1951 Caribbean Series

The third edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1951. The Series inauguration on February 21 was delayed due to heavy rain and it was held from February 22 through February 26, including two double-headers on February 25, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones del Habana; Panama, Spur Cola Colonites; Puerto Rico, Cangrejeros de Santurce, and Venezuela, Navegantes del Magallanes. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Cervecería Caracas Stadium in Caracas, Venezuela.

Summary

The Puerto Rico team won the Series with a 5-1 record and was managed by George Scales. Their only defeat came from Cuba. The team was led by OF Luis Rodríguez Olmo, who was named Most Valuable Player after hitting .423 (11-for-26) with three home runs and nine RBI. Other contributions came from pitchers Pantalones Santiago (two complete-game wins), Rubén Gómez (two wins, one save), 1B George Crowe (.333, one grand slam, 7 RBI), and SS Stan Breard (.423, seven runs, 4 doubles, 8 RBI). Also in the Puerto Rican roster were Jim Gilliam (2B), Buster Clarkson (3B), Bob Thurman (OF) and Willard Brown (OF).

Managed by Mike González, Cuba finished in second place with a 4-2 mark. 1B Lorenzo Cabrera led the Series hitters with an astronomical .619 batting average (13-for-23), while the pitching staff was led by Adrián Zabala (2-0), Hoyt Wilhelm (1-1) and Bill Ayers (1 win, 1 save). Also included in the roster were Sandy Amorós (OF), Pedro Formental (OF), Bert Haas (3B), Spider Jorgensen (2B), Ed Mierkowicz (OF), Jiquí Moreno (P) and Carlos Pascual (P).

Venezuela was managed by Lázaro Salazar and finished 2-4, with both victories over Panama. The team was led by 1B René González, who hit .316 (6-for-19), including two doubles, two home runs and a Series-leading 11 RBI. Pitcher José Bracho posted a 1-0 record and a 0.71 ERA in 12⅔ IP, helping himself with the bat while hitting .500 (3-for-6) with a double, one run and four RBIs. Other significant players in the roster included Luis García (3B), Vidal López (LF), Jim Pendleton (SS), Chucho Ramos (1B) and Ken Staples (C), as well as pitchers Frank Biscan, Julio Bracho, Alex Carrasquel and Clem Labine.

Panama ended with a 1-5 mark and was managed by catcher León Kellman. The team's only victory came behind a strong pitching effort from starter Connie Johnson over the Cuban team, while 1B Archie Ware paced the offense in average (.348), hits (8) and RBI (4).

Final standings

CountryClubWLW/L %GBManagers
  Puerto RicoCangrejeros de Santurce51  .833    George Scales
  CubaLeones del Habana42  .6671.0  Mike González
  VenezuelaNavegantes del Magallanes24  .3333.0  Lázaro Salazar
  PanamaSpur Cola Colonites15  .1675.0  León Kellman


Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Lorenzo Cabrera/CUBBatting average.615
Luis Rodríguez Olmo/PURHome runs    3
René González/VENRuns batted in  11
Stan Breard/PURRuns    8
Lorenzo Cabrera/CUBHits  13
Stan Breard/PURDoubles    4
Sandy Amorós/CUB
Jim Gilliam/PUR
Bob Thurman/PUR
Triples    1
Charles Douglas/PANStolen bases    3
Rubén Gómez/PUR
José Santiago/PUR
Adrián Zabala/CUB
Wins    2
Awards
Luis Rodríguez Olmo/PURMost Valuable Player
George Scales/PURManager

Game 1, February 22

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico00100246013180
Cuba100000000  1  91
WP: José Santiago (1-0)   LP: Hoyt Wilhelm (0-1)

Game 2, February 22

Team123456789RHE
Panama000011000  252
Venezuela00004330x1082
WP: Clem Labine (1-0)   LP: Webbo Clarke (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: None
VEN: René González (1)

Game 3, February 23

Team123456789RHE
Cuba001000001  2  84
Panama30025020x12161
WP: Connie Johnson (1-0)   LP: Eddie Yuhas (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Gilberto Valdivia (1)
PAN: None

Game 4, February 23

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0010500028  53
Venezuela0003100127112
WP: Roberto Vargas (1-0)   LP: Frank Biscan (0-1)   Sv: Rubén Gómez (1)
Home runs:
PUR: George Crowe (1)
VEN: René González (2)

Game 5, February 24

Team123456789RHE
Panama000200100373
Puerto Rico210000001483
WP: Rubén Gómez (1-0)   LP: Pat Scantlebury (0-1)

Game 6, February 24

Team123456789RHE
Cuba0000302139100
Venezuela0000010001  92
WP: Bill Ayers (1-0)   LP: Alex Carrasquel (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Pedro Formental (1)
VEN: Luis García (1)

Game 7, February 25

Team123456789RHE
Cuba4000000004  70
Puerto Rico1000011003101
WP: Adrián Zabala (1-0)   LP: Mike Clark (0-1)

Game 8, February 25

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela04300420013143
Panama000000020  2  52
WP: José Bracho (1-0)   LP: Gentry Jessup (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: Eddie Knoblauch (1)
PAN: None
Notes: Bracho hurled a complete game and went 3-for-5 with a double, driving in four runs while scoring one more.

Game 9, February 25

Team123456789RHE
Panama000000100140
Cuba01000100x272
WP: Hoyt Wilhelm (1-1)   LP: Connie Johnson (1-1)
Home runs:
PAN: None
CUB: Spider Jorgensen (1)

Game 10, February 25

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela100400000462
Puerto Rico00300021x690
WP: José Santiago (2-0)   LP: Clem Labine (1-1)

Game 11, February 26

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico3023040xx1280
Panama0010000xx  162
WP: Rubén Gómez (2-0)   LP: Webbo Clarke (0-2)
Home runs:
PUR: None
PAN: Luis Rodríguez Olmo 2 (3), Buster Clarkson (1), Willard Brown (1)

Game 12, February 26

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0010040xx561
Cuba300013xxx790
WP: Adrián Zabala (2-0)   LP: José Bracho (1-1)   Sv: Bill Ayers (1)

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.

   

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