A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864-2006
Peter C.
Bjarkman
ISBN
978-0-7864-2829-8
150 photos, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
496pp.
hardcover
(8.5 x 11)
2007
Available for immediate shipment
Description
Major League Baseball’s 2006 World Baseball Classic shocked an international audience when an amateur team from Cuba met Japan in San Diego for the sport’s first true world championship. But those who had paid attention to international tournaments were hardly surprised by Cuba’s showing against all-star teams of American, Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Venezuelan professionals. Cuban national teams have now reached the finals of 38 consecutive major world tournaments, won better than 90 percent of their international contests since 1939, repeatedly beaten U.S. all-stars at the avowed American national game, and reigned for more than half a century as undisputed champions of global baseball.
In this groundbreaking book, expert Peter Bjarkman follows the full arc of Cuban baseball history, including close coverage of the nearly five decades since the Sugar Kings’ ejection from the International League. Dispelling the mystery and disinformation that surround Cuba, its leader, and its teams, early and late, Bjarkman gives us the first truly balanced history of baseball on the Caribbean island.
About the Author
Peter C. Bjarkman, is a widely recognized authority on Cuban baseball history, an avid collector of Cuban game-worn uniforms, and a frequent visitor to the island of Cuba. He is a past winner of both The Sporting News-SABR Award and Macmillan-SABR Award for baseball research.
Other Book(s) by Peter C. Bjarkman Available from McFarland:
Baseball with a Latin Beat
 Award Winner
Winner, SABR’s Robert Peterson Award for increasing public awareness of Negro League baseball
Reviews
"through this and other publications, Peter Bjarkman is doing for Cuban baseball what Ry Cooder has done for Cuban music, helping us appreciate the complexity, creativity, and emotions of a people whose culture and politics have long been intertwined with those of the United States but who have often been made invisible by social attitudes or political barriers.--Sport Literature Association
"the definitive work on Cuban baseball"--Library Journal
"is the most complete book on the subject to date...recommended"--Choice
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Table of Contents & Excerpts
Related Books
Sport & Leisure/Baseball
Interdisciplinary Studies/Latino & Latin American Studies
Latin America/Cuba
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