Baseball, One Man’s Escape from A Troubled Past
By Rita La Vau
Many people see baseball as just a game, but Guillermo Sandrea saw it as his ticket out of Venezuela. Sandrea knew things were getting bad in the South American country, but it wasn’t until he was threatened with kidnapping that the gravity of the situation hit him like a 90 mph fastball.
Sandrea said, “The delinquency rate was high, a lot of robberies, uncertainty amongst the people and kidnappings. I mean the real reason why I left was they tried to kidnap me.”
Kidnappings, violence and riots have become the norm in Venezuela for many years. Following his brush with kidnapping, Sandrea’s father convinced his son to follow his dream and pursue baseball in another country.
Sandrea wanted to get as far away from his past as possible. He fled to his sanctuary, the baseball diamond. As a catcher, he’s in charge of what pitches are made and controlling the pace of the game. Sandrea couldn’t afford to let his previous struggles distract him when trying out for the team. Fortunately, he fit right in. “I see it like my other home, another family,” he said. “When I came to Spain, I had to earn my position. I was on the lower division teams. Then I was put on the Astros. I mean I played very well and on a good team in Venezuela, but they had to see how good I was here.”
Saying baseball is a way of life would be a disservice to Sandrea. His life depended on his ability to make it on a baseball team in another country. Astros player Raúl Rosell knows it’s about more than just baseball for Sandrea.
“We are in this club, but they feel like when they come here they forget a little bit about what’s going on back home,” Rosell said. “They tune everything out and only focus on what they are good at, which is baseball.”
Sandera wants his fellow Venezualan migrants to remember the rich culture and spirit of their home country. He remembers times when children didn’t fear being out at night. They remember when the sounds filling the air were that of dancing and the smell of freshly made food permeating the air. Now, the poor and decrepit fill the streets, and the nights are dark and full of terrors.
Many Venezuelan migrants are left with uncertainty. The concept of staying just isn’t in their best interest.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Venezuelans regularly flee the country for opportunities abroad. Many go to America, but some like Geraldine Garcia who is the coach for the Astros Pee Wee league chose Spain to flee to.
Venezuelan migrants choose countries like Spain for language and cultural similarities.
Garcia’s message to Sandrea is simple.
Garcia said, “Keep being consistent and not give up. Everything will be fine just keep training, keep going forward and the moment will come when you will become the best.”
Sandrea’s unabated optimism drives him to achieve his dreams and be the best player despite his harsh upbringing.
Sandrea said, “I keep fighting, I never stop fighting. If you fall its okay just get back up don’t regret anything and achieve your dreams. When one door closes many more will open for you.”
