All but one USS Maine player died when ship sank in Havana Harbor

The baseball squad from the battleship USS Maine, which won the Navy baseball championship held in Key West, Fla. in December, 1897.

According to the Library of Congress, two months after this photo was taken -- on Feb. 15, 1898 -- each team member except for J.H. Bloomer (back, left) was killed when the Maine exploded and sank in Havana Harbor, killing 260 sailors and sparking the Spanish-American War.

In Cuba, the island's third and final War for Independence from Spain had begun in February, 1895 and wiped out baseball seasons in 1895 and 1896, according to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961.

Despite the Cuban insurrection, the Spanish government allowed baseball to be played in Havana in 1897-98, but the season lasted only 14 games because of the United State's declaration of war against Spain.

With Cuba eventually under U.S. control, the Cuban League returned with a full season in 1899 with Habanista beating Almendarista and Cuba for the pennant.

El Gran Stadium de la Habana was built in 1946 at a cost of $2 million

Aerial photo of El Gran Stadium de la Habana, part of a lot that was up for auction at Mears Monthly Auction in Novemeber, 2010.

According to La Leyenda Del Beisbol Cubano, El Gran Stadium was built by the Compañia Operadora de Stadium, S.A., in 1946 at a cost of 2 million Cuban pesos, the equivalent of $2 million U.S. dollars at the time.

In the stadium's inaugural game on Oct. 26, 1946 an estimated crowd of more than 31,000 fans watched Almendares defeat Cienfuegos 9-1.

1908 Cincinnati Reds went 5-5 in games vs. Almendares, Habana

The 1908 Cincinnati Reds team at Almendares Park in Cuba.

This photo was posted at Agate Type, a website which describes itself as "adventures in baseball archeology."

The site identifies the players as: (standing, left to right) Miller Huggins, John Kane, Ducky Pearce, manager Frank Bancroft, Larry McLean, Dick Hoblitzell, Mike Mitchell and (seated, left to right) Bob Spade, Billy Campbell, Jean Dubuc, Rudy Hulswitt and Hans Lobert.

According to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961, the Reds lost four of five games against Almendares with the Blues winning 1-0, 2-1, 4-2 and 3-0 as Cuba's Jose Mendez recorded 25 consecutive scoreless innings in three appearances and picked up a pair of victories.

Cincinnati fared much better against Habana, winning four of five games.

Martin Dihigo was perhaps the most versatile player in baseball history

May 25: On this day in 1906, Hall of Famer Martin Dihigo was born in Matanzas, Cuba.

Known in Cuba as El Maestro or El Inmortal, The Immortal One, Dihigo is shown in this 1946-47 Sensacion premium.

He compiled a 107-56 record in 20 seasons in Cuba -- 18 in the Cuban League and two independent seasons while pitching for Habana, Almendares, Marianao, Almendarista, Santa Clara and Cienfuegos.
Considered one of the most versatile players in baseball history, Dihigo -- the only player enshrined in the Halls of Fame in Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela and the United State -- pitched, played almost every position on the field and was a successful manager.

According to Who’s Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Dihigo ranks first in Cuban baseball in wins (107) and complete games (121). He's tied for the most times (four) winning 10 or more games in a winter league seasons. He was named MVP four times: 1927-28, 1935-36, '36-37 and '41-42.

As a hitter, Dihigo was a .296 career hitter in 21 winters in Cuba. In 1935-36 while playing for Santa Clara, Dihigo led the Cuban League in hitting (.358), runs (42), hits (63), triples (eight) and RBI (38).

Twice he hit over .400 in the Cuban League -- .413 in 1926-27 and .415 in 1927-28. He also hit .450 during the 1926-27 independent season for Marianao.
As a manager in Cuba, Dihigo led Santa Clara to the pennant in 1935-36 and Marianao to the title the following season.

In the Negro leagues, Dihigo played for the Cuban Stars, Homestead Grays, Hilldale Daisies, Baltimore Black Sox and New York Cubans.

Dihigo was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1951, and he was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. in 1977 by the Negro Leagues Committee.

Willy Miranda was a star shortstop with Almendares for 12 seasons

May 24: On this day in 1926, Cuban League star and major-league shortstop Guillermo "Willy" Miranda was born in Velasco, Orienta, Cuba.

Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, Miranda played 12 seasons in the Cuban League, almost entirely with Almendares, with which he won five league pennants: 1949, '50, '54, '55 and '59.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Miranda was the league's rookie of the year in 1948-49 and he holds the record for most sacrifice hits (17) in a season in 1953-54.

Miranda, who brother was Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame writer Fausto Miranda, played nine seasons in the majors from 1951-59 with the Senators, White Sox, Browns, Yankees and Orioles.

Lennie Pearson was an RBI machine when he played in Cuban League

May 23: On this day in 1918, Cuban League and Negro leagues star Lennie Pearson was born in Akron, Ohio.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Peason holds the Cuban League record for most times (three) leading the league in RBI -- 45 in 1946-47, 54 in 1948-49 and 55 in 1949-50.

Pearson, who played mostly with the Newark Eagles in the Negro National League, played five winters in Cuban, four with Habana.

In this picture which was up for auction at CubanBaseballCards.com in September 2010, Pearson is shown during his one season with Almendares in 1950-51.

Season of 1958-59 was Cuban League's Year of the Pitcher

The 1958-59 Cuban League program, brought to fans -- as the words at the bottom of the cover indicate -- "courtesy of Hatuey, the grand beer of Cuba."

That season was the Cuban League's "Year of the Pitcher," according to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961, as hurlers recorded 44 shutouts, shattering the previous record of 30 set in 1947-48.
Nine pitchers had ERA below 2.00, the highest team batting average was .233 and the top individual batting average was .303, the lowest in league history.

Led by Orlando Peña's league-leading 15-5 record, Almendares won the pennant by eight games over Marianao.

And the fall of Fulgencio Batista's regime to Fidel Castro on Jan. 1, 1959 delayed games until Jan. 6.