The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-02-07
Cubans, Playing American Ball
Try to Install American Methods

Uncle Sans monopoly of the base
ball market has been seriously threat
ened. South of the United States, in
the island of Cuba, a nation of little
brown men whom Uncle Sam set up
In the nation business by kicking
Spain off the island. and showing these
fellows how to run the business them
selves have been getting so ALFRED
fresh with uncle's favorite pastime
that they are mighty apt at any time
to rise up in their might and such
other clothes as the customs of their
country provides for and lick Sammy
at his own game. Frank C. Bancroft.
secvretary of the Cincinnati National
league team, and liking of the barn.
stormers." is authority for the state
ment that the day is not far distant
when Cuban teams will have to be
taken into consideration in deciding
q worlds championship. or else the
honors grabbed by the victor in the
bis after-session stuff up here will
have to be confined to the mere title
of champions of the United states.
Baseball Brains of Cuba.
The progress made by these Cubans
IN the adoption of our national pas
time is little less than marvellous, and
hen It comes to producing the
they've actually got us looking like a
bunch Of convalescents roosting on the
sun porch.
Probably the most potent factor in
producing this baseball condition in
Cuba, has been the baseball missionary
work that has been done on the island
by Armada Marsans and Rafael AL
media, two Cubans who are now men,
bers of the Cincinnati National league
team and who have the honor of being
fh0 drGt T1Hh1 NC 70 fn1,l. fk1 ~
league baseball in the land that gave
birth to the pastime.
Marsans and Almeida have been the
baseball brains of Cuba. Both of
very wealthy parentage and aristocra-
tic stock, Almeida being the direct
descendant of a Portuguese marquis,
they began to play baseball because
they loved the game and found that
the were naturally adapted to the
sport: and they have stuck in the game
for the same reason.
As members of the best families of
Cuba. they were both compelled to
flee to this country during the Cuban
revolution, and previous to Uncle
Sans intervention in the continual
strife on the island. and it was while
here as exiles from the tyranny Of
Spain that they picked up the rudi-
ments of our national pastime. Both
being boys Of brains. they were quick
to pick up the inside points of the
after Uncle Sam had kicked Spain
back across the sea, they taught what
they had learned here to their fellow
players in Cuba.
Break Into Big League.
Both being natural players. fast,
good hitters. n with strong throwing
arms. as all Cubans have. they re-
turned to this country and played
with semi-pro teams. where they made
goo to such an extent that the at
tentfon of minor league managers was
attracted to their work. and the New
Britain club Of the Connecticut league,
and the Scranton club Of the New
York league, started a fight for their
possession. In which the national com.
mission awarded them to Scranton.
This was in 1907. The following year
they went to New Britain. where they
played so we'll that in June, 1911,
Manager Griffith Of the Cincinnati
National league team. fearing to lose
their services if he waited for the
drafting season. purchased their re-
lease. paving $500 for Almeida and
$4,000 for Marsans. Thus they be-
came the first Cuban players to break
into q big league team here, and the
pioneers Of others Of their race, who
Will no DOUBT soon follow In their foot.
steps.
Almeida a~lternated with Ed Grant
at third for Cincinnati last year, and
while not SO fast a fielder. he proved
such a good hitter that he su~pplanted
the speedy Grant In games. where it
was desired to increase the hitting
strength of the team. In twenty nine
games last, season. after he had Joined
the Reds, Almeida hit our big league
pitching for an average of .313, and
led the Cincinnati team in hitting.
When on the bench he WA always
used as the Reds leading pinch hitter.
Almeida is not a superior sample of
Cuban fielding ability. there being in
felders down there who are faster
and can put 1t. all over him at this
end Of the game. the fast fielding and
throwing of these Cuban players be-
ing something marvellous. but he has
always been Cuba's leading performer
with the bludgeon. In the games in
Cuba against the worlds champion