The basics: The first pitcher's card in the set, Rene Arocha was a brief sensation as a Cuban defector, who paved the way for future Cuban ballplayers that played in the Major Leagues. Before he defected, few Cubans had managed to play in the majors and none with the high-profile of Arocha, who pitched for the Cuban national team.
Card thoughts: This card displays the hazards of the Star Rookie design with the black edges on the top and the bottom. This must've been one of my early '93 UD acquisitions. The card is a bit special to me as Arocha was one my first prospect finds for my fantasy team. That was my first year of playing fantasy baseball and although I wasn't very good, Arocha had a surprisingly decent rookie season in '93 (especially that April). The ensuing seasons weren't so great as injuries took a toll and I was plenty aware, in my keeper league.
Backs are important in '93 UD: Arocha had thought about defecting for a long time and while the team was stopped at their hotel in the middle of an airport in Miami, he simply walked out. It helped that he had relatives in Miami. Also of note: Arocha played with the father of Yuli and Lourdes Gurriel, Lourdes Sr., on the Cuban national team in the mid-1980s. A good story about Arocha.
More from '93: The No. 1 song this week -- still -- was "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, in its 10th of Forever Weeks as the top song in the country. But, for me, 1993 was the year I turned away from the pop charts and embraced alternative music fully. The No. 1 alternative song this week in 1993 was "Steam" by Peter Gabriel.
Steam is the hidden gem in the Peter Gabriel canon. Alas, the video is not as quirky as Sledgehammer so everyone remembers that one more.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember him at all, neat story though.
ReplyDeleteAlso, 1993 was not a great year for pop music.
Always preferred Dolly's version of "I Will Always Love You".
ReplyDeleteMe, too, by far.
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