Thursday, March 19, 1970

A wonderful book about Cuban-Americans

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We spoke a few years ago with Amarilys Gacio-Rassler, the author of "Cuban American Dancing on the hyphen".

 Amarilys was born in Cuba and came to the US under Operation Pedro Pan.  She was one the 14,000 unaccompanied children to the US in the early 1960s.


This is a great read, from humorous posts to wonderful memories of "Abuelo" and "Tio Manuel".

We would strongly recommend this one for your Cuban-American library.    Get your copy.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.




"Waiting for Snow in Havana: Confessions of a Cuban Boy" by Dr. Carlos Eire



Over the last few years, many Cuban Americans have written their "coming to the US" stories.    

Our friend Dr. Carlos Eire shared his story in "Waiting for snow in Havana".    Carlos left Cuba under the "Pedro Pan" program that brought 14,000 young people to the US.

It is a wonderful book.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.




We remember Ritchie Ashburn (1920-97)

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We remember Richie Ashburn who was born in Nebraska on this day in 1927.   

Ashburn broke with the Phillies in 1948:   .333, 32 Stolen bases, 154 hits in 117 games and the first rookie to start in the NL All Star team.    

He was third in the NL Rookie of the Year vote behind Alvin Dark and Gene Bearden.

Over the next 14 seasons, Ashburn won 2 batting titles, led the NL in hits 3 times, 4 OBP titles and twice in triples.

Ashburn retired in 1962:    .308 career batting average, .396 OBP, and 2,574 hits in 2,189 games.   He was selected to The Hall of Fame in 1995 and died in 1997.


P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.









We remember José Méndez (1887 – 1928)


We remember today José de la Caridad Méndez Báez who was born in Cardenas, Cuba, in March 1887. He was a baseball hero in the early years of the new Cuban republic. Unfortunately, he died young in 1928. Mendez was a right-handed pitcher in the Negro Leagues for the following teams: Chicago American Giants, 1918, Detroit Star, 1919, and the Kansas City Monarchs, 1920-1926. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 2006.

This is a bit of his baseball story:

Although he spent his entire career playing either in Cuba or the Negro Leagues of North America, José Méndez often faced AL/NL competition in exhibition games. And he regularly bested some of the game’s biggest stars like Christy Mathewson and Eddie Plank.

After a 1911 tour of Cuba, Philadelphia Athletics catcher Ira Thomas said: “More than one big leaguer from the states has faced him and left the plate with a wholesome respect for the great Cuban star. It is not alone my opinion but the opinion of many others who have seen Méndez pitch that he ranks with the best in the game.”

Nicknamed “The Black Diamond,” the Cuban-born hurler had a lean, wiry frame, with a deceptively hard fastball and a sharp curveball. He was also able to keep hitters off balance because of his ability to change speeds so well.

Arm trouble in 1914 forced Méndez to reinvent himself as a shortstop. Over the years Méndez played for several teams and returned to the mound from time-to-time, but it was not until the 1924 Negro Leagues World Series that Méndez’s pitching arm would again feature prominently. Pitching for the Kansas City Monarchs, Méndez went 2-0, with a 1.42 ERA in four pitching games in the series and leading the Monarchs to the Negro Leagues World Series championship.

In seven years in the Negro Leagues, Mendez posted a record of 30-9 with a 3.46 ERA.

In her memoirs, Mrs. John McGraw recalled how her husband, whenever Méndez pitched against the Giants, would express regret about the ban that kept Méndez out of the big leagues: “Without mincing words, John bemoaned the failure of baseball, himself included, to cast aside custom or unwritten law, or whatever it was, and sign a player alone, regardless of race or color.”

Mendez was not a player that I grew up hearing about. It wasn’t until his election to The Hall of Fame in 2006 that I became interested in his career. Nevertheless, he belongs in Cooperstown and another example of the great legacy of Cuban baseball.

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2003: What if President Bush had not invaded Iraq?


It was March 19, 2003 or the day that President Bush led military forces into Iraq.  At the time, I supported the military decision because the US could not give Saddam Hussein the benefit of the doubt after 9-11.  

Everything changed in 1998 when Saddam kicked out the inspectors and gave everyone the finger. By late '98, it was clear that Saddam Hussein had no intention of respecting any international agreement or the cease fire that ended the First Gulf War.


Between '93, when the cease fire when into effect, and 1998, Saddam shot at US planes, did not allow UN inspectors access to Iraq's labs and military bases plus tried to kill the first Bush during a private visit to Kuwait.  Last but not least, he did not comply with any of the cease fire requirements.  This is why the Clinton administration supported The Iraq Liberation Act or making regime change the policy of the US.

Saddam was given one more chance in September 2002.  This is when President Bush went to the UN and enumerated all of the violations.  The UN then passed one more resolution calling on Saddam to do his duty or face consequences.  The inspectors went back in after a 4 year absence. Once again, Saddam did not allow the inspectors to move freely and do their work.

So President Bush acted and Saddam was removed!   The bottom line is that the world is better off without Saddam in Iraq.

P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

We remember Wyatt Earp (1848-1928)



Like many of you, I got reconnected with Wyatt Earp from that movie a few years ago starring Kevin Costner.   The movie was released in 1994. 
   
Also, I started watching "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp", a TV series 1955-61.   You can now buy the whole series HERE.

Wyatt Earp was born on this day in 1848 and died in January 1928.

Earp was quiet a figure from the old West.   

The aforementioned book by Stuart Lake is available HERE.  
P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.