1956 Caribbean Series

The VIII edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1956. It was held from February 10 through February 15 with the champions teams from Cuba (Cienfuegos), Panama (Chesterfield), Puerto Rico (Caguas) and Venezuela (Valencia). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played in Panama City, Panama.

Contents

Summary

In this edition, Cienfuegos won the first of five consecutive Series titles for the Cuban team. Cienfuegos was managed by Oscar Rodríguez and finished with a 5-1 record. The pitching staff was guided by Camilo Pascual (2-0, 11 strikeouts, 2.50 ERA), Pedro Ramos (2-0, 1.59 ERA) and René Gutiérrez (1-0, 0.00 ERA in 9⅓ innings). The offensive was clearly led by catcher and Series MVP Ray Noble (.400 BA, one home run, .654 OBP and 1B Bob Boyd (.304 BA, one HR, 11 RBI, .522 SLG). The other notable offensive players were 2B Curt Roberts (.375, one HR, six runs, .542 SLG), Chico Fernández (.269, 10 runs, one HR) and 3B Milt Smith (two HR, .522 SLG). Other roster members included CF Archie Wilson and pitchers Sandalio Consuegra, Seth Morehead and Gene Bearden.

Panama, with Standford Graham at the helm, posted a 3-3 record to tie Puerto Rico for the second place. Pitchers Don Elston, Russ Grimsley and Wally Burnette got the victories and 1B Elías Osorio (.286, 3 HR, .762 SLG) led the offense. Puerto Rico was managed by Ben Ceragrhy and got wins from Taylor Philips, Roberto Vargas and Federico Olivo, while 1B Lou Limmer (.350, three HR, six runs, eighth RBI) provided the offensive punch.

Venezuela was managed by Regino Otero and finished in last place with a 1-5 mark. The team was outscored by their opponents 47-14. A bright spot was provided by pitchers Turk Farrell and Jim Pearce. Farrell recorded the lone win against Puerto Rico in one-run, one hit effort, while Pearce took a 11-inning, 2-1 loss to Panama, striking out nine batters without giving a walk. Valencia also featured C Ed Bailey, 1B Tommy Brown and CF Elio Chacón, among others.

Final standings
Club W L W/L % GB
Cuba 5 1 .833   –
Panama 3 3 .500 2.0
Puerto Rico 3 3 .500 2.0
Venezuela 1 5 .167 4.0
Individual leaders
Player/Club Statistic
Lou Limmer / PRI Batting average .400
Lou Limmer / PRI
Elías Osorio / PAN
Home runs     3
Bob Boyd / CUB RBI   11
Chico Fernández / CUB Runs   10
Curt Roberts / CUB Stolen bases     2
Camilo Pascual / CUB
Pedro Ramos / CUB
Wins     2
Camilo Pascual / CUB Strikeouts   12
René Gutiérrez / CUB ERA 0.00
Turk Farrell / VEN
Camilo Pascual / CUB
Innings pitched   18
Awards
Ray Noble / CUB Most Valuable Player
Oscar Rodríguez Manager
All-Star Team
Name/Club Position
Ray Noble / CUB catcher
Lou Limmer / PRI first baseman
Curt Roberts / CUB second baseman
Victor Pellot / PRI third baseman
Chico Fernández / CUB shortstop
Ramón Maldonado / PRI left fielder
Bill Stewart / PAN center fielder
Bobby Prescott / PAN right fielder
Camilo Pascual / CUB
Russ Grimsley / PAN
pitchers
Oscar Rodríguez / CUB manager

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 10

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Puerto Rico 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 0 X 6 9 1
WP: Turk Farrell (1-0)   LP: Paul Stuffel (0-1)
Home runs:
PRI: Ramón Maldonado (1)
VEN: Ed Bailey (1)

Game 2, February 10

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cuba 0 0 0 6 2 2 1 0 2 13 16 1
Panama 0 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 0   5   6 2
WP: Camilo Pascual (1-0)   LP: Russ Grimsley (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Milt Smith (1)
PAN: None

Game 3, February 11

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Venezuela 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 5   9 2
Cuba 2 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 X 9 13 2
WP: Pedro Ramos (1-0)   LP: Emilio Cueche (0-1)

Game 4, February 11

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Panama 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 7 2
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 X 5 8 1
WP: Federico Olivo (1-0)   LP: Wally Burnette (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Elías Osorio (1)
PRI: Lou Limmer (1)

Game 5, February 12

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cuba 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 4   7 1
Puerto Rico 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 4 X 7 11 0
WP: William Taylor Phillips (1-0)   LP: Sandalio Consuegra (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: None
PRI: Victor Pellot (1), Ramón Maldonado (2), Lou Limmer (2)

Game 6, February 12

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 R H E
Panama 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 7 1
Venezuela 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 7 0
WP: Don Elston (1-0)   LP: Jim Pearce (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: Héctor López (1), Bill Stewart (1)
VEN: None

Game 7, February 13

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0   2   6 0
Puerto Rico 3 1 2 1 0 3 0 0 X 10 14 0
WP: Roberto Vargas (1-0)   LP: Ron Mrozinski (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PRI: Chuck Harmon (1), Daryl Spencer (1)

Game 8, February 13

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Panama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1
Cuba 0 0 1 0 0 4 0 1 X 6 8 1
WP: René Gutiérrez (1-0)   LP: Humberto Robinson (0-1)
Home runs:
PAN: None
CUB: Archie Wilson (1), Milt Smith (2)

Game 9, February 14

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Cuba 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 4 7 7 0
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 2
WP: Camilo Pascual (2-0)   LP: Turk Farrell (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Ossie Alvarez (1), Bob Boyd (1)
VEN: None

Game 10, February 14

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Puerto Rico 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2   5   9 5
Panama 2 2 5 3 0 1 0 0 X 13 16 3
WP: Russ Grimsley (1-1)   LP: Federico Olivo (1-1)

Game 11, February 15

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Puerto Rico 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 7 1
Cuba 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 X 4 5 1
WP: Pedro Ramos (2-0)   LP: Paul Stuffel (0-2)
Home runs:
PRI: Lou Limmer (3)
CUB: Chico Fernández (1)

Game 12, February 15

Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Venezuela 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0   4 1
Panama 4 5 1 0 0 3 4 1 X 18 16 2
WP: Wally Burnette (1-1)   LP: Ron Mrozinski (0-2)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PAN: Elías Osorio 2 (3), Clyde Parris (1), Héctor López (2), Denny Schell (1)

 

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.

External links