1957 Caribbean Series

The ninth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1957. It was held from February 9 through February 14, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Tigres de Marianao; Panama, Cerveza Balboa; Puerto Rico, Indios de Mayagüez, and Venezuela, Leones del Caracas. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio del Cerro in Havana, the Cuban capital. The first pitch was thrown by Ford Frick, by then the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Summary

The Cuban team was managed by Napoleón Reyes and finished with a 5–1 mark, with their only loss coming to Puerto Rico. Marianao offensive was clearly guided by Series MVP outfielder Solly Drake, who won the batting title with a .500 batting average and also led in runs (9), hits (11) and stolen bases (4). Supporting him were fellow OF Minnie Miñoso (.391, seven RBI, five runs) and catcher Hal Smith (.273, seven RBI). Pitcher Jim Bunning got two wins with a 0.61 ERA, including a seven-hit, one-run game and 5 23 scoreless innings of relief. Behind him were Mike Fornieles (1–0, 3.00), Bill Werle (1–1, 3.94) and Conrado Marrero (0–0, 2.70). Also in the roster were reliever Enrique Maroto and infielders Julio Bécquer, Harold Bevan and José Valdivielso.

Panama, managed by catcher León Kellman, posted a 3–3 record for a surprising second-place finish. Balboa most prominent player was Winston Brown, who pitched a six-hit, one run complete game and a four-hit shutout, in both cases against Venezuela. Another gem game from George Brunet (1–1, 17 SO, 1.76 ERA), who pitched the first shutout for a Panamanian team in Series history, and also hit one of the club's two homers. 1B Harold Gordon led the attack with a .412 BA. Other roster members included 2B Héctor López and P Dutch Romberger.

Puerto Rico tied with Venezuela for third place with a 2–4 mark. The Mayagüez team was piloted by Mickey Owen, while RF Canena Márquez provided the support attack (375, three HR, five runs, .792 SLG). The other major contributors were 1B Bob Speake (.391, one HR, five RBI, .652 SLG) and P José Santiago, who handed Marianao their only lost, throwing a three-hit shutout. Puerto Rico also featured 2B Bob Aspromonte, OF Bob Smith, and pitchers Herb Plews and Pete Wojey, among others.

Venezuela, guided by Clay Bryant, included C John Roseboro (.376 BA, .556 SLG); IFs Rudy Regalado (.292 BA), Pompeyo Davalillo (.381, three SB, four runs), Chico Carrasquel (.292, HR, .458 SLG) and Luis García (2-for-13, 2B, RBI), as well as OFs Tom Burgess (4-for-24) and Bob Wilson (4-for-22). Caracas pitchers Babe Birrer (1–1, 2.60) and Julián Ladera (1–0, 2.25) collected the only wins for the team in complete-game efforts. Emilio Cueche took a complete-game loss after giving up two unearned runs in Game 5, and later hurled two scoreless innings of relief for a perfect 0.00 ERA, the best for the Series.

Final standings

CountryClubWLW/L %Managers
 CubaTigres de Marianao51  .833  Napoleón Reyes
  PanamaCerveza Balboa33  .500  León Kellman
  Puerto RicoIndios de Mayagüez24  .333  Mickey Owen
 VenezuelaLeones del Caracas24  .333  Clay Bryant


Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Solly Drake/CUBBatting average.500
Luis Márquez/PRIHome runs    2
Minnie Miñoso/CUB
Hal Smith/CUB
RBI    7
Solly Drake/CUBRuns    9
Solly Drake/CUBHits  11
John Roseboro/VENDoubles    2
Five tiedTriples    1
Solly Drake/CUBStolen bases    4
Winston Brown/PAN
Jim Bunning/CUB
Wins    2
George Brunet/PANStrikeouts  17
Emilio Cueche/VENERA0.00
Winston Brown/PANInnings pitched  18
Awards
Solly Drake/CUBMost Valuable Player
Napoleón Reyes/CUBManager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Hal Smith/CUBcatcher
Bob Speake/PRIfirst baseman
Pompeyo Davalillo/VENsecond baseman
Clyde Parris/PANthird baseman
José Valdivielso/CUBshortstop
Minnie Miñoso/CUBleft fielder
Solly Drake/CUBcenter fielder
Luis Márquez/PRIright fielder
Winston Brown/PAN
Jim Bunning/CUB
pitchers
Napoleón Reyes/CUBmanager

Game 1, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico02000001  3  72
Venezuela23110003X10143
WP: Babe Birrer (1-0)   LP: Bob Smith (0-1)
Home runs:
PRI: Luis Márquez (1)
VEN: John Roseboro (1)

Game 2, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Panama000001000171
Cuba00030001X460
WP: Jim Bunning (1-0)   LP: Ronald Scheetz (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: John Gleen (1)
CUB: None

Game 3, February 10

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0010004207111
Panama0000000101  26
WP: Pete Wojey (1-0)   LP: George Brunet (0-1)
Home runs:
PRI: Pete Wojey (1)
PAN: None

Game 4, February 10

Team123456789RHE
Cuba2020003007120
Venezuela1000000001  31
WP: Mike Fornieles (1-0)   LP: Bob Blaylock (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: None
VEN: Chico Carrasquel (1)

Game 5, February 11

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela000000100163
Panama10010000X240
WP: Winston Brown (1-0)   LP: Emilio Cueche (0-1)

Game 6, February 11

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0200010216161
Cuba0000000000  32
WP: José Santiago (1-0)   LP: Bill Werle (0-1)
Home runs:
PRI: Luis Márquez (2)
CUB: None

Game 7, February 12

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela020130010791
Puerto Rico000100002362
WP: Julián Ladera (1-0)   LP: Duke Maas (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PRI: Bob Speake (1)

Game 8, February 12

Team123456789RHE
Cuba200000010330
Panama000100000161
WP: Jim Bunning (2-0)   LP: Ronald Scheetz (0-2)

Game 9, February 13

Team123456789RHE
Panama0000011305101
Puerto Rico0000000000  42
WP: George Brunet (1-1)   LP: Bob Smith (0-2)

Game 10, February 13

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0110002004104
Cuba0020000035100
WP: Vicente López (1-0)   LP: Babe Birrer (1-1)
Home runs:
VEN: Bob Wilson (1)
CUB: None

Game 11, February 14

Team123456789RHE
Panama1020000004121
Venezuela000000000033
WP: Winston Brown (2-0)   LP: John Jancse (0-1)

Game 12, February 14

Team123456789RHE
Cuba1031110018111
Puerto Rico1010001003113
WP: Bill Werle (1-1)   LP: Pete Wojey (1-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Julio Bécquer (1)
PRI: None

 

See also

Sources

  • Antero Núñez, José. Series del Caribe. Jefferson, Caracas, Venezuela: Impresos Urbina, C.A., 1987.
  • Gutiérrez, Daniel. Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela – 1895-2006 . Caracas, Venezuela: Impresión Arte, C.A., 2007.

   

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.