The Havana Sugar Kings were a

Cuba Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...

n-based minor league baseball team that played from 1946 to 1960. From 1954 until 1960, they belonged in the Class

AAA AAA, Triple A, or Triple-A is a three-letter initialism or abbreviation which may refer to: Airports * Anaa Airport in French Polynesia (IATA airport code AAA) * Logan County Airport (Illinois) (FAA airport code AAA) Arts, entertainment, and me ...

International League The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...

, affiliated with

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...

. Their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro (sometimes called Gran Stadium) in

Havana Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.

History

The Sugar Kings began life in 1946 as the Havana Cubans, founded by Washington Senators scout

Joe Cambria Joseph Carl Cambria, also known as "Papa Joe," (born Carlo Cambria; July 5, 1890 – September 24, 1962) was an American professional baseball scout and executive who was a pioneer in recruiting Latin American players. From 1929 through 1940, he ...

. They played in the old Class C (later Class B) Florida International League. The 1947 Cubans were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time. In 1954, Roberto "Bobby" Maduro bought the team, moved it to the International League, and renamed it the Sugar Kings. Several talented Cuban players and other Latinos who eventually made it to the Major Leagues donned the Sugar Kings uniform, including

Luis Arroyo Luis Enrique "Tite" Arroyo, (February 18, 1927 – January 13, 2016) was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1955 to 1963. Arroyo was the first Puerto Rican player to appear for the New York Yankees and was a key part of their pennant winning s ...

Pompeyo Davalillo Pompeyo Antonio Davalillo Romero a-va-LEE-yo(June 30, 1928 – February 28, 2013) was a Venezuelan professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Washington Senators. Nicknamed ...

, Tony González, Cookie Rojas, Elio Chacón,

Danny Morejón Daniel Morejón Torres (; July 21, 1930 – April 27, 2009) was a Cuban-born professional baseball player. He was a backup outfielder in Major League Baseball who played briefly for the Cincinnati Reds during July and early August of the s ...

Preston Gómez Preston Gómez (April 20, 1923 – January 13, 2009) was a Cuban-born infielder, manager, coach and front-office official in Major League Baseball best known for managing three major league clubs: the San Diego Padres (1969–72), Houston Astros ( ...

Leo Cárdenas Leonardo Lazaro Cárdenas Alfonso (born December 17, 1938) is a Cuban former professional baseball shortstop, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from to for the Cincinnati Reds, Minnesota Twins, California Angels, Cleveland Indians, an ...

, and

Mike Cuellar Miguel Ángel Cuellar Santana (; May 8, 1937 – April 2, 2010) was a Cuban professional baseball player. He played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher in 1959 and from 1964 through 1977, most prominently as a membe ...

1959 championship

Undeterred, the Sugar Kings — led by future major league manager

— eventually finished third in the IL standings, but upset Columbus and Richmond to win the League championship. They then ended up winning the 1959

Junior World Series The Junior World Series was a postseason championship series between champions of two of the three highest minor league baseball leagues modeled on the World Series of Major League Baseball. It was called the Little World Series (no relation to ...

in seven games over the

Minneapolis Millers The Minneapolis Millers were an American professional minor league baseball team that played in Minneapolis, Minnesota, through 1960. In the 19th century a different Minneapolis Millers were part of the Western League. The team played first in ...

of the

American Association American Association may refer to: Baseball * American Association (1882–1891), a major league active from 1882 to 1891 * American Association (1902–1997), a minor league active from 1902 to 1962 and 1969 to 1997 * American Association of Profe ...

Nationalization and departure from Cuba

In 1960, Castro nationalized all U.S.-owned enterprises in Cuba, and on July 8, Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick (under pressure from Secretary of State Christian Herter) announced that the Sugar Kings would move to

Jersey City, New Jersey Jersey City is the second-most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, after Newark.Jersey City Jerseys {{unreferenced, date=January 2023 The Jersey City Jerseys was a minor league baseball team based in Jersey City, New Jersey that played in the International League for two seasons, 1960 and 1961. It was the AAA affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. ...

. They lasted only through the 1961 season, then folded due to poor attendance. The franchise was then sold to a Florida group from

Jacksonville Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

and became the

Jacksonville Suns The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. They are located in Jacksonville, Florida, and are named for shrimp caught in the area. The team pla ...

, who began play in the International League in 1962. That franchise moved to

Portsmouth, Virginia Portsmouth is an independent city in southeast Virginia and across the Elizabeth River from Norfolk. As of the 2020 census, the population was 97,915. It is part of the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. The Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Naval M ...

, in 1969 and became the

Tidewater Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapea ...

, and remains in that region as the

Norfolk Tides The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They are located in Norfolk, Virginia, and are named in nautical reference to the city's location on the Chesapea ...

. In February 1987, the Miami City Commission voted unanimously in favor of the renaming

Miami Stadium Miami Stadium (later officially known as Bobby Maduro Miami Stadium) was a baseball stadium in Miami, Florida. It was primarily used for baseball, and was the home field of the Miami Marlins minor league baseball team, as well as other minor le ...

in honor of Bobby Maduro, who had migrated to USA. The ballpark became known officially as Bobby Maduro Miami Stadium one month later. In the ceremony Maduro's widow Marta said to herself, "Gordo (fat one), they finally know who you are."

2021 Miami Marlins alternate uniform

On May 17, 2021, The

Miami Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The club's home ballpark is LoanDepot Park. The franc ...

unveiled a new alternate uniform which pays homage to the old Sugar Kings uniform.

Titles

The Sugar Kings won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the IL, once. *1959 – Defeated

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

The Cubans won the Florida International League championship, twice. *1947 *1948

Notable alumni

Sandy Consuegra Sandalio Simeón Consuegra Castellón on-SWEH-grah(September 3, 1920 – November 16, 2005) was a Cuban-born Major League Baseball pitcher with the Washington Senators (1950-1953), Chicago White Sox (1953-1956), Baltimore Orioles (1956-1957) an ...

(1949) MLB All-Star * Bobby Estalella (1950) *

Mike Fornieles : José Miguel Fornieles y Torres (January 18, 1932 – February 11, 1998) was a Major League Baseball pitcher from La Habana, Cuba. The right-hander pitched a one hitter in his major league debut on September 2, . Washington Senators Fornieles s ...

(1952) MLB All-Star *

Mike Guerra Fermín "Mike" Guerra Romero (October 11, 1912 – October 9, 1992) was a Cuban professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators (1937; 1944–46; 1951), Philadelphia Athletics (1947–50) and ...

(1952) *

Connie Marrero Conrado Eugenio Marrero Ramos (April 25, 1911 – April 23, 2014), nicknamed "Connie", was a Cuban professional baseball pitcher. The right-handed Marrero pitched in Major League Baseball from to for the Washington Senators. Marrero made his m ...

(1947-1949) MLB All-Star *

Armando Marsans Armando Marsans Mendiondo (October 3, 1887 – September 3, 1960) was a Cuban professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1911 to 1918. He played in three different major leagues in his career: with the ...

(1953, MGR)

References

External links

SABR.org
– The Short but Exciting Life of the Havana Sugar Kings {{Florida International League , state=collapsed 1946 establishments in Cuba 1960 disestablishments in Cuba Cincinnati Reds minor league affiliates Defunct baseball teams in Cuba Defunct International League teams Sport in Havana Sports clubs disestablished in 1960 Baseball teams established in 1946 Washington Senators minor league affiliates Baseball teams disestablished in 1960