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Almendares (baseball)

January 01, 1970

The Almendares B.B.C., also known as the Alacranes del Almendares, was one of the oldest and most distinguished baseball teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. Almendares represented the Almendares District on the outskirts of the old city of Havana—when the league was founded it was still considered a suburban area, but later became a district within the enlarged city. Almendares was one of the most successful franchises in the Cuban League. In their early history they were known by their colors as the Blues; later they adopted the name of Alacranes (Spanish: Scorpions). Throughout their existence they had a famous rivalry with the Habana baseball club.

Almendares
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueCuban League (1878–1961)
BallparkEstadio del Cerro (1946–1961)
Established1878
Folded1961
Nickname(s)Alacranes (Scorpions)
League championships24 (1893–94, 1905, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1910–11, 1913–14, 1915–16, 1919–20, 1924–25, 1925–26, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1934–35, 1939–40, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1946–47, 1948–49, 1949–50, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1958–59)
Caribbean Series championships2 (1949, 1959)
ColorsBlue and white
   
1919–1920 Club Almendares
1922–1923 Club Almendares

Almendares won 24 Cuban League championships (the first during the 1893–94 season and the last and in 1958–59) and two Caribbean Series (in 1949 and 1959).[1]

History edit

Baseball in Cuba was more than a sport; it became part of Cuba’s national identity. As baseball grew in the United States, its popularity also grew in Cuba. Cubans living in the U.S. learned and loved baseball, and realized it would be important for their country to have this sport for national unity. For Cubans, baseball offered the possibility of national integration of all Cubans, of all classes, black and white, young and old, men and women.[2] Baseball also offered the Cubans something new to do, a new source of membership, an opportunity participate in something that was perceived to be distinctly Cuban.[3] Cuba had successful baseball teams and players, which tended to unify the country. The Cuban people took great pride in their success in baseball.

After a period of intramural play, professional teams were established.[4] The Cuban League was founded in 1878, two years after the birth of the National League in the U.S.[5] The original three professional clubs were the Habana, Matanzas, and Almendares. Teams were named for their areas.

Almendares won its first championship in 1893–94, carried by pitching ace Juan Manuel Pastoriza, the first of many good club pitchers. One thing that made the Almendares Baseball Club so successful is that it built its team around pitching rather than hitting.[5] Almendares had many successful pitchers, including José Méndez and Adolfo Luque.

Almendares was the first Cuban team to play against a United States team,[6] an 1881 game in Cuba, against the Bitter Hops Baseball Club. Throughout its existence Almendares had a rivalry with Habana. This rivalry started at the beginning of professional league play and lasted until the end. The club even had its own newspaper and magazine, called El Almendarista.[7] These publications grew in popularity almost as fast as new teams started. In 1886 baseball in Cuba was drawing record crowds. A championship game between Habana and Almendares had more than 6,000 fans attending.[8]

Baseball was absent in Cuba from 1895 to 1897 due to the Cuban War of Independence, but it resumed immediately after the War of ended, when professional teams including the Almendares resumed play.[9] After the War, public attendance to baseball games increased, to over 5,000 weekly at Havana games.[9]

Professional baseball clubs were not always racially integrated in Cuba. US racial barriers were first broken in Cuba in 1900,[10] after which Cuban teams had access to the best Cuban players as well as those from the Negro league. Almendares was able to stay competitive the longest without acquiring players from the United States. Integrated baseball in Cuba served as a transition to integrated baseball in the US.[10] In 1961 with Fulgencio Batista out of power and Fidel Castro taking over, professional baseball was abolished and replaced by the amateur Cuban baseball system.

Baseball was not only important as entertainment; it also was important to Cuban culture. Among the most notable of the successes of Cuban baseball was the elimination of racial discrimination in Cuban baseball and the provision of expanded opportunities to play and watch the game throughout the island.[11] Through good times and bad, baseball persisted as a source of national identity and collective unity.[12]

Almendares played in the Almendares Park I from the team's inception until 1918, the park was located in Havana's Almendares district in what is now the Parque de La Pera, an urban park. For the 1918–19 season, Almendares moved to the Almendares Park II, a few blocks away from the ballpark's original location, in what is now the National Omnibus Terminal of Havana. In 1946, the club moved to the larger Estadio del Cerro.[13]

Caribbean Series record edit

Year Venue Finish Wins Losses Win% Manager
1949   Havana 1st 6 0 1.000   Fermín Guerra
1950   San Juan 3rd 3 3 .500   Fermín Guerra
1954   San Juan 2nd 3 3 .500   Bobby Bragan
1955   Caracas 3rd 2 4 .333   Bobby Bragan
1959   Havana 1st 5 1 .833   Clemente Carreras

Notable players edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Liga Profesional Cubana de Béisbol (1878-1961)". Baseball de Cuba (in Spanish). 29 September 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  2. ^ Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 75. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  3. ^ Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  4. ^ Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  5. ^ a b Skinner, David (1 January 2004). "Havana and Key West: Jose Mendez and the great scoreless streak of 1908". The National Pastime. 24: 17. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ^ Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 76. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  7. ^ Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 78. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  8. ^ Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  9. ^ a b Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 256. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  10. ^ a b Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 270. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  11. ^ González Echevarría, Roberto (1999). The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball. Oxford University Press. p. 625. ISBN 0-19-514605-0.
  12. ^ Pérez, Jr., Louis A. (1999). On Becoming Cuban: Identity, Nationality, and Culture. University of North Carolina Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-8078-5899-8.
  13. ^ Manzano, Rogério. "Alacranes del Almendares". Desde Mi Palco De Fanático (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  • Alexander, Charles C. Breaking the Slump. Columbia University Press: New York, 2002
  • Carter, Thomas F. The Quality of Home Runs: The Passion, Politics, and Language of Cuban Baseball. Durham: Duke University Press, 2008
  • Hatchwell, Emily., and Calder, Simon. Cuba: A Guide to the People, Politics and Culture. UK: Latin America Bureau, 1995
  • Kapacia, Antoni. Havana: The Making of Cuban Culture. Oxford: Berg, 2005
  • Perez Jr, Louis A. “Between Baseball and Bullfighting: The Quest for Nationality in Cuba, 1868-1898.” The Journal of American History,Vol.81, No. 2 (Sep., 1994), pp. 493-517

External links edit

  • Franchise history at Seamheads.com

January 01, 1970
almendares, baseball, almendares, also, known, alacranes, almendares, oldest, most, distinguished, baseball, teams, cuban, league, which, existed, from, 1878, 1961, almendares, represented, almendares, district, outskirts, city, havana, when, league, founded, . The Almendares B B C also known as the Alacranes del Almendares was one of the oldest and most distinguished baseball teams in the old Cuban League which existed from 1878 to 1961 Almendares represented the Almendares District on the outskirts of the old city of Havana when the league was founded it was still considered a suburban area but later became a district within the enlarged city Almendares was one of the most successful franchises in the Cuban League In their early history they were known by their colors as the Blues later they adopted the name of Alacranes Spanish Scorpions Throughout their existence they had a famous rivalry with the Habana baseball club AlmendaresTeam logo Cap insigniaInformationLeagueCuban League 1878 1961 BallparkEstadio del Cerro 1946 1961 Established1878Folded1961Nickname s Alacranes Scorpions League championships24 1893 94 1905 1907 1908 1910 1910 11 1913 14 1915 16 1919 20 1924 25 1925 26 1931 32 1932 33 1934 35 1939 40 1941 42 1942 43 1944 45 1946 47 1948 49 1949 50 1953 54 1954 55 1958 59 Caribbean Series championships2 1949 1959 ColorsBlue and white 1919 1920 Club Almendares 1922 1923 Club Almendares Almendares won 24 Cuban League championships the first during the 1893 94 season and the last and in 1958 59 and two Caribbean Series in 1949 and 1959 1 Contents 1 History 2 Caribbean Series record 3 Notable players 4 References 5 External linksHistory editBaseball in Cuba was more than a sport it became part of Cuba s national identity As baseball grew in the United States its popularity also grew in Cuba Cubans living in the U S learned and loved baseball and realized it would be important for their country to have this sport for national unity For Cubans baseball offered the possibility of national integration of all Cubans of all classes black and white young and old men and women 2 Baseball also offered the Cubans something new to do a new source of membership an opportunity participate in something that was perceived to be distinctly Cuban 3 Cuba had successful baseball teams and players which tended to unify the country The Cuban people took great pride in their success in baseball After a period of intramural play professional teams were established 4 The Cuban League was founded in 1878 two years after the birth of the National League in the U S 5 The original three professional clubs were the Habana Matanzas and Almendares Teams were named for their areas Almendares won its first championship in 1893 94 carried by pitching ace Juan Manuel Pastoriza the first of many good club pitchers One thing that made the Almendares Baseball Club so successful is that it built its team around pitching rather than hitting 5 Almendares had many successful pitchers including Jose Mendez and Adolfo Luque Almendares was the first Cuban team to play against a United States team 6 an 1881 game in Cuba against the Bitter Hops Baseball Club Throughout its existence Almendares had a rivalry with Habana This rivalry started at the beginning of professional league play and lasted until the end The club even had its own newspaper and magazine called El Almendarista 7 These publications grew in popularity almost as fast as new teams started In 1886 baseball in Cuba was drawing record crowds A championship game between Habana and Almendares had more than 6 000 fans attending 8 Baseball was absent in Cuba from 1895 to 1897 due to the Cuban War of Independence but it resumed immediately after the War of ended when professional teams including the Almendares resumed play 9 After the War public attendance to baseball games increased to over 5 000 weekly at Havana games 9 Professional baseball clubs were not always racially integrated in Cuba US racial barriers were first broken in Cuba in 1900 10 after which Cuban teams had access to the best Cuban players as well as those from the Negro league Almendares was able to stay competitive the longest without acquiring players from the United States Integrated baseball in Cuba served as a transition to integrated baseball in the US 10 In 1961 with Fulgencio Batista out of power and Fidel Castro taking over professional baseball was abolished and replaced by the amateur Cuban baseball system Baseball was not only important as entertainment it also was important to Cuban culture Among the most notable of the successes of Cuban baseball was the elimination of racial discrimination in Cuban baseball and the provision of expanded opportunities to play and watch the game throughout the island 11 Through good times and bad baseball persisted as a source of national identity and collective unity 12 Almendares played in the Almendares Park I from the team s inception until 1918 the park was located in Havana s Almendares district in what is now the Parque de La Pera an urban park For the 1918 19 season Almendares moved to the Almendares Park II a few blocks away from the ballpark s original location in what is now the National Omnibus Terminal of Havana In 1946 the club moved to the larger Estadio del Cerro 13 Caribbean Series record editYear Venue Finish Wins Losses Win Manager 1949 nbsp Havana 1st 6 0 1 000 nbsp Fermin Guerra 1950 nbsp San Juan 3rd 3 3 500 nbsp Fermin Guerra 1954 nbsp San Juan 2nd 3 3 500 nbsp Bobby Bragan 1955 nbsp Caracas 3rd 2 4 333 nbsp Bobby Bragan 1959 nbsp Havana 1st 5 1 833 nbsp Clemente CarrerasNotable players edit nbsp Mario Arencibia nbsp Sam Chapman nbsp Carlos Etchegoyen nbsp Cliff Fannin nbsp Andres Fleitas nbsp Al Gionfriddo nbsp Fermin Guerra nbsp Garvin Hamner nbsp Joe Hatten nbsp Bob Hooper nbsp Monte Irvin nbsp Sam Jethroe nbsp Adolfo Luque nbsp Conrado Marrero nbsp Agapito Mayor nbsp Jose Mendez nbsp Willy Miranda nbsp Roberto Ortiz nbsp Juan Manuel Pastoriza nbsp Orlando Pena nbsp Hector Rodriguez nbsp Angel Scull nbsp Willie Wells nbsp Leovigildo XiquesReferences edit Liga Profesional Cubana de Beisbol 1878 1961 Baseball de Cuba in Spanish 29 September 2022 Retrieved 18 May 2023 Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 75 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 80 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 71 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 a b Skinner David 1 January 2004 Havana and Key West Jose Mendez and the great scoreless streak of 1908 The National Pastime 24 17 Retrieved 18 May 2023 Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 76 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 78 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 77 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 a b Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 256 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 a b Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 270 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 Gonzalez Echevarria Roberto 1999 The Pride of Havana A History of Cuban Baseball Oxford University Press p 625 ISBN 0 19 514605 0 Perez Jr Louis A 1999 On Becoming Cuban Identity Nationality and Culture University of North Carolina Press p 272 ISBN 978 0 8078 5899 8 Manzano Rogerio Alacranes del Almendares Desde Mi Palco De Fanatico in Spanish Retrieved 18 May 2023 Alexander Charles C Breaking the Slump Columbia University Press New York 2002 Carter Thomas F The Quality of Home Runs The Passion Politics and Language of Cuban Baseball Durham Duke University Press 2008 Hatchwell Emily and Calder Simon Cuba A Guide to the People Politics and Culture UK Latin America Bureau 1995 Kapacia Antoni Havana The Making of Cuban Culture Oxford Berg 2005 Perez Jr Louis A Between Baseball and Bullfighting The Quest for Nationality in Cuba 1868 1898 The Journal of American History Vol 81 No 2 Sep 1994 pp 493 517External links editFranchise history at Seamheads com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Almendares baseball amp oldid 1171194613, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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