Jorge Luis “Tati” Valdés, glory of Cuban sports, passed away

Cuban baseball fans, especially those from Matanzas, mourn the passing of Jorge Luis “Tati” Valdés, one of the best pitchers to have played in our national series.

I had the good fortune to see him pitch and enjoy his great repertoire: straight 90 miles per hour, change of speed, slider, curve and excellent control. But I will never forget his main weapon: the knuckleball, especially against right-handed hitters.

All that “recital” of deliveries, together with his mastery to surprise those who could afford to anchor at first base, made him an almost untouchable lefty. Hence the excellent numbers he left for history, not only in the domestic context, but also in international competitions.

In 1990, the star of Jovellanos was part of the Henequeneros ninth team that won the Cuban title, and was the leader in victories (19). The following year, he equaled that mark.

“Tati” was active in 20 national series, with a balance of 234 wins and 166 losses, 46 shutouts, 3134 innings pitched, 2980 hits allowed, 1982 strikeouts, 1024 tickets, 1090 clean runs and 3.13 ERA.

His international performance included gold in the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games and participation in four world championships, in which he always won the title: Havana 1984, Holland 1986, Italy 1988 and Edmonton 1990.

He also won titles in Central Caribbean and Pan American games, as well as in Intercontinental Cups and Goodwill Games. In total, with Cuba’s teams, he has 30 victories and only one defeat.

In his X account, Inder president Osvaldo Vento Montiller expressed that “it moves to know that Jorge Luis Valdés, the fearsome left-handed pitcher author of feats that enhanced #BeisbolCubano, has passed away.

As humble as he was great as an athlete, he was loved and admired by the people who inspired his successes. We accompany family and friends in their grief”.

For its part, the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation expressed in a post on the same social network: “Mourning in our sport. Jorge Luis Valdés, one of the greatest Cuban pitchers of all time, has passed away. He shone from his coronations as a youth to lifting an Olympic title and many other titles. Our condolences to his family and friends”.

Translated by Casterman Medina de Leon