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1954 Caribbean Series

Tournament details
Country	Puerto Rico
City	San Juan
Venue(s)	1 (in 1 host city)
Dates	18–23 February
Teams	4
Final positions
Champions	Criollos de Caguas (1st title)
Runner-up	Alacranes del Almendares
Tournament statistics
MVP	Jim Rivera
← 19531955 →

The sixth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1954. It was held from February 18 through February 23, featuring the champion baseball teams from Cuba (Alacranes del Almendares), Panama (Carta Vieja Yankees), Puerto Rico ,(Criollos de Caguas) and Venezuela (Lácteos de Pastora). Lácteos de Pastora were the champion of the Liga Occidental de Béisbol Profesional rather than the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio Sixto Escobar in San Juan, P.R.

Summary

Puerto Rico won the Series with a 4-2 record en route for a second straight championship (third overall). The Caguas club was managed by Mickey Owen and led by center fielder and Series MVP Jim Rivera, who posted a .400 batting average to lead the hitters. Caguas also received offensive support from 1B Víctor Pellot Power (.348) and 2B Jack Cassini (.333). Meanwhile, the pitching staff surrendered only 10 earned runs (2.00 ERA), being led by starters Corky Valentine (1-0, 1.00 ERA, five hits), Brooks Lawrence (1-0, 1.00, six hits) and Rubén Gómez (1-0, 2.00, five hits), while reliever Luis Arroyo added depth coming out of the bullpen (three appearances, 1-0, 0.00, 7+1⁄3 innings). Puerto Rico also had Jack Sanford (P) in addition to Félix Mantilla (SS), Charlie Neal (IF) and Luis (Canena) Márquez.

Cuba, piloted by Bobby Bragan, had a 3-3 record to tie the second place with Panama. The Cuban squad got fine work of P Conrado Marrero (1-0, five-hit shutout), CF Sam Chapman (.391, homerun, .609 SLG) and RF Angel Scull (.391, .522 SLG). Other roster members included Julio Bécquer (1B), Joe Hatten (P), Cholly Naranjo (P) and Héctor Rodríguez (3B).

Panama was managed by Al Kubski and received a heroic pitching effort by starter Victor Stryska (2-0), who allowed just one earned run in 18 innings pitched. The attack was guided by 3B Joe Tuminelli (.391) and LF Bobby Prescott (.381), in an anemic lineup who batted a collective .255 average and scored 17 runs (fewest in the Series).

Venezuela was guided by Napoleón Reyes and finished in last place with a 2-4 record. Ramón Monzant (1-0, 3.00) and Ralph Beard (1-0, 7.20) got the victories, while Howie Fox collected a 2.58 ERA in two appearances but lose a decision. Bad luck starter Thornton Kipper dropped two decisions, losing his duels against Gómez (PR) and Stryska (PAN), while allowing four earned runs (2.12) in 17 innings. Besides, Emilio Cueche made two strong relief appearances and allowed just one earned run in 8+2⁄3 innings of work. 3B Luis García provided the lone offensive threat with a .348 BA and a .563 SLG, including nine RBI to lead the Series hitters. Venezuela included Ed Bailey (C), Vernon Benson (SS), Tommy Byrne (P/1B), Wally Moon (CF), Johnny Temple and rookie Luis Aparicio (SS), among others.

Participating teams

Team	Manager
Alacranes del Almendares	Bobby Bragan
Carta Vieja Yankees	Al Kubski
Criollos de Caguas	Mickey Owen
Lácteos de Pastora	Napoleón Reyes

Final standings

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	RF	RA	RD	PCT	GB
1	Criollos de Caguas (H)	6	4	2	22	15	+7	.667	—
2	Alacranes del Almendares	6	3	3	28	18	+10	.500	1
3	Carta Vieja Yankees	6	3	3	17	31	−14	.500	1
4	Lácteos de Pastora	6	2	4	21	24	−3	.333	2

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 18

Game 2, February 18

Game 3, February 19

Game 4, February 19

Game 5, February 20

Game 6, February 20

Game 7, February 21

Game 8, February 21

Game 9, February 22

Game 10, February 22

Game 11, February 23

Game 12, February 23

Statistics leaders

Statistic	Player	Team	Total
Batting average	Jim Rivera	Criollos de Caguas	.450
Home runs	Ray Orteig	Alacranes del Almendares	2
Runs batted in	Luis García	Lácteos de Pastora	9
Runs	Angel Scull	Alacranes del Almendares	5
Hits	Jim Rivera	Criollos de Caguas	9
Doubles	Vic Power	Criollos de Caguas	3
	Bobby Prescott	Carta Vieja Yankees
Triples	Five players tied		1
Stolen bases	Jack Cassini	Criollos de Caguas	2
Wins	Vic Stryska	Carta Vieja Yankees	2
Earned run average	Vic Stryska	Carta Vieja Yankees	0.50
Strikeouts	Joe Hatten	Alacranes del Almendares	12
Saves	Howie Fox	Lácteos de Pastora	1
Innings pitched	Vic Stryska	Carta Vieja Yankees	18.0

Awards

Tournament Awards Award Player Team MVP Jim Rivera Criollos de Caguas Best manager Mickey Owen Criollos de Caguas

All Star Team Position Player Team First base Vic Power Criollos de Caguas Second base Jack Cassini Criollos de Caguas Third base Luis García Lácteos de Pastora Shortstop Vern Benson Lácteos de Pastora Left field Bobby Prescott Carta Vieja Yankees Center field Jim Rivera Criollos de Caguas Right field Sam Chapman Alacranes del Almendares Catcher Ray Orteig Alacranes del Almendares Pitcher Vic Stryska Carta Vieja Yankees

See also

• Ballplayers who have played in the Series

References

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

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)

• 1954 in baseball
• Caribbean Series
• International baseball competitions hosted by Puerto Rico
• 1954 in Puerto Rican sports
• 1954 in Caribbean sport
• February 1954 sports events in North America
• Sports in San Juan, Puerto Rico