1974: Barbra Streisand's "The way we were" was # 1 this week

"The way we were" was released in 1973.    It quickly became a very popular romantic film starring Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.   The movie's title theme was # 1 this week in 1974.   

As far as I'm concerned, this is Streisand's finest song.    Alan Bergman and his wife Marilyn wrote the lyrics to this song, and Marvin Hamlisch wrote the music.

Her voice is incredible.

Baseball and memories of Cuba

Let me share two childhood memories of growing up Cuba. 

The first one is the political turmoil and upheaval that turned Cuba upside down in the early 60's.   It finally led to our departure in '64.

My second memory is more pleasant or baseball.

It seems that my dad took my brother and I to the baseball doubleheader every Sunday.

I don't remember a lot but I do recall Orestes "Minnie" Minoso getting booed because the fans did not think that he was running out a ground ball.

My favorite player was Camilo Pascual, who would go on to win 174 games in the majors with the Senators/Twins.

There were many young Cuban players who who were destined for the majors----Cookie Rojas, Leo Cardenas, Pedro Ramos, Mike Cuellar, Tony Gonzalez, etc. I remember watching them before they left the island and pursued careers in the majors.

Before Castro, great players like Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb and Satchel Paige played in the island. 

The Yankees played spring exhibitions. The Negro League teams were very popular because many Cubans were on the rosters. 

In the 50's, Tommy Lasorda, Willie Mays, "Rifleman" Connors and Brooks Robinson played winter ball in Cuba.

Every Cuban baseball fan should check out this great book about the history of Cuban baseball.    Better than that, buy your Cuban mom or dad an "Almendares" or "Habana" baseball cap!

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“Ricky Ricardo” and growing up in Wisconsin

By the winter of 1964, my brother and I were attending school in Wisconsin.

It was fun playing football in snowstorms and answering questions about “Ricky Ricardo”, or the only Cuban that any of my friends knew anything about.

Desi was born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III in 1917.  His father was a politician and mayor of Santiago de Cuba, or the second largest city on the island.

In the 1930s, Mr. Arnaz sent Desi and his mother to the U.S.  He joined them a little later.  We understand that Mr. Arnaz had some political problems and decided to take a little “exile” in Florida.

In the U.S., Desi worked in odd jobs and eventually found himself playing “bongos” on stage. 

 In 1940, he met Lucy and they were married quickly.  They worked separately for most the 1940s until the idea of “I Love Lucy” in 1951.

We also remember him for “Desilu,” the TV company that changed TV and produced many of the sitcoms that we grew up watching.  

Desi Arnaz became one of the most successful businessmen and executives of the 20th century.

He died in 1986.

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Listen to "The story of Desi Arnaz" on Spreaker.