For over a decade Eduardo Paret was the shortstop for the Cuban National Baseball Team. Since Cuba will not allow its ballplayers to play outside the island nation, the only place an outstanding player of Paret’s level could put his talents on display is during amateur baseball tournaments in the Caribbean or South America.

     However, in 1992, baseball was made an official Olympic sport and this allowed Paret and other Cuban players the chance to showcase their skills to a worldwide audience. By 2004, Cuba had won Gold in the 1992 Barcelona Games and 1996 Atlanta Games, while finishing with the Silver Medal in the 2000 Sydney Games. During the 2004 Games in Athens, Cuba won its third Gold Medal in the event, with the help of veteran infielder Eduardo Paret.

     Cuba defeated Canada and Australia to take home the Gold. This is the gold medal awarded to Paret for Cuba’s win. The 2 ¼-inch gold medal is constructed of gilt plated silver. The front features the goddess of victory with a palm and winners crown in her hands, with 28th Olympiad Athens (in Greek). The reverse has Greek writing with an image of a lit cauldron on the bottom and the Olympic Rings on top. The medal is suspended from a 38-inch multi-colored embroidered ribbon that has “ATHENS 2004” and the Olympic Rings in white. The medal is in excellent condition with just light scuffs and abrasions from age. The medal comes with a signed LOA from former Major League pitcher Livan Hernandez, who states that the medal was acquired from Eduardo Paret.

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