1957 Caribbean Series

The IX edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1957. It was held from February 9 through February 14 with the champions teams from 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.

Contents 1 Summary 1.1 Scoreboards 1.1.1 Game 1, February 9 1.1.2 Game 2, February 9 1.1.3 Game 3, February 10 1.1.4 Game 4, February 10 1.1.5 Game 5, February 11 1.1.6 Game 6, February 11 1.1.7 Game 7, February 12 1.1.8 Game 8, February 12 1.1.9 Game 9, February 13 1.1.10 Game 10, February 13 1.1.11 Game 11, February 14 1.1.12 Game 12, February 14 2 See also 3 Sources 4 External links

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 5⅔ 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 Harold Bevan and Julio Bécquer.

Panama, with Standford Graham at the helm, 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 Puerto Rican 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 Luis (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 and pitchers Herb Plews and Pete Wojey, among others.

Venezuela, guided by Clay Bryant, included C John Roseboro (.376 BA, .556 SLG), 2B Pompeyo Davalillo (.381, three SB, four runs) and SS Chico Carrasquel (.292, HR, .458 SLG). Caracas pitchers Werner (Babe) Birrer (1-1, 2.60) and Julián Ladera (1-0, 2.25) got the wins.

---

Final standings
	Club	W	L	W/L %	GB
	Cuba	5	1	.833	–
	Panama	3	3	.500	2.0
	Puerto Rico	2	4	.333	3.0
	Venezuela	2	4	.333	3.0

Individual leaders
Player/Club	Statistic
Solly Drake/CUB	Batting average	.500
Luis Márquez/PRI	Home runs	2
Minnie Miñoso/CUB Hal Smith/CUB	RBI	7
Solly Drake/CUB	Runs	9
Solly Drake/CUB	Hits	11
John Roseboro/VEN	Doubles	2
Five tied	Triples	1
Solly Drake/CUB	Stolen bases	4
Winston Brown/PAN Jim Bunning/CUB	Wins	2
George Brunet/PAN	Strikeouts	17
Winston Brown/PAN	ERA	0.50
Winston Brown/PAN	Innings pitched	18
Awards
Solly Drake/CUB	Most Valuable Player
Napoleón Reyes/CUB	Manager

All-Star Team
Name/Club	Position
Hal Smith/CUB	catcher
Bob Speake/PRI	first baseman
Pompeyo Davalillo/VEN	second baseman
Clyde Parris/PAN	third baseman
José Valdivieso/CUB	shortstop
Minnie Miñoso/CUB	left fielder
Solly Drake/CUB	center fielder
Luis Márquez/PRI	right fielder
Winston Brown/PAN Jim Bunning/CUB	pitchers
Napoleón Reyes/CUB	manager

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 9

Team	1	2	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	7	2
Venezuela	2	3	1	0	0	0	3	X	10	14	3
WP: Babe Birrer (1-0)   LP: Bob Smith (0-1) Home runs: PRI: Luis Márquez (1) VEN: John Roseboro (1)

Game 2, February 9

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	7	1
Cuba	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	1	X	4	6	0
WP: Jim Bunning (1-0)   LP: Ronald Scheetz (0-1) Home runs: PAN: John Gleen (1) CUB: None

Game 3, February 10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	2	0	7	11	1
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	6
WP: Pete Wojey (1-0)   LP: George Brunet (0-1) Home runs: PRI: Pete Wojey (1) PAN: None

Game 4, February 10

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	2	0	2	0	0	0	3	0	0	7	12	0
Venezuela	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	1
WP: Mike Fornieles (1-0)   LP: Bob Blaylock (0-1) Home runs: CUB: None VEN: Chico Carrasquel (1)

Game 5, February 11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	6	3
Panama	1	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	X	2	4	0
WP: Winston Brown (1-0)   LP: Emilio Cueche (0-1)

Game 6, February 11

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	2	1	6	16	1
Cuba	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	2
WP: José Santiago (1-0)   LP: Bill Werle (0-1) Home runs: PRI: Luis Márquez (2) CUB: None

Game 7, February 12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	2	0	1	3	0	0	1	0	7	9	1
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	3	6	2
WP: Julián Ladera (1-0)   LP: Duke Maas (0-1) Home runs: VEN: None PRI: Bob Speake (1)

Game 8, February 12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	3	0
Panama	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	1
WP: Jim Bunning (2-0)   LP: Ronald Scheetz (0-2)

Game 9, February 13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	3	0	5	10	1
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	2
WP: George Brunet (1-1)   LP: Bob Smith (0-2)

Game 10, February 13

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	0	0	4	10	4
Cuba	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	5	10	0
WP: Vicente López (1-0)   LP: Babe Birrer (1-1) Home runs: VEN: Bob Wilson (1) CUB: None

Game 11, February 14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Panama	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	12	1
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3
WP: Winston Brown (2-0)   LP: John Jancse (0-1)

Game 12, February 14

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	1	0	3	1	1	1	0	0	1	8	11	1
Puerto Rico	1	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	11	3
WP: Bill Werle (1-1)   LP: Pete Wojey (1-1) Home runs: CUB: Julio Bécquer (1) PRI: None

---

 

See also

• Ballplayers who have played in the Series

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

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

   

Caribbean Series 1949 • 1950 • 1951 • 1952 • 1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972 • 1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992 • 1993 • 1994 • 1995 • 1996 • 1997 • 1998 • 1999 • 2000 • 2001 • 2002 • 2003 • 2004 • 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 1961 to 1969 - The Series was not held during these years following the dissolution of Cuba's professional league. 1981 - The Series was not held due to a Venezuelan player's strike.