Cuban Baseball in Mourning for the Death of Jorge Luis "Tati" Valdés

January 29, 2025

Cuban baseball is in mourning over the death this Tuesday of one of its most significant figures: pitcher Jorge Luis Valdés from Matanzas.

Considered the best left-handed pitcher in the history of the National Series, "Tati" Valdés was 63 years old at the time of his death, according to the Cuban News Agency (ACN).

The official information does not specify the cause of his death, but unofficial media outlets and social media posts had reported a deterioration in his health for some time.

Born in Jovellanos on February 12, 1961—meaning he was close to turning 64—Jorge Luis Valdés Berriel stood out as one of the most dominant pitchers on the island.

The so-called "Golden Lefty" left impressive numbers from the mound, thanks to a wide repertoire and unique intelligence and composure for pitching.

Over 20 National Series seasons, he accumulated 234 victories—the second most in this category, behind Pedro Luis Lazo (257)—and 166 losses, 46 shutouts, 3,134 innings pitched, over 200 complete games, 1,982 strikeouts and a 3.13 ERA, extraordinary numbers in an era when aluminum bats were used.

His repertoire, as Jit recalls, included a 90-mile-per-hour fastball, changeup, slider, curveball and knuckleball as his "main weapon," especially against right-handed batters. All of this, with enviable control over his pitches to the plate.

"Tati" Valdés was the cornerstone from the mound for the unbeatable Henequeneros under manager Gerardo "Sile" Junco, who made history in the early 90s and won two consecutive Cuban championships, plus a runner-up finish.

Furthermore, he also shone as a pitcher for Cuban national teams during what is considered the golden age of Cuban baseball at the international level. He was an Olympic champion in Barcelona 92, and world champion in the four world cups in which he participated: Havana 1984, Holland 1986, Italy 1988 and Edmonton 1990.

"He also won titles in Central American and Caribbean Games and Pan American Games, as well as in Intercontinental Cups and Goodwill Games. In those tournaments he accumulated eight victories without losses," notes Jit.

One of his most memorable performances took place at the 1991 Pan American Games in the Cuban capital, where he pitched a no-hitter against Canada. In domestic tournaments he had done the same in 1984 against the powerful Villa Clara team.

After his forced retirement along with other stars in the 1990s—in a highly questioned decision by baseball authorities—he played in Japan, although he later returned to play a couple of seasons with Matanzas before definitively ending his sports career. He subsequently also worked as a coach in Cuba and in Brazil.

His death has caused dismay among baseball fans and experts inside and outside the island, and has prompted numerous messages of condolence and tributes to his remarkable career.