The second edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was held from February 21 through February 27, in 1950. It featured the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Alacranes del Almendares; Panama, Carta Vieja Yankees; Puerto Rico, Criollos de Caguas, and Venezuela, Navegantes del Magallanes. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Sixto Escobar Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Summary The Series had to go more than the scheduled 12 games when both Panama and Puerto Rico teams ended with a similar 4-2 record. Panama clinched the title after beating Puerto Rico in a tiebreaker game. The Panamanian team, who entered the series as underdog, was led by manager/outfielder Wayne Blackburn, pitcher Chet Brewer (2-0), and third baseman Joe Tuminelli, who hit two home runs with seven runs batted in as he received Series MVP honors. The champion team also counted with pitchers John Fitzgerald, Tony Jacobs, Jean-Pierre Roy and Pat Scantlebury; catchers Roy Easterwood and Stan Andrews; second baseman Spook Jacobs, and outfielder Ted Cieslak.
Puerto Rico was led by manager/outfielder Luis Rodríguez Olmo, who hit .292, and pitcher Luis Arroyo (2-0), who posted a 1.72 ERA and allowed eight hits in innings. Other significant players in the roster included outfielder Willard Brown (.348), pitchers Wilmer Fields (1-0, one HR) and Rubén Gómez, and first baseman Vic Power.
Even with the Cubans heavily favored to win the Series, they only went 3-3. The team was managed by catcher Fermín Guerra, and included Andrés Fleitas, Al Gionfriddo, Conrado Marrero, Willy Miranda, René Monteagudo and Roberto Ortiz. Slugger Héctor Rodríguez led the hitters with a .474 batting average (9-for-19), while pitcher Bob Hooper ended 2-0.
The hapless Venezuelan team was managed by outfielder Vidal López and finished with a 1-5 record, being outscored 14-22, while losing by one run in three of their five defeats. López paced the offense with a team-high four RBIs, leading also the Series in doubles (4) and tying Guerra and Monteagudo for 4th in RBIs. The roster included Alex Carrasquel, Chico Carrasquel, Pete Coscarart, Terris McDuffie, Bob Griffith, Jim Pendleton and Chucho Ramos, while the team's only victory came behind a strong pitching effort from starter Santiago Ullrich in the opener.
Participating teams Team Manager Alacranes del Almendares Fermín Guerra Carta Vieja Yankees Wayne Blackburn Criollos de Caguas Luis Olmo Navegantes del Magallanes Vidal López
Final standings
Scoreboards
Game 1, February 21
Game 2, February 21
Game 3, February 22
Game 4, February 22
Game 5, February 23
Game 6, February 23
Game 7, February 24
Game 8, February 24
Game 9, February 25
Game 10, February 25
Game 11, February 26
Game 12, February 26
Tiebreaker Game, February 27
Statistics leaders Statistic Player Team Total Batting average Héctor Rodríguez Alacranes del Almendares .474 Home runs Joe Tuminelli Carta Vieja Yankees 2 Runs batted in Joe Tuminelli Carta Vieja Yankees 6 Wins Luis Arroyo Criollos de Caguas 3 Chet Brewer Carta Vieja Yankees Bob Hooper Alacranes del Almendares
Awards
+ Tournament Awards Award Player Team MVP Joe Tuminelli Carta Vieja Yankees Best manager Wayne Blackburn Carta Vieja Yankees
+ All Star Team Position Player Team First base Andrés Fleitas Alacranes del Almendares Second base Spook Jacobs Carta Vieja Yankees Third base Héctor Rodríguez Alacranes del Almendares Shortstop Alfonso Carrasquel Navegantes del Magallanes Left field Luis Olmo Criollos de Caguas Center field Dick Burgett Carta Vieja Yankees Right field Roberto Ortiz Alacranes del Almendares Catcher Fermín Guerra Alacranes del Almendares Pitcher Bob Hooper Alacranes del Almendares
See also List of baseball players who have played in the Caribbean Series
References
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)