David Barnhill led Cuban League in wins, strikeouts in 1948-49

Jan. 8: On this day in 1983, Negro leagues star David Barnhill died in Miami, Fla.

Barnhill played three seasons with Marianao -- including two stellar ones -- between 1947-50. In 1947-48, he went 10-8 with a 2.26 ERA and a Cuban League-leading 122 strikeouts. The next season, Barnhill led the Cuban League in wins (13), complete games (13) and strikeouts (79). On Jan. 10, 1948, Barnhill tied a Cuban League record for strikeouts in a game (15), according to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961.

In this photo posted at Baseball Fever of the 1947 New York Cubans, Barnhill is in the middle row, five players from the left. Among the actual Cuban-born talent surrounding him are Rafael Noble (back row, fifth from left), Jose Fernandez (sixth from left), Orestes Miñoso (middle row, second from left), Pedro Pages (third from left), Silvio Garcia (far right) and Luis Tiant Sr. (front row, far right).