1953 Caribbean Series

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.

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.

Final standings

CountryClubWL  W/L %GBManagers
  Puerto RicoCangrejeros de Santurce60  1.000    Buster Clarkson
  CubaLeones de la Habana33    .5003.0  Mike González
  PanamaChesterfield Smokers24    .3334.0  Stanford Graham
  VenezuelaLeones del Caracas15    .1675.0  Martín Dihigo



Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Pedro Formental / CUBBatting average.560
Willard Brown / PURHome runs    4
Willard Brown / PURRBI  13
Willard Brown / PURRuns    8
Pedro Formental / CUBHits  14
Willard Brown / PURDoubles    3
Pedro Formental / CUBTriples    2
Ten tiedStolen bases    1
Bobo Holloman / PURWins    2
Pat Scantlebury / PANStrikeouts  11
Charlie Bishop / VENERA0.00
Cot Deal / PUR
Pat Scantlebury / PAN
Saves    1
Bobo Holloman / PURInnings pitched  17
Awards
Willard Brown / PURMost Valuable Player
Buster Clarkson / PURManager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Joe Montalvo / PURcatcher
Bert Haas / CUBfirst baseman
Jim Gilliam / PURsecond baseman
Lou Klein / CUBthird baseman
Buster Clarkson / PURshortstop
Willard Brown / PURleft fielder
Nat Peeples / PANcenter fielder
Pedro Formental / CUBright fielder
Bobo Holloman / PURRH pitcher
Pat Scantlebury / PANLH pitcher
Buster Clarkson / PURmanager

Game 1, February 20

Team1234567RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela103030000  7 1
Cuba30322000X10122
WP: Carlos Pascual (1-0)   LP: Lenny Yochim (0-1)

Game 3, February 21

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
Cuba101103006101
Panama0000001001  71
WP: Mario Picone (1-0)   LP: Pat Scantlebury (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Lou Klein (1)
Panama: None

Game 5, February 22

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela000201000350
Panama000000000010
WP: Charlie Bishop (1-0)   LP: Peter Nicolis (0-1)

Game 6, February 22

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0030020016132
Panama0000000123141
WP: Cot Deal (2-0)   LP: Alberto Osorio (0-1)

Game 8, February 23

Team123456789RHE
Cuba0012300006140
Venezuela0000200024  51
WP: Bob Alexander (1-0)   LP: Lenny Yochim (0-2)

Game 9, February 24

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
Panama002000100360
Venezuela101000000281
WP: Pat Scantlebury (1-1)   LP: José Bracho (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Arthur Peeples (1)
VEN: None

Game 12, February 25

Team123456789RHE
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

 

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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