• Submitted by: manso
• Sports
• 12 / 28 / 2010

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Escrito por Yllen Riquelme. lunes, 27 de diciembre de 2010. Havana, Dec 27 (Prensa Latina) A day like today back in 1874 the first official baseball game was played in Cuba. A team from Havana defeated the Matanzas host 51 runs to 9 at Palmar de Junco field in Matanzas province.

 Although baseball was practiced in Cuba before that date, as it is shown in a decree in 1868 signed by governor and captain general Francisco de Lersundi forbidding its practice, that was the first game recorded and covered by the press.

The chronicle of the match, published on Dec 28 in La Aurora de Yumuri newspaper, showed a rudimentary box score, mentioned the outstanding players, umpire Juan Tregeni, and described that the game ended because it was dark.

The box score showed that catcher and captain of Havana team, Esteban Bellan hit three homers becoming the first Cuban in achieving such a feat.

The presence of the press linked to the magic of baseball contributed to turning the sport into the national passtime in the Island.

Four years after the Palmar del Junco game, the Cuban Professional Baseball League was established on December 29, 1878. The first game of the newly created organization was between Havana and Almendares. These two teams became fierce rivals ever since.

According to historians Cuba was the second country where baseball was played, after the U.S.A which was the genesis of that sport.

The professional baseball League was played until 1961, and the Havana team clinched 28 pennants, followed by its historic opponent Almendares with 23 titles.

In 1962, the National Institute of Sports, Physical Education, and Recreation (INDER) put into effect Resolution 83-A that abolished the practice of professional baseball in Cuba.

From that date on, the Industriales teama has been the most successful with a dozen titles.mh/yrc/cw/ycv. Modificado el ( lunes, 27 de diciembre de 2010 )

Source: PL