[.ca] The Duke of Havana: Baseball, Cuba, and the Search for ... (ISBN 0812992563)

The Duke of Havana:
As one would expect of a book written by newspaper journalists, this books holds the readers attention from cover to cover. Although this is the well-known, true story of Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez, Cuban exile turned world champion New York Yankee, the reader is led to believe each page will have some new detail that they have never heard before. Through their extended research and one hundred plus interviews, Fainaru and Sanchez seem to have done their homework thoroughly because these new details are ever present. There are even points in which the reader wonders if the authors actually lived the life of the Cuban baseball player, instead of just researching it in October of 1996 when the ordeal was nearly over. Fainaru enhances this story using the experiences of other ball players and agents that were involved in similar defections. Also, Fainaru adds the strange facts about the relations between the U.S. and Cuba that make the story more interesting. Overall it was one of the more interesting and entertaining non-fiction books I have read, though I will admit that having knowledge and interest in baseball helped.

Duke of Havana:
The Duke of Havana is an enjoyable reading piece, written by two newspapermen, which shows the combination of baseball with Cuban history/ politics through the telling of the story of Orlando 'El Duque' Hernandez and his journey from ideal Cuban sportsman to starting pitcher for the New York Yankees. Through baseball the history of Cuba is told from the period just before Fidel Castro came into power in the 1950s, his change of the baseball game in Cuba into one that exemplified the glory of the state, to its current troubles (Special Period of Time in Peace) since the Soviet Union's collapse that can be mirrored in baseball by Cuba's current hemorrhaging of Cuban baseball players defecting to the United States. Overall the authors use baseball to show the state of the average Cuban in Cuba today and how it got to be this way through world events spanning back to the 1950s. It also demonstrates Castro's amazing political prowess through his ability for political weathering in where he has been able to adapt to the times to keep his hold on Cuba. It also, to some extent, tells the story of the anti-Castro forces against him on the other side of the Florida Straits. While the story is written well and it is easy to follow the events/ history presented, a rudimentary knowledge of baseball history and rules as well as some knowledge of Cuban history is needed to fully understand this book. Some of the immigration rules/ situations are also not entirely explained but with some basic assumptions what is going on can usually be determined. The book was primarily researched through first hand interviews and this lends a very intimate feel for the material presented.

Duke is worthy:
Ray Sanchez and Steve Fainaru give a good presentation of the occurrences surrounding the defection of Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez from Cuba in their book The Duke of Havana: baseball, Cuba, and the Search for the American Dream. They explain his reasoning for defecting and denounce stories that arose out of the sudden defection in the late 1990's. Delving deeper past the main story, the authors present the Cuban Athletic Ministry and its product athletes in hopes of better explaining the seeming mass defection of many members of the Cuban National team throughout the mid and late nineties. By using interviews with defectors, the U.S. sports agents helping them, and baseball and government officials on both sides of the Florida Straits, the stories are presented with validity in a somewhat fair way politically and socially. The book can be read as a good story of a man's determination to fulfill his childhood dreams and oppression or as an example of the political and social aspects of the circumstances. It ties these facets of the account to the basic central story without being exceedingly academic in the presentation.

DOPE.:
This is a great book for anyone that loves baseball or cuban political and cultural topics. It was a great first hand depiction of what was happening in cuba before and after the great number of baseball defections in the early nineties. By examining the occurance of world class baseball outside of the framework of commercialism, capitalism and general exploitation, it provided a candid, emotional and alternative look at the sport of baseball iteself. I loved this book.

A Story of Inequality:
Fidel Castro controls everything in Cuba. He governs not only the political aspects of the country, but also dictates every detail of life for the people under his leadership. Steve Fainaru and Ray Sanchez describe Castro's influence on baseball in their book, The Duke of Havana: Cuba, Baseball and the Search for the American Dream. Baseball serves as the ultimate venue for Castro to execute his power over Cuba because the sport incorporates the politics, economics, religion and entertainment for the country. For the participating professional athletes, baseball is not only a game, but also a way of life for them and their families. The sport separates the athletes from the rest of society by paying them higher salaries and providing them with nicer homes along with other advantages. Fainaru uses the story of El Duque's defection to evoke sympathy for Cuban baseball players willing to take any risks to live out their dreams in the American Major League Baseball. However, the special treatment given to the athletes in the Bahamas further illustrates how sport sets its competitors away from the rest of society. Allowing the Cuban baseball players to leave while the other passengers remain in the Bahamian detention center emphasizes an overlooked injustice that exists in countries with professional athletic teams. The Duke of Havana: Cuba, Baseball and the Search for the American Dream leads readers to believe baseball operates as the great equalizer. It plays upon the image of a poor, black Cuban rising above all odds to come to the United States and win the World Series. The underlying themes in the book, however, are far more thought provoking. The separation between professional athletes and the rest of society speaks volumes about the values of the different countries. In this area, the United States and Cuba are far more alike than either country would like to admit. Many hurdles subside along the road to becoming a professional athlete and individuals who achieve this goal should be rewarded even though the exponential rate at which players receive validation for their hard work undermines the contributions of others. Unfortunately, nothing will change until people open their eyes to inequality they perpetuate with their own pocketbooks.