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4 unusual facts about Havana Sugar Kings


Havana Sugar Kings

However, the next year, Castro nationalized all U.S.-owned enterprises in Cuba, and on July 8, 1960, Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick (under pressure from U.S. Secretary of State Christian Herter) announced that the Sugar Kings would be moving to Jersey City, New Jersey and be renamed the Jersey City Jerseys.

Several talented Cuban players and other Latinos who eventually made it to the Major Leagues donned the Sugar Kings uniform, including Luis Arroyo, Pompeyo Davalillo, Tony Gonzalez, Cookie Rojas, Elio Chacon, Leo Cárdenas, and Mike Cuellar.

The random gunfire continued, and Rochester third base coach Frank Verdi and Havana shortstop Leo Cárdenas ended up with flesh wounds.

Undeterred, the Sugar Kings — led by future major league manager Preston Gómez — eventually finished third in the IL standings, but upset Columbus and Richmond to win the League championship.



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