Renowned Cuban umpire defects to US
November 30, 2009
MIAMI (AP)—A top Cuban umpire has defected to the United States.
The Spanish-language newspaper El Nuevo Herald reports that Nelson Diazarrived in Miami on Sunday with his wife and two daughters.
Diaz worked in the Olympics and the 2006 World Baseball Classic. His 26-yearcareer supposedly ended after he was picked to work the 2009 WBC in Japan butwas told by Cuban baseball officials he couldn’t go because they didn’t trusthim.
Diaz said one of the first things he did in the U.S. was place flowers atthe tomb of his mother, who died in Miami before he could see her.
In 1999, Diaz called the exhibition game between the Cubans and Orioles inBaltimore. He helped restore order after a Cuban umpire body-slammed ananti-Castro demonstrator.
Diaz also participated in World Cups and the Pan American Games, among manyother international tournaments.
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