1952 Caribbean Series

The IV 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 Freddie 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

Country Club W L W/L % GB Managers
  Cuba Leones de la Habana 5 0 1.000        Mike González
  Panama Carta Vieja Yankees 3 3   .500    Al Leap
  Venezuela Cervecería Caracas 3 3   .500    José Antonio Casanova
  Puerto Rico Senadores de San Juan 0 5   .000   5.0   Freddie Thon


Individual leaders
Player/Club Statistic
Sandy Amorós/CUB Batting average .450
Sandy Amorós/CUB
Wilmer Fields/VEN
Spook Jacobs/PAN
Hits     9
Sandy Amorós/CUB Doubles     4
John Kropf/PAN
Alberto Osorio/PAN
Triples     1
Wilmer Fields/VEN
Spider Jorgensen/CUB
Home runs     2
Stan Breard/PUR Runs     8
Wilmer Fields/VEN Runs batted in     7
Jerry Lynch/PAN Stolen bases     2
Tommy Fine/CUB Wins     2
Tommy Fine/CUB Earned run average 0.00
Bill Ayers/CUB
Tommy Fine/CUB
Johnny Hetki/VEN
Complete games     2
Johnny Hetki/VEN Strikeouts     9
Cot Deal/PUR Walks     9
Awards
Tommy Fine/CUB Most Valuable Player
Mike González/CUB Manager


All-Star Team
Name/Club Position
Tommy Fine/CUB Pitcher
Andrés Fleitas/CUB Catcher
Ed Neville/PAN First baseman
Spook Jacobs/PAN Second baseman
Buddy Hicks/VEN Third baseman
Lou Klein/CUB Short stop
Sandy Amorós/CUB Left fielder
Héctor Benítez/VEN Center fielder
Wilmer Fields/VEN Right fielder
Mike González/CUB Manager

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 20

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cuba 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 6 0 3 5 1
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 3 7 2
WP: None   LP: TBD
Home runs:
CUB: Spider Jorgensen (1)
PUR: Cot Deal (1)

Game 2, February 20

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 10 1
Panama 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1   6 2
WP: Johnny Hetki (1-0)   LP: Dave Thomas (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PAN: Jim Cronin (1)

Game 3, February 21

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cuba 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 1 4 2
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

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Panama 0 2 1 0 0 1 0 2 0 6 9 2
Puerto Rico 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 2
WP: Hisel Patrick (1-0)   LP: Red Adams (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Dale Lynch (1)
PUR: None

Game 5, February 22

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 3 8 2
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 1
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

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Panama 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 8 3
Cuba 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 3 x 4 5 1
WP: Rogelio Martínez (1-0)   LP: Marion Fricano (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: None
CUB: Spider Jorgensen (2)

Game 7, February 23

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 2
Cuba 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 7 0
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

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Panama 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 4 8 0
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 8 1
WP: Alberto Osorio (1-0)   LP: Bill Samson (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Ed Knoublach (1)
VEN: None

Game 9, February 24

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cuba 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 7 8 1
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 5 4
WP: Bill Ayers (1-0)   LP: Johnny Hetki (1-1)
Home runs:
CUB: None
VEN: Wilmer Fields (1)

Game 10, February 25

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 9 1
Panama 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 x 4 9 0
WP: Andrés Alonso (1-0)   LP: José Santiago (0-1)

Game 11, February 26

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3   7 1
Venerzuela 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 x 6 11 2
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

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cuba 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 3 3 11 16 0
Panama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3   3   3 2
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

External links

   

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