When the Ballgame Came to the Bookstore: Juego de Pelota at El Sótano
As part of her Mexico book tour, Laura Elena Rodríguez Garcidueñas brought Juego de Pelota: Descubre sus secretos con La Catrina Bohemia to Librería El Sótano Miguel Ángel de Quevedo in Coyoacán, for a presentation that brought the book together with some of the people who had also been part of its research process.
Joining Laura for the conversation were Dany Metzcoatl, from Equipo Vida-Muerte, Miquiznemiliztli, Delegación FEMUC de la Ciudad de México, and Ing. Jacobo Victoria Hernández, president of the Asociación Mexicana de Jugadores de Juegos de Origen Prehispánico A.C. and Escuela de Pelota Mixteca CDMX Moctezuma Aeropuerto.
For Laura, having them there was especially meaningful because their connection with the book began long before its publication.
During the research for Juego de Pelota, Laura contacted, among others, Dany and Jacobo to learn directly from people who practice these traditions. They shared their knowledge, answered her questions, and provided references that helped her understand the games from the perspective of their practitioners.
Those first conversations grew over time into collaborations and friendships. The people Laura had contacted when the book was still a research project eventually became part of her Mexico tour, joining her at events and sharing their knowledge directly with audiences.
Dany’s work goes beyond being an Ulama player. He is also involved in promoting Mexican culture through talks, workshops, and educational activities, helping bring knowledge of Ulama and other cultural traditions to new audiences.
Jacobo’s work also extends beyond the playing field, he represents players and works to preserve, promote, and increase awareness of Mexico’s traditional ballgames, helping ensure that they continue to be practiced and recognized by future generations.
Kary, who also practices Ulama, was present at the event as well. She generously gave a demonstration of Ulama and also helped record audiovisual material during the event, allowing part of the experience to be preserved
The presentation was an opportunity to talk about the book while also bringing attention to the people and traditions behind it. Attendees had the chance to ask questions, learn about elements of the players’ equipment, and hear directly about different forms of the Mexican ballgame tradition.
For Laura, the event was also an opportunity to express her gratitude.
Dany and Jacobo were among the first people who opened their doors when Juego de Pelota was still a research project. Their knowledge, generosity, time, and willingness to accompany her throughout this journey have become an important part of the story behind the book.
Presenting the book at El Sótano, with some of the people who contributed to that journey standing beside her, made this stop particularly special.
The book was also added to El Sótano’s selection, giving readers in Mexico another opportunity to discover Juego de Pelota in its bookstores. We would also like to give a special thank you to Educación Recreativa, our commercial partner in Mexico, for helping make this connection with El Sótano possible and, above all, for the work, enthusiasm, and support they have given us throughout this journey. Our particular thanks to Carlos and Vanessa for being so involved and supportive every step of the way.
What began with a few questions during the research process eventually became a book, new encounters, friendships, and a shared effort to keep these traditions present and visible.
