1956 Caribbean Series

The eighth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1956. It was held from February 10 through February 15, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Elefantes de Cienfuegos; Panama, Chesterfield Smokers; 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 Estadio Olímpico de Panamá in Panama City, Panama.

Summary

In this edition, Cienfuegos won the first of five consecutive Series titles for the Cuban team. Cienfuegos was managed by Oscar Rodríguez and finished with a 5-1 record. The pitching staff was guided by Camilo Pascual (2-0, 11 strikeouts, 2.50 ERA), Pedro Ramos (2-0, 1.59 ERA) and René Gutiérrez (1-0, 0.00 ERA in 9⅓ innings). The offense was clearly led by catcher and Series MVP Ray Noble (.400 BA, one home run, .654 OBP and 1B Bob Boyd (.304 BA, one HR, 11 RBI, .522 SLG). Other contributions came from 2B Curt Roberts (.375, one HR, six runs, .542 SLG), Chico Fernández (.269, 10 runs, one HR) and 3B Milt Smith (two HR, .522 SLG). The roster also included IF Ossie Alvarez, OFs Prentice Browne and Archie Wilson and Ps Sandalio Consuegra, Seth Morehead and Gene Bearden, among others.

Panama, with Standford Graham at the helm, posted a 3-3 record to tie Puerto Rico for second place. Ps Don Elston, Ross Grimsley and Wally Burnette got the victories while 1B Elías Osorio (.286, 3 HR, .762 SLG) led the offense. Grimsley made the All-Star team, as well as OFs Bobby Prescott and Bill Stewart. The line up was also filled with Héctor López (2B), Humberto Robinson (P), David Roberts (OF) and Joe Tuminelli (3B).

Puerto Rico was managed by Ben Geraghty and got wins from Taylor Phillips, Roberto Vargas and Chi-Chi Olivo, while 1B Lou Limmer (.350, three HR, six runs, eight RBI) provided punch in the lineup. Also in the roster were Ps Tom Lasorda and Paul Stuffel, and Cs Bill Cash and Ray Murray; IFs Daryl Spencer (2B), Víctor Pellot Power (3B) and Félix Mantilla (SS), as well as OFs Wes Covington and Chuck Harmon.

Venezuela was managed by Regino Otero and finished in last place with a 1-5 mark. The team was outscored by their opponents 47-14. Bright spots were Ps Turk Farrell and Jim Pearce. Farrell recorded the lone win against Puerto Rico in a one-run, one hit effort, while Pearce took an 11-inning, 2-1 loss to Panama, striking out nine batters without giving a walk. Valencia also featured Ed Bailey (C), Tommy Brown (1B), Elio Chacón (CF), Emilio Cueche (P), Julián Ladera (P) and Ron Mrozinski (P).

Final standings

CountryClubWLW/L %GBManagers
 CubaElefantes de Cienfuegos51.833   Oscar Rodríguez
  PanamaChesterfield Smokers33.5002.0  Standford Graham
  Puerto RicoCriollos de Caguas33.5002.0  Ben Geraghty
  VenezuelaIndustriales de Valencia15.1674.0  Regino Otero


Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Ray Noble / CUBBatting average.400
Lou Limmer / PUR
Elías Osorio / PAN
Home runs    3
Bob Boyd / CUBRBI  11
Chico Fernández / CUBRuns  10
Curt Roberts / CUBStolen bases    2
Camilo Pascual / CUB
Pedro Ramos / CUB
Wins    2
Camilo Pascual / CUBStrikeouts  12
René Gutiérrez / CUBERA0.00
Turk Farrell / VEN
Camilo Pascual / CUB
Innings pitched  18
Awards
Ray Noble / CUBMost Valuable Player
Oscar RodríguezManager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Ray Noble / CUBcatcher
Lou Limmer / PURfirst baseman
Curt Roberts / CUBsecond baseman
Victor Pellot / PURthird baseman
Chico Fernández / CUBshortstop
Ramón Maldonado / PURleft fielder
Bill Stewart / PANcenter fielder
Bobby Prescott / PANright fielder
Camilo Pascual / CUB
Ross Grimsley / PAN
pitchers
Oscar Rodríguez / CUBmanager

Game 1, February 10

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico010000000112
Venezuela00002040X691
WP: Turk Farrell (1-0)   LP: Paul Stuffel (0-1)
Home runs:
PUR: Ramón Maldonado (1)
VEN: Ed Bailey (1)

Game 2, February 10

Team123456789RHE
Cuba00062210213161
Panama000202100  5  62
WP: Camilo Pascual (1-0)   LP: Ross Grimsley (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Milt Smith (1)
PAN: None

Game 3, February 11

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0100000045  92
Cuba24000021X9132
WP: Pedro Ramos (1-0)   LP: Emilio Cueche (0-1)

Game 4, February 11

Team123456789RHE
Panama100000020372
Puerto Rico00020300X581
WP: Chi-Chi Olivo (1-0)   LP: Wally Burnette (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Elías Osorio (1)
PUR: Lou Limmer (1)

Game 5, February 12

Team123456789RHE
Cuba1000001024  71
Puerto Rico01101004X7110
WP: Taylor Phillips (1-0)   LP: Sandalio Consuegra (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: None
PUR: Victor Pellot (1), Ramón Maldonado (2), Lou Limmer (2)

Game 6, February 12

Team1234567891011RHE
Panama01000000001271
Venezuela00010000000170
WP: Don Elston (1-0)   LP: Jim Pearce (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Héctor López (1), Bill Stewart (1)
VEN: None

Game 7, February 13

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela000000200  2  60
Puerto Rico31210300X10140
WP: Roberto Vargas (1-0)   LP: Ron Mrozinski (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PUR: Chuck Harmon (1), Daryl Spencer (1)

Game 8, February 13

Team123456789RHE
Panama000000000021
Cuba00100401X681
WP: René Gutiérrez (1-0)   LP: Humberto Robinson (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: None
CUB: Archie Wilson (1), Milt Smith (2)

Game 9, February 14

Team123456789RHE
Cuba000300004770
Venezuela000000000042
WP: Camilo Pascual (2-0)   LP: Turk Farrell (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Ossie Alvarez (1), Bob Boyd (1)
VEN: None

Game 10, February 14

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico020001002  5  95
Panama22530100X13163
WP: Ross Grimsley (1-1)   LP: Chi-Chi Olivo (1-1)

Game 11, February 15

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000000110271
Cuba10003000X451
WP: Pedro Ramos (2-0)   LP: Paul Stuffel (0-2)
Home runs:
PUR: Lou Limmer (3)
CUB: Chico Fernández (1)

Game 12, February 15

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela000000000  0  41
Panama45100341X18162
WP: Wally Burnette (1-1)   LP: Ron Mrozinski (0-2)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PAN: Elías Osorio 2 (3), Clyde Parrish (1), Héctor López (2), Denny Schell (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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