Ovas Cyclone considers Hall of Fame induction a medal of honor

Havana, February 22 (RHC)-- Rogelio García Alonso, known by the nickname of Ciclón de Ovas after his native town in the province of Pinar del Río, considered as a medal of honor his entrance the day before to the Palmar de Junco Hall of Fame, in the province of Matanzas, the only facility of its kind in Cuba.

In exclusive statements to the Cuban News Agency, Garcia Alonso, considered by experts as one of the best pitchers of revolutionary baseball, said that his inclusion in the hall of immortals also rewards the effort, sacrifice and discipline to his passage through the National Baseball Series.

"The best of all is that I had the privilege of receiving in life the distinction as a member, a possibility that others did not have, for example, my co-worker Pedro José Rodríguez, who died a little more than a year ago," lamented the top Cuban baseball pitcher.

During the exaltation ceremony staged at the Palmar de Junco stadium, a National Monument, Garcia Alonso also had words of praise for the fans of the national pastime in the province of Matanzas, with whom he had the opportunity to share during his four-year working period with the Crocodiles, under the aegis of former player Victor Mesa.

"One retires, but the connection with baseball endures because the love for the game is in one's blood, that is why I currently collaborate in Panama and help the Vegueros de Pinar del Río team", commented the member of an exclusive list of six players who achieved 200 or more victories in domestic championships.

The gala also honored Armando Capiró, Andrés Antonio "Haitiano" González, Pedro José Rodríguez, Julio Germán Fernández, Zoilo Versalles, Roberto Barbón and Mariano Álvarez, and gave special recognition to Andrés Ayllón and commentator Roberto Pacheco.

To date, more than 60 baseball glories of Cuba have been honored in the legendary field, the oldest active field in the world according to specialized literature, among them Martín Dihigo, José de la Caridad Méndez and Orestes Miñoso.