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Cuban Winter League
From BR Bullpen
While baseball leagues in Cuba date back to 1878, the Cuban Winter League really got its start in 1900 when American players began spending the off-season on the island competing against native stars.
Prominent players included Pete Hill, Bill Monroe, Rube Foster, José Muñoz, Pop Lloyd, Jose Mendez, Luis Padron, Julian Castillo, Smokey Joe Williams, Dolf Luque, Cristobal Torriente, Luis Santop, Oscar Charleston, Alejandro Oms, Bernardo Baro, Martin Dihigo, Valentin Dreke, Bullet Rogan, Biz Mackey, Jud Wilson, Jose Acosta, Bill Foster, Satchel Paige, Johnny Allen, Agustin Bejerano, Cocaina Garcia, Ramon Bragana, Willie Wells, Mule Suttles, Cool Papa Bell, Silvio Garcia, Buck Leonard, Lazaro Salazar, Bobby Estalella, Josh Gibson, Ray Dandridge, Double Duty Radcliffe, Sammy Bankhead, Sal Maglie, Minnie Minoso, Bobby Avila, Monte Irvin, Connie Marrero, Don Newcombe, Roy Campanella and Camilo Pascual.
In 1961 Fidel Castro banned pro sports in the country and the Cuban Winter League came to an end after one of the longest and most glorious histories. Baseball remained the premier sport in Cuba after being reorganized by the government and the country continued to produce great players. Foreign players were not coming to the country anymore, though, so league quality likely is lower.
[edit] League Champions
| Season | Champion | Record | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1878/1879 | Habana | 4 - 0 - 1 (1.000) | Esteban Bellán |
| 1879/1880 | Habana | 5 - 2 (0.714) | Esteban Bellán |
| 1880/1881 | No season held | ||
| 1882 | The season was not completeted due to a dispute between Habana and Club Fé | ||
| 1882/1883 | Habana | 5 - 1 (0.833) | Esteban Bellán |
| 1883/1884 | No season held | ||
| 1885 | Habana | 4 - 3 (0.571) | Ricardo Mora |
| 1885/1886 | Habana | 6 - 0 (1.000) | Francisco Saavedra |
| 1886/1887 | Habana | 10 - 2 (0.833) | Francisco Saavedra |
| 1887/1888 | Club Fé | 12 - 3 (0.800) | Antonio Utrera |
| 1888/1889 | Habana | 16 - 4 - 1 (0.800) | Emilio Sabourin |
| 1889/1890 | Habana | 14 - 3 (0.824) | Emilio Sabourin |
| 1890/1891 | Club Fé | 12 - 6 (0.667) | Luis Almoina y Meléndez |
| 1891/1892 | Habana | 13 - 7 (0.650) | Emilio Sabourin |
| 1892/1893 | Matanzas | 14 - 9 (0.609) | Luis Almoina y Meléndez |
| 1893/1894 | Almendares | 17 - 7 - 1 (0.708) | Ramón Gutiérrez |
| 1894/1895 | The season was not completed and the playoffs were cancelled | ||
| 1895/1896 | The season was cancelled due to the War of Independence | ||
| 1896/1897 | The season was cancelled due to the War of Independence | ||
| 1897/1898 | The season was suspended before the playoffs | ||
| 1898/1899 | Habanista | 9 - 3 - 1 (0.750) | Alberto Azoy |
| 1900 | San Francisco | 17 - 10 - 1 (0.630) | Patrocinio Silverio |
| 1901 | Habana | 16 - 3 - 1 (0.842) | Alberto Azoy |
| 1902 | Habana | 17 - 0 - 2 (1.000) | Alberto Azoy |
| 1903 | Habana | 16 - 4 (0.800) | Alberto Azoy |
| 1904 | Habana | 16 - 4 (0.800) | Alberto Azoy |
| 1905 | Almendares | 19 - 11 (0.633) | Abel Linares |
| 1905/1906 | Club Fé | 15 - 9 - 1 (0.625) | Alberto Azoy |
| 1907 | Almendares | 17 - 13 - 1 (0.567) | Eugenio Santa Cruz |
| 1908 | Almendares | 37 - 8 - 1 (0.822) | Juan L. Sánchez |
| 1908/1909 | Habana | 33 - 13 - 1 (0.690) | Luis Someillán |
| 1910 | Almendares | 13 - 3 - 1 (0.812) | Juan L. Sánchez |
| 1910/1911 | Almendares | 21 - 6 - 3 (0.714) | Juan L. Sánchez |
| 1912 | Habana | 22 - 12 - 1 (0.647) | Eduardo Laborde |
| 1913 | Club Fé | 21 - 11 - 2 (0.656) | Agustín Molina |
| 1913/1914 | Almendares | 22 - 11 - 1 (0.667) | Eugenio Santa Cruz |
| 1914/1915 | Habana | 23 - 11 (0.676) | Miguel A. González |
| 1915/1916 | Almendares | 30 - 12 - 3 (0.714) | Alfredo Cabrera |
| 1917 | Orientales | 8 - 6 - 1 (0.571) | Armando Marsans |
| 1918/1919 | Habana | 29 - 19 (0.604) | Miguel A. González |
| 1919/1920 | Almendares | 22 - 5 - 2 (0.815) | Adolfo Luque |
| 1920/1921 | Habana | 21 - 9 - 5 (0.700) | Miguel A. González |
| 1921 | Habana | 4 - 1 (0.800) | Miguel A. González |
| 1922/1923 | Marianao | 35 - 19 - 1 (0.648) | Baldomero Acosta |
| 1923/1924 | Santa Clara | 36 - 11 - 1 (0.766) | Agustín Molina |
| 1924/1925 | Almendares | 33 - 16 - 1 (0.660) | Joseíto Rodríguez |
| 1925/1926 | Almendares | 34 - 13 - 2 (0.723) | Joseíto Rodríguez |
| 1926/1927 | Habana | 20 - 11 (0.645) | Miguel A. González |
| 1926/1927 (Triangal) | Alacranes | N/A | Adolfo Luque |
| 1927/1928 | Habana | 24 - 13 (0.649) | Miguel A. González |
| 1928/1929 | Habana | 43 - 12 - 1 (0.782) | Miguel A. González |
| 1929/1930 | Cienfuegos | 33 - 19 - 2 (0.635) | Pelayo Chacón |
| 1930/1931 | The season was not completeted due to poor attendance | ||
| 1930/1931 (Campeonato Unico)1 |
Almendarista | 9 - 4 - 1 (0.692) | Joseíto Rodríguez |
| 1931/1932 | Almendares | 21 - 9 - 4 (0.700) | Joseito Rodriguez |
| 1932/1933 | Almendares/Habana | 13 - 9 (0.591) | Adolfo Luque/Miguel A. González |
| 1934/1935 | Almendares | 18 - 9 - 1 (0.667) | Adolfo Luque |
| 1935/1936 | Santa Clara | 34 - 14 - 1 (0.708) | Martín Dihigo |
| 1936/1937 | Marianao | 38 - 31 - 3 (0.551) | Martín Dihigo |
| 1937/1938 | Santa Clara | 44 - 18 - 4 (0.710) | Lázaro Salazar |
| 1938/1939 | Santa Clara | 34 - 20 - 2 (0.630) | Lázaro Salazar |
| 1939/1940 | Almendares | 28 - 23 - 1 (0.549) | Adolfo Luque |
| 1940/1941 | Habana | 31 - 18 - 5 (0.633) | Miguel A. González |
| 1941/1942 | Almendares | 25 - 19 - 4 (0.568) | Adolfo Luque |
| 1942/1943 | Almendares | 28 - 20 - 1 (0.583) | Adolfo Luque |
| 1943/1944 | Habana | 32 - 16 (0.667) | Miguel A. González |
| 1944/1945 | Almendares | 32 - 16 - 6 (0.667) | Reinaldo Cordeiro |
| 1945/1946 | Cienfuegos | 37 - 23 - 4 (0.617) | Adolfo Luque |
| 1946/1947 (National) |
Matanzas | N/A | Silvio García |
| 1946/1947 | Almendares | 42 - 24 - 2 (0.636) | Adolfo Luque |
| 1947/1948 | Habana | 39 - 33 - 9 (0.542) | Miguel A. González |
| 1947/1948 (Players) |
Leones | N/A | Salvador Hernández |
| 1948/1949 | Almendares | 47 - 25 (0.553) | Fermín Guerra |
| 1949/1950 | Almendares | 38 - 34 - 4 (0.528) | Fermín Guerra |
| 1950/1951 | Habana | 41 - 32 - 1 (0.562) | Miguel A. González |
| 1951/1952 | Habana | 41 - 30 - 1 (0.577) | Miguel A. González |
| 1952/1953 | Habana | 43 - 29 - 1 (0.597) | Miguel A. González |
| 1953/1954 | Almendares | 44 - 28 - 1 (0.611) | Bobby Bragan |
| 1954/1955 | Almendares | 44 - 25 - 2 (0.638) | Bobby Bragan |
| 1955/1956 | Cienfuegos | 40 - 29 - 1 (0.580) | Oscar Rodríguez |
| 1956/1957 | Mariano | 40 - 28 - 1 (0.588) | Napoleón Reyes |
| 1957/1958 | Marianao | 43 - 32 - 1 (0.597) | Napoleón Reyes |
| 1958/1959 | Almendares | 46 - 26 - 6 (0.639) | Oscar Rodríguez or Clemente Carrera |
| 1959/1960 | Cienfuegos | 48 - 24 (0.667) | Antonio Castaño |
| 1960/1961 | Cienfuegos | 35 - 31 - 1 (0.530) | Antonio Castaño |
1 The Campeonato Unico was an alternate season that was arranged after regular championship was suspended.
[edit] MVPs
- 1927/1928: Martin Dihigo, Havana
- 1928/1929: Alejandro Oms, Havana
- 1929/1930: Willie Wells, Cienfuegos
- 1931/1932: Carlos Etchegoyen, Almendares
- 1934/1935: Lazaro Salazar, Marianao/Almendares
- 1935/1936: Martin Dihigo, Santa Clara
- 1936/1937: Martin Dihigo, Marianao
- 1937/1938: Lazaro Salazar, Almendares
- 1938/1939: Alex Carrasquel, Cuba
- 1939/1940: Willie Wells, Almendares
- 1940/1941: Gil Torres, Havana
- 1941/1942: Martin Dihigo, Havana
- 1942/1943: Antonio Rodriguez, Almendares
- 1943/1944: Gil Torres, Havana
- 1944/1945: Pedro Pages, Cienfuegos
- 1945/1946: Alejandro Crespo, Cienfuegos
- 1946/1947: Andres Fleitas, Almendares
- 1947/1948: Connie Marrero, Almendares
- 1948/1949: Morrie Martin, Almendares
- 1949/1950: Fermin Guerra, Almendares
- 1950/1951: Adrian Zabala, Cienfuegos/Havana and Silvio Garcia, Cienfuegos
- 1951/1952: Bert Haas, Havana
- 1952/1953: Minnie Minoso, Marianao
- 1953/1954: Cliff Fannin, Almendares
- 1954/1955: Joe Hatten, Almendares
- 1955/1956: Camilo Pascual, Cienfuegos
- 1956/1957: Minnie Minoso, Marianao
- 1957/1958: Bob Shaw, Marianao
- 1958/1959: Orlando Pena, Almendares
- 1959/1960: Raul Sanchez, Cienfuegos
- 1960/1961: Pedro Ramos, Cienfuegos
