Industriales

Industriales is a professional baseball team in the Cuban National Series. Located in Cerro, La Habana, it is known as the only team representing the country’s capital, Havana. Industriales is historically the most successful team in the National Series, although they have played under other names throughout their history. The Super Classic of Cuban National Series takes place six times per season between Industriales and Santiago de Cuba, the Cuban equivalent of the New York Yankees–Boston Red Sox rivalry. The matchup also represents the rivalry between the two cities (La Habana and Santiago de Cuba), dating back to the era when Cuba was a colony of Spain more than two centuries ago. They are known as the Lions (los leones), "The Blues" (los azules) or "The Blue Lions" (los Leones Azules). Royal blue is their color, though teams like Camagüey and Ciego de Ávila also have blue uniforms (navy blue and sky blue, respectively.)

History
The team was founded in 1962, as representatives of all the workers from all the industries of Cuba. Industriales is the perceived successor to the Almendares baseball team from the professional Cuban League. They won the Cuban National Series in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1973, 1986, 1992, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2010. Today the team holds the record of victories in a season (96 games in Cuba) with 66 games and more National Series won in a row with 4 straight national championships (1963-1966).

National Series MVPs
The following Industriales players have been named the National Series' most valuable player.
 * 1965: Urbano González
 * 1967: Pedro Chávez
 * 1971: Antonio Jiménez
 * 1972: Agustín Marquetti
 * 1986: Lázaro Vargas
 * 1987: Javier Méndez
 * 1996: Jorge Fumero
 * 2003: Javier Méndez
 * 2020: Lisbán Correa

Other notable players
• Gerardo Concepción (pitcher)

• Yasser Gomez (outfielder)

• Orlando "El Duque" Hernández (pitcher)

• Raúl López (pitcher)

• Yadel Martí (pitcher)

• Pedro Medina (catcher)

• Javier Mendez (outfielder)

• Germán Mesa (shortstop)

• Kendrys Morales (pitcher-outfielder-infielder)

• Juan Padilla (second base)

• Amauri Sanit (pitcher)

• Carlos Tabares (centerfielder)

• Yoandry Urgelles (outfielder)

• Lázaro Valle (pitcher)

Defectors
A number of Industriales players have defected from Cuba, often to pursue professional baseball in other countries. These include the following: • René Arocha

• Bárbaro Cañizares

• Gerardo Concepción

• Yunel Escobar

• Bárbaro Garbey

• Adrian Hernández

• Michel Hernández

• Orlando Hernández

• Kendrys Morales

• Vladimir Núñez

• Rey Ordóñez

• William Ortega

• Hassan Peña

• Euclides Rojas

• Rolando Viera

• Yadel Martí

• Yasser Gomez

• Odrisamer Despaigne

• Yulieski Gurriel

• Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

Television broadcasts
Beginning 2016-2017, alongside the nationally aired games on Tele Rebelde, several Industriales games at home are aired currently on local TV channel Canal Habana.