Pedro Formental tied Cuban League record for RBI in a season -- 57 in 1952-53

April 19: On this day in 1915, Cuban League star Pedro Formental was born in Baguanos, Oriente, Cuba.

Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972, Formental played for Cienfuegos, Habana (10 seasons) and Marianoa during 13 Cuban League seasons from 1942-55.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Formental ranks third in triples (47), fourth in home runs (56) and runs scored (431) and fifth in hits (746) in Cuban League history.

The flashy Formental (shown in this photo that was up for auction at CubanBaseballAuctions.com in September 2010) also tied the record for most RBI in a season (57 in 1952-53) and led the league in that category with 46 in 1951-52.

Twice he led the league in the following categories: runs, triples, home runs and walks. He led the league with a .336 average and 99 hits in 1949-50.

Habana dominated 1928-29 Cuban League

 

The 1928-29 Cuban League champion Habana B.B.C.

Habana won the pennant by 10 1/2 games over Almendares (Cuba and Cienfuegos withdrew from the league on Jan. 3, 1929, according to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961).

Habana included Cuban baseball legend Miguel Angel Gonzalez (standing, fourth from the left), who served as the team's manager and catcher; and Hall of Famers and Negro leagues stars Jud Wilson and Martin Dihigo.

This photo was up for auction at Hake's Americana and Collectibles in November 2011.

Habana's Adrian Zabala handed Puerto Rico its only loss in 1951 Caribbean Series

Habana teammates congratulate pitcher Adrian Zabala after he beat Santurce (Puerto Rico) 4-3 in the 1951 Caribbean Series.

It was the only defeat suffered by Series champion Puerto Rico as Habana finished second.

This photo was up for auction at Mears Monthly Auction in November 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.

Spider Jorgensen helped lead Habana to the Caribbean Series title in 1952

Nov. 3: On this day in 1919, former major leaguer and Cuban League player Spider Jorgensen was born in Folsom, Calif.

Jorgensen, who played for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1947-50 and the New York Giants from 1950-51, played four winters for Habana from 1950-54.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, his best season in Cuba came in 1951-52, when he batted .290 with a league-high 85 hits with five home runs and 29 RBI.

Following that season, Jorgensen helped lead Habana to the Caribbean Series championship, hitting a Series-leading two home runs and scoring six runs to lead all players.

Dick Sisler's Cuban League exploits earned him a day in his honor in 1946

Nov. 2: On this day in 1920, former major leaguer and Cuban League legend Dick Sisler was born in St. Louis, Mo.

This photo, which is up for auction at Hake's, shows the Habana Leones player during Dick Sisler Day, which was held Feb. 3, 1946 at Cuba's La Tropical Stadium.

The son of Hall of Famer George Sisler no doubt merited a day in his honor because of his exploits in the Cuban League.

Dick Sisler became a Cuban League legend while playing with Habana during the 1945-46 and 1953-54 seasons.

In 1945, he hit two home runs in his first game on Dec. 11. Later that season in a Jan. 23, 1946 game, Sisler clubbed a homer over a 450-foot barrier La Tropical Stadium, "hitting a wall at the brewery next door," according to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961. And the next day, he belted three homers off Sal Maglie, pitching for Cienfuegos.

Sisler's exploits even got him mentioned in Ernest Hemingway's Pulitzer-winning novel The Old Man and the Sea when the character of Santiago remembers "Dick Sisler and those great drivers at the old park."

Cardinals split their four games against Habana and Almendares in 1936 visit

Program for the "American Series" games March 5-8, 1936 between the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and Habana and Almendares of the Cuban League.

According to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961, the Cardinals split the four games during their spring training trip to Cuba, beating Almendares 5-4 and 6-1 and losing to Habana 13-8 and 2-1, with the Leones' Brujo Rosell picking up both victories.

But Miguel Angel Gonzalez, who had played most of his 23-year Cuban League career with the Habana, instead served on the coaching staff of the Cardinals, whose roster included Johnny Mize, Frankie Frisch, Leo Durocher, Pepper Martin and Joe Medwick.

Don Lenhardt led Cuban League with 15 home runs for Habana in 1949-50

Oct. 4: On this day in 1922, former major- and Cuban-league player Don Lenhardt was born in Alton, Illinois.

Lenhardt (shown in this 1949-50 Alerta premium which mistakenly identifies him as "Jimmy Lenhart") played two seasons in the Cuban League with Habana: 1949-50 and 1953-54.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Lenhardt led the league with 15 home runs while batting .314 in 1949-50. He batted .304 in 1953-54.

In five major-league seasons, Lenhardt with the Browns, White Sox, Red Sox, Tigers and Orioles between 1950-54.

Esteban Bellán was the first Cuban to play in a major league with Haymakers in 1871

 

Oct. 1: On this day in 1849, Cuban baseball pioneer Esteban Bellán was born in Havana, Cuba.

Bellán became the first Cuban-born player to appear in a major league when he played for the Troy Haymakers of the National Association in 1871.

He's shown standing second from the left in this photo of the "Haymaker nine" that appears at the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Viva Beisbol online exhibit.

Bellán, who as a student at Fordham University (1863-1868) played for the  Fordham Rose Hill Baseball Club, played in the first "official" organized baseball game in Cuba on Dec. 27, 1874. Bellán’s Habana club beat Matanzas 51-9 at Estadio Palmar de Junco.

One of the founders of the Cuban League, Bellán played five seasons for Habana from 1878-86, managing the team in three of those seasons, which included two first-place finishes.

He was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984.

Miguel Gonzalez was a star Cuban League catcher before managing, owning Habana

Sept. 24: On this day in 1890, Cuban League legend Miguel Angel Gonzalez was born in Havana, Cuba.

Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1956, Gonzalez played 23 seasons, mostly as a catcher, in the Cuban League between 1910-36. Aside from playing 20 seasons with Habana, he also played two with Fe and one with Red Sox.

According to Who’s Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Gonzalez led the Cuban League with a .432 batting average in 1932-33, ranks eight in league history in stolen bases (83) and batted over .300 in seven seasons, including three over .400.

As a manager, Gonzalez ranks first in seasons (34, of which 33 came with Habana), games (1,525), wins (851) and pennants won (14) in Cuban League history.

Gonzalez, who purchased the Habana team on Nov. 29, 1946 from the estate of Abel Linares, became the first Latino manager in major-league history when he served as a interim manager with the Cardinals in 1938 and ‘40, compiling an 9-13 record during those seasons.

MLB panel ranks Luis Tiant as No. 3 Latino pitcher in major-league history

A panel convened by Major League Baseball selected Luis Tiant as the No. 3 Latino pitcher in major-league history.

The question of who were the top Latino pitchers (only retired players could be considered) was posed as part of MLB's salute to Hispanic Heritage Month.

Luis Tiant, the son of Cuban and Negro leagues star Lefty Tiant, played just one season in the Cuban League.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Tiant was named Cuban League rookie of the year in 1960-61 -- , the final year of the professional Cuban League. -- after going 10-8 with a 2.72 ERA for Habana.

Tiant, who won 229 major-league games with Indians, Twins, Red Sox, Yankees, Pirates and Angels, was elected into the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.

His 229 career victories rank No. 1 among pitchers born in Cuba.

Tomas de La Cruz ranks seventh in victories (71) in Cuban League history

Sept. 6: On this day in 1958, Cuban League star Tomas de la Cruz died in Havana, Cuba.

Elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961, Cruz played for Marianao, Habana and Almendares in 13 Cuban League seasons from 1934-47.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Cruz (shown in this 1947-48 Kellogg’s Corn Flakes postcards) ranks seventh in Cuban League history in victories (71) and is tied for ninth in complete games (73).

He led the Cuban League with six victories in 1934-45 and ERA (2.30) and shutouts (four) in 1944-45 when he went 9-4.

Cruz threw a no-hitter on Jan. 4, 1945 as Almendares defeated Habana 7-0.

Habana's Gilberto Torres twice earned Cuban League MVP honors

Aug. 23: On this day in 1915, Cuban League star Gilberto Torres was born in Regla, Habana, Cuba.

The versatile Torres, elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007, 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).

1910-11 Habana team finished second to archrival Almendares

Composite portraits of nine 1910-11 Habana team members:

• catcher Gonzalo Sanchez (No. 1)
• shortstop Pop Lloyd (No. 2)
• outfielder Ricardo Hernandez (No. 3)
• outfielder Preston Hill (No. 4)
• infielder Grant Johnson (No. 5)
• right-fielder Luis Padron (No. 6)
• outfielder J.H. Magronat (No. 7)
• third baseman Carlos Moran, (No. 8)
• mascot Camilo Valdes (No. 9)

This image, displayed at the Library of Congress Digital Collections, is from the 1911 Spanish-American edition of Spalding's Official Base Ball Guide, appearing on page 18.

According to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961, Habana finished second, three games behind Almendares that season.

Hall of Fame pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm played two seasons for Habana

July 26: On this day in 1922, Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm was born in Huntersville, N.C.

Wilhelm, who pitched 21 seasons in the majors and was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985, pitched two winters in the Cuban League for Habana from 1950-52.

Wilhelm (shown in this photo that is up for auction/sale on eBay by The Attic and Closet Collectibles) went 8-6 with a Cuban League-leading 2.36 ERA in 1950-51 and 2-5 with a 3.52 ERA in 1951-52.

Daniel Morejon was Sugar Kings' Little World Series hero in 1959

July 21: On this day in 1930, Cuban League star Daniel Morejon was born in Havana, Cuba.

He played four seasons -- three with Almendares and and one with Habana -- from 1956-61.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball: 1878-1961, Morejon was the Cuban League rookie of the year in 1956-57 after batting .330 for Almendares. The following winter he led the league with nine home runs. And in 1960-61, he led the league with 17 doubles.

As a member of the minor-league Cuban Sugar Kings, Morejon led the 1959 Little World Series in batting (.407), RBI, hits, runs and doubles as the Sugar Kings beat the Minneapolis Millers.

In that series, Morejon drove in the winning run in Games 6 and 7 for Havana.

Fred Martin, Habana stumbled down the stretch in 1946-47

June 27: On this day in 1915, former major league pitcher Fred Martin was born in Williams, Okla.

Martin played only three major-league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1946, '49 and '50, but he was a significant figure in the Cuban League, where he pitched for Habana, Leones and Almendares during four winters between 1945-52.

Martin, shown here with battery mate Salvador Hernandez, played a particularly key, if dubious, role during the exciting pennant run of the 1946-47 season.

Heading into February, the season's final month, Habana held a seemingly insurmountable lead over arch rival Almendares, but the Scorpions won 13 of their final 14 games to overtake the Lions and win the pennant.

As Habana stumbled to a 5-8 record down the stretch, Martin, who was 9-8 for Habana that winter, went 1-3 the final month, including a pair of losses to Almendares.

Jacinto Calvo ranks eighth in Cuban League history in batting (.308)

June 15: On this day in 1965, Cuban Baseball Hall of Famer Jacinto Calvo died.

Calvo was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1948 after 14 winters in Cuba with Almendares, Habana, Orientals and Marianao from 1913-27, including nine-plus seasons with Habana.

According to Who's Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Calvo (shown in this 1926-27 for the Aguilitas Cigarette card) ranks eighth in Cuban League history with a .308 batting average.

He played only two major-league seasons: 1913 and 1920 for the Washington Senators, compiling a .161 average with four RBI in 34 games.

Adolfo Luque, Miguel Gonzalez: Iconic Cuban League managers

Adolfo Luque (left) and Miguel Angel Gonzalez (right) during their managerial days with a man identified as Rene Canizares at Tropical Stadium in Havana.

Iconic Cuban League players, Luque and Gonzalez were both iconic Cuban League managers as well.

According to Who’s Who in Cuban Baseball, 1878-1961, Luque ranks second in Cuban League history in victories (705) and pennants won (11) behind Gonzalez, who holds the league record for seasons (35), games 1,525), victories (851) and pennants won (14).

This photo, part of The Sporting News Archive collection, was up for auction at Mears Monthly Auction in April 2011.

1908 Cincinnati Reds went 5-5 in games vs. Almendares, Habana

The 1908 Cincinnati Reds team at Almendares Park in Cuba.

This photo was posted at Agate Type, a website which describes itself as "adventures in baseball archeology."

The site identifies the players as: (standing, left to right) Miller Huggins, John Kane, Ducky Pearce, manager Frank Bancroft, Larry McLean, Dick Hoblitzell, Mike Mitchell and (seated, left to right) Bob Spade, Billy Campbell, Jean Dubuc, Rudy Hulswitt and Hans Lobert.

According to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961, the Reds lost four of five games against Almendares with the Blues winning 1-0, 2-1, 4-2 and 3-0 as Cuba's Jose Mendez recorded 25 consecutive scoreless innings in three appearances and picked up a pair of victories.

Cincinnati fared much better against Habana, winning four of five games.