Everything You Need to Know About Cuban Baseball Teams - Part 2
A game in Santa Clara ~ Photo by James Offer
Baseball is a way of life in Cuba and has become a part of the Cuban culture since it was brought to the island in the mid-1800s. The impact that baseball has on the island is immense, from the children that fall in love with playing the game and watching their heroes, to the passionate locals getting together to debate the game. The Cuban National Series is the primary amateur baseball league in Cuba and garners the most support from local fans. The 16-team circuit includes ball clubs from each of the 15 provinces, as well as a team from the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud. The teams are split into two leagues, the Occidental (Western) and Oriente (Eastern), that compete to earn a spot in the playoffs and advance to the championship.
Where History and Tradition Go Hand-in-Hand
The Oriente (Eastern) League has eight teams from the eastern side of Cuba, beginning with the province of Ciego de Avila in the middle of the island, and stretching to the easternmost province of Guantánamo. There is rich history accompanied by different traditions tied to the teams, such as the Tinajones of Camagüey. With the definitive impact of Ciego de Avila, Santiago de Cuba, and Villa Clara, the league has also seen a large amount of success in the National Series. Overall, the teams of the Oriente League have won a combined 20 championships and have brought great gratification to the people of their regions. And now for some fascinating insights into the world of baseball on the island’s east side!
Camagüey Tinajones (Clay Pots)
Camagüey has a unique beginning in the National Series. The territory itself began to play in the National Series in 1967, although the roster was filled with players from the Ciego de Avila province. This changed when the territories were separated in the mid-1970s and the Camagüey team was officially established in 1977-78. The Tinajones team gets its name from the large clay pots that are a symbol of the province. The people of Camagüey used these pots to collect rainwater, as there was a scarcity of water in the area, and today the pots can be seen as decorative features. The team has yet to win a championship and has only reached the second phase of the season five times, most recently in 1999-00. While Camagüey has not found much success as a team, fans have been able to root for star players like Juan Pérez Pérez, the only pitcher to ever throw three no-hitters in Cuba.
Ciego de Avila Tigres (Tigers)
Similar to most current teams, Ciego de Avila joined the National Series in 1977-78. They had an acceptable first season, finishing in the middle of the standings, but fell towards the bottom in the decade that followed. Only 20 years later did the Tigres have enough success to reach the playoffs. In the 1997-98 series, Ciego de Avila established a 57-win mark and pleasantly surprised the rest of the league with their postseason play. Later, they returned to the playoffs three times in 2003-04, 2006-07, and 2011-12. This offensive success was fueled by the fresh bats of Yoelvis Fiss, Adonis García, and Yorbis Borroto. Ciego de Avila claimed their first national title in 2011-12 and repeated twice more in 2014-15 and 2015-16.
Granma Alazanes (Stallions)
Granma emerged into the National Series during 1977-78 and has been competitive ever since due to its strong offensive power. It took 40 years since their debut for the Alanzanes to be crowned champions in the 2016-17 season. The team has consistently finished above .500 but is often overshadowed by league opponents Villa Clara and Santiago de Cuba. Key players that have donned the light blue and red jersey include Yoenis Céspedes, Víctor Bejerano, and Ramón Tamayo. Alfredo Despaigne, considered among the best sluggers in Cuban baseball, also developed and climbed to stardom during his time with the Granma team.
Guantánamo Indios (Indians)
Like most current teams, Guantánamo has participated in the National Series since 1977-78, but has the fewest total wins in the Cuban tournament since that time. The team has been plagued by inconsistent play and a constant change of managers. Guantánamo struggled each season until 1997-98 when they clinched their first postseason berth. This team of a new generation of players won 52 games in the season and was led by Roberquis Videaux, Linoel Doris, and Ariel Benavides. Guantánamo has only been able to repeat that number of victories once since, during the 2009-10 campaign.
Holguín Cachorros (Cubs)
After debuting in 1977-78, Holguín had nearly two decades of poor performance. Pitcher Osvaldo Fernández and big hitter Alberto Hernández set the team up to be victorious in the early 1990s. Holguín’s first trip to the postseason was in 1994-95 and, although they fell in the semifinals that year, the team boasted one of the best squads in Cuban baseball. Their chase for the pennant was finally successful in the 2001-02 campaign when the Cachorros shocked the island with their postseason run. Since clinching the title, Holguín has dropped to the bottom half of the standings and has failed to recreate that level of success. Many notable players like Yordan Manduley, Pablo Millán, and Aroldis Chapman have worn the Cachorros jersey.
Las Tunas Leñadores (Woodcutters)
From its debut in 1977-78 until the early 2000s, Las Tunas rarely left the last place in the standings. They started to show promise with the introduction of heavy hitters Osmani Urrutia, a six-time batting champion, and Joan C. Pedroso. The Leñadores almost reached the postseason in the 2004-05 and 2005-06 seasons, until finally punching their ticket in 2006-07. They advanced to the finals in 2017-18 but fell just short of the title. Las Tunas finally claimed a championship title the next season in 2018-19. They cruised over their opponents and dominated the postseason led by Jorge Yhonson who was given Most Valuable Player honors.
Santiago de Cuba Avispas (Wasps)
Santiago de Cuba, like numerous other teams, debuted in the 1977-78 season after a restructuring of the National Series. A slow start was rebounded when the Avispas claimed their first title in 1979-80. They have been extremely successful and won the championship seven times since, with the most recent coming on back-to-back titles in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. Even with recent title wins, most notable is how dominant Santiago de Cuba was from 1998-2001. Orestes Kindelán and Antonio Pacheco helped establish the club as one of the most dangerous in the game and were key players in three straight championship titles.
Fans of the club can be found across the country and are very passionate about a rivalry between Santiago de Cuba and the Industriales of Havana.
Villa Clara Naranjas (Orangemen)
Villa Clara has been a commanding force since its inception in 1977-78. The team quickly rose to the top of the standings each year until their championship season in 1982-83. Villa Clara proved to be an elite club that season when they finished with an impressive 41-8 record. After a slight lull in their power in the following decade, the Naranjas powered back to the top and became almost unbeatable between 1992 and 1995. They won three consecutive titles during that period, joining the Industriales and Santiago as the only teams to have achieved the feat. Villa Clara has also developed notable stars such as Ariel Pestano, Liván Hernández, and Yuniesky Betancourt. Today, the talent level and tradition of baseball in the province is as strong as ever. Villa Clara remained on the top of the standings and reached the finals of the Cuban National Series in 2018-19.
From the dominant reign of Santiago de Cuba to the always prominent and powerful Villa Clara team, the Oriente League is well represented in the National Series. Ciego de Avila, Granma, Holguín, and Las Tunas have also contributed to the Oriente League’s control of recent championships. Since the 2011-12 season, the teams from the East have won eight of the nine titles. Being represented on the national stage by a baseball team with ties to the history of their province brings great pride to the people of Cuba. Fans feverishly flock to their local stadiums to passionately root on their hometown teams that consist of homegrown athletes, continuing to contribute to the great history and culture the sport has brought to the island over the years.