50 years of Industriales in Miami and Havana
MIAMI – While veteran Industriales players prepare for a double-header in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Havana confirmed on Friday that there will also be celebrations in that capital for the 50th anniversary of the blue team.
The main course will be a game between Cuban baseball stars to be played Sept. 29 at Latin American Stadium, home of the Industriales.
“An extensive program of activities is being planned to celebrate one-half century since the foundation of the capital team, Industriales,” said René Bocourt, spokesman for the Sports Directorate in Havana.
The homage will begin this weekend, at a time when a symbolic game will be played in Miami, between “the 10 from Havana” and other Cuban players who live outside Cuba.
On Aug. 11, the following players arrived in Miami from the island: Lázaro Vargas, Juan Padilla, Pedro Medina, Armando Ferreiro, Rey Vicente Anglada, Enrique Díaz, Tony González, Armando Capiró, Javier Méndez and Lázaro Valle.
They were to be joined on Aug. 31 by Pedro Chávez, who was a first baseman and later manager of Industriales. Chávez did not travel to Miami at first, but joins the team now after participating in a tour by a Cuban softball team through the U.S. northeast.
The 11 will play an Industriales-USA team and a reinforced All-Star Cuba team they faced last weekend in Tampa.
The announcement by the sports authorities in Havana rules out a possible invitation to figures like José Ariel Contreras, Orlando “El Duque” Hernández, Agustín Marquetti, or Rey Ordoñez to the birthday party of The Blues at Latin American Stadium. But they will probably join the players from Havana during their appearance in Fort Lauderdale.
Although these players’ presence has not been confirmed, many fans believe that at least one of them, among other stars of the past and present, will be at Fort Lauderdale Stadium to play baseball, commemorating the Industriales’ 50th anniversary.
Vargas, manager
The decision to attend these games, organized by Somos Cuba, apparently will not bring any consequences to those who decided to “jump the puddle” to celebrate with the fans in the United States. At least, the recent confirmation of Lázaro Vargas as manager of the blue team demonstrates this fact.
Interviewed by Yasel Port, a commentator for COCO and one of the organizers of this event, Vargas commented about his reassignment.
“I came here with the certainty that the wish of the provincial authorities that I continue to manage would be upheld, because everything was OK before I left Cuba,” Vargas said. “I think it will be a new opportunity for me to improve the team’s performance, compared with the previous season.”
“I’m eager to return, so I may rejoin the training of my boys on Tuesday. First, I have to finish this commitment here in the United States, where I was welcomed splendidly. But I can’t remain here any longer because I’m crazy about joining the group that’s training the players. There are several excellent coaches who have guaranteed that everything will be all right during my absence, but I, as the manager, have a responsibility that I want to assume as soon as possible.”
Schedule and rosters for the games of Saturday, Aug. 31
The symbolism of these days will become patent when Manuel Hurtado, Industriales’ shining star, will throw the first pitch, opening the double-header at Fort Lauderdale Stadium.
This venue will be the stage at 11 a.m. of a first encounter, a five-inning clash between Industriales-Cuba and Industriales-United States. The fans, who will be admitted at 10 a.m., will enjoy a first game with the following lineups (which might still bring some surprises):
Industriales-Cuba (“The 10 from Havana”)
Fielders: Armando Ferreiro, Pedro Medina, Juan Padilla, Rey Vicente Anglada, Lázaro Vargas, Javier Méndez, Antonio González y Enrique Díaz. Pitcher: Lázaro Valle.
Note: This team will be reinforced with at least two more pitchers.
Industriales-Estados Unidos (Former Industriales now living in the U.S.)
Fielders: Jesús Ametller, Joel Pérez, Francisco Santiesteban, Roberto Colina, Luis Gustavo Pestana, Osmani Estrada, Alexis Cabrejas, Ebert Bastida, Luis Borrayo, René Bello, Miguel Angel Reyes. Pitchers: René Arocha, Osvaldo Fernández, Rolando Viera, Maicel Díaz, Sandy Ojito, Maique Quintero, Luis Barreiro, Julio Rojo, Joel Hernández and Juan Carlos Barrutia.
Note: Several others have yet to be confirmed.
In the second half, two other teams will face off. One will be composed of past and present Industriales and the other, the All-Star Cuba, of:
All-Star Cuba
Fielders: Pedro Luis Rodríguez, Angel López, Juan Carlos Millán, Andy Morales, Yobal Dueñas, Jorge Díaz, Osmani García and Luis Enrique Piloto. Pitchers: Mario Veliz, Maels Rodriguez, Larry Rodriguez and Ariel Tapanes.
Note: Several others are yet to be confirmed.
Yasel Porto also said that invitations had been sent to “Deynis Suárez and Yadel Martí, who are still active, and Osbek Castillo, Brian Ruiz and Osmani Massó, all of whom were outstanding in varying degrees during the past 15 years.”
