cuba. He played for Almendares in 1947-48 and 1948-49, leading the Cuban League in stolen bases both seasons with 22 and 32 steals, respectively, according to Who’s Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961. And his 1948-49 squad won the Cuban League pennant. He also played for Cienfuegos in 1954-55. In the majors, Jethroe, at age 32, became the oldest rookie of the year when he won the award in 1950 with the Braves.

    cubabeisbol:

    June 16: On this day in 2001, Sam Jethroe died in Erie, Penn.

    Jethroe, who played for the Cleveland Buckeyes — among other teams — in the Negro leagues, and for the Boston Braves (1950-52) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1954) in the majors, played three seasons in Cuba.

    He played for Almendares in 1947-48 and 1948-49, leading the Cuban League in stolen bases both seasons with 22 and 32 steals, respectively, according to Who’s Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961. And his 1948-49 squad won the Cuban League pennant. He also played for Cienfuegos in 1954-55.

    In the majors, Jethroe, at age 32, became the oldest rookie of the year when he won the award in 1950 with the Braves.





  4. cubabeisbol: Official program from the “American Series” of 1941, played at Cuba’s Stadium La Tropical. Between February and March, games were played between the Brooklyn Dodgers — who were holding spring training in Havana that year —New York Giants, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. In between those games, a Cuban team, with players such as Fermin Guerra, Roberto Ortiz, Gilberto Torres, Adrian Zabala and Luis Tiant Sr., played the Dodgers in five games, splitting four and tying one.

    cubabeisbol:

    Official program from the “American Series” of 1941, played at Cuba’s Stadium La Tropical. Between February and March, games were played between the Brooklyn Dodgers — who were holding spring training in Havana that year —New York Giants, Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds. In between those games, a Cuban team, with players such as Fermin Guerra, Roberto Ortiz, Gilberto Torres, Adrian Zabala and Luis Tiant Sr., played the Dodgers in five games, splitting four and tying one.