PETER C. BJARKMAN

"I had heard that Cubans are a deeply religious people. In two days here [in Cuba] I have learned that baseball is their religion." — Sam Lacy, Baltimore Afro-American

Drawing from a large collection of on-line SABR Biography Project essays featuring memorable and even legendary Cuban pre- and post-revolution ballplayers (many of the articles penned by Bjarkman) the editors have provided a volume exploring the historical depths and colorful past of baseball of the Caribbean island nation. Launched as a pair of volumes (English and Spanish, with translations by Cuban baseball enthusiast Reynaldo Cruz of Holguin) these books are available in paperback and e-book formats and can be purchased on-line directly from the SABR Digital Library and the SABR on-line store (www.SABR.org). Further details about the Spanish-language edition are found on the BJARKMAN IN SPANISH section of this website (found in the right-side column).

These ground-breaking English and Spanish editions (SABR's first-ever such effort) capture the mystique and colorful history of Cuba's unparalleled baseball saga across the 20th and 21st centuries. Also featured are several background essays by Bjarkman providing the necessary background on Cuban baseball lore, including a history of the post-1962 Cuban League and Bjarkman's detailed essay on the baseball contribution of the island's half-centurt leader and revolutionary icon, Fidel Castro.

These ground-breaking English and Spanish edition (SABR's first-ever such effort) capture the mystique and colorful history of Cuba's unparalleled baseball saga in the 20th and 21st centuries. Also featured are several background essays by Bjarkman providing the necessary background on Cuban baseball lore, including a history of the post-1962 Cuban League and Bjarkman's detailed essay on the baseball contribution of the island's half-centurt leader and revolutionary icon, Fidel Castro.

Cuban Baseball Legends: Baseball's Alternative Universe
Edited by Peter C. Bjarkman and Bill Nowlin
Associate Editor Len Levin and Spanish Translations Reynaldo Cruz

Contents
Preface by Peter C. Bjarkman
Introduction: Baseball and the Cuba-USA Cold War Détente by Peter C. Bjarkman

PART I: OVERVIEWS
The Cuban League (Post 1962) by Peter C. Bjarkman
Fidel Castro and Baseball by Peter C. Bjarkman

PART II: PLAYERS AND PERSONALITIES
Aquino Abreu by Peter C. Bjarkman
Rafael Almeida by Zack Moser
Santos Amaro by Rory Costello
Sandy (Edmundo) Amoros by Rory Costello
Steve (Estebán) Bellán by Brian McKenna
Roman Bragaña by Lou Hernandez
Bert Campaneris by Rich Schiabowski
José Cardenal by Ray Birch
Paul Casanova by Rory Costello and José Ramirez
Sandy (Sandalio) Consuegra by Rory Costello
Mike (Miguel) Cuéllar by Adam Ulrey
Tommie (Tomás) de la Cruz by Peter C. Bjarkman
Martin Dihigo by Peter C. Bjarkman
Pedro Formental by Tom Hawthorn
Mike (Miguel) Fornieles by Thomas Ayers
Bárbaro Garbey by Doug Hill
Silvio García by Joe Gerard
Miguel Angel González by Joe Gerard
Tony González by Rory Costello and José Ramirez
Mike (Fermin) Guerra by Bill Nowlin
El Duque (Orlando) Hernández and Liván Hernández by Peter C. Bjarkman
Mike Herrera by Bill Nowlin
Pancho Herrera by José Ramirez
Omar Linares by Peter C. Bjarkman
Dolf (Adolfo) Luque by Peter C. Bjarkman
Bobby Maduro by Rory Costello
Connie (Conrado) Marrero by Peter C. Bjarkman
Armando Marsans by Eric Enders
Rogelio Martinez by Rory Costello
Roman Mejias by Ron Briley, Rory Costello and Bill Nowlin
José de la Caridad Méndez by Peter C. Bjarkman
Minnie (Orestes) Miñoso by Mark Stewart
Willy (Guillermo) Miranda by Rory Costello
Julio Moreno by Rory Costello
Tony Oliva by Peter C. Bjarkman
Alejandro Oms by John Struth
Camilo Pascual by Peter C. Bjarkman
Tony (Tani) Perez by Phil Cola
Pedro Ramos by Peter C. Bjarkman
Cookie (Octavio) Rojas by Peter M. Gordon
Chico Ruiz by Rory Costello
José Tartabull by Joanne Hulbert
Luis Tiant Jr. by Mark Armour
Luis Tiant Sr. by Rory Costello
Tony Taylor by Rory Costello and José Ramirez
Cristóbal Torriente by Peter C. Bjarkman
Zoilo Versalles by Peter C. Bjarkman
Suggested Further Readings
Contributors