Havana applauds stellar baseball player

Before the largest crowd recorded this season at the Latinoamericano Stadium, the same place where he was worshipped, baseball player Alexander Malleta was officially retire.

He batted cleanup and played first base, Malleta won three national titles with the Lions (1996, 2006, 2010) while he also crowned in the Super Liga back in 2005.

While reviewing his sports career, he talked to Prensa Latina and said that the 2010 title, against Santiago de Cuba, was his greatest memory ever in baseball.

I would love that the finals repeat again this season, although he stated that all titles are equally important as they are the result of his sacrifice, determination.

On the retirement ceremony held at the legendary stadium, he was grateful with all who contributed with such an emotional moment.

It was a time where he shared with family, friends, coaches and athletes of different generations, the city top political leaders and so many fans of Industriales, all of them came to see my official retirement, but they also know I will continue working in this sports.

He confirmed that he will continue in the team's coaching staff and is preparing for the responsibility he was assigned. He is on the short list of trainers to succeed current manager Guillermo Carmona next season.

In his life career stats, Malleta averaged .297, with a .488 slugging percentage, homered 257 times and hit 332 doubles, among his 1,778 hits, according to statistician Benigno Daquinta.

On defense he posted a .989 average in 21914.2 innings played.

On international events, Malleta won two gold medals in Central and Caribbean Games (2006, 2014) and one gold medal in Pan American Games (2007). Besides, he earned the silver medal in both Olympic Games in 2008 and the World Championship in 2007. He was also member of the 2009 World Baseball Classic Team.

I am a man of baseball and I will be always linked to this sports and my team the Lions of which I am very proud of, stated a visibly emotional Malleta.

Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff