A shooting star

I hope you have a happy Sunday. Today I woke up to the sad news that Eduardo Cajuso Álvarez, former shortstop for the Havana teams in the National Series, passed away yesterday in New Jersey. Cajuso was 67 years old.

I have heard countless stories about his unforgettable legacy in an era of great rivalries, where baseball was played with indescribable dedication, passion and loyalty. I often remember the anecdotes that my maternal grandmother and my uncles told me about professional baseball in Cuba, and then the beginning of the first National Series at the beginning of the 1960s.

50 years ago, Cajuso made his debut at the age of 17 in the National Series with the Constructores team. He played only three seasons in Cuban baseball and then left for the United States, seeking to make his dream of reaching the Majors come true. We will talk about his story here. We will take a look at those early years of Cajuso. I will dive into the prodigious decade of Cuban baseball and tell some stories about some stars who participated with Cajuso and impacted the game. I hope you enjoy this journey in honor of a special player who is rarely talked about.

Before I continue, I wanted to tell you that the next three months will be super special here. This is one of the stages of the year that I enjoy the most, especially because of the memories that come to mind. On the other hand, there will also be no action in Cuban baseball until next March, when the III Elite League of Cuban Baseball begins. So we will have plenty of time to tell stories here. I want to write and share with you as much as possible. That includes, of course, the hot stove of MLB, the traditional look before spring training and more.

As I've always said, it's a blessing to have this space and to do my best to brighten your days with each piece.

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Despite his great talent as a fielder, many who saw Cajuso play say that the adaptation process was an insurmountable challenge for him. Unfortunately, Cajuso was suspended indefinitely for being part of a network of players who sold games in the National Series. That serious situation ended his career in Cuban baseball and Cajuso had no choice but to leave Cuba. In several interviews, Cajuso said that he made the decision to be part of the game sales because of the economic needs he had. Cajuso signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1980, but failed to succeed at that time. His professional experience was limited to 23 games with the Lakeland Tigers in the Florida State League (North Division). There he had as a teammate his countryman Bárbaro Garbey, who made a big impression by hitting .364 in 26 games.

Cajuso, 22, slashed just .180/.206/.213/.419 with two doubles and nine RBIs in 65 plate appearances. He struck out more times (17) than he got a hit (11). Really, offense was never Cajuso's strong point. Although he was a brilliant shortstop, his poor hitting potential was one of the main challenges he faced when he reached the pros.