{Disclosure: This post is not compensated by any organization, nor affiliated in any way with the Los Angeles Dodgers. I, personally, just have some extra tickets that I'd love to give away.}
Cubans and Baseball. A Love Affair.
The Cuban love of the game of baseball is legendary. From the late 1800's when the Almendares began playing baseball in earnest, we Cubans embraced baseball as part of our own national identity.
Growing up in Los Angeles, I remember going to Dodger games with my brothers-in-law. They would bring transistor radios with them to the game so they could hear the legendary Vin Scully calling the play-by-play as they watched the game live.
Personally, I don't really enjoy watching baseball on TV, but a live game….The Best. Plus when we go watch the Anaheim Angels play at Edison Field, we get to wear red. (It's the little things.)
And my 99 year old mom? She still gets totally excited about the World Series every year. I know. Shut up.
So, last month my kids, Jonathan and Amy Kikita went to a Dodger game to watch Yasiel Puig play (also, we look really great in Dodger Blue, too), but sadly he had gotten hurt and it didn't happen. But they had a fantastic time sitting with a large group of noisy Cubans (is there another kind?) out behind right field.
In case you haven't been following the story, Puig defected from Cuba last year and started his rookie season this year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He's young and brash and a little cocky and okay, maybe not too bright, but that kid can hit!
Viva Los Dodgers!
Anyway, the Dodgers are hosting Cuban Heritage Day next Sunday, September 1st at Dodger Stadium and we Darbys are all going to be there, because hey, it's Cuban. Heritage. Day. (Actually, for reasons unbeknownst to me personally, they're now calling it Viva Los Dodgers Day and I'm okay with that. The tickets still say Cuban Heritage Day, but that's not important right now.)
There will be a pre-game shindig pachanga with the salsa band, Charanga Cubana and a meet and greet with another fabulous Cuban player, Paco Rodriguez. The party starts two hours prior to the game 11:00 am where we will celebrate our Cuban culture and love of all things baseball with music, games and entertainment.
After the game, everyone is invited to stay to enjoy a special screening of the baseball movie The Sandlot. (The kid who played Benny in The Sandlot? Also Cuban. We're everywhere!)
My big, fat, Cuban family will be there all day on Sunday and we'd love to have you join us. I have two tickets to Sunday's game (in the Cuban section, of course) to give away to some lucky (?) reader.
If you live here in Southern California, or will be here next weekend and would like to hang with me and my big, fat, Cuban family at Dodger Stadium, here's your chance.
To enter this drawing for Two Tickets to the Los Angeles Dodgers Viva Los Dodgers Day, please leave a comment on this post and answer one or both of the following questions:
- Are you a baseball fan?
- Which team is your favorite? (Note: Just saying "Dodgers" does not improve your chances of winning.)
Please leave your comment on this post and I'll choose a winner on Wednesday, August 28th, 2013 at 7:00 pm PST.
IMPORTANT: You must use a legitimate email address to comment and not just a Facebook link. I need to be able to contact the winner.
So, come on. Let's talk "beisbol."
Also, please just leave a comment only if you're interested in winning the tickets, any political comments will be deleted. Thanks.
Baseball fan since birth! Born in LA during Fernandomania so you know my favorite team is Los Doyers!
Baseball fan since the Florida Marlins now the Miami Marlins. My husband will enjoy this he is cuban from Hialeah he is Navy stationed in California.
Yes, baseball fan all my life. Have been a Dodger fan, have made my daughter who plays competitive softball a Dodger fan, too. Would love to take her to the game, to watch the LA sensation that is Mr. Puig. Go Dodgers.
I am an avid fan of the Dodgers and your family. Love you stories and watching your kids grow and evolve. It’s awesome that you help bring back great memories and traditions into our homes…and an afternoon with you at this pachanga…priceless.
OMG!! how i would love to go para guarachar y “joder” un poco!! my intentions were to do just that with my husband and 74 yr old father, but sadly i csn not make it..i hope u all gozan to the fullest!!
Ellie
New Dodgers fan I just moved to SoCal and we go to every game I can! Growing up with Cuban mother and a millions Cuban aunts and hearing the constant “Mira pa eso” referring to any man with a nice “trasero”. I would love to attend Cuban heritage day with you and your family not just because of the game. But because I admire your story and what you do. Being away from my family is hard and I find comfort in your blog during those times I feel most homesick. I can’t wait for Cubanaso Day and I hope to spend it with you!
Baseball fan all my life, it’s in our Cuban blood!! Dodger fan since moving here in 1978, not to mention this would make a great birthday gift!!!! <3
My blood is Cuban with Dodger blue in it. I, too, grew up going to Dodger games in LA. My dad owned a Cuban grocery store not too far from the stadium and we got a few of the ball players coming by to get their fix of mercancia latina. Sometimes we got free tickets. Viva Los Dodgers! I live in OC now and don’t get out to LA much. Sounds like a fun pachanga!
Viva los Dodgers!..Gracias very mucho!
My mom is 86 and a true baseball fan. I’m in Miami, so I’m just posting to let everyone know that abuelas love baseball!
I ❤ baseball! I can rememberListening to the game on the radio
& watching the Dodgers on tv with my dad
smoking his cigars since childhood in the
70’s!! Viva Los Dodgers my favorite team!
Lets represent CUBAN style!⚾❤⚾
I am a huge beisbol fan! born in La Habana 1961! My oldest son was able to go with his Dad to Cuba in 2006 as part of an adult baseball league here in San Diego and got to play w/the old timers in Cuba who basically kicked their butts! There were Cubans that were 80 years old that could out-do all the youngsters. It was a beautiful thing! I grew up in NJ so am a Yankees fan and the hubby, el gallego, a rival Boston Red Sox fan. I would love to meet you and your beautiful cuban family, Marta. This would be a great 52nd birthday present for me since my birthday is on Sept 5th. We also have alot in common — we arrived on the banana boat from Cuba on Valentine’s Day 1963 and I think you arrived a year prior. And I have your cookbook — we are meant to hang out together! Abrazos! Rebeca
I am a TOTAL baseball fan! My team is the Atlanta braves and going to this celebration would just put me in Baseball heaven! Tickets, free “Doyers Dog” who could ask for anything more! Could be a very splendid time! Plus I get to meet you!
Yes, I like baseball, pero me gustaba aun mas cuando era pequeña. Originalmente mi equipo favorito eran los Dodgers, pero al hacerme mayor I switched to the Angels. The rest of my familia are all going to be there in the Cuban section. I wanna be there too, but the Cuban section is sold out :(. Si gano estaría bien 🙂
I have loved baseball probably since before I was born! And as for favorite team … YANKEES! FOREVER!!
I love baseball. My favorite team are the Padres!
I am a drama teacher and I play a lot of improv games with the kids in my class. The first thing they ask as soon as they walk through the door is: “Can we play …… ?” I have games I rely on that my kids love, but I have been needing ideas for new exciting games that are easy to play with big or small groups and that don’t cost me too much money. I think I just struck GOLD by seeing your video!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! Y’ALL ROCK!!!