Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-87-0154J-87-199 2/12/87 RESOLUTION NO. WrI54 A RESOLUTION RENAMING THE MIAMI BASEBALL STADIUM TO THE BOBBY MADURO MIAMI BASEBALL STADIUM. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The City Commission hereby renames the Miami Baseball Stadium to the Bobby Maduro Miami Baseball Stadium. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of February 1987. XAVIER L. SUA , MAY R ATT • MATTY HIRAI CITY CLERK PREPARED AND APPROVED BY: , e ROBERT F. CLARK CHIEF DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY APPROVEIX *S TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: A A. DOUG ATTORNEY RFC:bss:M354 CITY COMMISSION MEETING OF FEB 12 1987 IN No. 87-154 HIRAM GOMEZ Public Relations BOARD OF DIRECTORS JUAN B. HUARTE President ARMANDO OUIRANTES Vice -President JOSE A. PRIETO Secretary JESUS RODRIGUEZ Treasurer JOSEPH RODRIGUEZ Legal Counselor MARIO GODERICM JULIO BLANCO HERRERA ORLANDO PENA JOSE RICO MARCOS H. SOTO ART TIDWELL LEOPOLDO RIVERO NORA L. PRIETO VICENTE COSSIO ARMANDO MENDEZ ALFONSO REY ROLANDO CASTINEYRA KEMELCERECEDA LORENZO LA DAGA JOSE E. VALDES MARIO DE LAS CUEVAS LEONARDO PADRINO EVERTO VAZOUEZ RAUL PUPO HUMBERTO AMARO GUSTAVO CHACON ALFONSO CHAO JUAN BACIGALUPI ISIDRO GALAN ORLANDO CRUZ ALFREDO R. VOYSEST JUAN R. MARCOTE HERIBERTO FONSECA RAUL GARCIA MANUEL M. ALVAREZ JUAN A. PASCUAL Corni»ioner BOBBY MAGUItO LEAGUE MIAMI-AMATEUR BASEBALL ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 350674 - MIAMI, FL 33135 Miami, December 6th, 1986 Mr. Cesar Odio, City of Miami Administrator, Miele, Fla. Dear Mr. Odio: JOSE A. PRIETO Executive Director In our last Board of Directors meeting we adopt the following resolutions: 1.- To include the name of Mr. Bobby Maduro in our organization, been called the Bobby Maduro League, in honor to as renmied sportsmant, official of your a minis- tratian and Past President of the Miand Amateur Baseball Association. 2.- To ask respectfully to the City of Miami conissia>, that in recognition of his merit in the baseball sport, and his strong support for the benefit of the young peo- ple and for the baseball, first in Cuba, latter in Miami, and also in the Organized Big Leagues in U.S.A. to addopt the resolution to rename the Miami Stadium, with the name of Bobby Maduro Stadium, which resolution was presented in our organization by our Secretary Pepin Prieto and secunded by our Public Relation, Hiran Gomez. 3.- We enclosd sale leters received by different institutions addressed to you, se- cuding our proposition, and we hope to receive your cooperation, and that the City of Miami Commission adopted the above mentioned proposition, in ther next agenda. Mwiks for your help and cooperation, as you always do in mn ter for the prestige and recognition of all the distinguish citizens of our 'ty. - Secfetary LOS DEPORTES NO CREAN WCIOS SPORTS DO NOT CREATE ADDICTIONS 8'7-154 Roberto Maduro Baseball Nistory Mr. Roberto Maduro became interested in baseball since boyhood. He played base- ball both in school and college in the States, and also amateur baseball in Cuba. In 1946 he founded and organized a corporation that built the "Gran Stadium de La Habana" (Grand Stadium of Havana), a 30,000 capacity steel and concrete structure of the most modern design. In 1947 he convinced the owners of the Cuban Winter League Clubs to join orga- nized Baseball and work closely with it for the betterment of baseball. This move led to the Caribbean Confederation when other Winter Leagues, such as those of Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Panama, followed the Cuban Winter League steps. In 1948 he leased the Cienfuegos Club of the Cuban Winter League and operated it for five years. In the first of those five years, the total attendance was 1,600,000 fans in 120 consecutive days, or an average of over 14,000 per game. In July, 1953, Mr. Maduro bought the Havana Cubans, then a member of the Florida International League, Class "B", whose franchise was owned by Mr. Clark Griffith. In 1954, the Havana franchise was accepted in the International League "AAA" to take the place of the Springfield Club. In that first year, the "Sugar Kings" (as the Havana team was named), finished in a tie in fourth place, notwithstanding the fact that it had jumped from Class "B" to "AAA" and had no players of "AAA" caliber or any working agreement, which are so essential for the development'of a good team. Those players that formed this first team were picked at random from different clubs. The attendance that year was 300,000 fans. In 1959, the "Sugar Kings" won the Shaughnessy Play -Offs and then the Little World Series in one of the most dramatic and colorful series ever to take place in baseball. The first two games were played in Minneapolis, but the attendance was so poor that it was decided to move the rest of the series to Havana. In the five games played at the "Gran Stadium de La Habana", the total attendance was about 120,000. This has passed on as the richest Little World Series that was ever played. In 1960, the International League, in the face of the political situation then, prevailing in Cuba, decided to shift the Havana franchise to Jersey City, while Mr. Maduro was still in Cuba. This move was a most dangerous one as it could have been interpreted as a scheme on Mr. Maduro's part to help the already mounting opposition to Fidel Castro. Fortunately, Castro took advantage of this to play it up as an example of another attack by the "Imperialist Yankees", and no per- sonal reprisals were taken against Mr. Maduro. When Mr. Maduro left Cuba and came to the States without any money, he had to face a loss in -Jersey City of $150,000, which was brought about by poor atten- dance, mainly attributed to the proximity to Yankee Stadium. He then proceded to take negotiations to have the Club move to Jacksonville in 1962, where his good friend, Mr. Sam Wolfson, lent him a most helpful hand. Z 8'7-154 Due to another great friend of Mr. Maduro's, Mr. Gabe Paul, the first year in Jacksonville was a most successful one as thq Jacksonville "Suns" won the pennant and drew 229,000 fans. This is quite an achievement considering that in the preceding year the total attendance of the Jacksonville "Jets", of the Sally League, was only about 30,000. In 1955, Mr. Maduro started to organize in Cuba the Little Leagues. By 1960, there were already 24 Leagues in operation throughout the Island of Cuba, and through the "Sugar Kings" these Leagues were furnished with baseballs, bats, uniforms, etc. A new feature was added to the Cuban Little Leagues, as in order for a boy to be eligible, he had to produce a certificate showing that he was attending school and getting passing grades, and also, that he was behaving at home. Mr. Maduro also founded a Baseball Academy that produced such ball players as Chico Cardenas, Tony Gonzalez, Orlando'Pena, Joaquin Azcue, Elio Chacon, Rogelio Alvarez, Octavio Rojas, Diego Segui, Victor Davalillo, Chico Ruiz, and several others who are now in the Minor Leagues, but very close to the Majors. In this Academy, in addition to obtaining baseball instructions, the boys also had an English teacher so that they could learn at least the fundamentals of the lan- guage spoken in the country where they were going to play. It was also through Mr. Maduro's operation and fine organization that Regino Otero became first -manager of the "Sugar Kings" and later coach of the Cincinati Reds. Nap Reyes was also manager of the "Sugar Kings", and now is head scout of the Caribbean area for the Milwaukee organization. Preston Gomez was made manager of the "Sugar Kings"; he later managed the Spokane Club of the Pacific Coast League, and is now manager of the Richmond Club in the International League. Tony Pacheco, who holds a prominent position in the Houston scouting staff, and Wilfredo Calvino and Tony Castanos, who are managers in the Mexican and Nicara- guan Leagues, are also products of the "Sugar Kings" organization. During all these years, Mr. Maduro was instrumental in helping the Winter Leagues of Mexico and Nicaragua. ` At the time of Fidel Castro's ascent to power, Mr. Maduro was organizing a League in the interior of Cuba, that would have been the equivalent of a Class "B" in the States, in order'to speed up even more the development of ball players. Although Mr. Maduro owned and managed several businesses in Cuba - insurance, cattle, cane, service station, bus line, among others, he came to the States in April, 1961, pennyless, as on, took all his possessions away from him, but he was fortunate to find numerous warmhearted friends and a cordial atmosphere in baseball circles. Among these friends, Mr. Walter O'Malley stands out as he came to Mr. Maduro's assistance and put him on the Los Angeles payroll until he was able to get himself back on his feet again. Mr. Maduro served as special assistant to the Commissioner of Baseball for many years, responsible for Latin-American development. He resigned this position to take over the position,of-President of the Interamerican league, comprised of teams from the Dominican Republic, Panama, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and.Miami. When Bobby.left us in October of 1986 he was coordinating a comprehensive program as Baseball Supervisor for the City of Miami, a responsibility that Bobby held for six years, `and in this position dedicated himself to improving the quality of life throughout our community. -2- 87-154 if'I141 v NEW YORK NATIONAL LEAGUE BASEBALL CLUB wo �1ffl �j�l, JOE MCILVAINE VICE PRESIDENT BASEBALL OPERATIONS SHEA STADIUM, NEW YORK, NY 1136,7 (718) 507-METS Mr. Hiram Gomez Miami City Hall Park and Recreation Dept. 3500 Pan American Drive Dinner Key Miami, FL 33133 Dear Mr. Gomez: January 19, 1987 It has recently come to our attention Maduro is being considered to have his Miami Stadium, that former Miami resident Bobby name honorably enshrined in Speaking for Frank Cashen, the New York Mets' Executive Vice President and General Manager, and the rest of his staff, we all unanimously support the motion and feel that Bobby is a most deserving recipient of this recognition. Bobby Maduro meant a lot to baseball, both on the amateur and profes- sional side. His recent passing saddened a great many people from the youth leagues in Miami to the Office of the Commissioner of Baseball. Bobby Maduro stood for youth --and there could be no more fitting tribute than a special place set aside for -him in the city where he lived, in the stadium where he spent a great deal of time. We of the New York Mets praise you for taking the initiative to set this project forward. Our congratulations to you. JM/mes Regards, Joseph P. McIlvaine Vice President Baseball Operations cc: Frank Cashen P 8'7-154 Y f MATIONAL ASSOCIRT10M PROFESSIONAL NASENALL LINUES. INC. P 0. BOX A - ST. PETERSBURG. FL 33711 (_ h1.Gr^JJ—`N President January ?1, 1987 MATIONOL MSOCIOTION of PROFESSIONAL BASEBOLL LEAGUES, INC. Mr. Hiram Gomez Parks & Recreation Dept. CITY HALL 3500 Pan American Drive Dinner Key Miami, Florida Dear Mr. Gomez, It has been called to my attention that efforts are being put forth to add the name of Roberto Maduro to the Miami Stadium. The purpose of this letter is to heartily endorse the proposal. I had the pleasure of knowing Bobby for almost forty years both as a minor league operator in several cities and for eight years while I was in the Commissioner's Office and he Was the Latin- American Winter League Coordinator. He made many contributions to professional baseball. It is hoped that the proposal will become a reality. Sincerely, �6ltn H. o nson //4y(es ide �JHJ:bld cc: Tony Pacheco _ Sal Artiaga 8 7-154, 101 BAYSHORE DRIVE SOUTHEAST - PO. BOX A - ST. PETERSBUR4. FL 33731- (813) SZZ-6937 5 1 V t :1r.ra.rcr L. K4" % rTF•wmF I. \1.����.1•.r; _ Mr. Hiram Gomez Miami City Hall Park and Recreation Department 3500 Pan American Drive Dinner Key Miami, Florida January 20, 1987 Dear Mr. Gomez% I have heard from my good friend Tom Pacheco that the City of Miami has considered the re -naming of the Miami Stadium to "The Bobby Maduro Stadium". I am very excited about that proposect inasmuch as I know of no man who did more for the game of Baseball than Bobby Maduro. He was a great liason for Baseball with the Latin American players and in every way conducted himself as a man of the highest integrity. Baseball will sorely miss him, and for his name to be honored in such a way will receive only the highest acclaim from Baseball paople everywhere. I urge you to go forward with your plan. With all good wishes, Sincerely, Albert L. Rosen President and General Manager ALR/ fm 11', K 1'.\I<h SA\ 1" RAND ISC U CALM WNIA 9-1121 8'7--JL54 F Texas Rangers Baseball Club P.O. Box l I I I Arlington. Texas 76010 (817) 273-5222 Tom Grieve Vice President and General Manager January 20, 1987 Hiram Gomez Miami City Hall Park & Recreation Dept. 3500 Pan American Drive Dinner Key Miami, Florida Dear Mr. Gomez: I am writing to you on behalf of the movement to name the stadium in Miami after Bobby Maduro. As I am sure you know, Bobby was a well respected friend of major league baseball and his accomplishments are well documented. It would be a fitting tribute to a fine man if the stadium was named after him. Thank you for whatever consideration you are able to give this request. Since , Tam Grieve Vice President and General Manager TAG/jj 8'7-154 L:J 1 LOS ANGEL_ES� AL CAMPANIS VICt PRt81DENT DIRECTOR OF PLAYIER PERSONNEL 12131 224. 1426 Mr. Hiram Gomez Miami City Hall Park and Recreation Dept. 3500 Panamerican Drive Dinner & Key, Miami, FL Dear Mr. Gomez: 1000 ELYSIAN PARK AVENUE LOS ANGELES, CA 90012.1192 January 21, 1987 I was fortunate to have met Bobby Maduro many years ago and we had a long lasting friendship. It would be a tribute to him to have the stadium in Miami named the "Bobby Maduro-Miami Stadium". Bobby was of high morale fibre and a gentleman with great integrity and warmth. Again, you couldn't have picked a better man or a better name. Sincerely, Q,A� Al Campanis Vice President MY S7--tS4, January 21, 1987. Mr. Hiram Gomez Parks and Recreation Department Miami City Hall 3500 Pan-American Drive Dinner Key Miami, Florida Dear Hiram: It has been brought to the attention of the Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Club that the City of Miami is contemplating re -naming Miami Stadium in honour and recognition of Bobby Maduro. Bobby was dedicated to sports'at both the amateur and professional level, and we support the thought of naming a sports facility to his memory. Yours truly, :f c.c. Tony Pacheco 87--q54 7 0 ns SOC.�,0_ _.... P.O. BOX 350674 — RIVERSIDE STATION MIAMI, FLORIDA 33135 ..,. 077 ..M K.-P. BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mr. Cesar Odio, President: City of Mimi Administrator, Jose A. Prieto Miami, Fla. First Via President Charles C. Semen, P.D.G. Dear Mr. gip; Second Vice President Pagarto Gallego In our last board of Directors our Board of Directors► with the cooperation of Mr. Hiran Ganes, Public Relation Director of the M.A.B.A. we adopt the following Third Vice President resolution. Robert West,P.D.G. s awy To ask respectfully to the City of Miami, to change the name of the Miami Stadium Juan 8. Nuarte with the name of Bobby Madiso Stadium, in honor to the distinguish sportman who su- Vim Saarsury ppor't the Base Ball in CLiba and in U.S.A., and who worked very strong for the youth. Ceterino Martinez Trassurw Be sure that if this resolutim is adopted by the City Ccimlission, it will make jus- Jesus Rodriguez tice to a man who past away after expending his life trying to improve the partici- pation of the Cuban : Yax tLs in the Base Ball and also a man who was a very bTi ortant Vice Treasurer personality in the Big leagbes. Armando Ouirantes Directors II Year) We think that if this resolution is adopted, a camdssion formed by different institu- Distriet Govarnw bans, could celebrate a very important public function and dedicate a plaque -at the Jeffrey Weiner beguining of the Orioles season. Ramon E. Dominguez , P.D.G. Nora Prieto We thank your for ion in our desire to honor Mr. Bobby Madero. Charles Adelman, I.D. Jose R. Prieto 74� Two Year Jesus Fernandez Art Tidwell, P.O.G. Ramiro Chong. P.O.G. Kemal Cereeedo Yours very truly, With copies to the Han. Major City of Miami With copies to the hon. Camlissiol ers of City of Miami 87 1541 AISE�'�! r �z 3 ti S v 7 y �1i►j,�M� FLO���f► Qlitv of �Hiamt* Vauth 'Baseball tkrabemte$, nr. P.O. BOX 350-674 MIAM1, FLORIDA 33135 Miami, DecaTber Sth, 1986 1ES6. 87 EXECUTIVE !BOARD Mr. Cesar Od10, JOSE A PRIETO • 856.7621 1Ctityof Miami Administrator, P,eweM Mom, Flo JUAN R MARCOTI vice Pesaent REMBERTO REYES - 643.5-22 S,ve,a., Dear W. Odlo: ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ • 649•3604 We would like to S this mean that am tion S T�easu�e� �'-S by ��� txxInglY support the motion of the Miami Amateur Baseball Assoc. M.A.B.A. asking respectfully BOARD OF DIRECTORS fin the 15ity to Change the nam of the Miami Stadium to the Bobby Madnso JOSE PRIETO Stadium, JUAN R MARCOTE ESNILDO PASCUAL Mr. Bobby Mad= Who past away, Was a glory of the Base Ball in Cuba, mid also in U.S.A. and we understand that adapting the above mentioned resoluticd JORGE TAYLOR we are honoring this mat main. JOSE GOMEZ VICENTE LOPEZ Mwk for your cooperation and support. ALFONSO RODRIGUEZ Sincerely, CARLOS PASCUAL • REMBERTO REYES ALBERTO ESPINOSA Reiberto RWeS SPORTS DO NOT CREATE ADDICTIONS LOS DEPORTES NO CREAN VICIOS 8 I -451 1 1986. 1987 President Jesus Rodriguez Immediate Past President Juan Boclgalupi First Vice President Everto Vazquez Second Vice Resident Joe Garcia Third Vice Resident Juan B. Huarte Fourth Vice Resident lose E. Valdes Secretary lose A. Prieto Vice Secretary Alfonso Chao Treasurer Juan Baclgalupi Vice Treasurer Alfonso Rev Tail Twister Gustavo Miranda Vice Tail Twister Leonardo Padrino Uon Tamer Raul Pupo Vice Uon Tamer Antonio R. Garcia Directors (2 Years) Pedro A. Valle Luis Torres Sergio Guzman Gustavo Chacon Kernel Cereceda Directors (1 Year) Vicente Cosslo Tomas P1no Alfredo Voysest lase M. Delgado Luis Marino Bencomo Directors Gustavo Suarez Public Relations Marto de las Cuevas Leopoldo Rivera, Rosendo Diaz Evarlsto Marina Directors Manuel A. Azugaray, M.D. International Directors Ignacio Perez Guillermo Cabrera Delegado New York lose Castillo Ambassadors of Goodwill Armando Qulrantes �r &&WW OZOW flub P.O. BOX 350674 — RIVERSIDE STATION BILL RINGELSTEING LOSE CALO STEVE HOFFMAN FRED KIRSCH District 35•A Deputy Governor Zone Chairman Secretary Gab. Governor Mr. Cesar•Odio, City of Mimi, Ahinistrator, Miami, Fla. Dear Mr. Odio" Miis Lim Club of the Little Havana, by this mean desires to express that we strongly support the proposition of Liao Pepin Prieto and Hiran Ganez, in the last meeting of the N.A.B.A. asking the eity Camiissicners to change the name of the Miami Stadium by the name of the Bobby Maduro Stadium. Bobby Madura, was a great man, and a sting supporter of the Base Ball in Cuba and in U.S.A. and he worked very hard to help the youths. We have been named in the ca misim to develop a plaque in honor to Mr. Maduro, mid is for us an honor been part of this cam-dssion. M-m* you for your support. copies to Major City of Miami oopies to City of Miami Catmissialers LIBERTY, INTELLIGENCE, OURNATiON'S SAFETY LIBERTAD, INTELIGENCIA, SEGURIDAD DE NUESTRA NACION SPORTS DO NOT CREATE ADDICTIONS Los deportes no crean vicios IZ 87! -154 r7 Lj WEST MIAMI LIONS CLUB LIONS INTERNATIONAL, DISTRICT 35-A P.O. BOX 3BOB74 MIAMI, PLORIOA 33135 December Sth, 1986 Mr. Cesar Odio, City of Miami AcWmistrator, City. of Miami, Fla. Dear Mr. Odio; Our West Miami Lions Club by this mean desires to show our support to the motion of the Miami Baseball Armteur Assoc. M.A.B.A. in their resolution to respectufully ask the City of Miami Camassioners, to replace the name of the Miami Stadium with the name of Boby Madukro, Stadium. We understand that we are making justing whm we honor this harorable Cuban Bobby Maduro who past away being a great figure in the International Base Ball Sport. We thank you for your support to this motion, and we hope we reeeive the support of the City of Miami Major and the Camnissione+s. Copies to the City of Miami Major Copies. to the City of Miami Commissioners LIBERTY, INTEUIGENCE.OURNATON'S SAFETY LISERTAD, INTELIGENCIA, SEGURIOAD DE NUESTRA NACION Salvador ziegenhirt - President SPORTS DO Nor CREATE ADO/CTiONS Los dpomps no crgn vnclos 8 7-454: