Saturday, February 4, 2012

Napoleon Reyes led Marianao to 1958 Caribbean Series championship


The managers for the 1958 Caribbean Series, which was won by Cuba, represented by Club Marianao and managed by Napoleon Reyes (third from the left).

Another Cuban, Regino Otero (left), managed Venezuela's entry, Valencia, which finished last in the Series.
Puerto Rico (Caguas) was managed by Ted Norbert (second from the left) and Panama (Carta Vieja) was managed by Billy Shantz (right).

This photo was part of a lot that was up for auction at Mears Monthly Auction in January 2011.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Almendares won fight-mared 1959 Caribbean Series over Venezuela


Police had to intervene during what's described as a "rhubarb" between Cuba (Almendares) and Venezuela during the 1959 Caribbean Series.

Almendares, the Cuban League champion for 1958-59, went on to win the Series.

This photo was part of a lot that was up for auction at Mears Monthly Auction in November 2010.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Lou Klein's walk-off HR helped propel Habana to 1952 Caribbean Series title


Habana slugger Lou Klein is carried off the field after his walk-off, two-run home run to give the Leones a 3-2 victory against San Juan (Puerto Rico) in the fourth game of the 1952 Caribbean Series.

The victory gave Habana a 3-0-1 record as it went on to win the Caribbean Series.

This photo was part of lot of Sporting News archive photos that was up for auction at Mears Monthly Auction in November 2010.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Cuban star Camilo Pascual elected to Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame

A 1952-53 Colleciones Victoria card featuring Cuban baseball star Camilo Pascual, who on Saturday was elected to the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame.

A major-league pitcher for 18 seasons — mostly with the Washington Senators and Minnesota Twins — Pascual won 174 games, which ranks fourth behind Luis Tiant  (229), Adolfo Luque (194) and Mike Cuellar (185) for career wins by Cuban-born pitchers. Pascual was a seven-time all-star.

In the Cuban League, he compiled a 58-32 record with a 2.04 ERA, mostly with Cienfuegos, according to Who’s Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961. Pascual the league’s MVP in 1955-56, twice led the league in strikeouts (108 in 1958-59 and 163 in 1959-60) and twice won 15 games in a season (1956-57 and 1959-60).
He was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Julio Moreno ranks sixth in Cuban League history in games pitched

A 1946-47 Sensacion Premium, featuring Julio "Jiqui" Moreno, that was part of a lot that was up for auction at Legendary Auctions in November 2011.

Moreno, who was born on this day (Jan.  28) in 1921 was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1976. He played for Marianao, Havana Reds, Cienfuegos and Habana in 13 winters in Cuba between 1945-61.

According to Who’s Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Moreno ranks sixth in league history in games pitched and led the league in ERA (2.03) in 1960-61 and strikeouts (103) in 1952-53.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Julian Castillo ranks seventh in Cuban League history with .310 career average

Jan 23: On this day in 1881, Cuban baseball star Julian Castillo was born in Havana.

Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1943, Castillo played for San Francisco, Fe, Habana and Almendares during 13 seasons from 1901-13.

He ranks seventh all time in Cuban League history with a career .310 batting average and is tied for the most times (four) leading the Cuban League in batting, according to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961.

This photo of Castillo appears on the Spanish-language website, Desde Me Palco de Fanatico, from "From my vantage point of a fan."

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Bob Shaw led Mariano to second consecutive Cuban League title


The 1957-58 Marianao team that won the Cuban League title, it's second in a row and went on to win of the Caribbean Series.

Bob Shaw, who played 11 major-league seasons from 1957-67, went 14-5 with a 1.48 ERA to earn league MVP honors, according to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961.

The photo was up for auction at CubanBaseballCards.com in September 2010.