Havana Sugar Kings

• Location: Havana, Cuba
• League: International League 1954-1960
• Affiliation: Cincinnati Reds 1955-1960
• Ballpark:

Team History

The Havana Sugar Kings made the International League truly international in 1954 when they represented the third nation in the IL (Cuba joining Canada and the USA). In 1955, the Sugar Kings affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds, a relationship that lasted until 1960 when nationalization of American industries led the IL to move the franchise to New Jersey where they became the Jersey City Jerseys. The brightest moment in the history of the Sugar Kings was 1959, when they won the 1959 Junior World Series in one of the most eventful years in Cuban history. Among the more famous players on that team were hurlers Luis Arroyo and Mike Cuellar; Cuellar spent his first three pro seasons with the Sugar Kings and led the IL in ERA in 1957. Playing close to sea level led to low offensive statistics and impressive pitching stats for Havana.

Year-by-Year Record

Year	Record	Finish	Manager	Playoffs	Notes
1954	78-77	5th	Reggie Otero
1955	87-66	3rd	Reggie Otero	Lost in 1st round
1956	72-82	6th	Reggie Otero (17-30) / Napoleon Reyes (57-52)
1957	72-82	6th	Napoleon Reyes
1958	65-88	8th	Napoleon Reyes (46-55) / Tony Pacheco (19-33)
1959	80-73	3rd	Preston Gomez	League Champs
1960	76-77 overall	--	Tony Castano		Team moved to Jersey City July 13

Further Reading

• César Brioso: Last Seasons in Havana: The Castro Revolution and the End of Professional Baseball in Cuba, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, 2019. ISBN 978-1-4962-0551-3
• Lou Hernández: Bobby Maduro and the Cuban Sugar Kings, McFarland, Jefferson, NC, 2018. ISBN 978-1-4766-3482-1