Cigars and baseball have long shared a rich connection in American culture, both symbolizing relaxation and camaraderie. From Babe Ruth’s legendary cigar habits to the days when fans could smoke in the stands, cigars have been a part of baseball’s history. The game’s leisurely pace pairs perfectly with the ritual of cigar smoking, making them a natural match.
Modern cigar makers honor this connection with blends inspired by baseball. From David Ortiz’s “Big Papi” cigars to Luis Tiant’s smokes and United Cigars’ Stadium Series, these creations celebrate both the sport and the artistry of cigar-making. With designs like baseball bat-shaped cigars and packaging inspired by stadiums, these cigars preserve the timeless joy of America’s pastime.
Cooperstown Cigar Company
Handcrafted in the Dominican Republic from first-generation Cuban seed tobacco, Cooperstown Cigar Company combines three generations of Cuban expertise, instinct, and passion to create cigars that embody celebration, relaxation, and tradition. With a proprietary curing process and triple fermentation, these cigars deliver unforgettable flavor and aroma. Simply put, they are cigars for all of life’s games.
- Shortstop (Robusto 5 1/4 x 50) – Wrapped in a dark, shiny Dominican Habano leaf and filled with 100% Ligero tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua, this full-bodied cigar offers rich notes of earthiness, oak, and cedar. Aged for four years, it delivers unmatched complexity and balance.
- Double Play (Toro 6 x 52) – Featuring a Dominican Corojo wrapper and Dominican fillers, this medium-bodied cigar presents flavors of café con leche, caramel, and cinnamon. Meticulously aged for four years, it’s a celebration of precision and craftsmanship.
- Stinger (Torpedo 6 x 52) – A Connecticut/Ecuador wrapper encases Criollo 98 fillers aged for over two years, creating a mild-to-medium-bodied cigar with notes of almonds, vanilla, and a toasty finish. Smooth and refined, it’s perfect for moments of relaxation.
- Grand Slam (Double Toro 6 x 60) – With a Dominican Habano wrapper and 100% Ligero filler, this full-bodied cigar offers bold flavors of rich tobacco, oak, and cedar. Aged for four years, it’s a powerhouse of flavor and aroma.
- Seventh Inning Stretch (Lancero 7 x 38) – This slender and elegant cigar features a Dominican Habano wrapper and 100% Ligero fillers, delivering a full-bodied profile with the same bold flavors as the Grand Slam, but in a more refined format.
- Cooperstonian (Churchill 7 x 48) – Wrapped in a golden Connecticut/Ecuador leaf and filled with Criollo 98 tobaccos aged for over two years, this mild-to-medium cigar offers creamy notes of almonds, vanilla, and toast. A true testament to tradition and quality.
- The Big Fly – Released in 2019, this cigar was designed to look like a genuine baseball bat.
DBL Cigars (short for Dominican Big Leaguer)
DBL, short for Dominican Big Leaguer, is a premium cigar brand founded by Francisco Almonte, a master cigar maker with decades of experience. Based in Tamboril, Santiago—the world capital of cigars—DBL combines generations of expertise and innovation to craft cigars of exceptional quality. With tobaccos sourced from top-rated farms and its own Dominican plantation, DBL delivers a diverse range of meticulously crafted cigars for discerning enthusiasts.
The DBL Baseball Bat Cigar is a standout creation, designed to commemorate the Dominican Republic’s love for baseball. Shaped like a baseball bat, this double-wrapped cigar is 100% smokable and available in three wrapper variations: Habano with Mexican San Andrés accents, Mexican San Andrés with Habano accents, and Connecticut with Maduro accents. Crafted with binder and filler tobaccos grown on DBL’s Dominican farm, this unique cigar offers a memorable and flavorful smoking experience that celebrates the artistry of cigar-making and the Dominican passion for baseball.
Other DBL Cigars:
- DBL Amarillo: A flavorful Connecticut-wrapped cigar offering a smooth and mild smoking experience with delicious flavors. Features a USA Connecticut wrapper, Dominican binder, and a blend of Dominican and Brazilian Mata Fina fillers. Available in Robusto, Churchill, Toro, and Belicoso sizes, packaged in boxes of 20.
- DBL Habano: A rich and complex cigar with a medium-bodied profile, honoring a successful career in the cigar industry. Wrapped in an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, paired with a Dominican binder and a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan tobacco fillers. This special edition pays homage to a beloved 1980s cigar brand, crafted through meticulous blending by cigar aficionados.
- DBL Maduro: A medium to full-bodied cigar delivering a naturally sweet and savory smoking experience. Features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Dominican binder, and a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Available in nine vitolas named after Major League Baseball stars, packaged in boxes of 24 as a tribute to Dominican-born baseball players.
- DBL Formula: A full-bodied cigar designed for discerning smokers, boasting an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Peruvian binder, and Dominican Piloto Cubano filler. Available in four vitolas and packaged in boxes of 18, offering a peppery opening that transitions into a smooth, earthy body with notes of coffee and cedar.
- Mafu: A full-strength, balanced, and complex smoke named in tribute to a beloved employee. Offers a choice between a Mexican San Andrés Maduro or Ecuadorian Cameroon wrapper, paired with a Havano Vuelta Abajo binder and a blend of Dominican Corojo 99 and Pennsylvania Broadleaf fillers. Available in Gordo (8 x 60) and box-pressed Toro (6 x 54) sizes, packaged in 30-count boxes with an even split of Maduro and Cameroon.
- DBL El Final: The ultimate cigar for today’s discerning smoker, featuring savory notes of dark chocolate, nuts, and espresso with a touch of sweetness. Available with three wrapper options: Ecuador Connecticut, Cameroon, or Mexico San Andrés Sun Grown, each paired with appropriate binders and fillers. Offered in Toro (5 7/8 x 52) and Robusto (5 ½ x 48) sizes, El Final is the “final” cigar you’ve been searching for.
La Flor Dominicana
La Flor Dominicana, a distinguished cigar manufacturer known for its exceptional craftsmanship and innovative designs, has honored the College World Series (CWS) in Omaha, Nebraska, by releasing limited edition cigars in both 2016 and 2019. These are the known years of special releases, and there may be others. These special editions celebrate the spirit of baseball and showcase La Flor Dominicana’s dedication to quality and thematic innovation, making them highly collectible for both cigar aficionados and baseball enthusiasts.
2016 Special Baseball Edition – Released to coincide with the 2016 College World Series in Omaha, this 6½-inch cigar is based on the acclaimed 1994 blend and features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper with Connecticut accents representing a baseball bat’s handle. It starts at a 46 ring gauge near the bat’s base and expands to a 52 ring gauge at the barrel’s end. Limited to 30 boxes of 10 cigars each, it was exclusively available through SG Roi and Havana Garage at $12 per cigar.
2019 Special Baseball Edition – Aligned with the opening of the 2019 College World Series on June 15th in Omaha, this unique 6¼ x 53 vitola cigar is shaped like a baseball bat and boasts an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over Dominican binder and fillers. Maintaining exclusivity, it was limited to 30 boxes of ten cigars each and was available through SG Roi Tobacconist and Havana Garage, located near Ameritrade Park, priced at $16.00 per cigar.
MLBPAA Cigars from Payne Mason
The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association Monthly Cigar Club, launched in 2023, offers a curated selection of Payne Mason Handmade Cigars delivered monthly for $15.50 initially and $15.50 on the 1st of each month, with a minimum commitment of six months. Members receive 6-inch, 50 ring gauge cigars preserved in pharmaceutical-grade glass tubes, along with a 10% online discount, premium matches, and a stainless steel guillotine cutter in the first shipment. The MLBPAA, dedicated to supporting former MLB players, collaborates with Payne Mason to provide high-quality cigars and accessories to enthusiasts.
Torpedo Golden – A mild-bodied cigar featuring a 5-year aged Connecticut Natural Shade wrapper that delivers a silky smooth flavor. It offers nutty aromas and a creamy taste, making it an excellent choice for pairing with a Chardonnay or a full-bodied Cabernet.
Torpedo Maduro – A full-bodied cigar with an 8-year aged Dominican Maduro wrapper, providing robust and complex flavors. This cigar presents rich notes of dark chocolate and coffee, offering a distinguished and satisfying smoking experience.
Siglo 6 – A medium-bodied cigar encased in a rare Dominican Corojo wrapper. The Siglo 6 combines spicy, leathery, aromatic, and smooth characteristics, resulting in a complex and refined smoke.
Torito Barber – This cigar transitions from mild to medium-bodied, featuring a blend of a 5-year aged Connecticut Shade Natural wrapper and a 6-year aged Dominican Corojo wrapper. It offers a slightly spicy, complex, and nutty flavor profile, enhanced by a blend of four different tobaccos.
David Ortiz Cigars
David Ortiz, legendary Boston Red Sox slugger and 2022 Hall of Fame inductee, has translated his larger-than-life persona into a premium cigar collection. Each cigar reflects Ortiz’s Dominican heritage, passion for excellence, and dedication to craftsmanship, offering a range of options for cigar aficionados.
Big Papi – Released in 2022, this Toro-sized (6″ x 54) cigar features an Ecuadorian Habano Claro wrapper, Dominican Criollo ’98 binder, and a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Medium to full-bodied with notes of cream, pepper, nuts, leather, and natural sweetness.
Slugger – Also debuting in 2022, this bold cigar is wrapped in a spicy Mexican San Andrés leaf and comes in two sizes: XL (6″ x 70) and classic (5″ x 50). Full-bodied with robust flavors of espresso, dark chocolate, and peppery spice.
Firecracker – Introduced in 2022 as a limited-edition run of only 1,000 boxes, this compact cigar (3.5″ x 50) packs a punch with bold and powerful flavors in a quick-smoking format.
HOF Cigar – Launched in 2024 to celebrate Ortiz’s Hall of Fame career, this cigar is crafted with premium tobaccos from South America, the Caribbean, and Mexico. Medium to full-bodied, it offers rich flavors of earthy black pepper, creamy cocoa, and subtle leather. Limited to just 541 boxes, one for each home run in Ortiz’s career, it is available in Toro (6″ x 54) and Figurado Limited Edition sizes.
HR 500 by Gary Sheffield with Rocky Patel
Celebrate baseball excellence with the Rocky Patel HR500 by Gary Sheffield, a medium to full-bodied cigar released in 2012 to honor MLB legend Gary Sheffield’s milestone of 500 career home runs achieved on April 17, 2009. Crafted in Honduras by Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, a leader in premium tobacco blending, this exceptional cigar features a dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan and Honduran binder, and a harmonious blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran filler tobaccos. Awarded a 91-point rating by Cigar Coop, the HR500 delivers a well-balanced smoke with notes of black pepper, spice, and cinnamon. Each 6.5” Toro with a 52-ring gauge is meticulously crafted by Rocky Patel and Gary Sheffield, ensuring a silky dark, spicy-sweet experience that reflects the dedication and artistry behind premium tobacco blending.
Presented in a collectible box of 10, the HR500 cigars showcase an illustration of Sheffield’s historic 500th home run moment and are adorned with a plaque commemorating his achievement, all bound with baseball-stitched white leather. This limited edition release is the ultimate collector’s item for cigar aficionados and baseball enthusiasts alike, embodying Gary Sheffield’s exceptional talent and the pursuit of excellence that defines both his career and the cigar’s craftsmanship.
At the heart of this exclusive release is the “500 Home Run Club,” founded by Liz Banks, wife of Cubs legend Ernie Banks, who hit 512 career home runs. Under Liz’s leadership, the club has expanded to include signature products like 500 Home Run Club Charity Wines, all designed to honor baseball’s iconic athletes and support philanthropic endeavors. The Gary Sheffield HR500 cigar not only symbolizes excellence and exclusivity but also reinforces the club’s commitment to celebrating baseball heritage and giving back to the community, making it a meaningful addition to any collection.
Tampa Smokers, by J.C. Newman Cigar Company
Tampa Smokers Cigars were introduced in 2023 by J.C. Newman Cigar Company in collaboration with Cuesta Rey Cigars to honor the historic Tampa Smokers, a minor-league baseball team that played from 1919 to 1954. The cigars were launched in a single size, a 6 x 54 toro extra vitola, designed to resemble a baseball bat. With an MSRP of $20 per cigar and sold in boxes of 20, the packaging drew inspiration from the team’s iconic jerseys, which prominently featured a Tampa cigar. This release celebrated Tampa’s deep connection to cigars and baseball, two enduring pillars of the city’s heritage, while incorporating Cuesta Rey’s artisanal expertise to enhance the flavor profile.
Founded in 1895 by Julius Caeser Newman, J.C. Newman Cigar Company is America’s oldest family-owned premium cigar maker. For over 128 years, the Newman family has hand-rolled some of the world’s finest cigars at their iconic El Reloj factory in Tampa’s Ybor City, the last operating cigar factory in a city once known as the Fine Cigar Capital of the World. Open to the public, El Reloj offers visitors a unique glimpse into the craftsmanship and history of cigar making, including collaborative efforts with Cuesta Rey Cigars to create unique blends for the Tampa Smokers line.
Tampa Smokers Cigars debuted at an event hosted by the Florida Sports Hall of Fame, attended by baseball legends Lou Piniella, Gary Sheffield, and Wade Boggs. They were later showcased at the Premium Cigar Association Trade Show in Las Vegas, alongside a unique humidor crafted from baseball bats, and shipped to premium retailers in time for the World Series, celebrating the timeless bond between America’s pastimes. The partnership with Cuesta Rey Cigars highlighted the collaborative spirit of the cigar community, bringing together different generations and styles to honor Tampa’s rich cultural legacy.
Stadium Series Cigars by United Cigars
Stadium Series Cigars by United Cigars celebrate America’s favorite pastime with two exceptional blends crafted in collaboration with C.L.E. Cigars and Asylum. These cigars pay homage to iconic baseball stadiums while delivering bold, memorable flavors. C.L.E., founded by renowned cigar maker Christian Luis Eiroa, brings expertise in Honduran tobacco to this unique series, seamlessly blending tradition and innovation.
- Series I: Asylum Green Monstah – The Asylum Green Monstah is a Honduran puro wrapped in a vibrant green Ecuadorian Candela leaf. Experience the subtle kick of light black pepper, the rich aroma of cedar, and a distinctive “green field” note that captures the essence of sunny days at Fenway Park. The packaging resembles a fieldhouse with a replica Fenway Park scoreboard, paying tribute to Boston’s legendary Green Monster and its iconic left field wall. Available in two exclusive sizes: 6 x 60 and 7 x 70. Each box uniquely contains nine cigars, referencing the nine innings of a professional baseball game. These released in 2021.
- Series II: C.L.E. Corojo 11/18 – A medium-full-bodied Honduran puro crafted with a genuine Corojo wrapper, binder, and filler. This cigar delivers bold notes of black pepper, oak, and fresh earth. Packaged in a box reminiscent of Yankee Stadium, it features CLE pinstripes on the paper sleeves, celebrating the tradition of baseball’s most iconic team. These released in 2022.
Update: United Cigars has canceled the Asylum Green Monstah release due to a trademark conflict with Tatuaje Cigars Inc., which holds the trademark for the word “Monster.” Interestingly, Tatuaje’s “Monster” and United’s “Monstah” are not spelled the same, and Tatuaje’s has nothing to do with baseball, Fenway Park, or the Green Monster. You can still find some for sale online, however.
Luis Tiant – El Tiante Cigars
Luis Tiant, the legendary Cuban-born pitcher known for his dazzling windup and unforgettable role in the 1975 World Series, left an indelible mark on baseball and beyond before his passing in 2024. In 2009, Tiant expanded his legacy with the launch of El Tiante Cigars, created in partnership with Nicaragua’s Tabacalera Tambor. These premium cigars honor Tiant’s iconic number 23 and his dedication to craftsmanship, offering a smoking experience as timeless as the man himself.
23 Series Habano – Crafted with a silky Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, this cigar delivers a medium-bodied profile with flavors of cedar, coffee, and subtle spice. It’s a refined smoke for those who appreciate balance and complexity, perfect for relaxing moments or celebrating milestones.
23 Series Corojo – Featuring a rich Nicaraguan Corojo wrapper, this bold cigar offers a robust smoking experience with notes of earth, pepper, and cocoa. Full-bodied and flavorful, it’s designed for aficionados seeking a cigar with intensity and depth.
Victus – Cigar Fungo Bat
The Victus Cigar Fungo Bat may not be a cigar, but you can still light it up and smoke balls during infield/outfield practice. This handcrafted beauty isn’t just a bat: it’s a conversation starter. Designed and painted by the legendary Bat King, each one is a masterpiece in the Limited Series lineup, blending precision, swagger, and a touch of baseball magic. Its cigar-inspired craftsmanship gives it the perfect smokin’ vibe for those who appreciate tradition with a twist.
Victus, the game-changer in wood bats, brings their A-game with this custom maple fungo. With a flared knob, balanced feel, and a solid 35” length, it’s built for coaches who want to drop jaws and drop bombs. Made in the USA, this bat is as much about performance as it is about personality. It’s the perfect accessory for puffing up your fungo skills and showing off your style, all while tipping your cap to America’s favorite pastimes.
Baseball and cigars share a bond rooted in tradition and relaxation, offering a perfect pairing for long, leisurely moments. The timeless rhythm of a game complements the slow enjoyment of a fine cigar, with each puff enhancing the experience of America’s pastime. Both are about savoring the moment, appreciating craftsmanship, and creating memories that last.
Here’s to enjoying the perfect smoke—whether at the ballpark or in your favorite chair. Play ball, and light up!
Brett Rudy is a trailblazer in the world of baseball. As the founder of Baseball Is My Life and co-founder of Charity Hop Sports Marketing, he’s dedicated to elevating the sport and supporting the athletes who play it. With a passion for making a difference, Brett has created successful philanthropic initiatives like Charity Wines and 100 Innings of Baseball for ALS. He’s also the mastermind behind the Corked Bat Collection, Cooperstown Classic at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and Winterball for Toys for Tots. When he’s not working to improve the game, Brett can be found playing outfield in the Boston Metro Baseball League, living and breathing the sport he loves.