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 Fernando Pedroso (.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 Al Leap 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 Fred Thon, 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

CountryClubWLW/L %GBManagers
  CubaLeones de la Habana501.000      Mike González
  PanamaCarta Vieja Yankees33  .500   Al Leap
  VenezuelaCervecería Caracas33  .500   José Antonio Casanova
  Puerto RicoSenadores de San Juan05  .000  5.0  Freddie Thon


Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Sandy Amorós/CUBBatting average.450
Sandy Amorós/CUB
Wilmer Fields/VEN
Spook Jacobs/PAN
Hits    9
Sandy Amorós/CUBDoubles    4
John Kropf/PAN
Alberto Osorio/PAN
Triples    1
Wilmer Fields/VEN
Spider Jorgensen/CUB
Home runs    2
Stan Breard/PURRuns    8
Wilmer Fields/VENRuns batted in    7
Jerry Lynch/PANStolen bases    2
Tommy Fine/CUBWins    2
Tommy Fine/CUBEarned run average0.00
Bill Ayers/CUB
Tommy Fine/CUB
Johnny Hetki/VEN
Complete games    2
Johnny Hetki/VENStrikeouts    9
Cot Deal/PURWalks    9
Awards
Tommy Fine/CUBMost Valuable Player
Mike González/CUBManager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Tommy Fine/CUBPitcher
Andrés Fleitas/CUBCatcher
Ed Neville/PANFirst baseman
Spook Jacobs/PANSecond baseman
Buddy Hicks/VENThird baseman
Lou Klein/CUBShort stop
Sandy Amorós/CUBLeft fielder
Héctor Benítez/VENCenter fielder
Wilmer Fields/VENRight fielder
Mike González/CUBManager

Game 1, February 20

Team123456789RHE
Cuba001003060351
Puerto Rico000010200372
WP: None   LP: TBD
Home runs:
CUB: Spider Jorgensen (1)
PUR: Cot Deal (1)

Game 2, February 20

Team1234567891011RHE
Venezuela000000100012101
Panama000010000001  62
WP: Johnny Hetki (1-0)   LP: Dave Thomas (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PAN: Jim Cronin (1)

Game 3, February 21

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela000000000000
Cuba00000100x142
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

Team123456789RHE
Panama021001020692
Puerto Rico001000000162
WP: Hisel Patrick (1-0)   LP: Red Adams (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Dale Lynch (1)
PUR: None

Game 5, February 22

Team1234567891011RHE
Venezuela00002010001382
Puerto Rico00002000000281
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

Team123456789RHE
Panama200000000283
Cuba00100003x451
WP: Rogelio Martínez (1-0)   LP: Marion Fricano (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: None
CUB: Spider Jorgensen (2)

Game 7, February 23

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000020000242
Cuba010000002370
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

Team123456789RHE
Panama000040000480
Venezuela000000001181
WP: Alberto Osorio (1-0)   LP: Bill Samson (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Ed Knoublach (1)
VEN: None

Game 9, February 24

Team123456789RHE
Cuba100001005781
Venezuela000001000154
WP: Bill Ayers (1-0)   LP: Johnny Hetki (1-1)
Home runs:
CUB: None
VEN: Wilmer Fields (1)

Game 10, February 25

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000020000291
Panama00040000x490
WP: Andrés Alonso (1-0)   LP: José Santiago (0-1)

Game 11, February 26

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0000000033  71
Venerzuela20000202x6112
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

Team123456789RHE
Cuba20000033311160
Panama000000003  3  32
WP: Tommy Fine (2-0)   LP: Hisel Patrick (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.

   

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