The History of Cuban Baseball

Saturday, August 20, 2011 - 8:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Miñoso

The Cuban Cultural Center of New York celebrates its 10th Annual Congress, the first all-day conference ever held on Cuba’s national pastime! Featuring keynote speaker and 2011 Humanities Medal recipient Roberto González Echevarría, joined by a host of baseball historians and players, including never-before-seen archival photographs, films, the Dodgers in 1950’s Havana, Cuban legends of the Negro Leagues, Cuban women in baseball, including AAGPBL veterans, Habana vs. Almendares archrivalry mania, all-time records update, the story behind Esteban Bellán, Fordham alumnus and the very first Cuban to play in the Major Leagues… all the way back in 1869, and much, much more!

In collaboration with the New York Historical Society, with the support of the New York Yankees, in association with LatinoBaseball.com and Fordham University, and with the cooperation of the Cuban Cultural Center of Boston, CubanBeisbol.com, PepsiCo, and the Empire Hotel.

(Pictured: the great Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso playing for the Chicago White Sox).

At FORDHAM UNIVERSITY, NYC ( “The Birthplace of Cuban Baseball”) .

X Annual Congress of the Cuban Cultural Center of New York.

Image result for fordham university logo

See PROGRAM details.

See REGISTRATION details.


PROGRAM*.

Fordham University @ Lincoln Center, NYC  /  Saturday, August 20, 2011.

A.M.

8:00 Registration / Continental breakfast

8:30 Welcome
Manuel Castedo (President, Cuban Cultural Center of New York)
Vincent DiCola, S.J. (Assistant Dean, Fordham University)

8:40 Special Message from Havana
Congratulatory message from legendary Almendares pitcher Conrado Marrero,
who turned 100 years old in April of this year

8:45 Dedication In Memoriam to Esteban Bellán
Rafael Pi Román (Channel Thirteen, PBS)

9:00 Keynote Address
The Origins of Baseball in Cuba: A Historical Context
Roberto González Echevarría (Yale University, Humanities Medal 2011)

9:45 MORNING PANEL
Cuban Baseball Replays: Hits, Balls and Strikes**

The Sultan of Swat VS. The Georgia Peach in the New Republic:
A Case Study of the Cuban National Consciousness

Manuel Márquez-Sterling (Professor Emeritus, Plymouth State University)

Cuban Amateur Baseball: La Liga de la Unión Atlética (1914-1960)
Marino Martínez (El Nuevo Herald)

Cuban Players in the Negro Leagues
Gary Ashwill (Baseball historian, Agate Type: Adventures in Baseball Archeology)

A League of Their Own: Cuban Women in Baseball
Leslie Heaphy, Ph.D. (Kent State University)
Special Recognition to Luisa Gallegos and Mirta Marrero,
Cuban veteran players from the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL)

Post-Revolutionry Overhaul: From Professionals to Amateurs
Rogério Manzano (Univision)

Moderator: César Brioso (USA Today)

**Presentations will be complemented by archival photographs and film footage.

P.M.

1:00 -2:00 Almuerzo
Arroz con pollo, yuca con mojo, salad, flan, soda and coffee or tea.

2:05  FILM
Geener Grass: Cuba, Baseball and the United States

3:15 AFTERNOON PANEL
The Hall of Famer and the Cuban All-Stars
A career retrospective in honor of Hall of Famer Tony Pérez, followed by a round-table
of Cuban all-stars: José Cardenal, Cookie Rojas, Julio Bécquer, Tony Pérez, et. al.
Moderator: José Roig (Univision)

4:15 El Tiante: The Lost Son of Havana
An homage and a testimonial by legendary pitcher Luis Tiant
Interviewer: Paquito D’Rivera

5:00 Merienda
Pastelitos de guayaba, coffee, books, DVDs and CDs

6:15  The Cuban Comet
A CCCNY Award Tribute to Orestes “Minnie” Miñoso
Presenter: Iraida Iturralde

7:00 Reception
Cuban hors d’oeuvres, open bar and music, featuring baseball hits from the 1950’s Cuban hit parade.

*Subject to revisions.

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REGISTRATION

Fee

$100: CCCNY Members

$125: General Admission

$20:  Students with valid identification

The CCCNY discount rate will be also be offered to members of co-sponsoring organizations
(to be posted at a later date).

Conference Location
The conference will take place at McNally Auditorium and Atrium at Fordham University School of Law at Lincoln Center in Manhattan.

Address and Directions

140 West 62nd Street & Columbus Ave. (Law School entrance)
Fordham University @ Lincoln Center, NYC

Take A, B, C, D & 1 trains to Columbus Circle. Exit at 60th Street & Broadway.
Go west to Columbus Ave and north to 62nd St.
Upon entering the double glass doors and informing the security desk that you are attending the baseball conference, walk up the stairs and take a quick left. After going through another pair of double doors, take the first right and enter the Atrium through its glass doors. The Auditorium will be ahead of you to your left. Elevators are also available.

Payment Methods
Advance Registration

Online: Click on https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/186563

and follow instructions to pay by credit card (no additional charge will be applied).

By mail: Only checks will be accepted for advance mail-in registration.
Checks must be received by Monday, August 15, 2011.
All checks should be payable to Cuban Cultural Center of New York and should be sent, along with name, telephone and e-mail address of each registrant(s), to:

The Cuban Cultural Center of New York
P.O. Box 2608
New York NY 10036

Confirmation of Payment
The names of registrants who have paid in advance (whether online or by mail) will be confirmed at the door on the day of the conference. Registrants seeking payment confirmation prior to the conference date should e-mail inquiries to cccofny@aol.com.

Door registration
Doors at Fordham University Law School’s McNally Auditorium will open to the public at 8 am.  Seats will be available on a first come, first served basis. Payments at the door can be made in cash or by check, except in the case that the hall sells out prior to event date.

Meals
The registration fee includes continental breakfast, lunch, merienda and a musical reception, including hors d’oeuvres and open bar.

Hotel Accommodations

Special discount rates will be offered at the four-star Empire Hotel (across from Fordham University) to attendees from out-of-state. Number of rooms available is limited. For rates and reservations, please write directly to cccofny@aol.com

For Other Information
Please contact  cccofny@aol.com.

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