Havana, Cuba.- Cubans are in mourning for the death of Romelio Martinez Hernandez, one of the strongest batters who played in the national baseball championships.

The former player from the extinct Havana province died of cardiac arrest on Sunday at the CIMEQ Hospital in this capital at the age of 52.

Martinez was one of the greatest sluggers of all times in Cuban baseball. He batted 370 home runs in 13 National Series, so he is tied in the fourth place with another outstanding player, Antonio Muñoz.

Among Martinez’s records are the best frequency batting home runs (one out of 12.84 official times at bat) and the Power Factor (which measures the bases run by the batters according to their batting) with 2.01.

Martinez was born in the town of Bejucal, 30 kilometers south of Havana. After retiring from active sport, he worked with the National Baseball Commission and coached the Mayabeque team in the 55th National Series.

He is being waked in his hometown and will be buried at 16:00 hours, local time, on Monday.