One of the great living legends of Cuban baseball has died

By Swing Completo / contacto@swingcompleto.com

After battling like the warrior he was with the aftermath of a stroke for over a year, Andrés Ayón Brown He was unable to complete this match for life and passed away in Havana a few days after his 84th birthday. At his death, he was the only Cuban member of the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame who still lived, and one of the last survivors of the mythical Havana Sugar Kings.

Of an affable character, with an enviable sense of humor and with an energy that rivaled that of people who could be his grandchildren, Ayón was working in baseball until his health allowed, traveling around the country to support in the talent recruitment program.

The right-hander began his foreign professional career in 1957 after being signed by the Cincinnati Reds organization, to which the Sugar Kings were affiliated. He also pitched with Almendares and Habana in the Cuban Professional League and was champion of the league and champion of the Caribbean Series.

Despite his excellent performances in the Minor Leagues, Ayón never received the call for the main club. Unlike many other players, who decided to leave Cuba and seek to develop their careers in the Major Leagues with the increase in tensions between the island and the United States, Andrés decided to stay in the country and support the development of baseball. Shortly after professionalism was abolished in Cuba, he jumped into the Mexican League, where he would make his history until he became a legend.

He would pitch a zero-hit-zero-run game in 1965 against the Charros de Jalisco, working for the Pericos de Puebla. Seven years later, he would pitch a perfect seven-inning game against the Sultanes de Monterrey, perched on the mound by the Saraperos de Saltillo.

After his last stint as a pitcher, he accumulated 169 wins against 98 setbacks (.633 average, sixth in league history for pitchers with at least 150 decisions) and a 3.15 ERA, to rank twelfth in history among pitchers with 2000. work innings. Overall, his cumulative summing up the minor leagues is 234-148. He was elected to the Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

In Cuba, after his retirement, he served as coach and directed the Industriales for three seasons. His desire to contribute to the training of new athletes led him to remain involved with baseball almost to the end of his life. In addition to helping as a coach, Andrés Ayón was one of the vice-presidents of the Martiano Baseball de Siempre National Council, which he gave prestige with his presence and participation in many of the activities.

But the greatest merit of this great man lay in having been a family man, and an exceptional friend, full of anecdotes and always willing to share them. In addition, the doors of his house were always open to anyone who wanted to chat about baseball or learn about his exploits on the grounds. His passing adds to the already too long list of irreparable losses within Cuban baseball in the past two years.
Please extend our condolences to your family and friends.

His body is found in the Zanja y Belascoaín funeral home in Havana and his burial will be tomorrow, Monday, at three in the afternoon, in the Necropolis of Colón.