Fidel Castro and Rocky Marciano-Baseball Careers

 

There is an oft repeated tale that Fidel Castro received a tryout in the late 1940's

As a pitching prospect for the Washington Senators and was rejected

There is substantial doubt as to the accuracy of this story

And little evidence that this actually took place has been detected 

What is true was that Castro was a starting pitcher in his senior year in high school

But when attending college he doesn't appear to have been on the team

Several major league teams, as well as the Washington Senators, had scouts in Cuba

And speculation is rampant if Castro had been selected what history would have been 

This situation can be viewed in two different ways

If Castro was discouraged from pursing baseball by not being given a tryout at all

Or in fact had been turned down after a tryout by the Senators or some other team

It may be what influenced his decision to pursue politics instead of major league ball 

His interest in baseball continued after he became the Cuban Communist dictator

He regarded the development of Cuban amateur teams as part of his mission

And Cuban amateur teams consistently played at very high levels

In international amateur competition 

In high school Rocky Marciano played football and baseball

In 1947 Marciano and several friends traveled to North Carolina

To try out for the Fayetteville Cubs, a minor league farm team for the Chicago Cubs

He lasted 3 weeks before being cut, and failed to find a spot on any team in the minors 

After boxing in the Army, Marciano returned home to Brockton, Massachusetts

And began boxing training, with Charlie Goldman becoming his training boss

Marciano began his professional career in July, 1948

And went on to win 49 fights without a loss 

There are several reasons Marciano

Should not have become so great

He was short armed and relatively slow on his feet

And began his professional boxing career fairly late 

Marciano was a very tough fighter, and a very powerful puncher

Willing to absorb punches to inflict his own

Knowing also that Brockton residents were betting large amounts on his winning

So to the normal desire to win was added the wish not to disappoint his hometown 

So if you are a baseball official in charge of recruiting

Be aware that who you fail to retain or scout

Could alter the course of their lives

In a manner that at that time you would very likely never figure out