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.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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)