1958 Caribbean Series

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.).

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 16⅓ 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 10⅔ innings of work.

Final Standings

Final standings
ClubWLW/L %GB
Cuba42.667 
Puerto Rico33.5001.0
Panama33.5001.0
Venezuela24.3332.0

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 8

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
Panama0000000000  22
Puerto Rico20300300X8160
WP: Juan Pizarro (1-0)   LP: Jerry Davie (0-1)

Game 3, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Cuba000000000040
Panama00005000X590
WP: Humberto Robinson (1-0)   LP: Pedro Ramos (0-1)

Game 4, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico410010000691
Venezuela000000100180
WP: Jerry Nelson (1-0)   LP: Ramón Monzant (0-1)

Game 5, February 10

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela440000008130
Cuba0000010001  81
WP: Ramón Monzant (1-1)   LP: Mike Fornieles (1-1)

Game 8, February 11

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
Panama000000001  1  84
Cuba53301120X15170
WP: Pedro Ramos (2-1)   LP: Jim Umbricht (0-1)

Game 10, February 12

Team123456789RHE
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

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0000200002100
Panama10301000X5110
WP: Humberto Robinson (2-0)   LP: José Bracho (1-2)
Home runs:
: Lou Limmer (2)
PAN: None

Game 12, February 13

Team123456789RHE
Cuba000000002261
Puerto Rico000000000031
WP: Bob Shaw (1-0)   LP: Jerry Nelson (1-1)

 

Statistics

Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Bob Wilson / VENBatting average.500
Lou Limmer / VENHome runs    2
Víctor Pellot Power / PRIRBI    8
Earl Battey / VEN
Roberto Clemente PRI
Runs    6
Bob Wilson / VENHits  12
Earl Battey / VEN
Víctor Pellot Power / PRI
Valmy Thomas / PRI
Doubles    4
Nine tiedTriples    1
Six tiedStolen bases    1
Pedro Ramos / CUB
Humberto Robinson / PAN
Wins    2
Juan Pizarro / PRIStrikeouts  29
Jerry Nelson / PRIERA0.00
Jerry Nelson / PRI
Humberto Robinson / PAN
Innings pitched  18
Awards
Earl Battey / VENMost Valuable Player
Napoleón Reyes / CUBManager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Earl Battey / VENcatcher
Víctor Pellot Power / PRIfirst baseman
Casey Wise / CUBsecond baseman
Héctor López / PANthird baseman
Chico Carrasquel / VENshortstop
Minnie Miñoso / CUBleft fielder
Roberto Clemente PRIcenter fielder
Bob Wilson / VENright fielder
Humberto Robinson / PANpitcher
Napoleón Reyes / CUBmanager

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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