Introduced inthe 1860s by Cuban students returning from U.S. colleges as well asported American sailors, the sport of baseball remains king in Cuba. Inspite 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 ofexciting talent in Yoenis Cespedes, Yasiel Puig and Aroldis Chapman. Inrecent years, the World Baseball Classic has given the Cuban NationalTeam an opportunity to remind everyone of their prowess on aninternational level. But it is the Olympic Games where Cuba has achievedits greatest global success.

Baseball becamean official Olympic sport for the first time at the 1992 BarcelonaSummer Games, and for the five consecutive Games contested, no nationcame 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 onegold. Featured here is a silver winner’s medal awarded to a Cubanplayer at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. The identity of this playeris unknown. Cuba lost in the finals to South Korea by a close score of3-2. 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 70mmin diameter and 6mm thick, this silver medal has a unique design andemploys an ancient Chinese jade piece known as bi. On theobverse is the winged Goddess of Victory and the Panathinaikos Arena,with “XXIX OLYMPIAD BEIJING 2008” at the top. The reverse is inlaid withjade 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 atransformation of huang, an ancient Chinese ceremonial jadepiece decorated with a double dragon and reed mat pattern. A blending oftraditional Chinese culture and the Olympic spirit, winner’s medalswere meant to symbolize nobility and virtue, while giving its recipientsgreat honor.

It should benoted that there is a minor crack in the jade on the reverse of thismedal, and it shows significant surface wear and handling. Overall itremains in fine condition, with the ribbon in perfect shape. The medalcomes with its original red lacquer presentation case, although the topsection was presented to us damaged. We have done a commendablerestoration job using super glue, allowing the inner magnets to enclosethe top naturally as intended. The medal and ribbon fit comfortablyinside the two compartments.