Rolando Verde

Rolando Verde Santamaría (El único Verde que madura azu)

• Born June 11, 1962 in La Habana Province Cuba

Rolando Verde was a Serie Nacional Rookie of the Year who later was briefly with the Cuban national team.

Verde won Rookie of the Year in 1980-1981 with the Industriales. In 1982-1983, he tied for the league lead with three sacrifice flies. In 1983-1984, his eight triples tied Evenecer Godínez for the most in the Serie Nacional. He was 0 for 4 with two walks and a run in the 1984 Amateur World Series and had two assists, backing up Pedro José Rodríguez, Sr. at third base and Antonio Pacheco at short. He was also 0 for 4 in the 1985 Intercontinental Cup; Cuba won both events. In the 1985 World Port Tournament, he was the Home Run King and MVP. With Habana in the 1986 Series Selectivas, he led with 18 doubles.

Overall, Verde played 16 seasons in Cuba and hit .304/.364/.405 with 227 doubles, 725 runs, 120 steals (in 214 tries) and 482 walks. He struck out 354 times in 4,970 at-bats. Rolando fielded .959, primarily playing third base. He later coached for the Industriales.

Sources

• A History of Cuban Baseball by Peter Bjarkman
• Defunct IBAF site
• 2005 Guia Official de Beisbol