1954 Caribbean Series

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The VI edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1954. It was held from February 18 through February 23 with the champions teams from Cuba (Almendares) Panama (Carta Vieja) Puerto Rico (Caguas) and Venezuela (Pastora). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Sixto Escobar stadium in San Juan, P.R..

[edit] Summary

Puerto Rico won the Series with a 4-2 record in route for a second straight championship (third overall). The Caguas club was managed by Mickey Owen and led by center fielder and Series MVP Jim Rivera, who posted a .400 batting average to lead the hitters. Caguas also received offensive support from 1B Víctor Pellot Power (.348) and 2B Jack Cassini (.333). Meanwhile, the pitching staff surrendered only 10 earned runs (2.00 ERA), being lead by starters Corky Valentine (1-0, 1.00 ERA, five hits), Brooks Lawrence (1-0, 1.00, six hits) and Rubén Gómez (1-0, 2.00, five hits), while reliever Luis Arroyo added depth coming out of the bullpen (three appearances, 1-0, 0.00, 7⅓ innings). Puerto Rico also had Jack Sanford (P) in addition to Félix Mantilla (SS), Charlie Neal (IF) and Luis (Canena) Márquez.

Cuba, piloted by Bobby Bragan, had a 3-3 record to tie the second place with Panama. The Cuban squad got fine work of P Conrado Marrero (1-0, five-hit shutout), CF Sam Chapman (.391, homeruun, .609 SLG) and RF Angel Scull (.391, .522 SLG). Other roster members included Julio Bécquer (1B), Joe Hatten (P), Cholly Naranjo (P) and Héctor Rodríguez (3B).

Panama was managed by Al Kubski and received a heroic pitching effort by starter Victor Stryska (2-0), who allowed just one earned run in 18 innings of work. The attack was guided by 3B Joe Tuminelli (.391) and LF Bobby Prescott (.381), in an anemic lineup who batted a collective .255 average and scored 17 runs (fewest in the Series).

Venezuela was guided by Napoleón Reyes and finished in last place with a 2-4 record. Ramón Monzant (1-0, 3.00) and Ralph Beard (1-0, 7.20) got the victories, while Howie Fox collected a 2.58 ERA in two appearances but lose a decision. Bad luck starter Thornton Kipper dropped two decisions, losing his duels against Gómez (PR) and Stryska (PAN), while allowing four earned runs (2.12) in 17 innings. 3B Luis García provided the lone offensive threat with a .348 BA and a .563 SLG, including nine RBI to lead the Series hitters. Venezuela included Ed Bailey (C), Vernon Benson (SS), Tommy Byrne (P/1B), Wally Moon (CF), Johnny Temple and rookie Luis Aparicio (SS), among others.

Final standings
	Club	W	L	W/L %	GB
	Puerto Rico	4	2	.667	–
	Cuba	3	3	.500	1.0
	Panama	3	3	.500	1.0
	Venezuela	2	4	.333	2.0

[edit] Scoreboards

[edit] Game 1, February 18

WP: Ralph Beard (1-0)  LP: Jim Walsh (0-1)  SV: Howie Fox (1)  
HRs:  CUB – Joe Hatten (1)
* Game was called after eight innings due to time limit.

[edit] Game 2, February 18

WP: Victor Stryska (1-0)  LP: Jack Sanford (0-1)  

[edit] Game 3, February 19

WP: Conrado Marrero (1-0)  LP: Humberto Robinson (0-1)  
HRs:  CUB – Ray Orteig 2 (2)

[edit] Game 4, February 19

WP: Rubén Gómez (1-0)  LP: Thornton Kipper (0-1)  
HRs:  VEN – Luis García (1)
* Future Hall of Famer SS Luis Aparicio debuted in the Series.

[edit] Game 5, February 20

WP: Ramón Monzant (1-0)  LP: Cookie Stemple (0-1)  
HRs:  VEN – Billy Quenn (1)

[edit] Game 6, February 20

WP: Brooks Lawrence (1-0)  LP: Cliff Fannin (0-1)  
HRs:  PRI – Bill Howerton (1), Ranee Pless (1)  CUB – Sam Chapman (1)

[edit] Game 7, February 21

WP: Clarence Lott (1-0)  LP: Howie Fox (0-1)  
HRs:  VEN –
* Game was called after eight innings due to time limit.

[edit] Game 8, February 21

WP: Luis Arroyo (1-0)  LP: Humberto Robinson (0-2)  
HRs:  PAN – Ray Dabek (1)

[edit] Game 9, February 22

WP: Bill Hockenbury (1-0)  LP: Bob Muncrief (0-1)  

[edit] Game 10, February 22

WP: Corky Valentine (1-0)  LP: Ralph Beard (1-1)  

[edit] Game 11, February 23

WP: Victor Stryska (2-0)  LP: Thornton Kipper (0-2)  

[edit] Game 12, February 23

WP: Jim Walsh (1-1)  LP: Chi-Chi Olivo (0-1)  

[edit] See also

• Ballplayers who have played in the Series

[edit] 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.

[edit] External links

• Official site
• BR Bullpen
• Latino Baseball
• Series del Caribe, Las (Spanish)