Introduced in the 1860s by Cuban students returning from U.S. colleges as well as ported American sailors the sport of baseball remains king in Cuba. In spite of the 1958 embargo the MLB has seen its share of Cuban stars from Minnie Minoso and Luis Tiant of the past to the current crop of exciting talent in Yoenis Cespedes Yasiel Puig and Aroldis Chapman. In recent years the World Baseball Classic has given the Cuban National Team an opportunity to remind everyone of their prowess on an international level. But it is the Olympic Games where Cuba has achieved its greatest global success.

Baseball became an official Olympic sport for the first time at the 1992 Barcelona Summer Games and for the five consecutive Games contested no nation came close to matching the Cubans. They won the gold medal in Barcelona Atlanta (1996) and Athens (2004) settling for silver in Sydney (2000) and Beijing (2008). By comparison USA has won three medals and just one gold. Featured here is a silver winner’s medal awarded to a Cuban player at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The identity of this player is unknown. Cuba lost in the finals to South Korea by a close score of 3-2. Orlando Hernandez ("El Duque") was a member of this Cuban team. Baseball was removed from the Olympic program after the 2008 Olympics but will return at the 2020 Tokyo Games.

Measuring 70mm in diameter and 6mm thick this silver medal has a unique design and employs an ancient Chinese jade piece known as bi. On the obverse is the winged Goddess of Victory and the Panathinaikos Arena with “XXIX OLYMPIAD BEIJING 2008” at the top. The reverse is inlaid with jade and has the Beijing Olympic Games emblem at center with “BASEBALL” inscribed at the top. Each winner’s medal whether gold silver or bronze comes with a red ribbon in the color of China’s flag inscribed with the 2008 Beijing logo and Olympic rings on both sides. The medal and ribbon together weigh 200 grams. The medal hook is a transformation of huang an ancient Chinese ceremonial jade piece decorated with a double dragon and reed mat pattern. A blending of traditional Chinese culture and the Olympic spirit winner’s medals were meant to symbolize nobility and virtue while giving its recipients great honor.

It should be noted that there is a minor crack in the jade on the reverse of this medal and it shows significant surface wear and handling. Overall it remains in fine condition with the ribbon in perfect shape. The medal comes with its original red lacquer presentation case although the top section was presented to us damaged. We have done a commendable restoration job using super glue allowing the inner magnets to enclose the top naturally as intended. The medal and ribbon fit comfortably inside the two compartments.