‘The Torturing Came When I Got…’- MLB Icon Jose Canseco Once Shared a Light-Hearted Account of Immigrating From Cuba to America Under Fidel Castro’s Regime

Born in Havana, Cuba, the former outfielder and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, Jose Canseco, once shared his thoughts on his family immigrating from Cuba.

Canseco was born on July 2, 1964, in Cuba. His family had to leave the country after a year or two of his birth. The commute happened because of the regime of the then prime minister of the country, Fidel Castro.

He talked about torturing in a very amusing way to DJ Vlad on his show.

They had to leave everything behind

Jose Canseco or ‘Parkway’ Canseco, as the fans know him, had to leave Cuba after a year or two of his birth because his father realized that Fidel was going to institute a communist regime in the country.

As per the rules at that time, they had to leave everything behind, and they were only allowed to take a suitcase of clothes and leave the rest there alone.

On DJ Vlad’s show, Canseco was asked if there was any kind of torture he or his family had to endure because of Fidel. In a very amusing way, he replied, “No, the torturing came when I got married the first time.” After laughing at his reply, he continued, “No there was none, not that I remember. I mean I was so young. So I think my father realized that we could probably have a better life in the United States.”

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So they left everything behind and started a new life from scratch in Miami, where they had relatives already living.

Jose Canseco wanted to become the best player in the world

Canseco started playing the minor league in 1982, and initially, he struggled a lot. In 1984, he went to play in Modesto, California, and in mid-season, his mother passed away because of a brain aneurysm.

No matter the age, losing a parent is never easy on a child. On her deathbed, Canseco promised her, and said, “Mom, for you, I’m gonna become the best player in the world.”

He was once the most feared home run hitter. He made a promise to his mother, and his obsession with becoming the best player led him to take steroids.

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He might have become the best player, he was capable of it. But that’s not what happened.