Fidel Pitches Into Extra Innings in Dramatic Win

Fidel Castro is throwing one last pitch and it is proving to be his best. Regardless what political prism one sees the island of Cuba through, there is no denying that it has been the home of some great baseball over the years, so the new diplomatic initiative by the Obama administration promises new access to that tradition and soon.  The rich history of Cuban baseball is cataloged in Peter Bjarkman’s book, A History of Cuban Baseball by McFarland and Company.  From Steve Ballan to Jose Abreu, the history is as rich as Jose Marti and the Mambo Kings, but thanks to the Obama administration’s new diplomatic initiative, we will all be able to travel to Cuba in the very near future to visit the sites detailed by Peter Bjarkman in his book.

There have been Cuban baseball tours for many years organized by various people and Peter serves as the tour guide for some of them with the next tour departing in late February. As Little Feat said so poetically in “Oh Atlanta,” “I wish I was on one.”  My favorite Cuban player is without a doubt, Livan Hernandez.  His harrowing escape from Cuba has been like that of others and the good news is that all of that sturm and drang is now over.  Players will be able to travel back and forth to the island by normal means without putting their lives on the line.  New regulations today mean that Livan, El Duque, and the whole family can travel without penalty or pause and that is the very best news that no doubt many Cubans have heard in decades–five to be exact.

It will be my honor to host Peter Bjarkman on tonight’s version of “Outta the Parkway,” on the Seamheads Podcasting Network (SPN).  There is so much to talk about at this juncture that it will be difficult to know where to begin. Who is the greatest Cuban baseball player of all time?  Christobal Torriente, the Babe Ruth of Cuba, or someone more recent. What shape will the flow of talent from the island take now? Will it be the Japanese model where MLB teams must pay a posting fee to the communist government in Cuba before negotiating with individual players? Or will the opening of Cuba spark a true International Draft system or one that includes all amateurs in a single draft. Peter has very clear ideas on that subject as well.

If you want to travel to Cuba, whether for the food, the music, the history, the baseball, or all of the above, Peter is also the travel expert on Cuba as well. What to see, where to go, how to get there; he knows the answers about as well as anyone and I am hoping to get some of the answers to those very personal questions tonight on the show. If you are not already overcome with the thoughts of dancing in Havana one night and seeing baseball the next, then try Peter’s other book, Smoke: the Romance and Lore of Cuban Baseball, by Peter and photo journalist Mark Rucker. The photos in that book are even more enticing.

The good news is that the new diplomatic initiative between the Castro Brothers and the Obama administration is certain to produce positive results for baseball fans on both sides of the Straights of Florida.  Listen in tonight live to the show by dialing 347-945-7172, or download the show after 7:30 pm tonight by pasting the following link into your browser: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/seamheads/2015/01/15/outta-the-parkway