Gallos de Sancti Spíritus
| Gallos de Sancti Spíritus | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Logo | ||||
| Information | ||||
| League | Cuban National Series | |||
| Location | Sancti Spíritus, Sancti Spíritus Province | |||
| Ballpark | José Antonio Huelga Stadium | |||
| Established | 1977 | |||
| Nickname(s) | Gallos (Roosters) Espirituanos (Spirituans) | |||
| League championships | 1 (1978–79) | |||
| Colors | Blue, orange and white | |||
| Manager | Eriel Sánchez | |||
| Current uniforms | ||||
| ||||
Gallos de Sancti Spíritus (English: Sancti Spíritus Roosters) is a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. The team won the series championship in 1978–79. The Gallos have advanced to the National Series semifinals in each of the past two seasons; 2004–05 and 2005–06.
History
The team was established in 1977, following the amendments to the Cuban Constitution in 1976 that created the Sancti Spíritus Province (previously part of Las Villas); under the new structure, every province was required to have a team participating in the National Series.[1][2][3]
The team made its debut in the 1977–78 season, led by manager César Pérez, with the 1976–77 Rookie of the Year Lourdes Gourriel leading the Espirituanos’ offense. The team finished 15th with a 20–30 record.[2][4]
The following season, under manager Cándido Andrade, Sancti Spíritus finished first with a 39–12 record, winning the Cuban championship, the first (and as of 2025, the only) in the team's history.[2][5]
Three Sancti Spíritus players were part of Cuba's team at the 2006 World Baseball Classic: outfielder Frederich Cepeda, infielder Yuli Gurriel (who later defected to the United States and played in Major League Baseball) and catcher Eriel Sánchez, current manager of the club.[6]
There are no precise records indicating when the Gallos (Roosters) nickname was first used. The name gained strength after the 2002 final series against Holguín, that the team lost 3–4. In 2013, after decades of being known as the Gallos, Sancti Spíritus finally incorporated the rooster into the club’s logo.[7]
Team stadiums
Every time a season starts, the team not only plays at José Antonio Huelga Stadium; their official stadium, but they also play at other seven stadiums around Sancti Spíritus Province:
- Genaro Melero Stadium – Jatibonico (the second most important besides José Antonio Huelga Stadium)
- Mártires de Cabaiguán Stadium – Cabaiguán
- Luis Torres Stadium – Yaguajay
- Rolando Rodríguez Stadium – Trinidad
- Julio Antonio Mella Stadium – Taguasco
- Mártires de Río Zaza Stadium – La Sierpe
- Fidel Claro Stadium – Fomento
Roster
| Gallos de Sancti Spíritus roster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Players | Coaches | |||
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager Coaches
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National Series MVPs
The following Sancti Spíritus players have won the National Series MVP award.
- 1994 Lourdes Gurriel
- 2001 Maels Rodríguez
- 2005 Yulieski Gurriel
- 2006 Yulieski Gurriel
Other notable players include:
- Jose Antonio Huelga (pitcher) known as El Heroe de Cartagena (The Hero of Cartagena)
- Modesto Verdura (pitcher)
- Miguel Rojas (second base)
- Owen Blandino (infield)
- Antonio Muñoz (first baseman)
- Roberto "El Cana" Ramos (pitcher)
- Yovani Aragón (pitcher)
- Ifreidi Coss (pitcher)
- José Raúl Delgado (catcher)
- Luis Enrique Gourriel (outfield)
- Miguel Hernández (pitcher)
- Osvaldo Oliva (infield)
- Rigoberto Rodríguez (shortstop)
- Ruperto Zamora (first base)
- Ángel Peña (pitcher)
- Maels Rodriguez (pitcher)
- Lázaro Martínez
- José Méndez
- Tony Simó (pitcher)
References
- ^ "Provincia Sancti Spíritus". Portal del ciudadano de Sancti Sipiritus (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ^ a b c Manzano, Rogério. "Gallos de Sancti Spíritus". Desde Mi Palco De Fanático (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ^ Pimentel Pérez, Oreidis (30 March 2018). "Yayabo de estrellas". OnCubaNews (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ^ "Lourdes Gurriel Delgado". Nuestra pasión beisbolera (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ^ De Malas Andreu, Daniel (4 October 2023). "Cándido Andrade López, el hombre que le dió a Sancti Spíritus el único título en su historia". Swing Completo (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ^ "World Baseball Classic: 2006 Rosters Cuba Roster". worldbaseballclassic.com. Archived from the original on 16 January 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2025.
- ^ Manzano, Rogério. "Gallos de Sancti Spíritus". Desde Mi Palco De Fanático (in Spanish). Retrieved 26 December 2025.