Orestes Kindelán Olivares

With the undisputed strength of his hits, Orestes Kindelán left his mark on the history of Cuban baseball. The national fans remember with pride the so-called Tambor Mayor, who sent countless home runs in the national series, and wearing the uniform of the Cuba team.

He was born in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba, on November 1st, 1964, born in the Santiago municipality of Palma Soriano a boy who, years later, would become the greatest producer of home runs and RBIs in Cuban baseball.

Kinde, as his Santiago countrymen call him, accumulated in 21 national series a total of 487 home runs in 6,588 at-bats, one for every 13.56 official appearances on average.

However, the total rises to 588 and the frequency decreases to 12.51 in 7,214 appearances, when we add the connections of the indomitable player in international tournaments, as the cleanup hitter of the national team throughout 16 years (1985-2001).

He was a natural run producer, with 1,511 RBIs, thanks to his varied production of hits, of which 853 were extra-base hits (330 doubles, 36 triples, in addition to the aforementioned home run connections).

When adding up all his performance, the figure rises to 1,808, and the average of RBIs per at-bat is one for every 4.03, another element that confirms him as the best hitter of the field in any era.

The exploits of Orestes Kindelán, at home and abroad, put those present in the stands of many baseball parks on their feet. This occurred in a special way in his beloved Guillermón Moncada, where he sent 249 hits beyond the limits of that field.

He made his debut as a catcher, then was a left fielder, until he came to play as first base, or in the capacity of designated hitter.

According to statements to the press, his best year was 1989, when he won the Triple Crown of Batting in the National Baseball Series. That was a spectacular campaign, with dream numbers: .402 AVE (66 in 164); HR: 24 and RBI: 58. Furthermore, he had great performances in 2 international tournaments that same year.

In the eighties and nineties he represented Cuba in 6 world championships, 6 intercontinental cups, three Olympic Games, four Pan American Games and four Central American and Caribbean competitions.

Kindelán is an excellent athlete, very sociable and a friend to all. He is married and father of two children: a girl, Lisandra Kindelán Biset and a boy Lionar Kindelán Biset. At this time he lives in the Vista Alegre neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. Recently the baseball player made his debut with the Septeto de Santiago as a singer recording the song "Los mangos bajitos".