Connie Marrero
Encyclopedia
Conrado Eugenio "Connie" Marrero Ramos (born April 25, 1911) is a former Cuba
n professional baseball
pitcher
. The right-handed Marrero pitched in Major League Baseball
from to for the Washington Senators
. Marrero made his major league debut when he was 38 years old, and was one of the oldest players in the league throughout the duration of his time in the major leagues. He was a popular star in his native Cuba, where he had a long and successful career in amateur baseball
, pitching for Cuba in several Amateur World Series competitions, and playing several excellent seasons with the professional Cuban League
and the minor league
Havana Cubans
. His nicknames in Cuba were “El Guajiro de Laberinto” (The Peasant from Laberinto), reflecting his rural origins, “El Premier,” and “El Curvo.”
Marrero's pitches were primarily “slow stuff—curves
, slider
s and knucklers
.” Roberto González Echevarría provides the following description: “A bit plump, of less than average height, with short arms and small hands, Marrero looked, in uniform
, like someone in a baseball costume, not a player. He looked more like a Spanish grocer or peasant than an athlete.”
At age , Marrero is currently the oldest living former Major League Baseball player.
, Cuba
; he was of Canary Islands
descent. He played for various teams in his rural
region, then in 1938 at age 26 or 27 was invited to pitch for the Cienfuegos team of the Cuban Amateur League. The league played on Sundays from March through September. The team was sponsored by a department store
, which employed him during the week. Marrero was one of the most popular and successful pitchers in Cuban Amateur League history, winning
123 games from 1938 to 1945. According to González Echevarría, Marrero as an amateur was considered a bigger drawing card than any professional pitcher in Cuba.
From 1939 to 1943, Cuba hosted the second through sixth Amateur World Series competitions at La Tropical Stadium in Havana. Marrero was a pitcher for the Cuban national team at the second Amateur World Series
in 1939, the first in which Cuba competed. Only three teams competed and Cuba easily won, with Marrero contributing a victory in the only game he pitched. In the third Amateur World Series
in 1940, Marrero led the Cuban team to victory, going 3–2 with a 1.15 earned run average (ERA)
, and was named the most valuable player
of the series. In the fourth Amateur World Series
in 1941, Marrero won three games, but the series ended in a tie between Cuba and the Venezuela team
. Venezuela was relying on the pitching of Daniel Canónico, who went 4–0 with an ERA of 1.69 in 32 innings. Cuba challenged Venezuela to a playoff game, which was scheduled to allow Canónico time to rest. On October 23, 1941 Marrero faced Canónico for the championship. Venezuela, helped by an error by the Cuban third baseman, scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning; Marrero was pulled after 2 innings, and Canónico held the Cubans scoreless until the ninth inning. Venezuela held on to win the game 3–1, winning their first Amateur World Series.
In 1942 Marrero had his best amateur season, going 22–5 with a 1.22 ERA. For the fifth Amateur World Series
, the Cuban national team was selected by a fan poll, and Marrero was the top vote-getter. The series featured a rematch between Marrero and Venezuela's Canónico. This time the Cubans won 8–0, and the Cuban team regained the Cup. In 1943 Marrero was suspended from the Amateur League for six months for accepting payment for a game and consequently was not selected for the Amateur World Series team. In 1944 he returned with a 21–8 season and was again selected for the Amateur World Series
team. The series was played in Caracas, Venezuela and ended in controversy. There was a three-way tie among Mexico
, Venezuela, and Cuba, forcing a playoff. However, after some questionable calls by the umpires, who were provided by Venezuela, Cuba withdrew from the tournament in protest. In 1945 Marrero again pitched for Cienfuegos in the Amateur League. He was caught pitching in a non-league game a second time and given an indefinite suspension. He then decided to turn professional.
team of the regular Cuban League for the last month of the season. Although he played only a minor role—pitching in four games and going 1–0—he participated on the winning team of one of the most famous pennant
races in Cuban League history.
In the spring of 1947, Marrero, as part of a Cuban all-star team, had a chance to pitch against major league teams that were playing in Havana during spring training
. He beat the New York Yankees
in a rain-shortened 7-inning game, allowing one run and four hits. A week later (now pitching for the minor league Havana Cubans), he suffered a tough 1–0 loss against the Brooklyn Dodgers
, allowing four hits and striking out eight. The next Cuban League season, 1947/48, Marrero returned to Almendares in the Cuban League (which was now officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball
) and pitched perhaps his best season, going 12–2, setting the Cuban League all-time records for shutouts (eight) and ERA (1.12) and winning the most valuable player award. However, with Almendares tied with the Habana team
with one game left, he was unable to clinch the pennant as he lost to Habana's Alex Patterson in a 3-2 game.
In 1948/49 Marrero went 6–4, as Almendares easily won another pennant. As the league champions, Almendares represented Cuba in the first Caribbean Series played in Havana in 1949. Cuba swept the series with Marrero contributing a one-run, four-hit, complete-game victory in the only game he pitched. In 1949/50 Marrero went 7–3 and led the Cuban League with an ERA of 2.66, as Almendares again won the pennant. At the second Caribbean Series, Marrero went 0–2 as Cuba was upset by Panamá
. The next winter Marrero went 11–7 with a 2.37 ERA, leading the Cuban League in wins and innings pitched. Almendares, however, was edged out by Habana for the pennant in a one-game playoff. In 1951/52 Marrero went 6–9, and the next winter he went 8–8.
In 1953/54, Marrero went 7–5 and helped Almendares regain the pennant. In the sixth Caribbean Series Marrero pitched a shutout in his only appearance, but Puerto Rico
won the series. In 1954/55 Marrero went 2–3 and began to be used primarily in relief. Almendares won the pennant and went to the Caribbean Series, but Marrero did not make an appearance. In 1955/56 Marrero became the manager of Almendares, but the team fell to last place, making his tenure as manager a short one. He pitched in four games and went 1–0. After being released by Almendares, Marrero signed with Marianao for the 1956/57 season, where he pitched 19 innings in seven games with a 1.37 ERA. Marianao won the pennant and Marrero pitched in his last Caribbean Series, lasting 3-1/3 innings against Panamá in a game that was eventually won by his teammate, Jim Bunning
. Cuba went on to win their fourth victory in nine series. The next season was Marrero's last, as he pitched only four innings in three appearances.
Marrero's career Cuban League record was 69–43. His .600 winning percentage is the sixth highest in league history among pitchers with at least 40 wins. (Of the five pitchers with a higher career winning percetage, three are in the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame
—José Méndez
, Ray Brown and Martín Dihigo
; the other two are Carlos Royer and Camilo Pascual
.) Despite not pitching in the Cuban League until he was 35 years old, his 69 victories ranks 10th on the Cuban League all-time list.
. The team was a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators. In 1947 Marrero went 25–6 and led the league in wins (25), complete games (28), strikeouts (251), shutout
s (seven) and ERA (1.66). On July 12, 1947, Marrero pitched a no hitter against the Tampa
Smokers, allowing only one base runner on a hit by pitch
. The Cubans finished in first place with a 105–45 record. The Cubans also won the playoffs against the Miami
Sun Sox and the Tampa Smokers, with Marrero pitching two shutouts.
In 1948 Marrero went 20–11 with a 1.67 ERA. The Cubans again finished in first place with a 97–57 record, their third consecutive title. In the playoffs they beat both the Lakeland
Pilots and the Tampa Smokers. In 1949 Marrero won the league MVP award after going 25–8 with 11 shutouts and a 1.53 ERA. He set a league record by pitching 44 consecutive scoreless innings. Havana again finished in first place with a 95–57 record (the fourth of their five consecutive first place finishes) and beat Miami Beach
in the first round of the playoffs. In the second round, however, the Cubans were swept by Tampa, with Marrero losing to Tampa's Oscar del Calvo.
After five years with the major league Washington Senators, Marrero returned to Havana to play with the minor league team from 1955-57. In 1954 the team had moved to the International League
and had been renamed the Havana Sugar Kings
. Marrero didn't travel with the team, pitching only for their home games. In 1955 he went 7–3, pitched five shutouts (one of them a one-hitter), and had a 2.69 ERA. In 1956, the 45-year-old pitcher pitched only 45 innings and went 3–1. His only loss was to an even older pitcher, Miami's Leroy (Satchel) Paige
. In 1957 Marrero pitched only fiveinnings in three games, as his pitching career came to an end.
Washington Senators. During that period, Washington's roster also included a number of other Cuban players, such as pitchers Sandy Consuegra
and Camilo Pascual
and catcher Mike Guerra
. The Senators were a second division team, never finishing higher than fifth place in the eight-team league while Marrero pitched for them. His first major league appearance came on April 21, 1950. In 1950 he pitched 152 innings in 27 games (19 of them starts), and finished with a 6–10 record and a 4.50 ERA.
In 1951 Marrero led his team in wins and innings pitched, going 11–9 in 187 innings with a 3.90 ERA. On April 26, 1951, he pitched a one-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics
, beating them 2-1. The only hit given up by Marrero was a home run by Barney McCosky
.
In 1952 he went 11–8 with a 2.88 ERA (ninth in the league), as Washington improved to a 78–76 record. The following year he went 8–7 with a 3.03 ERA. In 1954 he was the oldest player in the major leagues, as he slipped to 3–6 with a 4.75 ERA. On January 24, 1955, the 43-year-old Marrero was released by the Senators.
Marrero finished his major league career with a 39–40 record and a 3.67 ERA, which was eight percent better than the league average (after adjusting for ballpark differences). He pitched 51 complete games, including seven shutouts, in his 94 starts. He was selected to the 1951 American League All-Star
team, though he didn't play.
, Marrero was one of the most prominent players to remain in Cuba under Fidel Castro
, thereby providing a link between the old professional Cuban League and the new amateur Cuban national baseball system and its Cuban National Series
). He was a pitching coach for several years for the Havana Industriales
and was also a roving pitching instructor. He is a respected figure in Cuba; his portrait is shown on a mural at Estadio Latinoamericano
, and he threw out the first pitch at the 1984 baseball World Championship.
In 2006, Marrero was featured along with his Almendares teammate, Hall of Famer Monte Irvin
, in a documentary about Cuban baseball, "The Bases Are Loaded." He does not draw a major league pension and is reported to be living modestly in a room in a relative's Havana apartment. As recently as early 2007 a baseball tour of Cuba advertised that participants would have an opportunity to visit with the 95-year old Marrero.
Source: Figueredo, pp. 279, 284-286, 293-295, 309, 324, 339-342, 356, 370, 381, 396, 412, 423, 435.
Source: Figueredo, pp. 315, 333, 389, 428.
Source: Figueredo, pp. 291, 305-306, 320, 406, 420, 432.
Source: . Retrieved on March 16, 2007.
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. The right-handed Marrero pitched in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
from to for the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. Marrero made his major league debut when he was 38 years old, and was one of the oldest players in the league throughout the duration of his time in the major leagues. He was a popular star in his native Cuba, where he had a long and successful career in amateur baseball
Amateur sports
Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. Sporting amateurism was a zealously guarded ideal in the 19th century, especially among the upper classes, but faced steady erosion throughout the 20th century with the continuing growth of pro sports...
, pitching for Cuba in several Amateur World Series competitions, and playing several excellent seasons with the professional Cuban League
Cuban League
The Cuban League was one of the earliest and longest lasting professional baseball leagues outside of the United States, operating in Cuba from 1878 to 1961...
and the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
Havana Cubans
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
. His nicknames in Cuba were “El Guajiro de Laberinto” (The Peasant from Laberinto), reflecting his rural origins, “El Premier,” and “El Curvo.”
Marrero's pitches were primarily “slow stuff—curves
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
s and knucklers
Knuckleball
A knuckleball is a baseball pitch with an erratic, unpredictable motion. The pitch is thrown so as to minimize the spin of the ball in flight. This causes vortices over the stitched seams of the baseball during its trajectory, which in turn can cause the pitch to change direction—and even...
.” Roberto González Echevarría provides the following description: “A bit plump, of less than average height, with short arms and small hands, Marrero looked, in uniform
Uniform
A uniform is a set of standard clothing worn by members of an organization while participating in that organization's activity. Modern uniforms are worn by armed forces and paramilitary organizations such as police, emergency services, security guards, in some workplaces and schools and by inmates...
, like someone in a baseball costume, not a player. He looked more like a Spanish grocer or peasant than an athlete.”
At age , Marrero is currently the oldest living former Major League Baseball player.
Amateur play
Marrero was born on a farm called El Laberinto in the district of Sagua la GrandeSagua La Grande
Sagua La Grande is a municipality and city located on the north coast of the province of Villa Clara in central Cuba, on the Sagua la Grande River. The city is close to Mogotes de Jumagua, limestone cliffs...
, Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
; he was of Canary Islands
Canary Islands
The Canary Islands , also known as the Canaries , is a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. The Canaries are a Spanish autonomous community and an outermost region of the European Union...
descent. He played for various teams in his rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
region, then in 1938 at age 26 or 27 was invited to pitch for the Cienfuegos team of the Cuban Amateur League. The league played on Sundays from March through September. The team was sponsored by a department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
, which employed him during the week. Marrero was one of the most popular and successful pitchers in Cuban Amateur League history, winning
Win (baseball)
In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only...
123 games from 1938 to 1945. According to González Echevarría, Marrero as an amateur was considered a bigger drawing card than any professional pitcher in Cuba.
From 1939 to 1943, Cuba hosted the second through sixth Amateur World Series competitions at La Tropical Stadium in Havana. Marrero was a pitcher for the Cuban national team at the second Amateur World Series
1939 Amateur World Series
The 1939 Amateur World Series was the second Amateur World Series, presently known as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by Cuba, Nicaragua and the United States playing six games each from August 12 through August 26 in Cuba, who won the tournament....
in 1939, the first in which Cuba competed. Only three teams competed and Cuba easily won, with Marrero contributing a victory in the only game he pitched. In the third Amateur World Series
1940 Amateur World Series
The 1940 Amateur World Series was the third Amateur World Series, presently known as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by seven different teams playing twelve games each from September 14 through October 6 in Cuba, who won the tournament for the second consecutive time.-Final results:...
in 1940, Marrero led the Cuban team to victory, going 3–2 with a 1.15 earned run average (ERA)
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
, and was named the most valuable player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the series. In the fourth Amateur World Series
1941 Amateur World Series
The 1941 Amateur World Series was the fourth Amateur World Series, presently known as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by nine different teams playing eight games each from September 27 through October 22 in Havana, Cuba. Venezuela won the tournament for the first time.-Final results: won...
in 1941, Marrero won three games, but the series ended in a tie between Cuba and the Venezuela team
Venezuela national baseball team
The Venezuela national baseball team is the national team of Venezuela. They are currently ranked seventh in the world by the International Baseball Federation.-World Baseball Classic:...
. Venezuela was relying on the pitching of Daniel Canónico, who went 4–0 with an ERA of 1.69 in 32 innings. Cuba challenged Venezuela to a playoff game, which was scheduled to allow Canónico time to rest. On October 23, 1941 Marrero faced Canónico for the championship. Venezuela, helped by an error by the Cuban third baseman, scored 3 runs in the bottom of the first inning; Marrero was pulled after 2 innings, and Canónico held the Cubans scoreless until the ninth inning. Venezuela held on to win the game 3–1, winning their first Amateur World Series.
In 1942 Marrero had his best amateur season, going 22–5 with a 1.22 ERA. For the fifth Amateur World Series
1942 Amateur World Series
The 1942 Amateur World Series was the fifth Amateur World Series, presently known as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by five different teams playing twelve games each from September 26 through October 20 in Havana, Cuba, who reclaimed their title for their third championship.There was a...
, the Cuban national team was selected by a fan poll, and Marrero was the top vote-getter. The series featured a rematch between Marrero and Venezuela's Canónico. This time the Cubans won 8–0, and the Cuban team regained the Cup. In 1943 Marrero was suspended from the Amateur League for six months for accepting payment for a game and consequently was not selected for the Amateur World Series team. In 1944 he returned with a 21–8 season and was again selected for the Amateur World Series
1944 Amateur World Series
The 1944 Amateur World Series was the seventh Amateur World Series, presently known as the Baseball World Cup. It was contested by four different teams playing twelve games each from September 25 through October 19 in Caracas, Venezuela, who won a controversial second title.Controversy surrounded...
team. The series was played in Caracas, Venezuela and ended in controversy. There was a three-way tie among Mexico
Mexico national baseball team
The Mexico national baseball team is the baseball team which represents Mexico in international tournaments. They are currently the eighth ranked baseball team in the world.-Pan American Games:*1951 Bronze Medal *1963 Bronze Medal...
, Venezuela, and Cuba, forcing a playoff. However, after some questionable calls by the umpires, who were provided by Venezuela, Cuba withdrew from the tournament in protest. In 1945 Marrero again pitched for Cienfuegos in the Amateur League. He was caught pitching in a non-league game a second time and given an indefinite suspension. He then decided to turn professional.
Cuban (Winter) League
In the winter of 1946/47, Marrero signed with the Oriente team of the National Federation league. Marrero had a good season, leading the league in victories with an 8–5 record. After the end of the Federation season, he switched to the AlmendaresAlmendares (baseball club)
The Almendares club was one of the oldest and most distinguished baseball teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. Almendares represented the Almendares District on the outskirts of the old city of Havana—when the league was founded it was still considered a suburban area,...
team of the regular Cuban League for the last month of the season. Although he played only a minor role—pitching in four games and going 1–0—he participated on the winning team of one of the most famous pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
races in Cuban League history.
In the spring of 1947, Marrero, as part of a Cuban all-star team, had a chance to pitch against major league teams that were playing in Havana during spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
. He beat the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
in a rain-shortened 7-inning game, allowing one run and four hits. A week later (now pitching for the minor league Havana Cubans), he suffered a tough 1–0 loss against the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, allowing four hits and striking out eight. The next Cuban League season, 1947/48, Marrero returned to Almendares in the Cuban League (which was now officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
) and pitched perhaps his best season, going 12–2, setting the Cuban League all-time records for shutouts (eight) and ERA (1.12) and winning the most valuable player award. However, with Almendares tied with the Habana team
Habana (baseball club)
The Habana club was one of the oldest and most distinguished baseball teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. Habana, representing the city of Havana, was the only team to play in the league every season of its existence and was one of its most successful franchises...
with one game left, he was unable to clinch the pennant as he lost to Habana's Alex Patterson in a 3-2 game.
In 1948/49 Marrero went 6–4, as Almendares easily won another pennant. As the league champions, Almendares represented Cuba in the first Caribbean Series played in Havana in 1949. Cuba swept the series with Marrero contributing a one-run, four-hit, complete-game victory in the only game he pitched. In 1949/50 Marrero went 7–3 and led the Cuban League with an ERA of 2.66, as Almendares again won the pennant. At the second Caribbean Series, Marrero went 0–2 as Cuba was upset by Panamá
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
. The next winter Marrero went 11–7 with a 2.37 ERA, leading the Cuban League in wins and innings pitched. Almendares, however, was edged out by Habana for the pennant in a one-game playoff. In 1951/52 Marrero went 6–9, and the next winter he went 8–8.
In 1953/54, Marrero went 7–5 and helped Almendares regain the pennant. In the sixth Caribbean Series Marrero pitched a shutout in his only appearance, but Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
won the series. In 1954/55 Marrero went 2–3 and began to be used primarily in relief. Almendares won the pennant and went to the Caribbean Series, but Marrero did not make an appearance. In 1955/56 Marrero became the manager of Almendares, but the team fell to last place, making his tenure as manager a short one. He pitched in four games and went 1–0. After being released by Almendares, Marrero signed with Marianao for the 1956/57 season, where he pitched 19 innings in seven games with a 1.37 ERA. Marianao won the pennant and Marrero pitched in his last Caribbean Series, lasting 3-1/3 innings against Panamá in a game that was eventually won by his teammate, Jim Bunning
Jim Bunning
James Paul David "Jim" Bunning is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher and politician.During a 17-year baseball career, he pitched from 1955 to 1971, most notably with the Detroit Tigers and the Philadelphia Phillies. When he retired, he had the second-highest total of career...
. Cuba went on to win their fourth victory in nine series. The next season was Marrero's last, as he pitched only four innings in three appearances.
Marrero's career Cuban League record was 69–43. His .600 winning percentage is the sixth highest in league history among pitchers with at least 40 wins. (Of the five pitchers with a higher career winning percetage, three are in the U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
—José Méndez
José Méndez
José de la Caridad Méndez was a Cuban right-handed pitcher and manager in baseball's Negro Leagues. Born in Cárdenas, Matanzas, he died at age 41 in Havana. Known in Cuba as El Diamante Negro , he became a legend in his homeland. He was one of the first group of players elected to the Cuban...
, Ray Brown and Martín Dihigo
Martín Dihigo
Martín Magdaleno Dihigo Llanos was a Cuban player in baseball's Negro leagues and Latin American leagues who excelled at several positions, primarily as a pitcher and second baseman...
; the other two are Carlos Royer and Camilo Pascual
Camilo Pascual
Camilo Alberto Pascual is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During an 18-year baseball career , he played for the Washington Senators , the second Washington Senators franchise, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cleveland Indians...
.) Despite not pitching in the Cuban League until he was 35 years old, his 69 victories ranks 10th on the Cuban League all-time list.
Minor league baseball
From 1947 to 1949, Marrero pitched for the Havana Cubans in the Florida International LeagueFlorida International League
The Florida International League was a lower- to mid-level circuit in American and Cuban minor league baseball that existed from 1946 through July 27, 1954. It was designated Class C for its first three seasons, then upgraded to Class B in 1949 for the final 5½ years of its existence.The FIL...
. The team was a minor league affiliate of the Washington Senators. In 1947 Marrero went 25–6 and led the league in wins (25), complete games (28), strikeouts (251), shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
s (seven) and ERA (1.66). On July 12, 1947, Marrero pitched a no hitter against the Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
Smokers, allowing only one base runner on a hit by pitch
Hit by pitch
In baseball, hit by pitch , or hit batsman , is a batter or his equipment being hit in some part of his body by a pitch from the pitcher.-Official rule:...
. The Cubans finished in first place with a 105–45 record. The Cubans also won the playoffs against the Miami
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
Sun Sox and the Tampa Smokers, with Marrero pitching two shutouts.
In 1948 Marrero went 20–11 with a 1.67 ERA. The Cubans again finished in first place with a 97–57 record, their third consecutive title. In the playoffs they beat both the Lakeland
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
Pilots and the Tampa Smokers. In 1949 Marrero won the league MVP award after going 25–8 with 11 shutouts and a 1.53 ERA. He set a league record by pitching 44 consecutive scoreless innings. Havana again finished in first place with a 95–57 record (the fourth of their five consecutive first place finishes) and beat Miami Beach
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
in the first round of the playoffs. In the second round, however, the Cubans were swept by Tampa, with Marrero losing to Tampa's Oscar del Calvo.
After five years with the major league Washington Senators, Marrero returned to Havana to play with the minor league team from 1955-57. In 1954 the team had moved to the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
and had been renamed the Havana Sugar Kings
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
. Marrero didn't travel with the team, pitching only for their home games. In 1955 he went 7–3, pitched five shutouts (one of them a one-hitter), and had a 2.69 ERA. In 1956, the 45-year-old pitcher pitched only 45 innings and went 3–1. His only loss was to an even older pitcher, Miami's Leroy (Satchel) Paige
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
. In 1957 Marrero pitched only fiveinnings in three games, as his pitching career came to an end.
Major League career
From 1950 to 1954, Marrero pitched for the American LeagueAmerican League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
Washington Senators. During that period, Washington's roster also included a number of other Cuban players, such as pitchers Sandy Consuegra
Sandy Consuegra
Sandalio Simeon Consuegra Castello [con-SWEH-grah] was a Cuban-born relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1950 through 1957, Consuegra played for the Washington Senators , Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and New York Giants...
and Camilo Pascual
Camilo Pascual
Camilo Alberto Pascual is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. During an 18-year baseball career , he played for the Washington Senators , the second Washington Senators franchise, Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Cleveland Indians...
and catcher Mike Guerra
Mike Guerra
Fermin Guerra born in Havana, Cuba was a catcher for the Washington Senators , Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox ....
. The Senators were a second division team, never finishing higher than fifth place in the eight-team league while Marrero pitched for them. His first major league appearance came on April 21, 1950. In 1950 he pitched 152 innings in 27 games (19 of them starts), and finished with a 6–10 record and a 4.50 ERA.
In 1951 Marrero led his team in wins and innings pitched, going 11–9 in 187 innings with a 3.90 ERA. On April 26, 1951, he pitched a one-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
, beating them 2-1. The only hit given up by Marrero was a home run by Barney McCosky
Barney McCosky
William Barney McCosky was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1953, he played for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . McCosky batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
.
In 1952 he went 11–8 with a 2.88 ERA (ninth in the league), as Washington improved to a 78–76 record. The following year he went 8–7 with a 3.03 ERA. In 1954 he was the oldest player in the major leagues, as he slipped to 3–6 with a 4.75 ERA. On January 24, 1955, the 43-year-old Marrero was released by the Senators.
Marrero finished his major league career with a 39–40 record and a 3.67 ERA, which was eight percent better than the league average (after adjusting for ballpark differences). He pitched 51 complete games, including seven shutouts, in his 94 starts. He was selected to the 1951 American League All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
team, though he didn't play.
Post-playing career
After retiring as a player, Marrero became a coach for the Havana Sugar Kings. After the Cuban RevolutionCuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
, Marrero was one of the most prominent players to remain in Cuba under Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
, thereby providing a link between the old professional Cuban League and the new amateur Cuban national baseball system and its Cuban National Series
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
). He was a pitching coach for several years for the Havana Industriales
Industriales
Industriales is a baseball team in the Cuban National Series. One of the two teams based in the city of Havana, Industriales is historically the most successful team in the National Series, the main domestic competition in post-revolutionary Cuban baseball...
and was also a roving pitching instructor. He is a respected figure in Cuba; his portrait is shown on a mural at Estadio Latinoamericano
Estadio Latinoamericano
The Estadio Latinoamericano is a stadium in Havana, Cuba. It is primarily used for baseball. Gran Stadium, a spacious pitchers' park with prevailing winds blowing in and boasting a playing surface and lighting system of major-league quality, was built in 1946 as the top baseball park in Latin...
, and he threw out the first pitch at the 1984 baseball World Championship.
In 2006, Marrero was featured along with his Almendares teammate, Hall of Famer Monte Irvin
Monte Irvin
Monford Merrill "Monte" Irvin is a former left fielder and right-handed batter in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball who played with the Newark Eagles , New York Giants and Chicago Cubs .-Biography:Although born in Haleburg, Alabama, Irvin grew up in Orange, New Jersey, one of five...
, in a documentary about Cuban baseball, "The Bases Are Loaded." He does not draw a major league pension and is reported to be living modestly in a room in a relative's Havana apartment. As recently as early 2007 a baseball tour of Cuba advertised that participants would have an opportunity to visit with the 95-year old Marrero.
Cuban League
| Year | Team | League | W Win (baseball) In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only... |
L | Pct Winning percentage In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win... |
G Games pitched In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while... |
CG Complete game In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were... |
IP Innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two... |
H Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
ERA Earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine... |
| 1946/47 | Oriente | National Federation | 8* | 5 | .615 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Almendares Almendares (baseball club) The Almendares club was one of the oldest and most distinguished baseball teams in the old Cuban League, which existed from 1878 to 1961. Almendares represented the Almendares District on the outskirts of the old city of Havana—when the league was founded it was still considered a suburban area,... p |
Cuban Cuban League The Cuban League was one of the earliest and longest lasting professional baseball leagues outside of the United States, operating in Cuba from 1878 to 1961... |
1 | 0 | 1.000 | 4 | 1 | 14.3 | — | 5 | 6 | — | |
| 1947/48 | Almendares | Cuban | 12* | 2 | .857* | 22 | 17 | 184.7 | 123 | 55 | 99 | 1.12* |
| 1948/49 | Almendares c | Cuban | 6 | 4 | .600 | 15 | 4 | 77.7 | 71 | 19 | 27 | 3.48 |
| 1949/50 | Almendares p | Cuban | 7 | 3 | .700 | 15 | 5 | 81.3 | 81 | 20 | 38 | 2.66* |
| 1950/51 | Almendares | Cuban | 11* | 7 | .611 | 27 | 9 | 159.7* | 135 | 32 | 58 | 2.37 |
| 1951/52 | Almendares | Cuban | 6 | 9 | .400 | 21 | 6 | 115.7 | 107 | 40 | 51 | 3.50 |
| 1952/53 | Almendares | Cuban | 8 | 8 | .500 | 22 | 8 | 135.0 | 105 | 47 | 48 | 2.60 |
| 1953/54 | Almendares p | Cuban | 7 | 5 | .583 | 22 | 3 | 107.3 | 102 | 28 | 46 | 3.27 |
| 1954/55 | Almendares p | Cuban | 2 | 3 | .400 | 21 | 1 | 58.7 | 42 | 19 | 28 | 2.61 |
| 1955/56 | Almendares | Cuban | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 4 | 0 | 10.3 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 2.61 |
| 1956/57 | Marianao c | Cuban | 0 | 0 | .000 | 7 | 0 | 19.7 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 1.37 |
| 1957/58 | Marianao c | Cuban | 0 | 0 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 4.0 | 9 | 4 | 4 | — |
| Total | 12 seasons | 69 | 46 | .600 | 201 | 54^ | 968.3^ | 798^ | 281^ | 417^ | 2.51^ | |
| * - led league; p = pennant; c = pennant and Caribbean Series championship; ^ = totals incomplete. | ||||||||||||
Source: Figueredo, pp. 279, 284-286, 293-295, 309, 324, 339-342, 356, 370, 381, 396, 412, 423, 435.
Caribbean Series
| Year | Team | W Win (baseball) In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only... |
L | Pct Winning percentage In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win... |
G Games pitched In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while... |
CG Complete game In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were... |
IP Innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two... |
H Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
ERA Earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine... |
| 1949 | Almendares c | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 1 | 9.0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | — |
| 1950 | Almendares | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2 | 0 | 7.0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1954 | Almendares | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 1 | 9.0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0.00 |
| 1957 | Marianao c | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 3.3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Total | 4 Series | 2 | 2 | .500 | 5 | 2 | 28.3 | 23 | 5 | 13 | — |
| c = Caribbean Series championship. | |||||||||||
Source: Figueredo, pp. 315, 333, 389, 428.
Minor leagues
| Year | Team | League | W Win (baseball) In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only... |
L | Pct Winning percentage In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win... |
G Games pitched In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while... |
CG Complete game In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were... |
IP Innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two... |
H Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
ERA Earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine... |
| 1947 | Havana Havana Sugar Kings The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar... c |
Florida International Florida International League The Florida International League was a lower- to mid-level circuit in American and Cuban minor league baseball that existed from 1946 through July 27, 1954. It was designated Class C for its first three seasons, then upgraded to Class B in 1949 for the final 5½ years of its existence.The FIL... |
25* | 6 | .806 | 40 | 28* | 271 | 180 | 46 | 251* | 1.66* |
| 1948 | Havana c | Florida International | 20 | 11 | .645 | 35 | 24 | 264 | 206 | 24 | 168 | 1.67* |
| 1949 | Havana p | Florida International | 25* | 8 | .758* | 35 | 26* | 258 | 175 | 47 | 167* | 1.53 |
| 1955 | Havana | International International League The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States... |
7 | 3 | .700 | 16 | 5 | 87 | 71 | 27 | 54 | 2.69 |
| 1956 | Havana | International | 3 | 1 | .750 | 15 | 0 | 45 | 45 | 11 | 20 | 3.40 |
| 1957 | Havana | International | 0 | 0 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1.93 |
| Total | 6 seasons | 80 | 29 | .734 | 144 | 83 | 930 | 680 | 156 | 661 | 1.81 | |
| * - led league; p = pennant; c = pennant and playoff championship. | ||||||||||||
Source: Figueredo, pp. 291, 305-306, 320, 406, 420, 432.
Major League Baseball
| Year | Team | League | W Win (baseball) In professional baseball, there are two types of decisions: a win and a loss . In each game, one pitcher on the winning team is awarded a win and one pitcher on the losing team is given a loss in their respective statistics. These pitchers are collectively known as the pitchers of record. Only... |
L | Pct Winning percentage In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win... |
G Games pitched In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while... |
CG Complete game In baseball, a complete game is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher.As demonstrated by the charts below, in the early 20th century, it was common for most good Major League Baseball pitchers to pitch a complete game almost every start. Pitchers were... |
IP Innings pitched In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two... |
H Hit (baseball) In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice.... |
BB Base on balls A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08... |
SO Strikeout In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters.... |
ERA Earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine... |
ERA+ Earned run average In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine... |
| 1950 | Washington Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the... |
AL American League The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major... |
6 | 10 | .375 | 27 | 8 | 152.0 | 159 | 55 | 63 | 4.50 | 100 |
| 1951 | Washington | AL | 11 | 9 | .550 | 25 | 16 | 187.0 | 198 | 71 | 66 | 3.90 | 105 |
| 1952 | Washington | AL | 11 | 8 | .579 | 22 | 16 | 184.3 | 175 | 53 | 77 | 2.88 | 124 |
| 1953 | Washington | AL | 8 | 7 | .533 | 22 | 10 | 145.7 | 130 | 48 | 65 | 3.03 | 129 |
| 1954 | Washington | AL | 3 | 6 | .333 | 22 | 1 | 66.3 | 74 | 22 | 26 | 4.75 | 75 |
| Total | 5 seasons | 39 | 40 | .494 | 118 | 51 | 735.3 | 736 | 249 | 297 | 3.67 | 108 | |
Source: . Retrieved on March 16, 2007.
External links
. Retrieved on March 16, 2007. Biography and career highlights.- "Cuba’s and World’s Oldest Ballplayer Celebrates a Centennial Anniversary". Bjarkman, P. 18/4/11. http://www.baseballdecuba.com/EngnewsContainer.asp?id=2484