By: Oreidis Pimentel Pérez
Thousands of fans began to fill the Cándido González ballpark, in Camagüey, from the afternoon of November 21st, 1974. It was the only alternative to have a seat in the stands before the lights were turned on for the night game. It was no wonder, since 1944 a local team did not face a foreign national team, and in this case the visit would be Japan amateur baseball team thanks to the management of the federative Elichihiro Yamamoto, in addition Fidel and Raúl Castro, Juan Almeida, Guillermo García would be present, a delegation from the Peruvian military aviation and it would be the official retirement of baseball player Miguel Cuevas.
The Japanese had planned a tour throughout Cuba, an International Series, and in Camagüey they made their third stop before going to the Augusto César Sandino ballpark in Santa Clara. They lost to Havana, stopped by pitcher Walfrido Ruiz, but they were able to overtake Gregorio Pérez at the Guillermón Moncada ballpark.
On Wednesday 20th they arrived by plane from Santiago de Cuba, and after the welcoming by the students from the Cerro Pelado Sports Initiation School (EIDE) they had another warm reception at the Gran Hotel, before a tour of the “City of the Waterpots” next day in the morning.
The expectation was tremendous. More than 20,000 people forced the people in charge to take special measures. They were everywhere, even within the field, demonstrating that since its very foundation the sports facility has been extremely small compared to one of the most populated cities in Cuba.
Homero Guash, member of the Communist Party, head of the sphere of education, science and culture, and Yamamoto, the vice president of the foreign federation, read the official words and… Play ball!
“The Japanese do not give walks.” They are small, no one over 1.80, thin, almost all over 70 kilograms, very fast and the third Saito, shortstop Sugano and outfielders Hakai and Isobe catch all the hits to drown out the screams of the crowd. For them, Tomayasu Hagino, number 15, dominates the right, and for Camagüey the Avileño Omar Carrero, with 22 on his back.
Cuevas gave the first hit for the locals, Pedro Cruz was snatched a home run with a Japanese catch several centimeters above the wall and Eduardo Cuesta slipped before reaching the plate. No luck. A lot of pitching and defense, but those of the director Yoshiharu Ando achieved seven hits, especially Katsuhiko Kukuzaki and Mitsuo Sugano, who scored the only three runs of the match, despite the substitute Lazaro Santana also from Ciego de Ávila. That’s how Japan won, big-time.
And it was also a melancholic night because Sol Miguel Cuevas Piedra was retiring. He received many diplomas and gifts, such as those of great hitters Urbano González and Cheíto Rodríguez, although a special one was the one signed by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro, who greeted him from behind home plate.
Illuminated gala evening in the forested grounds of the Casino Campestre. Until 2001 there would not be another international baseball game there, on the occasion of the Pan American Youth Championship.
Translated by: Aileen Álvarez García
