Introduced in 1866 by a group of Cuban students who had studied in American universities, the first team was called “Habana.” Leopoldo de Sola was the first league president, Antonio P. Utrera, secretary, and Alfredo Maruri, treasurer. The first official championship was held in 1878 between the teams “Habana,” “Almendares,” and “Matanzas.” “Habana” won the first championship game on December 29 over “Almendares” and went on to win the championship. The Spanish government then prohibited the game, saying that the gatherings served as a vehicle to plan conspiracies. Meanwhile Cuban exiles took the game to the Dominican Republic and Central America. Only after independence was the game reinstated in Cuba. The first teams in the Cuban Republic were “Fe,” “Proceso,” and “Cárdenas.” Later “Habana,” “Almendares,” and “Matanzas” became the most popular. The championships became longer. By the 1930s Black and Whie American teams were coming to Cuba in the winter to play an extra season there. The lighter-skinned Cuban stars began to be recruited by American teams. Players who joined the American major leagues included Armando Marsans, Mérito Acosta, Rafael Almeida, José Acosta, Josito Rodríguez, Adolfo Luque, Mike González, Manolo Cueto, Paito Herrera, Roberto Estalella, Roberto Ortiz, and Rene Monteagudo. During the 1950s a single team, the Havana “Sugar Kings,” sent thirty players to US major league teams in just four years. Under the direction of the National Office of Sports, created in 1938, a management system and Hall of Fame were set up. The first players to be installed into the latter were Luís Bustamante, José Méndez, Antonio M. García, Gervasio González, Armando Marsans, Valentín González, Rafael Almeida, Cristóbal Torriente, Adolfo Luján, and Carlos Royer. Baseball remains Cuba’s most popular sport. Others include Andrés Fleitas ( brother of Ángel Fleitas, Major League Baseball shortstop with the Washington Senators, 1948), Regino Otero, Roberto Ortíz, Conrado Marrero, Octavio (Cookie) Rojas, etc.
The leading teams of the 1990s were Industriales (national series champion in 1996) and Villa Clara (champion in 1993, 1994, and 1995).
In March 1999, the Baltimore Orioles were permitted to play a Cuban national team in Havana with a return visit to Baltimore in April.
