Four years ago I had the privilege of meeting in person at Pedro José Rodríguez, The legendary Cheito who wrote his baseball story with the indelible ink of the home run.
He went to Cienfuegos, his land, on a balcony overlooking the sea. He arrived on time, and we were there for a couple of hours talking about ball and other herbs. From that day on I doubly admired him, because Cheo shed an enviable humility.
In the text I published later (Cubadebate, 12.02.2017) I said that “I unpacked balls as entertainment and signed quadrangulars for pure love of the art of beating”, I evoked his 15 bambinazos to 45 turns during the Central Americans of Medellín ’78, And I regretted — how could I not? – the unforgivable sanction that took him out of the land to accept a miserable $ 92.
What follows is an excerpt from that interview that, one lucky afternoon, he connected me with the biggest natural slugger I have ever seen in Cuba. Our Nena Ruth particular, unrepeatable in its power and simplicity.
Who have been the best home runners in the National Series?
-There are many. Capiro, Romelio, Muñoz, Kindelán, Linares, Casanova, Marquetti …
To what extent did you have to contend with ‘biotype theory’?
-I come from a family of players. My father was shorter than me and gave a few punches. From here I inherited strength. I think I was gaining weight for genetic reasons, as I never went to eat a lot of rice and beans, but I usually played with 90 kilos and that got me into trouble with some technicians who put a lot of emphasis on body weight. I remember a pre-selection training in which Romelio was made to lose weight, then the man could not with the bat and they left him out of the team.
List me some of your biggest beats …
-In Santa Clara I took out a ball between left and center that went to an organopónico that was called La Lechuguita or something like that. In Las Tunas I gave one that ended up in the cemetery. And in Latin, during a All-Star Game, I got a connection that was about to leave the park and finally hit the back of the third tier section.
Who were your teachers?
-I learned to fight with my grandfather and then with my father, who at the triumph of the Revolution was in Triple A with the Cleveland Indians. Then came several good batting coaches who were polishing me.
Why do they have so many flaws in today’s Cuban beaters?
-The problem with developing talents is due in part to the fact that the boys are cared for by many graduates, well-prepared people, but with little practical knowledge. And the beating is very difficult. Anyone can read a book and if they are smart, they can already pass on that knowledge to a player. But how to do it does not master him thoroughly, because he only knows what he played, especially if he did it at a good level.
What was your favorite throw to give home runs?
-I liked the low ball, the one that the pitcher throws to get outs. He golfed it without problems, it was an innate ability he had.
Is the home run sought or left?
-I don’t believe much in that the home run alone. I went out many times to look for it and on not a few occasions it was given to me. I loved the home runs. I’d rather beat 5-1 with a home run than 5-5 with no head. And in two strikes he continued to chase-; nothing to cut the swing to look for contact. I even liked to predict them when I already had enough analyzed on the pitcher.
Do you think you were a studious batter?
-Force. If the pitchers taught me anything more than a ‘cantico’ of the hand, I could usually already beat them warned. It’s a facility that develops over the years unless you’re too dirty. Natural talent is not enough, you also need to use your head. Here is the case of Giancarlo Stanton, a player with tremendous strength, but who for years has been punching himself with the same low ball and out.
Muñoz says that one day you predicted 2 quadrangulars …
-That was in a championship we had already won. It was the last day, against Constructors, and I was a home run behind Muñoz. Then I said, ‘Guajiro, hurry up, I’m going to give you two home runs today, try to give one so you can earn me detail amount of times to the bat.’ I gave one at the first time to the bat, he gave another in the seventh, and when she got to man I asked her, ‘Stay around here I’m going to lose her again.’ And so it was. “
How was that you sent to pick up the bats?
-Misifú, 1 historical cargabates of Vila Clara, was in charge to spread many of these anecdotes. He liked it when I told him ‘pick up the bats that this ends here’. He would go and start saving them, and when the batter coming behind would ask him why he was doing this, he would tell him I had ordered it.
What have been the best one-two in the National Series?
-The one in Linares and Casanova did not last long, because one arrived when the other was close to leaving. Pacheco and Kindelán did agree quite a bit; they were peloteros of the same generation. Another very powerful one was that of Marquetti and Capiro. But the truth is, the statistics speak very well of what Muñoz and I form.
Tell me about this sad moment, the sanction …
–I still haven’t been able to figure out what was the reason for so much carnage. No one has been able to tell me. He had been on the national team for twelve years, receiving offers of a lot of money wherever he went. The scouts were following me since youth. However, this was not taken into account when analyzing my case. I feel that I should have been sanctioned, because in the end in the country the holding of dollars was forbidden, but three years seems to me to have been an excessive punishment.
What happened after that?
-When I returned from Venezuela it looked like I had killed someone or had a contagious disease, because the same people who had encouraged me before turned their backs on me. And the most terrible thing is that he was physically whole.
In time, you came back. How was that moment of return?
-In Latin they gave me a spectacular reception, and here in Cienfuegos I can’t even tell you. People stopped and stood applauding for minutes, as if the applause was eternal. But I was no longer on the edge and I even started having problems with one eye and on the Achilles heel. I only got 10 home runs in three years, it wasn’t the same and I decided to retire.
Do you think you could have reached 500 home runs?
-At the pace I went maybe I did, especially considering that then the bats were better and the balls, more alive. But it couldn’t be for me. Another will be able to do it someday.
How many more years could you play for the Cuba team?
-I think it would have lasted two or three more years on the team, because the plan was for Linares to start at the shortstop, where we had a pit at the time.
Give me an Ideal National Series Team …
-At the reception I really liked Lázaro Pérez, Juan Castro, Albertico, Medina, but I stay with Pestano. And in the painting Muñoz, Anglada, Jova and Linares. In the center Victor, and in the corners Fernando Sanchez and Casanova. As designated, Capiro. Left pitcher, Tati Valdés. Law, Pedro Luis Llaç. And the manager must be between Servi Borges and Jorge Fuentes.
I Cheito does not play?
-To play as a second designated.