Nov. 6: On this date in 1928, Hall of Fame pitcher Jose Mendez died in Havana, Cuba.A Cuban League and Negro leagues star, Mendez compiled a 76-28 record 13 seasons in Cuba, pitching for Almendares, Santa Clara and Matanzas.
Enshrined in the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame since 1939, Mendez was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., by a special election of Negro League players in 2006.
This charcoal sketch by a Bohemia magazine artist named Rivadulla was up for auction at Leland's in June 2005. The penciled notation at the bottom reads: "Publicado Feb. 12 de 1950 Bohemia Ano 42 Num. 7," "Published Feb. 12, 1950, Bohemia Year No. 42, Issue No. 7."
Ese retrato de José de la Caridad Martínez, el célebre "Diamante Negro" es falso. El falsificador partió de un dibujo de Rivadulla publicado en el semanario Bohemia. El dibujo original se presentó en una gran exposición de 40 leyendas del beisbol en Cuba, en el Club Stadium de La Habana, en 1953. Una reproducción original de este y de otras historias de la pelota de invierno en Cuba se exhibieron en la Biblioteca Nacional "José Martí" a finales de 2022.
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