Ariel Pestano
Encyclopedia
Ariel Pestano Valdés (born January 31, 1974), better known as El Veterano ("The Veteran"), is a Cuba
n baseball catcher
, and is known as one of the greatest catchers in Cuban history. He has won both silver
and gold medal
s in the Olympic Games
and also played catcher on Cuba's World Baseball Classic
team in March 2006 and March 2009. In Cuba, Pestano plays with the Villa Clara Naranjas
of the Cuban National Series
.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n baseball catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
, and is known as one of the greatest catchers in Cuban history. He has won both silver
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
and gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
s in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and also played catcher on Cuba's World Baseball Classic
World Baseball Classic
The World Baseball Classic is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation and created by Major League Baseball , the Major League Baseball Players Association , and other professional baseball leagues and their players associations around the world...
team in March 2006 and March 2009. In Cuba, Pestano plays with the Villa Clara Naranjas
Villa Clara Naranjas
Villa Clara is a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. Based in Santa Clara, the Naranjas or Azucareros have been one of the league's most successful squads over the last 30 years, winning championships in 1983, as well as three year run from 1993, 1994 and 1995. They also lost the 1996,...
of the Cuban National Series
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
.