The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball

by Roberto González Echevarría (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-0195146059

ISBN-10: 0195146050

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From the first amateur leagues of the 1860s to the exploits of Livan and Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, here is the definitive history of baseball in Cuba. Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria expertly traces the arc of the game, intertwining its heroes and their stories with the politics, music, dance, and literature of the Cuban people. What emerges is more than a story of balls and strikes, but a richly detailed history of Cuba told from the unique cultural perch of the baseball diamond.
Filling a void created by Cuba's rejection of bullfighting and Spanish hegemony, baseball quickly became a crucial stitch in the complex social fabric of the island. By the early 1940s Cuba had become major conduit in spreading the game throughout Latin America, and a proving ground for some of the greatest talent in all of baseball, where white major leaguers and Negro League players from the U.S. all competed on the same fields with the cream of Latin talent. Indeed, readers will be introduced to several black ballplayers of Afro-Cuban descent who played in the Major Leagues before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier once and for all. Often dramatic, and always culturally resonant, Gonzalez Echevarria's narrative expertly lays open the paradox of fierce Cuban independence from the U.S. with Cuba's love for our national pastime. It shows how Fidel Castro cannily associated himself with the sport for patriotic p.r.--and reveals that his supposed baseball talent is purely mythical. Based on extensive primary research and a wealth of interviews, the colorful, often dramatic anecdotes and stories in this distinguished book comprise the most comprehensive history of Cuban baseball yet published and ultimately adds a vital lost chapter to the history of baseball in the U.S.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"The Pride of Havana is an absorbing history of Cuban baseball and the impact so many Cuban players have had on the game in the United States. It sparkles like El Duque in October."--Bob Costas, NBC Sports

"Writing with the precision of the connoisseur and the passion of the aficionado, Gonzalez Echevarria provides a masterful account of Cuban 'beisbol' that is at the same time a profound meditation on the island's national culture. In many ways this extraordinary book marks the culmination of the author's distinguished career as the pre-eminent writer-scholar of our generation. A dinger!"--Gustavo Perez Firmat, Columbia University, author of The Cuban Condition: Translation and Identity in Modern Cuban Literature

"From Martin Dihigo to Minnie Minoso, Cuban baseball provided excitement for all. In The Pride of Havana, Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria brings back the thrills and colorful stories that made the Cuban League so memorable for players, owners, and fans."--Bobby Bragan, former manager of Pirates, Indians, Braves, and Almendares Scorpions

"The study features an excellent bibliography plus detailed notes for each chapter. The research is exhaustive, based on primary sources and interviews that include numerous anecdotes, making this an engaging read."--Library Journal

"The Pride of Havana is a massively detailed chronicle of the history of baseball in Cuba, written with the passion of a fan of the country and of the game. Gonzalez Echevarria makes a convincing case that America'a national pastime is also Cuba's national pastime."--Marty Linsky, Wilson Quarterly

"Using a wide array of sources including newspapers, interviews, and written memoirs, Mr. Gonzalez Echevarria has reconstructed a remarkably rich and detailed narrative of the history of baseball in Cuba, from its earliest versions, in the mind-19th century, to its recent triumphs in international competitions and travails as it witnesses many of its best players defect to the United States in search of better pay and living conditions."--The Washington Times

"A chronicle and celebration of the national pastime of Cuba, lovingly told by a professor of Hispanic literature at Yale who has been a semipro catcher himself."--New York Times Book Review

About the Author

Born and raised in Cuba, Roberto Gonzalez Echevarria is Sterling Professor of Hispanic and Comparative Literature at Yale University, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1970. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including The Oxford Book of Latin American Short Stories and Myth and Archive: A Theory of Latin American Narrative, and is a frequent contributor to the New York Times Book Review. A former semi-pro catcher, he plays for the Madison Ravens of the Connecticut Senior Baseball League.

Product details

Publisher : Oxford University Press USA (January 1, 1999)
Language : English
Paperback : 512 pages
ISBN-10 : 0195146050
ISBN-13 : 978-0195146059
Lexile measure : 1320L
Item Weight : 1.6 pounds
Dimensions : 9.16 x 6.08 x 1.27 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,123,181 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #405 in History of Cuba (Books)
- #874 in Latin American History (Books)
- #2,440 in Baseball (Books)

Customer Reviews:
16 ratings

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Juan Prieto

Good book

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2020

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It has of course a lot about baseball but also about the politics going on at the time. A good book

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Harris Marmor

Good Seller

Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2019

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Great baseball book.

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vicente gregorio lopez

Very good condition.

Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2019

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I like this product.

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Andy

Really enjoyed it. Thanks

Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2015

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I am cuban and remember a lot of what is described in the book. Really enjoyed it.
Thanks

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G. Allen

Essential part of Cuban baseball history

Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2015

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Bought as a gift for a rabid Cuban baseball fan.

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Jupitor Stackhouse

Béisbol been very very good to read..

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2013

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This is specific subject matter, if your hungry for baseball knowledge. The Cuban player has been a vital link in the evolution of the sweet science.. The author failed to mention Buck Canel, the sports writer and broadcaster who's voice and style had every guarido (farmer) with a radio tuned in across Cuba and the spanish speaking world.. Castro said he spent many hours listening to the booming voice of Buxo (Buck) while training in the mountains.. Why do writers have problems crediting other writers.. Aside from that, I enjoyed this glimpse into the origins of Cuban Baseball..

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A Customer

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2016

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Thank you!

Helpful

WEL Modesto

Vamos a Jugar Beisbol!

Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2014

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What a fantastic addition to my baseball book collection!