Last night, J.C. Newman Cigar Co. introduced Tampa Smokers cigars at an event hosted by the Florida Sports Hall of Fame at J.C. Newman’s historic El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. This new cigar celebrates the Tampa Smokers, a minor-league baseball team that played in the Cigar City from 1919 to 1954. Numerous Major League Baseball alumni attended last night’s event, including Wade Boggs, Clint Hurdle, and Dave Magadan.
“Baseball and cigars are two of America’s historic pastimes,” said fourth-generation owner Drew Newman. “It seems only fitting to celebrate the new baseball season with a cigar that honors Tampa’s historic minor-league baseball team, the Tampa Smokers.”
A century ago, Tampa was known was the Fine Cigar Capital of the World. The 150 cigar factories in Tampa handcrafted more than 500 million cigars per year. In 1919, Tampa’s local baseball team was named the Tampa Smokers to celebrate its place as Cigar City. Many famous athletes played for the Tampa Smokers, including Al Lopez, who was the son of cigar workers and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
“The Tampa Smokers packaging incorporates the original design of the Tampa Smokers jersey, which prominently featured a Tampa cigar,” said Newman. “These special cigars are packed in boxes with rounded corners that are reminiscent of the shape of a baseball.”
Tampa Smokers cigars are hand rolled at J.C. Newman’s iconic El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa, Florida. They will be on display this weekend at the Premium Cigar Association Trade Show in Las Vegas along with a unique humidor constructed from baseball bats. J.C. Newman plans to ship Tampa Smokers cigars to premium cigar retailers in time for the World Series this fall.
