"Un paso mas ...y llegamos"

Havana Cubans: Washington Senator's super scout Joe Cambria was the founder of the Havana Cubans who joined the Florida International League in 1946. The League was Class C until moving up to Class B in 1949 and had teams also playing in Miami, Miami Beach, Tampa, West Palm Beach and Key West. The team began play in 1946 at the La Tropical Stadium in Havana. Bobby Maduro then bought the team and moved it to the Gran Stadium. In 1947 the team won its first of 4 straight Florida International League titles. Affiliated with the Washington Senators the team had on its roster several future Major Leaguers like Conrado Marrero, Julio Moreno and Sandy Consuegra. Marrero would have spectacular seasons winning 70 games in three seasons (1947-49) and pitching a no-hitter against Tampa in 1947.

Cuban Sugar Kings: Bobby Maduro moved the team to the Triple-A International League in 1954. The league featured teams in Toronto, Montreal, Buffalo, Rochester and Richmond. The team became affiliated with the Cincinnati Reds and several of its players made the leap to the majors: Tony Gonzalez, Cookie Rojas, Leo Cardenas and Mike Cuellar. The Sugar Kings reached the playoffs in 1955 and would win the Minor League World Series in 1959. Because of political turmoil in Cuba the team was moved to New Jersey in 1960.