Francisco Pancho Coimbre Sports Museum

Lolita Tizol Street, Ponce
Telephone: (787) 284-4141 ext. 2508
Admission: Free
Hours: Wednesdays to Sundays, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The Francisco Pancho Coibre Sport Museum houses a collection of photographs, documents and memorabilia regarding the early days of baseball in Puerto Rico, back when professional players won only $5 per game and played the game during daylight hours only.

Most names mentioned in this museum aren't people you'll quickly recognize. People such as Francisco “Pancho” Coibre, Rafael “Rafaelito” Ortíz, or Emilio "Millito" Navarro never played in the Major Leagues. But they serve as inspiration figures for later baseball greats such as Roberto Clemente. Other illustrious figure, such as Willy Mays or even Richard Nixon you'll recognize immediately.

The museum is a must for fans of baseball and sport history in general. It has some great information about not only Puerto Rican sports history, but also features fascinating information about early women sport stars and racially divided baseball leagues.

Tips: Do check out the museum to see if the tour guide can offer you sporting history in English. But also wander over to the building on the left (tell the driver you'll be right back if you're on the tour). What you'll find is the enormous 1849 Spanish-built Infantry Quarters (Cuartel de Infanería), today a School of Fine Arts for the community. If you've visited old San Juan's Cuartel, you'll find the architecture to be similar.

The entryway and central courtyard rise upwards in traditional Spanish architecture, with massive arches, stairways and high ceilings that create constant air circulation.

Once the Infantry Quarters of the Spanish military, the building became a military jail and a court of justice in 1898 after the U.S. invasion of Ponce. In 1992, the building was converted into a community school for training young people in various arts, a public library, and a performing arts theater. Administrators there say quietly that ghosts still haunt the building. Ask one of the students if there's an exhibition on or maybe a ghost to be seen. You're sure to get a surprised look.

Attractions and Things to Do in Ponce, Puerto Rico

Visit the Museums and other Cultural Institutions

• Abolition Park (Parque de la Abolición) and Acoustic Stage (Concha Acústica)

• Serralles' four well-trecked attractions

• Ponce Art Museum (Museo de Arte de Ponce)

• Ponce History Museum (Museo de la Historia de Ponce)

• Francisco Pancho Coimbre Sports Museum

• Ponce Massacre Museum (Museo de La Masacre de Ponce)

• Our Lady of Guadalupe Cathedral

• Old Ponce Firehouse Museum

• Armstrong-Puventud House Museum

• Tibes Indigenous Ceremonial Center

• Hacienda Buena Vista

• La Perla Theater (Teatro La Perla)

   

See Parks, Nature, Beaches, Lakes, Rivers and Forests in Ponce

• Tercentennial Park

• Dora Colón Clavell Urban Park

Links to Useful Information

Photos of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Map of Area Attractions in Ponce, Puerto Rico
Download free Insider’s Guide to South Puerto Rico (Porta Caribe)

Getting There
Ponce Hotels

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