1953 Caribbean Series

1953 Caribbean Series
Tournament details
Country	Cuba
City	Havana
Venue(s)	1 (in 1 host city)
Dates	20–25 February
Teams	4
Final positions
Champions	Cangrejeros de Santurce (2nd title)
Runner-up	Leones del Habana
Tournament statistics
MVP	Willard Brown
	← 1952 1954 →

The fifth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1953. It was held from February 20 through February 25, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones de la Habana; Panama, Chesterfield Smokers; Puerto Rico, Cangrejeros de Santurce, 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.

Summary

Puerto Rico finished undefeated and won the title by going 6-0, outscoring their opponents 50 to 23. The Santurce club, who hit a collective .367 batting average and committed only two errors, was led by right fielder and Series MVP Willard Brown, who enjoyed one of the most productive offensive in tournament's history. Brown led the hitters in home runs (4), RBI (13), runs (8), doubles (3) and SLG (1,042), while hitting .417 (10-for-24). The pitching staff was anchored by Bobo Holloman (2-0), Cot Deal (2-0, one save) and Rubén Gómez (1-0, one save). In addition to Brown, shortstop/manager Buster Clarkson (.467 BA), 2B Jim Gilliam (.545, two HR), RF Bob Thurman (.474, .684 SLG) and 3B Víctor Pellot Power (.385, one HR) also contributed to the attack. Other players for Puerto Rico included CF Luis (Canena) Márquez, P José (Pantalones) Santiago and catchers Joe Montalvo and Valmy Thomas.

The Cuban team, who many considered a favorite before the start of the event, wasted home-field advantage and a solid lineup managed by Mike González to end in second place with a 3-3 record. The Habana team was led by RF Pedro Formental, who posted a .560 mark to clinch the batting title. Other contributions came from 1B Bert Haas (.360, two HR, .600 SLG) and 3B Lou Klein (.316, one HR, .579 SLG). Pitchers Bob Alexander and Mario Picone collected wins, while Carlos (Patato) Pascual dropped two of three decisions. Cuba included LF Sandy Amorós, 2B Spider Jorgensen, CF Bob Usher, P Adrián Zabala, and catchers Andrés Fleitas and Dick Rand, between others.

Panama was managed by Stanford Graham and finished 2-4 in third place. The Panamanian squad got fine work of CF Nat Peeples (.400, .733 SLG), as well as pitchers Humberto Robinson (1-0) and Pat Scantlebury (1-1, 11 strikeouts in three games). The team also featured players as IFs Frank Austin and Joe Tuminelli, C León Kellman, and OFs Bobby Prescott and Dave Roberts. Collectively, Chesterfield scored the fewest runs (18) and committed the most errors (10) in the Series.

Venezuela, with Martín Dihigo at the helm, finished in last place with a 1-5 record. The Caracas lone victory came from Charlie Bishop, who pitched a one-hit shutout in Game 5. Among others were Ps Jay Heard, Dick Starr, Lenny Yochim and Luis Zuloaga; C Guillermo Vento; IFs Chico Carrasquel, Pompeyo Davalillo, Piper Davis and Hank Schenz, as well as OFs Dalmiro Finol, Lloyd Gearhart, Milt Nielsen and Gale Wade.

Participating teams

Team	Manager
Cangrejeros de Santurce	Buster Clarkson
Chesterfield Smokers	Stanford Graham
Leones del Caracas	Martín Dihigo
Leones del Habana	Mike González

Final standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	RF	RA	RD	PCT	GB
1	Cangrejeros de Santurce	6	6	0	50	23	+27	1.000	—
2	Leones del Habana (H)	6	3	3	33	26	+7	.500	3
3	Chesterfield Smokers	6	2	4	18	39	−21	.333	4
4	Leones del Caracas	6	1	5	22	35	−13	.167	5

Source: CBPC
(H) Hosts

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 20


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Panama	0	1	0	1	0	2	2	6	7	0
Puerto Rico	1	4	3	4	3	0	0	15	14	0
WP: Rubén Gómez (1-0) LP: Hisel Patrick (0-1) Home runs: PAN: None PUR: Victor Pellot (1), Rubén Gómez (1) * Game was called after seven innings due to time limit.

Game 2, February 20


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	1	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	7		1
Cuba	3	0	3	2	2	0	0	0	X	10	12	2
WP: Carlos Pascual (1-0) LP: Lenny Yochim (0-1)

Game 3, February 21


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	2	0	1	4	0	0	0	7	13	0
Venezuela	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	4	12	1
WP: Bobo Holloman (1-0) LP: Dick Starr (0-1) Sv: Cot Deal (1) Home runs: PUR: Willard Brown (1), Jim Gilliam (1) VEN: Dalmiro Finol (1)

Game 4, February 21


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	1	0	0	1	1	0	3	0	0	6	10	1
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	7	1
WP: Mario Picone (1-0) LP: Pat Scantlebury (0-1) Home runs: CUB: Lou Klein (1) Panama: None

Game 5, February 22


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	0
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
WP: Charlie Bishop (1-0) LP: Peter Nicolis (0-1)

Game 6, February 22


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	1	5	13	0
Puerto Rico	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	6	12	0
WP: Cot Deal (1-0) LP: Carlos Pascual (1-1) Home runs: CUB: Bert Haas (1) PUR: Willard Brown (2)

Game 7, February 23


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	3	0	0	2	0	0	1	6	13	2
Panama	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	3	14	1
WP: Cot Deal (2-0) LP: Alberto Osorio (0-1)

Game 8, February 23


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cuba	0	0	1	2	3	0	0	0	0	6	14	0
Venezuela	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	2	4	5	1
WP: Bob Alexander (1-0) LP: Lenny Yochim (0-2)

Game 9, February 24


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Venezuela	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	2	6	2
Puerto Rico	2	1	0	4	0	2	0	0	X	9	13	0
WP: Bobo Holloman (2-0) LP: Jehosie Heard (0-1) Home runs: VEN: None PUR: Willard Brown (3), Joe Montalvo (1)

Game 10, February 24


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Panama	2	0	0	0	2	1	0	0	0	5	10	0
Cuba	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	11	0
WP: Humberto Robinson (1-0) LP: Carlos Pascual (1-2) Sv: Pat Scantlebury (1) Home runs: PAN: Bobby Prescott (1) CUB: None

Game 11, February 25


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Panama	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	6	0
Venezuela	1	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	8	1
WP: Pat Scantlebury (1-1) LP: José Bracho (0-1) Home runs: PAN: Arthur Peeples (1) VEN: None

Game 12, February 25


Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Puerto Rico	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	3	7	16	0
Cuba	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	X	3	9	0
WP: Roberto Vargas (0-1) LP: Jocko Thompson (0-1) Home runs: PUR: Jim Gilliam (2), Willard Brown (4) CUB: None

Statistics leaders

Statistic	Player	Team	Total
Batting average	Pedro Formental	Leones del Habana	.560
Home runs	Willard Brown	Cangrejeros de Santurce	4
Runs batted in	Willard Brown	Cangrejeros de Santurce	13
Runs	Willard Brown	Cangrejeros de Santurce	8
Hits	Pedro Formental	Leones del Habana	14
Doubles	Willard Brown	Cangrejeros de Santurce	3
Triples	Pedro Formental	Leones del Habana	2
Stolen bases	Ten tied		1
Wins	Bobo Holloman	Cangrejeros de Santurce	2
Earned run average	Charlie Bishop	Leones del Caracas	0.00
Strikeouts	Pat Scantlebury	Chesterfield Smokers	11
Saves	Cot Deal	Cangrejeros de Santurce	1
Saves	Pat Scantlebury	Chesterfield Smokers	1
Innings pitched	Bobo Holloman	Cangrejeros de Santurce	17.0

Awards

Tournament Awards^[1]
Award	Player	Team
MVP	Willard Brown	Cangrejeros de Santurce
Best manager	Buster Clarkson	Cangrejeros de Santurce

All Star Team^[2]
Position	Player	Team
First base	Bert Haas	Leones del Habana
Second base	Jim Gilliam	Cangrejeros de Santurce
Third base	Lou Klein	Leones del Habana
Shortstop	Buster Clarkson	Cangrejeros de Santurce
Left field	Willard Brown	Cangrejeros de Santurce
Center field	Nat Peeples	Chesterfield Smokers
Right field	Pedro Formental	Leones del Habana
Catcher	Joe Montalvo	Cangrejeros de Santurce
Pitcher	Bobo Holloman	Cangrejeros de Santurce

References

^ "Posiciones de los Equipos". seriedelcaribe.net (in Spanish). Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
^ "Anuario oficial Serie Del Caribe 2022" (in Spanish). Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe. p. 26. Retrieved 13 June 2023. {{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

[1] "Posiciones de los Equipos". seriedelcaribe.net (in Spanish). Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe. Retrieved 13 June 2023.

[awards-2] "Anuario oficial Serie Del Caribe 2022" (in Spanish). Confederación de Béisbol Profesional del Caribe. p. 26. Retrieved 13 June 2023. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)

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