Baseball & Cigars | Puff Lifestyle | Content

Baseball and cigar smoking have gone hand in hand since the very dawn of the game. I don’t know if Abner Doubleday smoked cigars, but back in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, it seemed that almost every man alive was pictured with a stogie in his mouth, and unlike today, a fellow could enjoy puffing his puro in any ball park in the land, when and wherever he damn well pleased.

Both baseball and cigars are incredibly nostalgic, and probably why I enjoy both so much. I collected baseball cards as a kid, and loved anything to do with the great players who were famous before my time, including Joe Dimaggio, Ted Williams, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, Duke Snyder, Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, and a long and glorious list of immortals way too long to even name. I watched all the great old black and white films about the game, and as I said, it seemed that every fan in the stands wore a big-ass hat, and smoked an even bigger cigar.

The Bambino, George Herman Ruth, always comes to mind, as images of him with a Cubano, not much smaller than his bat were always featured in the newsreels. Everyone knows that the Babe certainly enjoyed the “good life” – beautiful women, fancy cars, great food, sumptuous libations, and of course, his beloved cigars were always a part of his post game regimen.

Have you ever seen the Macanudo ad featuring a baseball theme that appears in the various Cigar Magazines? It’s a wonderfully nostalgic depiction featuring a couple of guys in fedoras, taking in nine innings in what appears to be an old minor league stadium, complete with old clock and historic ads on the outfield fence. I just love the feeling that the ad portrays – another time and place where a man could enjoy his favorite passions and sharing them with a good friend as well. There is something incredibly special about that.
bball3

But today we have the smoke Nazis who have even taken away smoking sections at most ballparks. And if there is one, it’s on some godforsaken balcony, outside the stadium facing the parking garage. But I will say that many of the minor league parks have grassy picnic areas in the outfield where a guy can sneak a smoke without being treated like a god damned pariah.

My friend’s 12 year-old son plays travel ball and he says that the dad’s all head behind the center field fence and light up after the third inning, no matter where they play. He claims that once they started the ritual, the team went on a tear, winning the rest of their games, including a sweep of the playoffs and the championship trophy. He actually missed just one game and it was the boys only loss in two months. From the next game on, both the parents and the coaches made sure that he parked his ass in the outfield with his favorite stogie in hand for the rest of the season.

While the Dominican Republic is known as a cigar-producing giant, baseball is like the true religion of the island nation. When the TV feed comes in from America, everyone stops to watch their favorite Dominicano take to the field. They will root like crazy for the team with the most Dominicans and cheer like mad as their fellow countrymen excel in the big leagues. Past greats like Jesus Felipe, and Matty Alou, Joaquin Andujar, Cesar Cedeno, George Bell, and of course the great San Fransisco high-kicking pitcher, Juan Marichal are treated like national heroes in their homeland. And now the majors are dominated by Dominican superstars such as Albert Pujols, Bartolo Colon, Vladimir Guerrero, Tony Pena , Manny Ramirez, Alfonso Soriano, and David Ortiz. Mets shortstop, Jose Reyes’ mom worked for General Cigar and Jose himself was the paperboy to General’s former CEO, the great Daniel Nunez. And how great it must be to attend a game in the DR, while lighting up a big stogie and everyone around you just smiles.

There are a few major league stadiums that feature cigar bars, much to the dismay of the Big Brother contingent. Even at a ballgame, the intrusive numbskulls feel it’s their duty to save us from ourselves. Here, where I live in downtown St. Petersburg, Tropicana Field has the beautiful Cuesta-Rey Cigar Bar that over looks the diamond. The organization known as Smoke Free Florida has vehemently tried to shut them down, but thankfully the Tampa Rays ownership recognizes that the Newman family has been an integral part of the Tampa-St.Pete community for over a hundred years, and fully supports their right to exist.
bball4

So, as I end this piece of passion and nostalgic bliss, I’m winding down on a delicious Diamond Crown maduro while the Rays head into their half of the seventh with a four run lead over the rival Yanks.

Ah… a good ball game and a good smoke. I hate to be cliché, but as the old saying goes - it don’t get any better than this.

Comments (1) Add Comment

...
written by doble_ligero, June 18, 2009

I too felt compelled to light up at the pony league park where my fiance's son plays. It was about the 5th game of a 2-2 season thus far. I was designated tower person when his team was the home team, running the scoreboard, announcing and playing bumper and walk up music. I decided to enjoy a short smoke during the game while performing my duties. The team's bats and pitching dominated the game. Being the superstitious baseball fan (and former player) that I am. I kept the smoke in my gametime ritual. The team went on to blow through the 16 game season winning the title by 4 games, then went undefeated in the post season tournament. I'd like to think the leaf played its part in their success.

I even had compliments on the 'incense' i was burning in the tower from both bleachers.

Long ashes....

Write comment