World’s oldest former major leaguer turns 102
From Anne-Marie Garcia at The Associated Press on April 25, 2013:
It’s time to put another candle on the very crowded birthday cake of Conrado Marrero, the world’s oldest living former major league baseball player.
The Cuban hurler celebrated his 102nd birthday on Thursday at his modest Havana apartment surrounded by family and friends, an unlit Cuban cigar in his mouth and a baseball cap on his head.
He was given an enormous blue and white cake, and savored a glass of wine and a sip of Bucanero, Cuba’s domestic beer. Marrero smiled as his family applauded and smothered him in hugs.
In addition to his longevity, the former Washington Senator has much to celebrate this year. After a long wait, he finally received a $20,000 payout from Major League Baseball, granted to old-timers who played between 1947 and 1979.
The money had been held up since 2011 due to issues surrounding the 51-year-old U.S. embargo on Cuba, which prohibits most bank transfers to the Communist-run island. But the funds finally arrived in two parts, one at the end of last year, and the second a few months ago, according to Marrero’s family.
Read the full article here: http://www.boston.com/news/world/caribbean/2013/04/25/world-oldest-big-leaguer-turns-cuba/nQegbHpq3AnsMuLVBagbjJ/story.html
Related links:
- Read Peter C. Bjarkman’s SABR biography on Connie Marrero
- “The Mysteries and Misconceptions Surrounding Conrado Marrero,” by Peter C. Bjarkman
- Tom Hawthorn and Kit Krieger shared a cigar with Conrado Marrero in 2011 (TheTyee.ca)
Originally published: April 25, 2013. Last Updated: April 25, 2013.