Baseball and Cigars - Fred Gonzalez

[RPB67]

The annual baseball Winter Meetings are underway in Orlando, Florida and the tradition of cigar-smoking managers of the Florida Marlins appears to be safe for the immediate future.

Cuban-born Fredi Gonzalez, 42, rejoined the Marlins as their new manager on October 3, after spending four years as third-base coach for the Atlanta Braves. He had previously been with the club as a minor-league manager and has a three-year contract to manage the Marlins.

Gonzalez succeeded Joe Girardi, who managed the club for one year, following cigar-smoking legend Jack McKeon, who led the team during the 2003-04-05 seasons and was the manager of the 2003 World Series championship team.

McKeon was – and is – a dedicated Padron smoker, and according to a report in the Palm Beach Post, greeted Gonzalez warmly at the meetings and they immediately left the hotel lobby to sit outside and enjoy a cigar in the Central Florida sunshine!