1958 Caribbean Series

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The tenth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1958. It was held from February 8 through February 13 with the champions teams from Cuba, Tigres de Marianao; Panama, Carta Vieja Yankees; Puerto Rico, Criollos de Caguas and Venezuela, Industriales de Valencia. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Sixto Escobar Stadium in San Juan, P.R.

Contents

Summary

Cuba won the Series with a 4-2 record en route for a third straight championship (fifth overall). Managed by Napoleón Reyes, the team received offensive support from 2B Casey Wise (.407 BA), CF Solly Drake (.333) and LF Minnie Miñoso (.318). The pitching staff was led by Pedro Ramos (2-1, 18 strikeouts) and Bob Shaw (1-0, 1.69 ERA and no walks in 16 innings). The Cubans, who failed to hit a home run in the Series, also had 1B Julio Bécquer and C Ray Noble in addition to pitchers Mike Fornieles and Bill Werle. The Marianao club became the first repeat champions in the Series history.

Panama, led by catcher/manager Wilmer Shantz, posted a 3-3 record to tie the second place with Puerto Rico. The Panamanian squad got fine work of pitchers Humberto Robinson (2-0, 1.00 ERA, including a four-hit shutout) and Carl Duser (1-0, 3.00), while 3B Héctor López hit .474 with a .609 SLG.

Puerto Rico was guided by Ted Norbert and received a strong pitching performance from Juan Pizarro (1-0, 2.76 16+13 innings), who set two strikeout records with 17 in a game (#2) and 29 overall (12 in game 10). The Caguas attack was guided by 1B Víctor Pellot Power (.458 BA, eight RBI, .583 SLG) and CF Roberto Clemente (.391, six runs, .609 SLG), while P Jerry Nelson (1-1, 0.00 ERA) allowed three unearned runs over 18 innings. Other roster members included Mike Goliat (2B), Luis [Canena] Márquez (OF), Félix Mantilla (SS), José [Pantalones] Santiago (P) and Valmy Thomas (C).

Venezuela, piloted by Regino Otero, finished in last place with a 2-4 record. The offensive was anchored by catcher and Series MVP Earl Battey (.435 BA, four RBI, .739 SLG), 1B Lou Limmer (.381, two HR, five RBI, .762 SLG) and RF Bob Wilson, who won the batting title with a .500 BA (12-for-24) while collecting one home run, five runs, four RBI and a .708 SLG. For the second time, Limmer led the tournament in home runs. Pitchers Ramón Monzant (1-1, 3.95) and José Bracho (1-2, 4.37) got the victories for Valencia. OF Elio Chacón (.217, four runs, 3B, one RBI) and SS Chico Carrasquel (.240, four runs, two RBI) also homered in the Series. Besides, Julián Ladera made two relief appearances and struck out 10 batters in 10+23 innings of work.

Final standings

Final standings
ClubWLW/L %GB
Flag of Cuba.svg Cuba 42.667 
Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Puerto Rico 33.5001.0
Flag of Panama.svg Panama 33.5001.0
Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).svg Venezuela 24.3332.0

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 8

Team123456789 R H E
Cuba02000350010130
Venezuela000001010  2  75
WP: Mike Fornieles (1-0)   LP: Emilio Cueche (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: None
VEN: Elio Chacón (1)

Game 2, February 8

Team123456789 R H E
Panama0000000000  22
Puerto Rico20300300X8160
WP: Juan Pizarro (1-0)   LP: Jerry Davie (0-1)

Game 3, February 9

Team123456789 R H E
Cuba000000000040
Panama00005000X590
WP: Humberto Robinson (1-0)   LP: Pedro Ramos (0-1)

Game 4, February 9

Team123456789 R H E
Puerto Rico410010000691
Venezuela000000100180
WP: Jerry Nelson (1-0)   LP: Ramón Monzant (0-1)

Game 5, February 10

Team123456789 R H E
Panama0100000001  51
Venezuela01022000X5100
WP: José Bracho (1-0)   LP: Dave Benedict (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: None
VEN: Bob Wilson (1), Earl Battey (1), Chico Carrasquel (1)
Notes: Bracho pitched a complete game and set an all-time Series record with his sixth win in the tournament.

Game 6, February 10

Team123456789 R H E
Puerto Rico2000002004  60
Cuba1002000025101
WP: Pedro Ramos (1-0)   LP: Marion Fricano (0-1)
Home runs:
PRI: Roberto Clemente (1)
CUB:
* The game was suspended after a brawl occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning with no outs, one run scored and bases loaded. The game would be completed the next day.

Game 7, February 11

Team123456789 R H E
Venezuela440000008130
Cuba0000010001  81
WP: Ramón Monzant (1-1)   LP: Mike Fornieles (1-1)

Game 8, February 11

Team123456789 R H E
Puerto Rico000002000  3  94
Panama01003313X11111
WP: Carl Duser (1-0)   LP: Marion Fricano (0-2)
Home runs:
PRI: None
PAN: Ray Dabek (1)
* After completion of Game 6, Fricano became the first and only pitcher in Series history to collect two losses in the same day.

Game 9, February 12

Team123456789 R H E
Panama000000001  1  84
Cuba53301120X15170
WP: Pedro Ramos (2-1)   LP: Jim Umbricht (0-1)

Game 10, February 12

Team123456789 R H E
Venezuela0100200306 71
Puerto Rico0030300017131
WP: José Santiago (1-0)   LP: José Bracho (1-1)
Home runs:
: Lou Limmer (1)
PRI: None

Game 11, February 13

Team123456789 R H E
Venezuela0000200002100
Panama10301000X5110
WP: Humberto Robinson (2-0)   LP: José Bracho (1-2)
Home runs:
: Lou Limmer (2)
PAN: None

Game 12, February 13

Team123456789 R H E
Cuba000000002261
Puerto Rico000000000031
WP: Bob Shaw (1-0)   LP: Jerry Nelson (1-1)

 

Statistics

Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Bob Wilson / VEN Batting average .500
Lou Limmer / VEN Home runs    2
Víctor Pellot Power / PRI RBI    8
Earl Battey / VEN
Roberto Clemente PRI
Runs    6
Bob Wilson / VEN Hits   12
Earl Battey / VEN
Víctor Pellot Power / PRI
Valmy Thomas / PRI
Doubles    4
Nine tied Triples    1
Six tied Stolen bases    1
Pedro Ramos / CUB
Humberto Robinson / PAN
Wins    2
Juan Pizarro / PRI Strikeouts   29
Jerry Nelson / PRI ERA 0.00
Jerry Nelson / PRI
Humberto Robinson / PAN
Innings pitched   18
Awards
Earl Battey / VEN Most Valuable Player
Napoleón Reyes / CUB Manager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Earl Battey / VEN catcher
Víctor Pellot Power / PRI first baseman
Casey Wise / CUB second baseman
Héctor López / PAN third baseman
Chico Carrasquel / VEN shortstop
Minnie Miñoso / CUB left fielder
Roberto Clemente PRI center fielder
Bob Wilson / VEN right fielder
Humberto Robinson / PAN pitcher
Napoleón Reyes / CUB manager

Sources

  

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