Lourdes Gourriel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lourdes Gurriel
Gurriel in 1986
First baseman
Born: (1957-03-09) March 9, 1957 (age 68) Sancti Spíritus, Cuba
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards
Baseball World Cup MVP (1994)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  Cuba Olympic Games Gold 1992 Barcelona Team Baseball World Cup Gold 1980 Tokyo Team Gold 1984 Havana Team Gold 1986 Amsterdam Team Gold 1988 Rome Team Gold 1990 Edmonton Team Gold 1994 Managua Team Intercontinental Cup Gold 1979 Havana Team Silver 1981 Edmonton Team Gold 1983 Brussels Team Gold 1985 Edmonton Team Gold 1987 Havana Team Gold 1989 San Juan Team Gold 1993 Italy Team Gold 1995 Havana Team Pan American Games Gold 1983 Caracas Team Gold 1987 Indianapolis Team Gold 1991 Havana Team Gold 1995 Mar del Plata Team Central American and Caribbean Games Silver 1982 Havana Team Gold 1986 Santiago de los Caballeros Team Gold 1990 Mexico City Team Gold 1993 Ponce Team Goodwill Games Gold 1990 Seattle Team

Lourdes Gourriel Delgado (born March 25, 1957) is a famous former baseball player from Cuba. He played his entire career in Cuba's top league, the Cuban National Series. Lourdes also represented the Cuba national baseball team in many international games. He even won a gold medal at the Olympics!

Playing Baseball in Cuba

Lourdes Gourriel played for many years in the Cuban National Series. He was a very talented player from the start.

Early Career Highlights

• He won the Cuban National Series Rookie of the Year Award in the 1976-77 season.
• In 1978-79, he showed his power by hitting 12 doubles.
• He joined the Cuba national baseball team that same year.
• In the 1979-80 season, he led the league with 77 hits.

Later Successes

• Gourriel continued to excel throughout his career.
• In 1988, he won a batting title, hitting an amazing .430.
• He was named the Most Valuable Player in 1993-94.
• That season, he also won another batting title with a .395 average.
• He led the league in doubles with 19.
• In his final season with the national team in 1995, he hit .464.

International Baseball Achievements

Lourdes Gourriel was a key player for the Cuban national team. He helped them win many gold medals around the world.

Winning Gold Medals

• In the 1980 Amateur World Series, he hit .452 and helped Cuba win gold.
• He hit a game-winning shot against Team USA in that tournament.
• He was part of the gold medal team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
• Cuba beat Taiwan in the finals, and Gourriel played a big role.

Star Player in Major Tournaments

• Gourriel was often named to the All-Star team in international tournaments.
• He was an All-Star outfielder in the 1983 Intercontinental Cup.
• In the 1984 Amateur World Series, he led with 7 doubles.
• He also tied Barry Bonds for the lead in runs batted in (RBI).
• He was a standout player in the 1988 Baseball World Cup.
• He hit two important home runs to help Cuba win.
• One homer tied the game in the 9th inning against Team USA.
• He was chosen as an All-Star outfielder for that tournament.

MVP Awards and More Gold

• In the 1989 Intercontinental Cup, he won the MVP award.
• He helped Cuba win gold at the 1990 Goodwill Games.
• He was named the best first baseman in the 1990 Baseball World Cup.
• In the 1991 Pan American Games, he hit four home runs.
• He was again named the top first baseman.
• In the 1994 Baseball World Cup, he won the MVP award.
• He was 37 years old but still played at the top of his game.
• He led the Cup in RBI and tied for the lead in triples.
• He was chosen as the All-Star designated hitter.

Coaching and Managing

After his playing career, Lourdes Gourriel became a baseball manager.

• He led the Centrales team to a Super League title in 2003.
• He also managed the Sancti Spiritus team, where his sons played.
• He coached for Cuba in the 2005 Baseball World Cup.
• He also coached in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
• He managed Sancti Spiritus for seven seasons.
• Later, he managed in Nicaragua for two years.
• He returned to Sancti Spiritus in 2009-10 and led them to a great 63–27 record.

Family Life

Lourdes Gourriel is a proud father of two sons.

• His sons are Yuli Gurriel and Lourdes Gurriel Jr..
• Both of his sons became professional baseball players.
• They both play in Major League Baseball in the United States.