How Did Fidel Castro Affect Cuba

The sport is such an integral part of our culture today that we Americans sometimes take for granted its significance in our everyday lives. Contemporary baseball is so closely related with American ideals and identity that it often has served as an expression of patriotism. In times of national hardships, baseball has been used to encourage and rally the nation. In speaking of the emergence of America's nationalism in the historic and contemporary playing field, there are several key issues that surface. Of these issues I will specifically address the long residuals of how baseball has helped to establish our (Americans) national spirit and identity. That is the links between our heritage and national institutions and the game of baseball as a cultural and political representative abroad and unifying tradition at home. I will also address ideals and injustices. That is how baseball's acceptability has changed over time, and how this acts as a microcosm for America's changing attitudes about equality and opportunity.

Robinson Impact"). This was not only said by a great baseball player, but also an American hero. Jackie Robinson, a man of great courage and bravery, changed society. The entire effect he made on desegregation and baseball in America can never be fully understood. His place in baseball goes well beyond his statistics. His life and career helped change the nation's way of thinking ("Jackie Robinson: Desegregation Begins"). He opened the door for many of the great black athletes, we have in our sports history today. It is hard to believe that baseball was once segregated. It had been that way for many years, but some people wanted and were ready for a change. The social impact of Jackie Robinson changed how the game of baseball would be played in the future, the life of people, and the way people thought about blacks.

I, Babe Ruth, had a major contribution to society, mainly the game of baseball. As I was becoming more recognized as more of a hitter than a pitcher while the “dead-ball era” was happening. I hit many home runs and broke records. My fans loved it; they paid attention to my full-swing hitting. With the style of hitting I had, it contributed to the revolution of baseball and now the “live-ball era.”

Baseball is referred to as “America’s Pastime.” Many people argue it is one of the hardest sports to succeed in. Out of the four major sports in the United States, hitting a 95 mile per hour fastball is a goal only few can accomplish at a professional level. With only 750 players throughout 30 Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the odds of making it to “The Show” are highly unlikely. To make it to the big leagues as an African American player was an even harder feat to accomplish in the mid to late 1900’s. Baseballs Greatest Experiment tells the story of how MLB was an all white mans game up until the death of Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis in 1944. Team owners and the commissioner did not want to integrate African Americans into the MLB; “some experts argued that the absence of blacks in the majors stemmed from their lack of talent, intelligence and desire” ( Tygiel, 32). Since Jackie Robinson overcame many obstacles, baseball players and fans alike can argue that he paved the way for African Americans in baseball and challenged societal social structure.

In 1927, Babe Ruth and the New York Yankees changed the face of baseball by setting numerous records and being arguably one of the greatest baseball teams of all-time. Behind the outstanding play of Babe Ruth, teammate Lou Gehrig was also performing at an amazingly high level but was shadowed by Ruth’s legendary season. Lou Gehrig’s play that season started to declined though due to his concern for his mother while she was in surgery. “His heart wasn’t in the game. All he could think about was his beloved momma” (Bryson 778). And with Lou Gehrig’s decline that season, the spotlight was on Babe Ruth and his legendary season that players today cannot even match.

Baseball has always been more than just a sport to the American people. For many, it is a way of life, teaching not just brute skills but life lessons and morals. In the wake of World War I, racism and bigotry abounded in the United States. Even though the integration of schools had recently been instated, Jim Crow laws severely limited the activity of African Americans in society, resulting in baseball teams being limited to whites. Jackie Robinson made an important step in gaining rights for African Americans when he broke the color barrier of baseball in 1947. He did this by making civil rights his ambition even before the protests began (Coombs 117). Jackie Robinson’s fame as a baseball player and determination to defeat adversity

Baseball has always been an American sport full of merriment for the whole family, but what lies beyond the rooting, peanuts, and crackerjacks, is a bitter memory for the families who resided in the Chavez Ravine. The Chavez Ravine was located a few miles from downtown Los Angeles. This “poverty stricken” place was home to a tight knit Mexican community. Many families were forced out of their homes kicking and screaming others took the couple of dollars given to them to relocate in order to build federally funded public houses. The Chavez Ravine faced many problems from the remove of its inhabitants to subject of McCarthyism, and finally an unhappy memory to those who lost their homes when the Dodger Stadium was built.

The Cuban Revolution was a necessary act that attempted to improve the lives of the cuban population through many horrific events. The Cuban Revolution, which began in the early 1950’s, was an overthrow of a corrupt government. Throughout Fidel Castro’s multiple attempts to improve the horrific conditions of the Cuban population, the Revolution became a long and tragic journey beginning with the 26th of July Movement, to The Bay of Pigs invasion, to The Cuban Missile Crisis.

The game of baseball evolved immensely during the 1900’s. There were new rules and rule changes, new teams in new states, and then there was Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson was a true legend from the day he was born in 1919. Baseball had it all in the first half of the 1900’s, fans filled the stadiums day after day, even during the war times. There was a big-name player on almost every team, children and adults admired these professional baseball players. The only thing professional baseball didn’t have during these times were African American players. Learning about the hardships that he had to overcome as a young boy, and the accomplishments he made from his college days at UCLA, to becoming the first African American professional baseball player, Jackie made it known that he was an American hero.

Baseball has always been America’s national pastime. In the early and all the way into the mid 50’s, baseball was America and America was baseball. The only thing lacking in the great game was the absence of African American players and the presence of an all white sport. America still wasn’t friendly or accepted the African American race and many still held great prejudice towards them. All this would change when the general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, Branch Rickey decided he was going to sign a Negro player. Jackie Robinson was that player and Jackie Robinson changed the game, America, and history. By looking specifically at his childhood adversity, college life and the hardships he encountered by becoming the first black player

Civil rights was an important American issue through the late 40s through the 60s. During this time period Baseball was “America’s Pastime, “and a major social get together for white Americans. However in 1947 both of these event were combined when the Brooklyn Dodgers gave Jackie Robinson a chance to play professional baseball. Jackie Robinson is the target of my biography. Robinson not only was the first African American baseball player, but he also had a hall of fame career, and eventually had his number retired by all of Major League Baseball. It is important to know about him because he helped accelerate the civil rights movement in America. Although his entrance was brutal with the abuse he received and the obscenities that were yelled at him. He helped the transition to not only make African Americans accepted in professional sports, but also to help the acceptance of African Americans in the civil rights movement.

Jackie Robinson changed the game of baseball. His impact on the game will forever be remembered. Robinson’s path to the Major League Baseball (MLB) was astounding, becoming the first African American to play in the MLB. Robinson’s legendary career is one of the best amongst all African American baseball players. “He has a special day dedicated towards him, on April 15th each season; every team in the MLB celebrates ‘Jackie Robinson Day” (Baseball HOF).

While watching the documentary “Cuba without Fidel” I noticed most of the points that were made were bashing the way the government was running Cuba, this country remains being the same communist country it was when Fidel Castro was in power with the difference that now his younger brother Raul Castro is in position. This film can be viewed as a form of propaganda with the sole purpose of letting people know how bad Cuba is without Fidel. Although the documentary is very informative I believe that it’s biased and it’s just trying to put forth their own position. I agree that Cuba without Fidel is a bad country but in my opinion is the same corrupt country that it was when he was in power.

HAHA, During Castro’s rule, thousands of Cubans were incarcerated in abysmal prisons, thousands more were harassed and intimidated, and entire generations were denied basic political freedoms!! What kind of contribution, you talking about. Does not matter, whatever he contributed against the international hegemony, when his own people being repressed, and intimidated!! what a shame for our so called intellectual circle!!

Castro’s involvement with the foreign and domestic politics during the early Cold War period greatly influenced the outcome of the Cuban Revolution. Without the actions taken by foreign powers like the United States and Russia, some events on the domestic front may have had very different results. It is important to understand how every nation’s foreign policies can influence more than just one other nation, and this was especially true for Cuba. It was this mix and chain of events which produced the communist Cuba that we are familiar with today.