# Héctor Olivera González

**Date of birth:** September 30, 1953

**Date of death:** October 11, 2026

**Categories:** baseball, batter, coach

Héctor Olivera González was born on September 30, 1953, in Cruces, in today's Cienfuegos province. He started out as a pitcher: at 17 he was part of the Cuban team that won the 1970 World Youth Championship in Venezuela, where he threw a perfect game against Honduras.

He made his name with the bat. He debuted in the National Series in 1972 with Azucareros and later played for Cienfuegos, retiring after the 1983-84 season. Over 13 seasons he hit .316, with 138 doubles, 14 triples and 80 home runs. Playing for Las Villas, he led the sixth Selective Series at .459 (67 hits in 146 at-bats), becoming the first hitter to top .400 in those tournaments.

With the national team he won the 1980 Amateur World Series in Japan and took silver at the 1981 Intercontinental Cup in Canada. After retiring he worked as a hitting coach in Cruces and Cienfuegos; Yasiel Puig has called him a major influence. He is the father of Héctor Olivera Amaro, who played for Santiago de Cuba and in the major leagues.

He died on October 11, 2026, in Cienfuegos, at age 73.