1959 Caribbean Series

The eleventh 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.

Summary

Cuba won the Series with a 5-1 record 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 addition to Bob Allison (OF), Jim Baxes (3B), Dick Brown (C), Miguel de la Hoz (2B), Enrique Izquierdo (C), Willy Miranda (SS), Leonardo Posada (OF) and Angel Scull (OF).

Venezuela, with a low-profile team, finished an honourable second place after going 4-2. Managed by Kerby Farrell, the offense 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 six runs, three doubles 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), Nino Escalera (1B/OF), Rubén Gómez (P), Willie Kirkland (RF), Bob Lennon (LF), Félix Maldonado (LF), Lloyd Merritt (P), José Pagán (3B), Victor Pellot Power (2B), José Santiago (P) and Pete Wojey (P).

Panama finished in last place with a 0-6 record, to become the first winless team in Series history. The Coclé club was managed by Lester Peden and benefited from a solid effort by 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
ClubWLW/L %GB
Cuba51.833 
Venezuela42.6671.0
Puerto Rico33.5002.0
Panama06.0005.0
Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Luis García / VEN
Jesús Mora / VEN
Batting average.417
Norman Cash / VENHome runs    2
Norman Cash / VENRuns batted in  11
Luis García / VENRuns    6
Luis García / VEN
Jesús Mora / VEN
Hits  10
Luis García / VENDoubles    3
Seven tiedTriples    1
Tony Taylor / CUBStolen bases    3
Werner Birrer / VEN
Camilo Pascual / CUB
Wins    2
Werner Birrer / VENStrikeouts  18
Werner Birrer / VENEarned run average1.25
Ramón Monzant / VENSaves    1
Werner Birrer / VENInnings pitched21⅔
Awards
Norman Cash / VENMost Valuable Player
Sungo Carrera / CUBManager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Valmy Thomas / PRIcatcher
Rocky Nelson / CUBfirst baseman
Tony Taylor / CUBsecond baseman
Luis García / VENthird baseman
Willy Miranda / CUBshortstop
Jesús Mora / VENleft fielder
Jackie Brandt / PRIcenter fielder
Norman Cash / VENright fielder
Werner Birrer / VEN
Camilo Pascual / CUB
pitchers
Sungo Carrera / CUBmanager

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 10

Team123456789RHE
Cuba000010000170
Puerto Rico000000002250
WP: Rubén Gómez (1-0)   LP: Orlando Peña (0-1)

Game 2, February 10

Team12345678910111213RHE
Panama00000000200002  72
Venezuela00100100000013141
WP: Werner Birrer (1-0)   LP: Stanley Arthur Wall (0-1)

Game 3, February 11

Team123456789RHE
Cuba1000030004111
Panama0100000001  62
WP: Camilo Pascual (1-0)   LP: Bud Black (0-1)

Game 4, February 11

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0200020015131
Venezuela0100001046101
WP: Marcelino Sánchez (1-0)   LP: Pete Wojey (0-1)
Home runs:
PRI: Orlando Cepeda (1)
VEN: Norman Cash 2 (2)

Game 5, February 12

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico3021003009163
Panama0003000003  52
WP: Marion Fricano (1-0)   LP: Alberto Osorio (0-1)

Game 6, February 12

Team123456789RHE
Cuba00000404311122
Venezuela001000000  1  22
WP: Art Fowler (1-0)   LP: Ramón Monzant (0-1)
Home runs:
CUB: Tony Taylor (1)
VEN: None

Game 7, February 13

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000000000071
Cuba10000000X171
WP: Orlando Peña (1-0)   LP: Lloyd Merritt (0-1)

Game 8, February 13

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela41006020114222
Panama013000001  5131
WP: Dave Hoskins (1-0)   LP: Richard Donnelly (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PAN: Ken Hunt (1)

Game 9, February 14

Team123456789RHE
Panama000200000280
Cuba10010102X580
WP: Mike Cuellar (1-0)   LP: Pete Meza (0-1)

Game 10, February 14

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela1100003005101
Puerto Rico1000000023  72
WP: Werner Birrer (2-0)   LP: Rubén Gómez (1-1)

Game 11, February 15

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0000000202  33
Cuba20000231X8101
WP: Camilo Pascual (2-0)   LP: Jim Owens (0-1)
Notes: It was the fourth win by Pascual in his Series career, surpassing the previous record of three wins set by Agapito Mayor in 1949.

Game 12, February 15

Team123456789RHE
Panama000000000070
Puerto Rico00000100X141
WP: Julio Navarro (1-0)   LP: Bud Black (0-2)

 

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.
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