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.

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.

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."

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.

Habana went undefeated (with one tie) to win the 1952 Caribbean Series

The 1952 Habana team that went undefeated (with one tie) to win the Caribbean Series.

One of those victories was a no-hitter thrown by Thomas Fine against Venezuela, the only no-hitter ever thrown in Caribbean Series history, according to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961.

This image was part of a 10-photo lot that was up for auction at Mears Monthly Auction in October 2010.

Gilberto Torres starred as a batter and pitcher in the Cuban League

Jan. 10: On this day in 1983, Cuban League star Gilberto Torres died in Regla, Cuba.

Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, Torres played mostly for Habana from 1934-53.

According to Who’s Who in Cuban Baseball: 1878-1961, Torres ranks ninth in Cuban League history in hits (694), batted over .300 five times and twice was the league MVP (1940-41 and 1943-44). He also compiled a 45-52 record as a pitcher, his best season (10-3) coming in 1940-41.

Torres also served as a manager for Havana Reds (1946-47), Marianao (1948-49) and Habana (1956-58).

In the majors, Torres played four seasons with the Washington Senators from 1940-46. He is the son of Ricardo Torres, who played 13 Cuban League seasons, mostly with Habana, and three seasons with the Senators (1920-22).

Armed rebels a common sight at Gran Stadium after Castro came to power

After Fidel Castro rose to power in Cuba on Jan. 1, 1959, gun-wielding rebels became an all-too-common sight at El Gran Stadium of Havana, as this photo, which was up for auction at Mears Monthly Auction, in January 2011 shows.