Havana, April 24 (IANS): Cuba’s oldest professional baseball player Conrado Marrero, who participated in the US major leagues, died here Wednesday at home due to various ailments at the age of 102, his grandson Rogelio Marrero said.
The former pitcher, considered a legend of international baseball, was very sick and ceased breathing two days before his 103rd birthday, Xinhua quoted Rogelio as saying.
Marrero, born on April 25, 1911 in the town of Laberinto, central province of Villa Clara, was known among Cubans as “El Guajiro de Laberinto” (the farmer from Laberinto).
His professional career started in 1946 with the Indians from Juarez (Mexico), where he scored 24 wins in a single season.
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He joined the US majors April 21, 1950, and spent five seasons until he was 43, and retired.
Marrero represented Cuba in five World Series.
Since 1958 he had devoted himself to coaching and training younger baseball generations.
He was granted the award of “National Hero of Labour” in 1999.
