Finally, the Elite League

After being postponed from its original date and not a few criticisms of its organization and logistical problems, finally this Saturday the first Cuban Baseball Elite League (LEBC).

Designed with the idea of concentrating quality in a higher level tournament than the National Seriesas the Selective Series once were, and thereby contributing to the long-awaited takeoff of the sport of balls and strikes on the Island, the LEBC has generated controversies long before its first games.

Former baseball players Julio Romero (behind, in red) and Alexander Malleta (in front, in white) were protagonists of the inauguration of the I Elite League of Cuban Baseball, at the Latin American Stadium in Havana. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

From the criteria for grouping the provinces that pay tribute to each team and the formula for their formation, to the names finally chosen for the teams —even avoiding the results of a popular survey called for it—, they have been on the target of fans and specialists.

But nothing provoked more criticism than the postponement of the start of the tournament for the non-arrival of the team uniforms on the scheduled date. This, despite the fact that, days before the controversial announcement, the National Sports Commissioner, Juan Reinaldo Pérez Pardo, had assured in a television intervention that all the equipment necessary for the League would be in the country on time.

Match between the Agricultores and Portuarios teams, at the start of the Cuban Baseball Elite League, at the Latin American Stadium in Havana. Photo: Otmaro Rodríguez.

Difficulties with the transportation to Cuba, due to delays of the company contracted for the transfer, motivated the delay in the arrival of the uniforms and, consequently, the postponement of the beginning of the contest, according to the official version. The situation reached the point where directors of the TeamMate company, in charge of manufacturing the equipment, traveled to the Island to explain what had happened and attend to the matter personally.

However, a few days still had to pass before the entire contracted shipment was in Cuba —in the midst of uncertainty and another controversy due to the non-invitation to a press conference on the subject of journalists from official media who had been critical of what happened—and finally, this Saturday, the voice of play ball in three Cuban stadiums.

Thus, on its first day, the Latin American Stadium in Havana hosted the clash between Portuarios and Agricultores, resulting in a 6×4 victory for the visitors; the Cristóbal Labra of the Isla de la Juventud served as the stage for the duel between Tabacaeros and Centrales, narrowly won by the first 3×2; and Calixto García de Holguín witnessed the 1×0 shutout of the Ganaderos over the local Cafetaleros.

But beyond the sports results, which already this Sunday had continuity with the second scheduled games, the main thing is that the LEBC was able to start with the promise of celebrating its 50 games per team in the regular phase and rewarding the champion with the assistance to the Caribbean Series of Gran Caracas 2023. It remains to be seen now if any other setback compromises its development and if, already underway, the organization and quality of the tournament are enough to save it from further questioning.

For now, our photojournalist Otmaro Rodríguez was at the Latin American Stadium this Saturday, and he offers us snapshots of the first match of the new contest in the Cuban capital.