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tm1681 · 08-04-2023, 06:00 PM

BASEBALL BEGINS IN CUBA

At 1:30 P.M. local time on November 4th, 1899, the first competitive game in the history of Cuban baseball took place as the Santiago Stars and Havana Sugar Kings played the inaugural game of the Cuban National Series in the nation’s capital.

The game was a competitive affair most of the way, with Havana opening scoring via two runs in the bottom of the sixth and Santiago clawing a run back in the top of the seventh to make it 2-1 in favor of the hosts. However, a six-run explosion in the bottom of the eighth inning ensured that the Havana Sugar Kings would walk out as winners of the first game in the history of the C.N.S.

Domingo Molina delivered the key hit: a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the eighth that drove in three runs. However, it was Havana pitcher Alejandro Alba who was named Player of the Game as he went the distance while allowing one run on seven hits. He also struck out three Santiago batters.

The conditions couldn’t have been any better for the historic matchup. November comes after the rainy season in Cuba, so there were perfectly clear skies and 80-degree temperatures there to greet the 3,600 or so who went to the game.

08-04-2023, 06:00 PM	#80
tm1681 All Star Starter Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 1,687	BASEBALL BEGINS IN CUBA At 1:30 P.M. local time on November 4th, 1899, the first competitive game in the history of Cuban baseball took place as the Santiago Stars and Havana Sugar Kings played the inaugural game of the Cuban National Series in the nation’s capital. The game was a competitive affair most of the way, with Havana opening scoring via two runs in the bottom of the sixth and Santiago clawing a run back in the top of the seventh to make it 2-1 in favor of the hosts. However, a six-run explosion in the bottom of the eighth inning ensured that the Havana Sugar Kings would walk out as winners of the first game in the history of the C.N.S. Domingo Molina delivered the key hit: a bases-loaded double in the bottom of the eighth that drove in three runs. However, it was Havana pitcher Alejandro Alba who was named Player of the Game as he went the distance while allowing one run on seven hits. He also struck out three Santiago batters. The conditions couldn’t have been any better for the historic matchup. November comes after the rainy season in Cuba, so there were perfectly clear skies and 80-degree temperatures there to greet the 3,600 or so who went to the game. Last edited by tm1681; 08-05-2023 at 01:42 AM.