To best understand Chico's Bail Bonds, one must first understand the teachings of the club's founder, Chico Fernando Alejandro de Sebastion, or "Senor Softbol" as he was affectionately referred to by his players and fans. Chico was born on May 5, 1890 in San Juan, Puerto Rico to a prominent family who operated a local rum distillery. The family immigrated to San Juan from Spain in the late 17th century and initially specialized in rum and slave trading. For generations, the family business grew and thrived thereby providing the means to afford opulent mansions and the finest schooling for the children, including young Chico.

By the turn of the century, Chico was attending one of the finest private schools in Florida where he excelled in mathematics and physical education. It was at this time that he learned the game of baseball and developed a passion for the sport, along with Cuban cigars. Chico was so fond of cigars that it was quite common for him to be seen playing baseball with a cigar dangling from his mouth, a tradition many later day Chicos (and Chicesses) carried on even to this day. Chico was fond of saying, "Una dia no cigaro, el sucko!"

After college Chico returned to San Juan where he became an intricate part of the family's rum business and was rapidly promoted to management. In 1915, Chico's beloved father, Don Carlos, unexpectedly passed away due to a case of syphillis contracted from one of the black maids at the plantation. Following Don Carlos' untimely death, young Chico assumed the presidency of the family rum distillery.

Chico after his father's death in 1915; Chico used his father's ashes to fertilize the poppy plants shown in the photo.

During Chico's term of leadership, the rum distillery reported record profits until the 1920's when prohibition was enacted in the United States, which, unfortunately, had a catastrophic effect on the business. Despite his ties to organized crime in America and his exports to Europe, prohibition and the ensuing Great Depression caused the demand for rum to plummet and forced Chico to close the rum factory and liquidate his assets. As Chico closed his last distillery, he joked with local newspaper reporters, "El prohibition en Estados Unidos es caca de torro!" Undaunted, Chico decided to start over again and moved his family to Tampa, Florida. His passion for cigars, led him to invest in a relatively unknown Tampa cigar company, El Dogshitto Cigarellos, specializing in inexpensive cigars for the common man. This provided a steady yet modest cash flow for the family.

To supplement his income, Chico became a bail bondsman in Tampa. Although it was only intended to be a part time move, the founding of "Chico's Bail Bonds" proved to be a lucrative career move for Chico. Although he wasn't a tall man, Chico was muscular and would often have to track down clients in order to settle accounts. During these early years, Chico enjoyed great prosperity and employed several henchmen to assure his clients didn't jump bail. This was rough work which fatigued Chico and his men. As a means to relieve stress among his employees, Chico formed a softball team (the first such organized team in the United States).

Although Chico intended softball to be nothing more than an enjoyable stress reliever, he quickly realized some players were overzealous and played ruthlessly (which he commonly referred to as "Hotadogas" ). To overcome this problem he established stiff rules and penalties for playing the game.

Chico's teams went on to win several softball trophies over the years. To commemorate his contribution to the sport, the Florida Softball Association in 1950 cast a special traveling trophy that is still coveted by softball players throughout Florida, the "Bambi Trophy." The much sought after "Bambi" is awarded to players who excel on and off the softball field. Players are genuinely touched by the historical significance of "Bambi" and proudly display it at every opportunity.

During the 1960's, Chico's health declined due to syphillis inherited from an elderly family friend. He spent the last few years of his life sponsoring softball teams and quietly watching from the sideline. Alarmed at the competitiveness of the game and worried about his legacy, he chose a young lad to carry on his work. To Chico, the lad had the same enthusiasm for the game as he did. Consequently, he entrusted the boy with the Chico's legacy and spent an enormous amount of time teaching him the virtues of cigar smoking, scotch drinking, and softball. The boy went forth and spread the word to his friends and neighbors. So much so, that today there are hundreds of Chicos and Chicesses throughout the world, all carrying the message from the original Chico, "Its not just a team, its a way of life."

You won't find Chico Fernando Alejandro de Sebastion's name in Cooperstown or Williamsport. You'll find it wherever softball players are out to enjoy life, smoke a cigar, drink, dance, and eat a good homemade sausage. All of this wouldn't have been possible without Chico.