J.C. Newman Launches Tampa Smokers Cigars at Tampa Baseball Museum

On Thursday night, February 27, a sold-out crowd of 150 cigar-loving baseball enthusiasts attended the launch of J.C. Newman’s new Tampa Smokers cigars at the Tampa Baseball Museum. The crowd included former Tampa Bay Rays Managers Larry Rothschild and Joe Maddon.

Tommy Trella and Michael Barletta were on hand for the special night. “Baseball and cigars are two American pastimes that I love and go together. The Smoker is one great cigar that starts a little spicy and turns mellow and creamy,” Tommy said after trying it for the first time.

Michael added: “I would like to thank the Newman Family for  the  opportunity to be part of such an incredible event. It was a first class, intimate event with many MLB baseball professionals. The amount of history at the Tampa Smokers launch event was a great experience. The cigar is also a Home Run! Not only did we get to smoke it, but also got to see it being packaged while on the JC Newman Factory tour.”

The launch event was held in Ybor City – or ‘Cigar City’ – a section of Tampa designated the Ybor City National Historic Cigar District. Ybor City is also the home of J.C. Newman’s El Reloj Cigar factory. The Tampa Baseball museum is located in the childhood home of Al Lopez, a major league player and Hall of Fame Manager for the Cleveland Indians. He managed Cleveland from 1951-1965 and 1968-1969. Lopez was the son of cigar workers like most of the kids he grew up with in the shadow of the cigar factories.

Lopez was the first player from the Tampa to make it to the majors and the first to be named a major league manager. He was also the first player from Tampa inducted to the Hall of Fame making him a local and national hero. He’s also epitomizes the link between Tampa and Cleveland which is pivotal in the history of J.C. Newman as we’ll discuss in a future post.

J.C. Newman will release Tampa Smokers cigars to 200 premium cigar retailers in the 29 other Major League Baseball cities next month in time for Opening Day of the new baseball season.

Tampa Smokers cigars are hand rolled in J.C. Newman’s iconic El Reloj cigar factory in Tampa in two sizes, a 6″ x 52 toro and a 7″ baseball bat.  A single master cigar roller hand rolls only 80 Tampa Smokers cigars per day with an Ecuadorian Shade wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and filler tobaccos from Latin America where baseball continues to be a favorite pastime.

All proceeds from the event were donated to support the Tampa Baseball Museum and its efforts to preserve and showcase Tampa’s baseball history.