Pitching Around Fidel: A Journey into the Heart of Cuban Sports

by S.L. Price

“Fascinating.”— Chicago Tribune

 

“Unprecedented. . . . Astonishing.”— Miami Herald

 

“A rarity: a balanced, compassionate, intimate journal of Cuba’s slow, agonizing decay.”— Sports Illustrated

 

“Price describes a lovely, proud, impoverished people caught in [a] repressive system that destroys thousands as it celebrates a handful.”— Kirkus

 

“Takes the wider view, poking its nose into the politics and culture of Cuba every few pages. Price has an easy, lyrical style that elevates his work beyond the usual sports fare.”— Business Week

 

“Fascinating, sometimes hilarious, often heart-wrenching.”— Philadelphia Inquirer

 

“Easily the most engaging book on Cuban sports—if not Cuba—published in many years.”— Baseball America

 

“Offers a rare and provocative tour of the world’s most remarkable sports culture. It’s an unforgettable story of supremely gifted athletes, the utter madness of politics, and the scent of big money across the sea.”—Carl Hiaasen

 

“Price is one of the finest writers on sports anywhere.”— USA Today

 

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Nonfiction, History

312 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Mike Niebrzydowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look into life in Cuba through the lens of sports. Read most of this before our trip and then finished after. The author seems to notice or recognize the tourist perspective as well as the every day life, particularly the every day life of Cuban athletes, of Havana and other parts of Cuba.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat repetitious and, of course, now out of date. A depressing portrait of the ¨special period¨

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scott Price is such a wonderful writer, and this book is another example of his very literary non-fiction. Very thoroughly researched book about the Cuban sports program; Price traveled to Cuba on multiple occasions to do interviews, watch games, etc. While ultimately not a glowing portrait of the Castro regime, it is nonetheless a genuine one (and one very sympathetic to ordinary Cubans), and there is no knee-jerk political tripe. The author conducts dozens of interviews, and really explores the question of why some elite Cuban athletes defect but others do not. The book also contains some very interesting anecdotes about baseball players who defect, only to ignore their Cuban wives and children after remarrying in the US.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating behind the scenes look at a part of sports we know very little about, beyond what the Cuban sport/govt. machine wants us to know. The author is very familiar with the sports scene in Florida, and by extension, Cuba. The seeming contradictions between the Cuban ideal of amateurs, playing their sports for the pure love of the game.. and the lure of the money available if they would only defect. Along the way, we learn more about life in the real Cuba.
Very well written, and relayed almost as a disappointed fan. The episode with boxer Teofilo Stevenson, still reliving his long ago Olympic heroics, are especially riveting.

[Jim Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on sports figures and institutions in Cuba around the turn of the latest century. I found the book somewhat disjointed as it describes encounters with many people in many different locations, often without providing timely background information to an uninformed reader. On the other hand, it provides vivid and compelling sketches of life in Cuba under Castro. Although the American writer, who spent extended periods of time in Cuba, works for Sports Illustrated, the book to me is much more about Cuba than about sports.

A good book for anyone interested in learning more about or perhaps visiting Cuba.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Price seems to write about a land of enchantment (Cuba) thinking that he is free from it's spell, while still being captivated by its' powers. If you don't mind some strong profanity you might really enjoy this book. If you do mind, like myself, Price still does a good job of navigating the landscape of the politics surrounding Cuban sports, but you'll have to do some navigation of your own.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. A great look at Cuban sports and life.