1959 Caribbean Series

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The XI edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1959. It was held from February 10 through February 15 with the champions teams from Cuba (Almendares), Panama (Coclé), Puerto Rico (Santurce) and Venezuela (Oriente). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at UCV Stadium in Caracas, Venezuela, which boosted capacity to 35.000 seats, and the first pitch was thrown by Edgar Sanabria, by then the President of Venezuela.

[edit] Summary

Cuba won the Series with a 5-1 record in route for a fourth straight championship. The Almendares club won for the second time guided by manager Sungo Carrera and led by 1B Rocky Nelson (.320 BA, six RBI), LF Carlos Paula (.462), 2B Tony Taylor (.346, .462 SLG) and RF Sandy Amorós (.333). The pitching staff included starters Camilo Pascual (2-0, 16 strikeouts, 1.50 ERA, 18 innings), Orlando Peña (1-1, 17⅔ innings) Art Fowler (1-0, 1.00, nine innings) and reliever Mike Cuellar (1-0, 0.00). Other players for Cuba included pitchers Tommy Lasorda, Cholly Naranjo and Carlos Pascual in adittion to Bob Allison (OF), Jim Baxes (3B), Dick Brown (C) and Willy Miranda (SS).

Venezuela, with a low-profile team, came in on a honourable second place after going 4-2. Managed by Kerby Farrell, the offensive was anchored by RF/1B and Series MVP Norman Cash, who finished with a .360 BA (9-for-25), 11 RBI and a .680 SLG. Oriente also received a considerable support from 3B Luis García and LF Jesús Mora, who tied for first place in the batting race with a .417 average (10-for-24). García added five runs, three runs and slugged .625, while Mora collected four runs and a .583 SLG. Werner Birrer was the top pitcher with a 2-0 record, including a 13-inning victory, a 1.25 ERA and 18 SO in 21⅔ innings. He also set a Series record with 13 innings pitched in a single game (#2), while Cash set a new mark with six RBI in a single game (#8). Other players included Elio Chacón (SS), Jim Owens (P), Ramón Monzant (P) and Jerry Snyder (2B).

Puerto Rico, managed by Ramón Concepción, disappointed with a 3-3 mark to finish in third place. C Valmy Thomas (.381) and 1B Orlando Cepeda (.333) led the attack, while Marion Fricano and Julio Navarro each pitched 1–0 shutouts. Santurce also featured Luis Arroyo (P), Joe Black (P), Jackie Brandt (CF), Orlando Cepeda (1B), Rubén Gómez (P), Victor Pellot Power (2B), José Pagán (3B), José Santiago (P) and Pete Wojey (P).

Panama finished in last place with a 6-0 record, to become the first winless team in Series history. The Coclé club was managed by Lester Peden and received a solitary effort from RF Ken Hunt, who hit .304 with five RBI, home run, triple and a .609 SLG. Other players included P Bud Black, IF Owen Friend, SS Pumpsie Green, OF Gail Henley and IF/OF Joe Tuminelli, among others.

Final standings
	Club	W	L	W/L %	GB
	Cuba	5	1	.833	–
	Venezuela	4	2	.667	1.0
	Puerto Rico	3	3	.500	2.0
	Panama	0	6	.000	5.0

[edit] Scoreboards

[edit] Game 1, February 10

WP: Rubén Gómez (1-0)  LP: Orlando Peña (0-1)  

[edit] Game 2, February 10

WP: Werner Birrer (1-0)  LP: Stanley Arthur Wall (0-1)  

[edit] Game 3, February 11

WP: Camilo Pascual (1-0)  LP: Bud Black (0-1)  

[edit] Game 4, February 11

WP: Marcelino Sánchez (1-0)  LP: Pete Wojey (0-1)  
HRs:  PRI – Orlando Cepeda (1)  VEN – Norman Cash 2 (2)

[edit] Game 5, February 12

WP: Marion Fricano (1-0)  LP: Alberto Osorio (0-1)  

[edit] Game 6, February 12

WP: Art Fowler (1-0)  LP: Ramón Monzant (0-1)  
HRs:  CUB – Tony Taylor (1)

[edit] Game 7, February 13

WP: Orlando Peña (1-0)  LP: Lloyd Merritt (0-1)  

[edit] Game 8, February 13

WP: Dave Hoskins (1-0)  LP: Richard Donnelly (0-1)  
HRs:  PAN – Ken Hunt (1)

[edit] Game 9, February 14

WP: Mike Cuellar (1-0)  LP: Pete Meza (0-1)  

[edit] Game 10, February 14

WP: Werner Birrer (2-0)  LP: Rubén Gómez (1-1)  

[edit] Game 11, February 15

WP: Camilo Pascual (2-0)  LP: Jim Owens (0-1)  

[edit] Game 12, February 15

WP: Julio Navarro (1-0)  LP: Bud Black (0-2)  

[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)