Cuban baseball umpire takes his own life after being sanctioned in the most recent National Series.

The Cuban baseball and softball umpire, César Pérez Cruz, passed away on August 13 at the age of 72, according to the official newspaper Venceremos, which did not specify the cause of death.

It was the journalist Daniel de Malas -from the sports media Swing Completo- who specified that Pérez Cruz took his own life.

"Unfortunately, we have confirmed that the Cuban baseball umpire César Pérez Cruz decided to take his own life by hanging on Tuesday, August 13," detailed the communicator.

"As a supervisor, César Pérez had been sanctioned by the National Commission for the entire season, along with other umpires, due to the well-known case of the 'name change' of Ricardo Campanioni on April 29, 2024, in the National Series," the source added.

"Deep sorrow for the passing of César Pérez Cruz, long-standing and distinguished umpire of #baseball and #softball, who participated in international events such as the Pan American Games and the Central American and Caribbean Games. Our condolences to family and friends," wrote the Cuban Baseball and Softball Federation on X the same day of his passing.

"The shame from a sanction that many considered unjust, in a murky case where according to statements from other involved parties like Professor Charles Díaz, it was the responsibility of the CNB executives themselves, seems to have affected Pérez Cruz's emotional health to the point of leading to the sad ending," stated Diario de Cuba, citing the testimony of a person with knowledge of the case.

The same source revealed that "Pérez Cruz apparently could not bear that pressure and the disgrace of seeing his name tarnished after so many years of impeccable conduct."

"The Little Giant," as friends and fans called him, participated in four Pan American Games, two Central American and Caribbean Games, a Pre-Olympic Tournament, a Pre-World Tournament, in addition to multiple national and provincial championships in softball, baseball, and recently baseball 5.

"The great Cesar Pérez Cruz, the fun-loving friend, joker, and good-natured person, but also responsible, honest, and serious in his work, leaves a legacy for the new generations of referees," noted Venceremos in the article where it omitted any reference to the circumstances of the prominent referee's death.

"Rest in peace, you are great, and we say goodbye to you with the phrase that many used to greet you when you were seen at the Van Troi stadium, on the street, or at some sporting event: 'To Caesar what is Caesar's,'" concluded the official source.