Baseball
is considered the national sport of Cuba.  It
was first played on the island around 1865-1866. According to some
information gathered, the first Baseball Championship in Cuba was
held in 1878 and it was organised by Emilio Saborit, who was the
manager of Havana's team. Sometime earlier, in 1874, the first two
teams were formed.
On December 27, of that same year, a team played the first baseball
game from Matanzas against Havana. This game took place in the historic
Palmar de Junco Stadium, in the province of Matanzas. The Almendares
Park baseball stadium was opened in 1881 on Carlos III Avenue and
Ayestaran.
By the end of the 19th century and beginnings of the 20th other
countries in the American continent began to play baseball. The
1st Amateur Baseball Championship was held in Havana in 1905.
Later, Cuba's National Baseball Amateur League was founded in
1914. This League continued its championships for more than 45
continuous years. Other minor leagues were also created in the
rest of the island.
Boxing is the sport in which Cuba has received the most world
titles. A total  of
23 medals have been won for world titles and Olympics events.
All sports in Cuba are considered as amateur league and thus Cuban
boxers do not challenge widely publicised professional "world
titles". Titles are as follows: 23 gold medals, 12 silver
medals and 5 bronzes for the Olympic games.
Alcides Sagarra, founder since 1960, of the Cuban boxing Association
has trained some redoubtable boxers for the Cuban teams.He also
considered as the best trainer on the island by aficionados. Within
his portfolio of boxers you can find names such as, Teófilo
Stevenson, Félix Savón and Maikro Romero who have
achieved apparelled results in the sport of punching and defence
world-wide.
For up-to-date Sports information, sports stars and general information on sports in Cuba: www.cubasport.com
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