Ramon Olivera hits it out of the park with Béisbol Begins: How Nemesio Guilló Brought Baseball to Cuba! This picture book biography follows Nemesio as he travels from his home in Havana, Cuba, to a school in Alabama and falls in love with baseball. When he returned in 1864, he brought a baseball bat in his luggage and began teaching others how to play the game.
Today author and illustrator Ramon Olivera shares what surprised him the most during his research, his favorite baseball teams, and more!
What was your inspiration for the book?
I am a first generation Cuban American, and also a fan of baseball. I’ve always wondered why such an intrinsically American sport like baseball became so popular in Cuba, especially since the most popular sport in most Latin American countries is soccer. I thought this might be a good idea for a children’s book. As I began to research, I was not disappointed.
What is the most surprising thing you discovered while researching or writing the book?
I had no idea that baseball took root in Cuba as far back as the 19th century. Also, I was very surprised to learn that the reason for the appeal of baseball was very much influenced by Cuban resentment of Spanish rule and Cuba’s desire for independence.
What was the most challenging part of researching and writing the book?
I’m primarily an Illustrator. Although I’ve written two alphabet books, Béisbol Begins is my first attempt at writing something with a real narrative. I had the idea for Béisbol Begins about ten years ago and it took some time to wrap my head around, not only how to approach writing, but also how I wanted to illustrate something more historical in nature. Research for visual content is limited so I had to take a bit of artistic license here and there.
Workloads and other projects also made for a clunky stop-and-go process. The longer I’d set the project aside the harder it was to restart. My agent and author friends read iterations of my manuscript and offered valuable feedback and encouragement.
Researching was a challenging, but a fun bit of detective work. I enjoyed tracking down, through the Library of Congress via an interlibrary loan at my local library, an interview that the main character, Nemesio Guilló, gave to a Cuban newspaper in 1924. It presented me with the challenge of attempting to read and translate Spanish to English, as well as use a microfilm machine for the first time in over 25 years.
Challenges aside, writing the book myself gave me the luxury of choosing what elements of the story to tell through editorial, and what parts to tell through my images.
What do you hope readers will learn or discover from reading your book?
My hope is that readers will discover, not only how, but why baseball appealed so much to Cubans. While Cuba was still a Spanish colony back then, the US had already been independent for years. America became an inspiration. To Cubans, baseball came to represent freedom and democracy.
It’s also my hope that readers will understand that it’s those values that give hope to those that want to immigrate to the US for a better way of life. As a child of immigrants, I can’t help to see immigration through that lens. It’s given me an appreciation for even the most modest form of an American Dream.
What’s your favorite baseball team?
Growing up in the Bay Area, I’ve followed the Oakland A’s for years. However, I’ve lived in the Kansas City area for a long time now, so I also root for the Royals.
Praise for Béisbol Begins
“First-generation Cuban American Olivera captures Guilló’s excitement for this fledgling sport and how it was embraced by the people of Cuba in the book’s illustrations, which cleverly incorporate the brilliant red and blue of the Cuban flag. . . . an informative piece of sports history.”—Booklist
“Long-overdue recognition for a founding father of Cuban baseball. ¡Maravilloso!”—Kirkus Reviews
“A significant addition to baseball’s early history.”—School Library Journal
“Perfect for families who love history, sports, or stories about resilience. Whether you’re a baseball fan or simply appreciate a well-crafted tale, this book educates and inspires.”—La Prensa del Béisbol Latino
Connect with the Author
Ramon Olivera earned his BS in illustration from San Jose State University. He has illustrated more than twenty books for children and is author/illustrator of ABCs on Wings and ABCs on Wheels. Publishing clients include Little Simon, Hachette UK, Abrams Appleseed, and Little, Brown and Company. He was part of a team that received an Annie Award nomination for their production design work on ‘Hoops & YoYo’s Haunted Halloween’. His work has been exhibited in the New York Society of Illustrators and the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum. Ramon lives in the Kansas City area with his wife and two kids.