Lou Hernández

The Miami Marlins celebrated Cuban Heritage over the weekend of May 21-23, at loanDepot Park, unveiling new uniforms honoring the Triple A Cuban Sugar Kings franchise of the 1950s.

“The Marlins City Connect uniform is inspired by Latin America’s contribution to baseball, with a legacy red jersey that captures the energetic vibe and culture throughout South Florida and Latin America,” explained a Marlins’ news release. The team hinted at the Sugar Kings original uniforms by adding a sugar-sack patch and crown outline on one sleeve with Miami Marlins imprinted inside, and the same crown design on the front of their cap with the letters “MM.” But otherwise, the more modern color scheme of legacy red jerseys with wide pinstripes, solid white pants and powder blue stockings and caps (with legacy red bills) prevailed.

The event was a hit with the community. At just under 9,000 fans for each contest, “all three games were attended at full “pandemic capacity,” according to Juan C. Martínez, the Marlins Director of Events and Promotions.

The Miami team recognized Cuban Independence Day (May 20) in the first of three encounters on Friday night.

Saturday’s game featured Cookie Rojas as the Marlins’ principle link to the Cuban team. A member of the 1959 International League champion Sugar Kings, Rojas recalled the uniqueness of that winning club as it was composed by a diverse group of athletes from three Latin American countries, along with several North American players. Rojas, who went on to play 16 years in the major leagues, also voiced his admiration for the Sugar Kings’ owner, Roberto “Bobby” Maduro. Maduro’s greatest aspiration was for his team to become the major leagues’ first international franchise.

Maduro’s oldest surviving son, Jorge, threw out the “virtual first pitch” of Sunday’s afternoon game. It was a three-generation toss, as Maduro heaved the ball to his son George Jr., who relayed it to his son Mason, revealed on the Marlins’ jumbotron scoreboard before the start of the game. “My father is rejoicing somewhere in heaven,” said Jorge, “seeing that after 60 years his dream of the Sugar Kings making it to the major leagues has finally come true—at least through the uniforms.”

The Marlins beat the New York Mets two out of three games, to add to the overall success of the weekend festivities.