# Agustín Arias Tornés **Date of birth:** May 5, 1942 **Categories:** Sports, Society, baseball Cuban baseball player, better known as El Tingo Arias. Member of the delegation from the Cerro Pelado Ship that participated in 1966 in the Central American and Caribbean Games held in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Glory of Cuban sports. One of the players in Cuba with the greatest number of at-bats, doubles and triples connected, double plays executed and assists made in the National Baseball Series and Selective Series during the time he was an active player defending the shortstop position. He was part of the national team from 1966 to 1982 and holds three decorations. He has also become known for the achievements of his sons, Leonardo Arias Delá, Agustín Alfonso Arias Castillo, Agustín Hugo Arias Lago, as well as his brothers Edelio Arias Tornés and José Arias Tornés. He was born in the La Sal neighborhood belonging to the municipality of Yara, Granma. From a young age he began playing baseball and in 1965 he made his debut in the National Baseball Series playing for the Mineros team. With a height of 1.82 cm and a weight of 82 kilograms. In his native La Sal neighborhood, a baseball championship was organized in 1956 in which Arias participated for the first time as a player. The first National Baseball Series in which he participated was in 1965 and in 1966 he was part of the Cuba team that participated in the Central American and Caribbean Games in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where Cuba won the gold medal. He holds 6 gold medals and one silver medal in international championships. He appears among Cuban baseball players with the best results in the National and Selective Series of all the times he was active. He was selected Athlete of the Century in 1979. Some of the best plays that Cuban fans enjoyed for the quality of style and speed they reflected, and which became myths and legends in Cuban baseball, were precisely the spectacular plays performed by him. Some were when in the infield he would catch and throw with power making the out with his partners Andrés Telémaco Pilotaje and Wilfredo Hernández Rojas at second base and the combinations at first base with Gerardo Olivares Quindelán and Agustín Lescaille López, and at third base with José García Hidalgo (El Chivo) and Juan Dranguet Isbert. When the Giraldo Córdova Cardín Boxing event was held in Granma province, Arias's official retirement as an active baseball player was announced in 1984 due to an injury to his left arm that prevented him from continuing his sports career. After his official retirement from active sports, he continued working in the development of new talents from the grassroots level to provincial and national teams. Initially in the municipality of Yara and later at the Provincial Baseball Academy in Granma with an accumulated 32 years of experience as a coach. Due to the results obtained in his sporting life, he participated as a special guest at a Baltimore Orioles game in the United States, as well as in a friendly Cuba-Venezuela game. He spent 16 years in the management of the Granma team and Orientales at that time, which participated in National and Selective Series. Furthermore, by the Municipal Assembly of Popular Power of Yara in a solemn ceremony, he was awarded the Symbol of the City, as well as being named an Illustrious Son of his native municipality. He has provided international technical assistance in Italy on two occasions and one in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. As a coach he has achieved: 6 first place provincial zonal positions with the Yara team. 5 second place provincial zonal positions with the Yara team. 15 years as a coach with the Granma province Baseball team, holding outstanding positions such as: Qualification for the Revolution Cup on 5 occasions. Bronze in the XXVIII National Baseball Series (1988-1989). On one occasion director of the Granma Team at the XXXV National Baseball Series (1996). He promoted 28 athletes to national events and 2 to national youth teams. Awards 1965-1982: 17 National Series with 1407 hits and 5143 assists made, he remains in fourth place among Cuban baseball players. 1974-1982: 8 Selective Series. 1966 (Puerto Rico), 1970 (Republic of Panama), 1974 (Dominican Republic), 1982 (Cuba) - 4 Central American and Caribbean Games (4 time champions). 1975 (Mexico): 1 participation in Pan American Games (champion). 1972 (Nicaragua): 1 World Championship (champion). 11 International competitions as top matches with the Cuba Team. 1982: Batting Champion in the VIII Selective Series with an average of .404. Decorations He has the following medals: Martyrs of Barbados. Cerro Pelado. 20 years of Revolutionary Vigilance.