One more inning with Bladimir Baños

After 22 National Baseball Series of experience, where he pitched in over 400 games, he sometimes cracked the National Team roster, and even boasts a no-hit-no-run game, Bladimir Baños feels it is time to say good bye.

He details that coaches tell him he may well play a couple of more seasons. However, he rather not risks losing his skills and leave a negative memory on fans.

With an excellent command on his pitches and a low-90 mph fastball, the right-handed hurler from El Guayabo, a very humble area in Pinar del Río, began playing baseball at 9 years old, and before embracing the idea of becoming a pitcher, he first tried first base and short stop.

Baños recalls that it was in the junior category when he decided to become a pitcher. His call to the Pinar del Río baseball team, sharing roster wit stars like Omar Linares and Pedro Luis Lazo, made his dream come true.

At a very young age, he made the National Team. The first time occurred in 2006, at 23, and confirms it was the greatest experience of his sporting career.

In addition to Pinar del Rio, he played for Ciego de Ávila and Las Tunas, as well as Industriales in the 59^th National Baseball Series. Back then, he was reaching a low point in his home province and manager Rey Vicente Anglada opened the doors of the Havana’s team for him.

He treasures some wonderful memories from that experience: “I left a pivotal mark in my career. I played for Industriales and managed to reach the National Team for the Premier12 tournament.”

In Pinar del Río, however, some criticized his decision to play for Industriales. “Everyone knows about the great rivalry between Pinar and Industriales, and when they saw me playing with them, some people said that I had betrayed the jersey.”

But he states this never happened. “I have never stopped loving for my province. What happens is that I was going through a complicated situation and the Industriales welcomed me with open arms.”

In December 2010, he reached a milestone that few pitchers have achieved: at the San Juan y Martínez stadium, he pitched a no-hit-no-run game. “It was very exciting, because I did it against Matanzas, which at that time was scary team to play against, and on a municipal field, which is shorter.”

To become a good pitcher, you have to have discipline and will. At 41 years old, he explains that the secret to remain so long in high performance is to seriously propose it, and work very hard to maintain physical shape. But “I would never have achieved it without the unconditional support of my family.”

Of all the rivals in the national series, he says that it was Sancti Spíritus the most difficult of all and Frederich Cepeda the hardest hitter to put out as “he is a player who does not chase bad pitchers.”

He says he feels satisfied with his career and all the joys he has experienced in these 22 years, from the national championship title with Pinar del Río to the privilege of having played in a World Classic.

He won 152 games, struck out 1.220 batters, and pitched clutch games in both, Cuba and internationally. He just wants to be remembered as an athlete who devoted all of his energy to baseball.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff