The Day Luis Tiant Met Fidel Castro - (As Told To Romans At The Legends Of The Diamond)

Fidel Castro's death brought back a memory that I will never forget that occurred at a local fundraiser. I learned personally about the oppression of Cubans from  the Yankee  great Luis Tiant. He was a guest of the Legends of The Diamond. (For those who do not know, Rome hosts the Legends Of The Diamonds Dinner each year for a former Yankee Great that benefits the Lions and Kiwanis Club)

At the event, Tiant was asked questions about his career. Most questions were about being a Yankee. Then, Rome's very own Greg Mattacola asked a great question, "What was it like growing up under Castro's influence as Castro was from Cuba." Tiant would  share a story of Fidel Castro that I will never forget about the oppression that existed during Castro's reign.

He shared a story similar to a New York Times article as follows: “Cuba was the country with the most Latin American players in the majors until the regime took over and set everything back,” Tiant said. “It’s incredible, all those players that were unable to succeed, so many good ones. When I played, when I left, there were 50 or 60 players as good as me or better than me. And they could never get out. They all stayed there.

“That’s a hard thing, because everyone in life must have an opportunity to be someone, to be able to do what you love, what you dreamed of as a child,” he continued. “That should not be taken away from anyone. That is what happened: They took away the freedom, the happiness, the dreams that one had as a boy, all you wanted to be and never could.”

At the time Castro took over power of Cuba, Tiant was in Mexico playing baseball professionally. Playing in Mexico gave him a better shot at coming to play professionally in the states. However, that did not stop Castro from trying to stop him. He told us about one night, when Castro personally visited his parents and gave them an offer. He told them their son can play baseball for Cuba, or he could play baseball for the United States. However, if he plays for the United States, they would never see their boy again. He was 17 years old at the time. His parents wanted their son to have the opportunity to escape oppression, and reap the benefits of his talents. They told Luis to go and play professionally in the states. This decision would cost Tiant personally. Tiant very rarely saw his parents. In fact, he saw them in 1968 in Mexico City and in 1975 through an arrangement with the U.S and Cuba. His last time with his parents was in 2007.

Tiant's story was a great example of the oppression that existed in Cuba during Castro's tenure. A story he shared with the great people of Rome. Children with their dads learning about living history. An experience this writer will never forget.