1952 Caribbean Series
The fourth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1952. It was held from February 20 through February 26, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones de la Habana; Panama, Carta Vieja Yankees; Puerto Rico, Senadores de San Juan and Venezuela, Cervecería Caracas. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Panama City. The first pitch was thrown by Alcibíades Arosemena, by then the President of Panama.
Summary[]
Cuba became the first country to win two Caribbean Series championships with an undefeated record of 5–0. The Cuban team, with manager/catcher Mike González at the helm, won the Series behind a strong pitching effort by Tommy Fine, who posted a 2–0 record with a 1.50 ERA in two complete-games and won Most Valuable Player honors. After a 3–3 tie against Puerto Rico in the Series opener, he was called by the Cuban team as a late replacement for future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm. Fine posted the only no-hitter pitched in any Caribbean series game, to give his team a 1–0 win against Venezuela. Five days later, Fine faced Panama's club and was close to glory. He was three outs from consecutive no-hitters in the series, having allowed a single in the ninth inning to break it up. His 17 hitless streak also is the longest in series history. Outfielder Sandy Amorós led series hitters with a .450 batting average (9-for-20), including personal numbers with a .650 SLG, six runs, six RBI. Other contributions came from OF (.400), catcher Andrés Fleitas (.304), and infielders Lou Klein (.333) and Spider Jorgensen, who hit two of the team's three home runs.
The clubs from Panama and Venezuela tied for second place with a 3–3 record. Panama was managed by and included in the roster infielders Spook Jacobs, Joe Tuminelli and Jim Cronin, catcher León Kellman, and pitchers Connie Johnson and Marion Fricano.
The Venezuelan club, led by José Antonio Casanova, featured players as right fielder Wilmer Fields (.360, two HR, .720 SLG, 8 RBI), shortstop Chico Carrasquel and third baseman Luis García, as well as catcher/outfielder Guillermo Vento and pitchers José Bracho, Emilio Cueche, Bob Griffith, Johnny Hetki, Al Papai and Luis Zuloaga. In addition, center fielder Héctor Benítez and third baseman Buddy Hicks joined Fields in the All-Star team.
After a tied game with Cuba, Puerto Rico's team failed to win in their next five games. Managed by , their roster included outfielders Nino Escalera and Luis Rodríguez Olmo; pitchers Red Adams, Luis Arroyo, Art Ditmar and Pantalones Santiago, and OF/P Cot Deal.
Final standings[]
Country | Club | W | L | W/L % | GB | Managers |
Cuba | Leones de la Habana | 5 | 0 | 1.000 | – | Mike González |
Panama | Carta Vieja Yankees | 3 | 3 | .500 | 2½ | |
Venezuela | Cervecería Caracas | 3 | 3 | .500 | 2½ | José Antonio Casanova |
Puerto Rico | Senadores de San Juan | 0 | 5 | .000 | 5.0 | Freddie Thon |
Individual leaders | |||||
Player/Club | Statistic | ||||
Sandy Amorós/CUB | Batting average | .450 | |||
Sandy Amorós/CUB Wilmer Fields/VEN Spook Jacobs/PAN |
Hits | 9 | |||
Sandy Amorós/CUB | Doubles | 4 | |||
/PAN /PAN |
Triples | 1 | |||
Wilmer Fields/VEN Spider Jorgensen/CUB |
Home runs | 2 | |||
/PUR | Runs | 8 | |||
Wilmer Fields/VEN | Runs batted in | 7 | |||
Jerry Lynch/PAN | Stolen bases | 2 | |||
Tommy Fine/CUB | Wins | 2 | |||
Tommy Fine/CUB | Earned run average | 0.00 | |||
Bill Ayers/CUB Tommy Fine/CUB Johnny Hetki/VEN |
Complete games | 2 | |||
Johnny Hetki/VEN | Strikeouts | 9 | |||
Cot Deal/PUR | Walks | 9 | |||
Awards | |||||
Tommy Fine/CUB | Most Valuable Player | ||||
Mike González/CUB | Manager |
All-Star Team | |||||
Name/Club | Position | ||||
Tommy Fine/CUB | Pitcher | ||||
Andrés Fleitas/CUB | Catcher | ||||
/PAN | First baseman | ||||
Spook Jacobs/PAN | Second baseman | ||||
Buddy Hicks/VEN | Third baseman | ||||
Lou Klein/CUB | Short stop | ||||
Sandy Amorós/CUB | Left fielder | ||||
Héctor Benítez/VEN | Center fielder | ||||
Wilmer Fields/VEN | Right fielder | ||||
Mike González/CUB | Manager |
Scoreboards[]
Game 1, February 20[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuba | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: None LP: TBD Home runs: CUB: Spider Jorgensen (1) PUR: Cot Deal (1) |
Game 2, February 20[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
WP: Johnny Hetki (1-0) LP: Dave Thomas (0-1) Home runs: VEN: None PAN: Jim Cronin (1) |
Game 3, February 21[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cuba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | x | 1 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Tommy Fine (1-0) LP: Al Papai (0-1) Notes: Fine posted the only no-hitter pitched in Series history, striking out four while walking three. |
Game 4, February 21[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panama | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: (1-0) LP: Red Adams (0-1) Home runs: PAN: (1) PUR: None |
Game 5, February 22[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
WP: José Bracho (1-0) LP: Cot Deal (0-1) Sv: Emilio Cueche (1) Notes: Bracho hurled 10 innings and went 2-for-2 with two walks. |
Game 6, February 22[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panama | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cuba | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | x | 4 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Rogelio Martínez (1-0) LP: Marion Fricano (0-1) Home runs: PAN: None CUB: Spider Jorgensen (2) |
Game 7, February 23[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cuba | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Jackie Collum (1-0) LP: Roberto Vargas (0-1) Home runs: PUR: Luis Rodríguez Olmo (1) CUB: Lou Klein (1) |
Game 8, February 23[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: (1-0) LP: (0-1) Home runs: PAN: (1) VEN: None |
Game 9, February 24[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuba | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Bill Ayers (1-0) LP: Johnny Hetki (1-1) Home runs: CUB: None VEN: Wilmer Fields (1) |
Game 10, February 25[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 4 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: (1-0) LP: José Santiago (0-1) |
Game 11, February 26[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Venerzuela | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | x | 6 | 11 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Al Papai (1-1) LP: Red Adams (0-2) Home runs: PUR: None VEN: Wilmer Fields (2), Mo Mozzali (1) |
Game 12, February 26[]
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cuba | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Tommy Fine (2-0) LP: (0-1) Notes: Fine had a no-hitter through eight innings, setting a Series record with 17 consecutive hitless innings pitched. |
See also[]
Sources[]
- Antero Núñez, José. Series del Caribe. Jefferson, Caracas, Venezuela: Impresos Urbina, C.A., 1987.
- Gutiérrez, Daniel. Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela – 1895-2006 . Caracas, Venezuela: Impresión Arte, C.A., 2007.
External links[]
- 1952 in baseball
- Caribbean Series
- International baseball competitions hosted by Panama
- Sports competitions in Panama
- 1952 in Panama
- 1952 in Caribbean sport