Early Cuban Baseball.

**JACKIE42** · 03-17-2005, 10:08 AM

1923 Adolfo Luque became the first Hispanic American to play in the World Series of baseball as a member of the Cincinnati Reds. Also in 1923, Luque became the first Hispanic ballplayer to win the pitching championship in the professional baseball in the Unites States, with 27 wins, an earned run average of 1.93 and six shutouts.

**JACKIE42** · 03-17-2005, 10:13 AM

Lou Louden was a dependable catcher for the New York Cubans for most of the 1940’s, and was a three time all-star- 1949

**JACKIE42** · 03-17-2005, 10:17 AM

Bob "The Rope" Boyd. In addition to his success in the Negro Leagues and in Cuba, Boyd hit over .300 several times during his 10-year Major League career . 1950

**JACKIE42** · 03-17-2005, 10:21 AM

When Thurman made his Major League debut in 1955 he was already 38 years old and had enjoyed a long and successful career in the Negro Leagues and become a legend in Puerto Rico. In 1957, at the age of 40, he only had 190 at-bats but managed to hit 16 home runs. He was an accomplished pitcher before making to the Majors with his bat- 1950

**JACKIE42** · 03-18-2005, 10:05 AM

Jose Ma Hernandez of the Cuban Stars circa 1941. Hernandez is holding a bat and standing near the bleachers of an old ballpark while wearing his full Cuban Stars uniform.

**JACKIE42** · 03-18-2005, 10:08 AM

Minnie Minoso, in his rookie Negro league season, with 2 New York Cubans teammates and a female friend outside the team's Harlem storefront office, perhaps the only known photo of that important location. Minoso, at right, is identified on the back as "Orestes Minoso". The others are Chiflan Clark and Rodolfo Fernandez. The lady is unidentified. 1946

**JACKIE42** · 03-18-2005, 10:13 AM

Contrary to later belief, Orestes "Minnie" Minoso was young once. In 1946, at 24, he broke in with the New York Cubans, who won the Negro National League pennant and Negro League WS. This extraordinary photo from that season shows Minoso on the right alongside a teammate, glove on his left hand, sleeves rolled up. Minoso entered the big leagues with Cleveland in 1949, though he would regularly play with the Cubans in the winter leagues.

**JACKIE42** · 03-18-2005, 10:17 AM

Exceedingly rare photo of a tragic hero of pre-integration baseball, Valentin Dreke, who from 1918 to 1928 was a star outfielder with the Cuban Stars and the Almendares team in the Cuban League until he died in 1929 at age 30. Dreke, who was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame, is seen with 2 other Cuban players, catcher Jose Maria Fernandez, and a man identified on the back only as "M. Culto".

**JACKIE42** · 03-18-2005, 10:20 AM

1935

**moviegeekjan** · 03-18-2005, 08:10 PM

Martin Dihigo ranks among the most versatile players to ever set foot on a baseball diamond--he could pitch, play 2nd base, or the outfield equally well. He had a career pitching record of 256+ wins and 136 losses in Cuba, the Negro Leagues, Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Venezuela. He also won batting titles in every league he played in and won two home run titles in the Negro Leagues.

Dihigo is a Hall of Fame member in four countries: the U.S., Mexico, Venezuela, and Cuba

**JACKIE42** · 03-18-2005, 08:23 PM

Martin Dihigo - A national treasure for Cuba, he was a gifted hitter, pitcher and
fielder. Here the handsome Cuban giant arrives in Mexico to manage the
Xalapa Chileros and is met by two meretricious fans unable to contain
their natural enthusiasm.

MARTIN (EL MAESTRO) DIHIGO
Born: May 24, 1905 in Matanzas, Cuba
Died: May 20, 1971 in Cienfuegos, Cuba
Height: 6'3 1/2", Weight: 190-225 lbs.
Throws: right, Bats: both
Position(s) p, inf, of, mgr.

HALL OF FAME INDUCTION: 1977

TEAMS: 1923 to 1945, Cuban Stars (East), Homestead Grays, Hilldale, Baltimore Black Sox, Darby Daisies, Stars of Cuba, Cuban X-Giants, and the New York Cubans.

A superstar in every regard. Dihigo was a superb pitcher, a brilliant hitter and played every position except catcher. For more than a quarter of a century, he was the ace of many pitching staffs, a league leader in home runs and batting average. The maestro of versatility, Dihigo could orchestrate so many unique ways to beat you.

Dihigo started his career with the barnstorming Cuban Stars of the newly organized Eastern Colored League (ECL). He started out as a first baseman under owner Alex Pompez. Another first baseman, Hall of Famer Buck Leonard claimed: "Dihigo was the best all-around baseball player I have ever seen. He could run, hit, throw, think, pitch and manage. He both knew the game and could play it. I was in the game for 23 years and I never say anyone better than he was."

Dihigo played in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba and the United States were he was better known for his offensive attack. In 1925, he hit .302, batted .421 in 1926 and .370 in 1927 for the stateside Cuban Stars.

The managerial wonder Cumberland Posey once said, "Dihigo's gifts afield have not been approached by any man - black or white." He became the only player in the world, black or white, elected to baseball Hall of Fames in three countries; the United States, Cuba and Mexico.

The following year, Dihigo joined an unknown independent team based in the steel-mining town of Homestead, PA, located just outside of Pittsburgh. The team owned by former college basketball star Cumberland Posey was called the Grays and would subsequently become one of the reigning teams of the East. Dihigo teamed with other marvelous hitters like John Beckwith and Vic Harris and splendid pitchers like Smokey Joe Williams and Sam Streeter.

In 1929, the Grays made their initial entrance into league play under the banner of the American Negro League. But Dihigo had settled in with a suburbian club of Philadelphia called the Hilldale Giants from nearby Darby. He enjoyed his new surroundings, batting a royal .386. But his lofty average did not win him a crown. The Hilldales of 1929 were loaded with speed and power. Crush Holloway led the league with 29 steals, while his teammates Judy Johnson had 23, Oscar Charleston - 22, and Dihigo and Eggie Dallard tied with 18 abductions. With Crush and Eggie, batting in the number 1-2 slots, followed by Johnson, Charleston and Dihigo, they presented a most fearsome lineup. That year, Charleston batted .396, Johnson hit .390 and Dihigo added 18 home runs, second in the league only to Chino Smith (also batting champ), who had 23 slammers.

The great catcher Biz Mackey joined the team in late June. He had been suspended for taking an unauthorized Oriental junket with the Philadelphia Royal Giants. With Mackey inserted in the heart of the lineup, and able to play either catcher or shortstop, the Hilldale club dominated league play, but failed to catch the front running Baltimore Black Sox, who featured the Million Dollar Infield of Jud Wilson (1b), Frank Warfield (2b), Dick Lundy (ss) and Oliver Marcelle (3b).

After spending two seasons with the New York Cubans (1934-35) and losing an electrifying seven game series to the powerhouse Pittsburgh Crawfords, he spent his summer seasons in the Mexican League (1937-44, 46-47, 1950). He was primarily a pitcher down south, where he blazed to glory with a 119-57 record (.676) in eleven seasons. This included a lifetime batting average of .317. His magical performances included a six-for-six effort in 1937 contest. A testament to his great overall ability, was in 1938 when, as a pitcher and fielder, he bewitched the Mexican League with 18 wins against only two loses, with a minuscule 0.90 ERA, meanwhile winning the batting crown with a majestic .387 average. In 1942, he notched another ERA title to his championship belt with a 2.53 ERA. In Mexico, he threw his first no-hitter, later notching no-hitters in Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

Dihigo also enjoyed his winters in Cuba. For 24 seasons (1922-1929, 1931-1946), he hit over .300 nine times for the island teams. He wave his wooden baton for a lifetime .291 average and a phenomenal 115-60 won-lost (.657) pitching performance.

Dihigo played in the 1935 and 1945 annual summer East-West classics. Dihigo pitched and played centerfield and anything else on field, except call balls and strikes. Roy Campanella recalled, "Dihigo was one of the greatest I ever saw. He was a big man, 6 feet 4 or maybe 6-5 and about 225 pounds. He was a tremendous hitter, had great power, could hit for an average, everything."

After seeing the elder Dihigo play in the winter leagues, former major league slugger Johnny Mize with a tone of adminiration: "The greatest player I ever saw was a black man. He's in the Hall of Fame, although not a lot of people have heard of him. His name is Martin Dihigo. I played with him in Santo Domingo in winter ball in 1943. He was the manager. He was the only guy I ever saw who could play all nine positions, run and was a switch hitter. I though I was havin' a pretty good year myself down there and they were walkin' him to get to me."

In 1945, Alex Pompez's famous Latins of Manhattan, the New York Cubans struggled to win games. After a eight year absence, Dihigo returned to the states to help Pompez and fellow Latinos become competitive once again. The Cubans had a fine pitching staff of little Dave "Impo" Barnhill, Chet Brewer and Luis Tiant, Sr. Unfortunately, Brewer and Tiant were over-the-hill and down-in-the-valley. The Cubans finished dead last, which frustrated Dihigo into retirement.

Martin Dihigo, El Maestro, served as the Minister of Sports in Cuba, until his death at age 65. Dihigo, baseball's magic man is buried in Cienfuegos, Cuba. A manager's dream, an opponent's nightmare, he remains today one of few players in baseball history who could do it all. One part pitcher, one part hitter, one part superstar, equalled the total package of baseball's Mister excitement.
http://my.execpc.com/~sshivers/dihigo.html

**moviegeekjan** · 03-19-2005, 07:33 AM

Bernardo Baro was an all-arond outfielder, who starred in both the Cuban Winter League and Negro Leagues during the second and third decades of the 20th century.

**JACKIE42** · 03-19-2005, 08:40 AM

Newt Allen-Batted .313 for Almendares in 1924-25.

**JACKIE42** · 03-19-2005, 10:25 AM

Sam Bankhead-Led Cuban League in hitting with a .366 BA in 1937-38.

**JACKIE42** · 03-19-2005, 04:38 PM

Dave Barnhill-Had a 23-19 pitching record in 3 seasons with Marianao.

**JACKIE42** · 03-19-2005, 04:43 PM

Lloyd " Pepper" Bassett-Played in Cuba 1946-47

**tonypug** · 03-19-2005, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by JACKIE42

Now thats a team that would have done pretty good in any league.

**JACKIE42** · 03-19-2005, 04:48 PM

James " Cool Papa" Bell-Hit .292 in 4 Cuban seasons. Hit 3 HRs in one game.

**tonypug** · 03-19-2005, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by JACKIE42

1935

Plenty seats reserved for white fans, now that is priceless.

**JACKIE42** · 03-19-2005, 04:53 PM

Originally Posted by tonypug

Now thats a team that would have done pretty good in any league.

Right you are, they had some fine players.

**JACKIE42** · 03-19-2005, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by tonypug

Plenty seats reserved for white fans, now that is priceless.

The good old days weren't good for everyone, i guess segregation was not just in our country.

**moviegeekjan** · 03-20-2005, 11:20 PM

A product of Cuba's sugar cane fields, right handed Julian Castillo was the best power hitter of the 20th century's first decade, routinely hitting between .294 and .408 in an era dominated by pitching when the norm was averaging between .220 - .250. In Castillo's era baseball games were played only on weekends after the field work was done. Thus, teams only used their top two pitchers, and hitters couldn't feast on the weaker staff members.

Hitting .454 in his rookie year (1901), Castillo won four batting titles over his 13-year career. He also led the league in home runs 2 times, hits 3 times, doubles 6 times, and triples 4 times. He reportedly wasn't a good fielder or baserunner, so his batting had to make up for his weaknesses--and these were in parks with outfield fences that ranged from 400-500 feet. His .310 batting average is the highest of his era.

Castillo also played in the Negro league from 1904-1912, but statistics from those times were never collected. He was elected to the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame in 1943.