Over the years this question has come up several times. As I have
stated in the past the answer isn't really about competition nor
was it about ego. Having played in Miami 10 years then moving
to Tampa for 16 years, watched and played with all the names you
mentioned, also played at Hartford 3 years with the mixed Miami/Tampa
roster...the answer is really simple. Although WJA realized the
popularity of Bolivar in Tampa, that alone would not have stopped
them from bringing Boli to Miami with thoughts of adding millions
to their revenue. But once I went to Tampa, not only spoke with
Boli and other Tampa players also, what a difference I witnessed
in the camaraderie of the atmosphere of the locker room, players
managers and front office. They were like family there and it
wasn't easy to break them away. Beitia hung on to his players
with a fierce loyalty and the players loved him for that. In the
10 years I played at Miami only 6 players transferred between
Miami and Tampa. Five players from Miami (Gorostola, Joaquin,
Rufino, Arteta aka Pedro at Miami and myself) went to Tampa while
only 1 player (Gerny aka Guerrica at Tampa) went to Miami. A couple
of years after I arrived in Tampa, Elorrio was sent to Miami from
Tampa.
After 10 years at Miami, Frank Duffin and Miami players manager
Alfredo Garcia wanted to send me to Ocala/Ft. Pierce and Hartford.
I lobbied hard to be sent to Tampa because of my experience playing
at Hartford with Beitia and his laid back attitude with his players
and after weeks of heated talks with Miami, Richard Donovan settled
it and opened the door way for me to get to Tampa. Recently I
ran into Alfredo at a players function in Miami. I thanked him
for driving me out of Miami because fortunately for me I told
him it extended my career another 16 years by getting out of the
bad mix of inner politics going on at Miami. He wasn't quite sure
how to handle my cynical remark. I'm sure he thought I was at
the end after 10 years at Miami.
BTW, not only did the move do wonders for me, but Gorostola,
Joaquin and Arteta went from early game players at Miami on the
ropes with no confidence to become late game players at Tampa
that were tough to beat.
I spoke with Mark Beiro on this subject. As head of PR and
announcer he was very much involved with inner management meetings
on this subject. He sat in on a WJA management meeting in 1978
about sending Remen and Juaristi to Tampa for Jesus and Echeva
going to Miami. Beitia opposed it so not to break up his family
and Alfredo opposed it because he felt Jesus and Echeva were a
competitive threat to Joey, Asis, etc because they both had already
demonstrated the ability to beat his Miami 'boys' in
prior tournaments.
Whatever...the simple answer is Bolivar had no desire to leave
Tampa to go to Miami. Life was so good right where he was.
