Limonar Martinez tossed no-hitter for Marianao, starred with Havana Cubans

Nov. 5: On this day in 1918, Cuban League star Rogelio "Limonar" Martinez was born in Cidra, Matanzas, Cuba.

Martinez, who pitched for Almendares, Matanzas, Santiago, Alacranes, Marianao and Habana during eight Cuban winters between 1945-53, threw a no-hitter for Marianao during the 1949-50 Cuban League season.

Shown in this 1949-50 Alerta premium that's posted on Doug Goodman's Flickr photostream, Martinez only played one major-league season -- 1950 for the Washington Senators -- but he was a star for the minor-league Havana Cubans, compiling a 38-17 record with a 1.83 ERA in three seasons from 1947-50.

Limonar Martinez's no-hitter was the 7th in Cuban League history

Feb. 6: On this day in 1950, Rogelio “Limonar” Martinez threw the seventh no-hitter in Cuban League history.

According to Smoke: The Romance and Lore of Cuban Baseball, Martinez and Marianao blanked Almendares 3-0.

It was the first no-hitter at El Gran Stadium, according to Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961.

Martinez retired the first 21 batters he faced, losing his bid for a perfect game when he hit Roberto Ortiz with a pitch to lead off the eighth inning.

Martinez received $1,000 check from Bohemia magazine for his feat.

Cuban no-hit hurler, 'Limonar' Martinez dies at age 91

The author of the first no-hitter thrown at El Gran Stadium de la Habana has died.

Rogelio "Limonar" Martinez died Monday after a fall at his home in Connecticut. He was 91. Here's the Spanish-language story that ran in Miami's El Nuevo Herald.

A star of Cuba's amateur ranks, Martinez pitched for Almendares, Matanzas, Marianao (left) and Habana in the professional Cuban League.

With Marianao, Martinez threw a no-hitter against Almendares on Feb. 15, 1950. According to Jorge Figueredo's Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878-1961, Martinez retired the first 21 batters he faced, but he lost the perfect game when he hit Roberto Ortiz with a pitch to open the eighth inning.

For the accomplishment, Bohemia magazine gave Martinez a $1,500 check.

Aside from the amateur ranks, Martinez's greatest success came with the Florida International Leagues' Havana Cubans, with whom he went 9-4 with a 1.90 ERA (1957), 19-9 with a 1.86 ERA (1949) and 10-4 with a 1.72 ERA (1950).

He also pitched one season with the Washington Senators in 1950.