Spring


	Spring Training in Cuba
	Several Major League, Minor League and Negro League teams have held all or part of their spring training in Cuba. During the 1930's, 40s and 50s many teams would make the trip from their Florida spring training sites to play some exhibition games in Cuba (for more info see my American Series page). In 1947 all eight teams of the All-American Girls League held spring training in Habana. Below are some of the highlights for Major League teams that held their spring training in Cuba. 1915 St. Louis Terriers (Federal League): Armando Marsans was instrumental in bringing the Terriers to Havana. The first major league organization to hold spring training in Cuba. the Terriers, with Marsans in center, won 7 of 9 games played against Cuban teams. 1937 New York Giants: The Giants with Mel Ott and Carl Hubbell won only 1 of 6 games played against Cuban teams. The St. Louis Cardinals, with Paul Dean and Johnny Mize, came for a visit and split a couple of games against the Giants. Our Giants in Havana

Pittsburgh Pirates 1941 and 1942 Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers held spring training in Cuba two years in a row. In 1941 the Dodgers, with Pee wee Reese, split a 5 game series against Cuban teams. The Boston Red Sox, without Ted Williams, and the Cincinnati Reds also visited the island. In 1942 the Dodgers split 2 games with the visiting New York Giants and lost 2 of 5 to Cuban teams.

Jackie Robinson in Cuba 1947 Los Angeles Dodgers and Montreal Royals: Branch Rickey brought the Dodgers and the Royals to Cuba in order to avoid the racism of the South. The Royals had future Dodgers Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe. Cubans had a higher acceptance of black players and allowed Rickey to prepare the Dodgers for his grand experiment.

1953 Pittsburgh Pirates: Branch Rickey, now running the Pirates, brought the team for spring training to Cuba. The Pirates, with Ralph Kiner, won 6 of 10 games against Cuban squads. The Pirates split two games with the
visiting Philadelphia Athletics.


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