Introduced in
the 1860s by Cuban students returning from U.S. colleges as well as
ported American sailors, the sport of baseball remains king in Cuba. In
spite of the 1958 embargo, the MLB has seen its share of Cuban stars,
from Minnie Minoso and Luis Tiant of the past to the current crop of
exciting talent in Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig and Aroldis Chapman. In
recent years, the World Baseball Classic has given the Cuban National
Team an opportunity to remind everyone of their prowess on an
international level. But it is the Olympic Games where Cuba has achieved
its greatest global success.
Baseball became
an official Olympic sport for the first time at the 1992 Barcelona
Summer Games, and for the five consecutive Games contested, no nation
came close to matching the Cubans. They won the gold medal in Barcelona,
Atlanta (1996) and Athens (2004), settling for silver in Sydney (2000)
and Beijing (2008). By comparison, USA has won three medals and just one
gold. Featured here is a silver winner’s medal awarded to a Cuban
player at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The identity of this player
is unknown. Cuba lost in the finals to South Korea by a close score of
3-2. Orlando Hernandez ("El Duque") was a member of this Cuban team.
Baseball was removed from the Olympic program after the 2008 Olympics,
but will return at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Measuring 70mm
in diameter and 6mm thick, this silver medal has a unique design and
employs an ancient Chinese jade piece known as bi. On the
obverse is the winged Goddess of Victory and the Panathinaikos Arena,
with “XXIX OLYMPIAD BEIJING 2008” at the top. The reverse is inlaid with
jade and has the Beijing Olympic Games emblem at center, with
“BASEBALL” inscribed at the top. Each winner’s medal, whether gold,
silver or bronze, comes with a red ribbon, in the color of China’s flag,
inscribed with the 2008 Beijing logo and Olympic rings on both sides.
The medal and ribbon together weigh 200 grams. The medal hook is a
transformation of huang, an ancient Chinese ceremonial jade
piece decorated with a double dragon and reed mat pattern. A blending of
traditional Chinese culture and the Olympic spirit, winner’s medals
were meant to symbolize nobility and virtue, while giving its recipients
great honor.
It should be
noted that there is a minor crack in the jade on the reverse of this
medal, and it shows significant surface wear and handling. Overall it
remains in fine condition, with the ribbon in perfect shape. The medal
comes with its original red lacquer presentation case, although the top
section was presented to us damaged. We have done a commendable
restoration job using super glue, allowing the inner magnets to enclose
the top naturally as intended. The medal and ribbon fit comfortably
inside the two compartments.