1952 Caribbean Series

1952 Caribbean Series

Tournament details
Country	Panama
City	Panama City
Venue(s)	1 (in 1 host city)
Dates	20–26 February
Teams	4
Final positions
Champions	Leones del Habana (1st title)
Runner-up	Carta Vieja Yankees
Tournament statistics
MVP	Tommy Fine

The fourth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1952. It was held from February 20 through February 26, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones del Habana; Panama, Carta Vieja Yankees; Puerto Rico, Senadores de San Juan and Venezuela, Cervecería Caracas. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Panama City. The first pitch was thrown by Alcibíades Arosemena, by then the President of Panama.

Summary

Cuba became the first country to win two Caribbean Series championships with an undefeated record of 5–0. The Cuban team, with manager/catcher Mike González at the helm, won the Series behind a strong pitching effort by Tommy Fine, who posted a 2–0 record with a 1.50 ERA in two complete-games and won Most Valuable Player honors. After a 3–3 tie against Puerto Rico in the Series opener, he was called by the Cuban team as a late replacement for future Hall of Famer Hoyt Wilhelm. Fine posted the first no-hitter pitched in any Caribbean series game, to give his team a 1–0 win against Venezuela. Five days later, Fine faced Panama's club and was close to glory. He was three outs from consecutive no-hitters in the series, having allowed a single in the ninth inning to break it up. His 17 hitless streak also is the longest in series history. Outfielder Sandy Amorós led series hitters with a .450 batting average (9-for-20), including personal numbers with a .650 SLG, six runs, six RBI. Other contributions came from OF Fernando Pedroso (.400), catcher Andrés Fleitas (.304), and infielders Lou Klein (.333) and Spider Jorgensen, who hit two of the team's three home runs.

The clubs from Panama and Venezuela tied for second place with a 3–3 record. Panama was managed by Al Leap and included in the roster infielders Spook Jacobs, Joe Tuminelli and Jim Cronin, catcher León Kellman, and pitchers Connie Johnson and Marion Fricano.

The Venezuelan club, led by José Antonio Casanova, featured players as right fielder Wilmer Fields (.360, two HR, .720 SLG, 8 RBI), shortstop Chico Carrasquel and third baseman Luis García, as well as catcher/outfielder Guillermo Vento and pitchers José Bracho, Emilio Cueche, Bob Griffith, Johnny Hetki, Al Papai and Luis Zuloaga. In addition, center fielder Héctor Benítez and third baseman Buddy Hicks joined Fields in the All-Star team.

After a tied game with Cuba, Puerto Rico's team failed to win in their next five games. Managed by Fred Thon, their roster included outfielders Nino Escalera and Luis Rodríguez Olmo; pitchers Red Adams, Luis Arroyo, Art Ditmar and Pantalones Santiago, and OF/P Cot Deal.

Participating teams

Team	Manager
Carta Vieja Yankees	Al Leap
Cervecería Caracas	José Antonio Casanova
Leones del Habana	Mike González
Senadores de San Juan	Freddie Thon

Final standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	RF	RA	RD	PCT	GB
1	Leones del Habana	6	5	1	0	29	11	+18	.917	—
2	Carta Vieja Yankees (H)	6	3	0	3	20	21	−1	.500	2.5
3	Cervecería Caracas	6	3	0	3	13	18	−5	.500	2.5
4	Senadores de San Juan	6	0	1	5	13	25	−12	.083	5

Source: CBPC
(H) Hosts

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 20

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	1	0	0	3	0	6	0	3	5	1
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	3	7	2
WP: None   LP: TBD Home runs: CUB: Spider Jorgensen (1) PUR: Cot Deal (1)

Game 2, February 20

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	10	1
Panama	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	2
WP: Johnny Hetki (1-0)   LP: Dave Thomas (0-1) Home runs: VEN: None PAN: Jim Cronin (1)

Game 3, February 21

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cuba	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	x	1	4	2
WP: Tommy Fine (1-0)   LP: Al Papai (0-1) Notes: Fine posted the first no-hitter pitched in Series history, striking out four while walking three.

Game 4, February 21

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Panama	0	2	1	0	0	1	0	2	0	6	9	2
Puerto Rico	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	2
WP: Hisel Patrick (1-0)   LP: Red Adams (0-1) Home runs: PAN: Dale Lynch (1) PUR: None

Game 5, February 22

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	1	3	8	2
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
WP: José Bracho (1-0)   LP: Cot Deal (0-1)   Sv: Emilio Cueche (1) Notes: Bracho hurled 10 innings and went 2-for-2 with two walks.

Game 6, February 22

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Panama	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	3
Cuba	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	3	x	4	5	1
WP: Rogelio Martínez (1-0)   LP: Marion Fricano (0-1) Home runs: PAN: None CUB: Spider Jorgensen (2)

Game 7, February 23

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	4	2
Cuba	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	3	7	0
WP: Jackie Collum (1-0)   LP: Roberto Vargas (0-1) Home runs: PUR: Luis Rodríguez Olmo (1) CUB: Lou Klein (1)

Game 8, February 23

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Panama	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	4	8	0
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	8	1
WP: Alberto Osorio (1-0)   LP: Bill Samson (0-1) Home runs: PAN: Ed Knoublach (1) VEN: None

Game 9, February 24

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	1	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	5	7	8	1
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	5	4
WP: Bill Ayers (1-0)   LP: Johnny Hetki (1-1) Home runs: CUB: None VEN: Wilmer Fields (1)

Game 10, February 25

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	2	9	1
Panama	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	x	4	9	0
WP: Andrés Alonso (1-0)   LP: José Santiago (0-1)

Game 11, February 26

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	7	1
Venerzuela	2	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	x	6	11	2
WP: Al Papai (1-1)   LP: Red Adams (0-2) Home runs: PUR: None VEN: Wilmer Fields (2), Mo Mozzali (1)

Game 12, February 26

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	3	11	16	0
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	3	2
WP: Tommy Fine (2-0)   LP: Hisel Patrick (0-1) Notes: Fine had a no-hitter through eight innings, setting a Series record with 17 consecutive hitless innings pitched.

Statistics leaders

Statistic	Player	Team	Total
Batting average	Sandy Amorós	Leones del Habana	.450
Home runs	Wilmer Fields	Cervecería Caracas	2
	Spider Jorgensen	Leones del Habana
Runs batted in	Wilmer Fields	Cervecería Caracas	7
Runs	Stan Breard	Senadores de San Juan	8
Hits	Sandy Amorós	Leones del Habana	9
	Wilmer Fields	Cervecería Caracas
	Spook Jacobs	Carta Vieja Yankees
Doubles	Sandy Amorós	Leones del Habana	4
Triples	John Kropf	Carta Vieja Yankees	1
	Alberto Osorio	Carta Vieja Yankees
Stolen bases	Jerry Lynch	Carta Vieja Yankees	2
Wins	Tommy Fine	Leones del Habana	2
Earned run average	Tommy Fine	Leones del Habana	0.00
Complete games	Tommy Fine	Leones del Habana	2
	Johnny Hetki	Cervecería Caracas
Strikeouts	Johnny Hetki	Cervecería Caracas	9
Walks	Cot Deal	Senadores de San Juan	9

Awards

Tournament Awards[1] Award Player Team MVP Tommy Fine Leones del Habana Best manager Mike González Leones del Habana

All Star Team[2] Position Player Team First base Eddie Neville Carta Vieja Yankees Second base Spook Jacobs Carta Vieja Yankees Third base Buddy Hicks Cervecería Caracas Shortstop Lou Klein Leones del Habana Left field Sandy Amorós Leones del Habana Center field Héctor Benítez Cervecería Caracas Right field Wilmer Fields Cervecería Caracas Catcher Andrés Fleitas Leones del Habana Pitcher Tommy Fine Leones del Habana

See also

• Ballplayers who have played in the Series

References

1. "Posiciones de los Equipos". seriedelcaribe.net (in Spanish). Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe. Retrieved 28 December 2022.
2. "Anuario oficial Serie Del Caribe 2022" (in Spanish). Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe. p. 26. Retrieved 28 December 2022. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)

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)