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.
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