1953 Caribbean Series

Last updated
1953 Caribbean Series
Tournament details
CountryCuba
City Havana
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Dates20–25 February
Teams4
Final positions
Champions Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce (2nd title)
Runners-up Flag of Cuba.svg Leones del Habana
Awards
MVP Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willard Brown
  1952
1954  

The fifth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1953. It was held from February 20 through February 25, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones de la Habana; Panama, Chesterfield Smokers; Puerto Rico, Cangrejeros de Santurce, and Venezuela, Leones del Caracas. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio del Cerro in Havana, the Cuban capital.

Contents

Summary

Puerto Rico finished undefeated and won the title by going 6-0, outscoring their opponents 50 to 23. The Santurce club, who hit a collective .367 batting average and committed only two errors, was led by right fielder and Series MVP Willard Brown, who enjoyed one of the most productive offensive in tournament's history. Brown led the hitters in home runs (4), RBI (13), runs (8), doubles (3) and SLG (1,042), while hitting .417 (10-for-24). The pitching staff was anchored by Bobo Holloman (2-0), Cot Deal (2-0, one save) and Rubén Gómez (1-0, one save). In addition to Brown, shortstop/manager Buster Clarkson (.467 BA), 2B Jim Gilliam (.545, two HR), RF Bob Thurman (.474, .684 SLG) and 3B Víctor Pellot Power (.385, one HR) also contributed to the attack. Other players for Puerto Rico included CF Luis (Canena) Márquez, P José (Pantalones) Santiago and catchers Joe Montalvo and Valmy Thomas.

The Cuban team, who many considered a favorite before the start of the event, wasted home-field advantage and a solid lineup managed by Mike González to end in second place with a 3-3 record. The Habana team was led by RF Pedro Formental, who posted a .560 mark to clinch the batting title. Other contributions came from 1B Bert Haas (.360, two HR, .600 SLG) and 3B Lou Klein (.316, one HR, .579 SLG). Pitchers Bob Alexander and Mario Picone collected wins, while Carlos (Patato) Pascual dropped two of three decisions. Cuba included LF Sandy Amorós, 2B Spider Jorgensen, CF Bob Usher, P Adrián Zabala, and catchers Andrés Fleitas and Dick Rand, between others.

Panama was managed by Stanford Graham and finished 2-4 in third place. The Panamanian squad got fine work of CF Nat Peeples (.400, .733 SLG), as well as pitchers Humberto Robinson (1-0) and Pat Scantlebury (1-1, 11 strikeouts in three games). The team also featured players as IFs Frank Austin and Joe Tuminelli, C León Kellman, and OFs Bobby Prescott and Dave Roberts. Collectively, Chesterfield scored the fewest runs (18) and committed the most errors (10) in the Series.

Venezuela, with Martín Dihigo at the helm, finished in last place with a 1-5 record. The Caracas lone victory came from Charlie Bishop, who pitched a one-hit shutout in Game 5. Among others were Ps Jay Heard, Dick Starr, Lenny Yochim and Luis Zuloaga; C Guillermo Vento; IFs Chico Carrasquel, Pompeyo Davalillo, Piper Davis and Hank Schenz, as well as OFs Dalmiro Finol, Lloyd Gearhart, Milt Nielsen and Gale Wade.

Participating teams

TeamManager
Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Buster Clarkson
Flag of Panama.svg Chesterfield Smokers Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Stanford Graham
Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg Leones del Caracas Flag of Cuba.svg Martín Dihigo
Flag of Cuba.svg Leones del Habana Flag of Cuba.svg Mike González

Final standings

PosTeamPldWLRFRARDPCTGB
1 Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce 6605023+271.000
2 Flag of Cuba.svg Leones del Habana (H)6333326+7.5003
3 Flag of Panama.svg Chesterfield Smokers 624183921.3334
4 Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg Leones del Caracas 615223513.1675
Source: CBPC
(H) Hosts

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 20

Team1234567 R H E
Panama0101022  6  70
Puerto Rico143430015140
WP: Rubén Gómez (1-0)   LP: Hisel Patrick (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: None
PUR: Victor Pellot (1), Rubén Gómez (1)
* Game was called after seven innings due to time limit.

Game 2, February 20

Team123456789 R H E
Venezuela103030000  7 1
Cuba30322000X10122
WP: Carlos Pascual (1-0)   LP: Lenny Yochim (0-1)

Game 3, February 21

Team123456789 R H E
Puerto Rico0020140007130
Venezuela1000001204121
WP: Bobo Holloman (1-0)   LP: Dick Starr (0-1)   Sv: Cot Deal (1)
Home runs:
PUR: Willard Brown (1), Jim Gilliam (1)
VEN: Dalmiro Finol (1)

Game 4, February 21

Team123456789 R H E
Cuba1001103006101
Panama0000001001  71
WP: Mario Picone (1-0)   LP: Pat Scantlebury (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Lou Klein (1)
Panama: None

Game 5, February 22

Team123456789 R H E
Venezuela000201000350
Panama000000000010
WP: Charlie Bishop (1-0)   LP: Peter Nicolis (0-1)

Game 6, February 22

Team123456789 R H E
Cuba0100000315130
Puerto Rico0210000036120
WP: Cot Deal (1-0)   LP: Carlos Pascual (1-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Bert Haas (1)
PUR: Willard Brown (2)

Game 7, February 23

Team123456789 R H E
Puerto Rico0030020016132
Panama0000000123141
WP: Cot Deal (2-0)   LP: Alberto Osorio (0-1)

Game 8, February 23

Team123456789 R H E
Cuba0012300006140
Venezuela0000200024  51
WP: Bob Alexander (1-0)   LP: Lenny Yochim (0-2)

Game 9, February 24

Team123456789 R H E
Venezuela0001000012  62
Puerto Rico21040200X9130
WP: Bobo Holloman (2-0)   LP: Jehosie Heard (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PUR: Willard Brown (3), Joe Montalvo (1)

Game 10, February 24

Team123456789 R H E
Panama2000210005100
Cuba0020000103110
WP: Humberto Robinson (1-0)   LP: Carlos Pascual (1-2)   Sv: Pat Scantlebury (1)
Home runs:
PAN: Bobby Prescott (1)
CUB: None

Game 11, February 25

Team123456789 R H E
Panama002000100360
Venezuela101000000281
WP: Pat Scantlebury (1-1)   LP: José Bracho (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Arthur Peeples (1)
VEN: None

Game 12, February 25

Team123456789 R H E
Puerto Rico0030000137160
Cuba00100002X3  90
WP: Roberto Vargas (0-1)   LP: Jocko Thompson (0-1)
Home runs:
PUR: Jim Gilliam (2), Willard Brown (4)
CUB: None

Statistics leaders

StatisticPlayerTeamTotal
Batting average Flag of Cuba.svg Pedro Formental Flag of Cuba.svg Leones del Habana .560
Home runs Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willard Brown Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce 4
Runs batted in Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willard Brown Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce 13
Runs Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willard Brown Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce 8
Hits Flag of Cuba.svg Pedro Formental Flag of Cuba.svg Leones del Habana 14
Doubles Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Willard Brown Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce 3
Triples Flag of Cuba.svg Pedro Formental Flag of Cuba.svg Leones del Habana 2
Stolen bases Ten tied1
Wins Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobo Holloman Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce 2
Earned run average Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Charlie Bishop Flag of Venezuela (1930-1954).svg Leones del Caracas 0.00
Strikeouts Flag of Panama.svg Pat Scantlebury Flag of Panama.svg Chesterfield Smokers 11
Saves Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Cot Deal Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce 1
Flag of Panama.svg Pat Scantlebury Flag of Panama.svg Chesterfield Smokers
Innings pitched Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg Bobo Holloman Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Cangrejeros de Santurce 17.0

Awards

See also

References

  1. "Posiciones de los Equipos". seriedelcaribe.net (in Spanish). Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  2. "Anuario oficial Serie Del Caribe 2022" (in Spanish). Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe. p. 26. Retrieved 13 June 2023.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)

Sources