1958 Caribbean Series
The tenth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1958. It was held from February 8 through February 13 with the champions teams from Cuba, Tigres de Marianao; Panama, Carta Vieja Yankees; Puerto Rico, Criollos de Caguas and Venezuela, Industriales de Valencia. 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.).
Summary
Cuba won the Series with a 4-2 record en route for a third straight championship (fifth overall). Managed by Napoleón Reyes, the team received offensive support from 2B Casey Wise (.407 BA), CF Solly Drake (.333) and LF Minnie Miñoso (.318). The pitching staff was led by Pedro Ramos (2-1, 18 strikeouts) and Bob Shaw (1-0, 1.69 ERA and no walks in 16 innings). The Cubans, who failed to hit a home run in the Series, also had 1B Julio Bécquer and C Ray Noble in addition to pitchers Mike Fornieles and Bill Werle. The Marianao club became the first repeat champions in the Series history.
Panama, led by catcher/manager Wilmer Shantz, posted a 3-3 record to tie the second place with Puerto Rico. The Panamanian squad got fine work of pitchers Humberto Robinson (2-0, 1.00 ERA, including a four-hit shutout) and Carl Duser (1-0, 3.00), while 3B Héctor López hit .474 with a .609 SLG.
Puerto Rico was guided by Ted Norbert and received a strong pitching performance from Juan Pizarro (1-0, 2.76 16⅓ innings), who set two strikeout records with 17 in a game (#2) and 29 overall (12 in game 10). The Caguas attack was guided by 1B Víctor Pellot Power (.458 BA, eight RBI, .583 SLG) and CF Roberto Clemente (.391, six runs, .609 SLG), while P Jerry Nelson (1-1, 0.00 ERA) allowed three unearned runs over 18 innings. Other roster members included Mike Goliat (2B), Luis [Canena] Márquez (OF), Félix Mantilla (SS), José [Pantalones] Santiago (P) and Valmy Thomas (C).
Venezuela, piloted by Regino Otero, finished in last place with a 2-4 record. The offensive was anchored by catcher and Series MVP Earl Battey (.435 BA, four RBI, .739 SLG), 1B Lou Limmer (.381, two HR, five RBI, .762 SLG) and RF Bob Wilson, who won the batting title with a .500 BA (12-for-24) while collecting one home run, five runs, four RBI and a .708 SLG. For the second time, Limmer led the tournament in home runs. Pitchers Ramón Monzant (1-1, 3.95) and José Bracho (1-2, 4.37) got the victories for Valencia. OF Elio Chacón (.217, four runs, 3B, one RBI) and SS Chico Carrasquel (.240, four runs, two RBI) also homered in the Series. Besides, Julián Ladera made two relief appearances and struck out 10 batters in 10⅔ innings of work.
Final Standings
| Final standings | |||||
| Club | W | L | W/L % | GB | |
 |
Cuba | 4 | 2 | .667 | – |
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Puerto Rico | 3 | 3 | .500 | 1.0 |
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Panama | 3 | 3 | .500 | 1.0 |
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Venezuela | 2 | 4 | .333 | 2.0 |
Scoreboards
Game 1, February 8
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Mike Fornieles (1-0) LP: Emilio Cueche (0-1) Home runs: CUB: None VEN: Elio Chacón (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 2, February 8
| 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 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Puerto Rico | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 8 | 16 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Juan Pizarro (1-0) LP: Jerry Davie (0-1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 3, February 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Humberto Robinson (1-0) LP: Pedro Ramos (0-1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 4, February 9
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Jerry Nelson (1-0) LP: Ramón Monzant (0-1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 5, February 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Venezuela | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 10 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: José Bracho (1-0) LP: Dave Benedict (0-1) Home runs: PAN: None VEN: Bob Wilson (1), Earl Battey (1), Chico Carrasquel (1) Notes: Bracho pitched a complete game and set an all-time Series record with his sixth win in the tournament. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 6, February 10
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cuba | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Pedro Ramos (1-0) LP: Marion Fricano (0-1) Home runs: PRI: Roberto Clemente (1) CUB: * The game was suspended after a brawl occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning with no outs, one run scored and bases loaded. The game would be completed the next day. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 7, February 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 13 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cuba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Ramón Monzant (1-1) LP: Mike Fornieles (1-1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 8, February 11
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Panama | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | X | 11 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Carl Duser (1-0) LP: Marion Fricano (0-2) Home runs: PRI: None PAN: Ray Dabek (1) * After completion of Game 6, Fricano became the first and only pitcher in Series history to collect two losses in the same day. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 9, February 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panama | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Cuba | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | X | 15 | 17 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Pedro Ramos (2-1) LP: Jim Umbricht (0-1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 10, February 12
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 13 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: José Santiago (1-0) LP: José Bracho (1-1) Home runs: : Lou Limmer (1) PRI: None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 11, February 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venezuela | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Panama | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | X | 5 | 11 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Humberto Robinson (2-0) LP: José Bracho (1-2) Home runs: : Lou Limmer (2) PAN: None | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Game 12, February 13
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuba | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Puerto Rico | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP: Bob Shaw (1-0) LP: Jerry Nelson (1-1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statistics
| Individual leaders | |||||
| Player/Club | Statistic | ||||
| Bob Wilson / VEN | Batting average | .500 | |||
| Lou Limmer / VEN | Home runs | 2 | |||
| Víctor Pellot Power / PRI | RBI | 8 | |||
| Earl Battey / VEN Roberto Clemente PRI |
Runs | 6 | |||
| Bob Wilson / VEN | Hits | 12 | |||
| Earl Battey / VEN Víctor Pellot Power / PRI Valmy Thomas / PRI |
Doubles | 4 | |||
| Nine tied | Triples | 1 | |||
| Six tied | Stolen bases | 1 | |||
| Pedro Ramos / CUB Humberto Robinson / PAN |
Wins | 2 | |||
| Juan Pizarro / PRI | Strikeouts | 29 | |||
| Jerry Nelson / PRI | ERA | 0.00 | |||
| Jerry Nelson / PRI Humberto Robinson / PAN |
Innings pitched | 18 | |||
| Awards | |||||
| Earl Battey / VEN | Most Valuable Player | ||||
| Napoleón Reyes / CUB | Manager | ||||
| All-Star Team | |||||
| Name/Club | Position | ||||
| Earl Battey / VEN | catcher | ||||
| Víctor Pellot Power / PRI | first baseman | ||||
| Casey Wise / CUB | second baseman | ||||
| Héctor López / PAN | third baseman | ||||
| Chico Carrasquel / VEN | shortstop | ||||
| Minnie Miñoso / CUB | left fielder | ||||
| Roberto Clemente PRI | center fielder | ||||
| Bob Wilson / VEN | right fielder | ||||
| Humberto Robinson / PAN | pitcher | ||||
| Napoleón Reyes / CUB | manager | ||||
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