Cocaina Garcia starred as a pitcher and hitter in Cuba

Dec. 28: On this day in 1905, Manuel "Cocaina" Garcia was born in Manacas, Las Villas, Cuba.

Garcia, who threw the fifth no-hitter in Cuban League history in 1943, played for Almendares, Habana, Cuba and Santa Clara during 18 winter seasons in Cuba between 1926-48.

Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, Garcia (shown in this 1946-47 Almanaque Deportivo card) batted .260 for his career while compiling an 85-61 record as a pitcher, according to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961.

Cocaina Garcia tossed 5th no-hitting in Cuban League history

Dec. 11: On this day in 1943, Manuel "Cocaina" Garcia threw the fifth no-hitting in Cuban League history.

Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, Garcia (shown in this 1947 Casa Caluff postcard) played for Almendares, Santa Clara and Habana between 1926-48.

During the 1943-44 season, Garcia's no-hitter came against Marianao, a 5-0 victory at La Tropical Stadium. That season, he also won 12 consecutive games and batted .431, according to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961.

Habana won the pennant by 6 games over Almendares.