The third edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1951. The Series inauguration on February 21 was delayed due to heavy rain and it was held from February 22 through February 26, including two double-headers on February 25, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones del Habana; Panama, Spur Cola Colonites; Puerto Rico, Cangrejeros de Santurce, and Venezuela, Navegantes del Magallanes. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Cervecería Caracas Stadium in Caracas, Venezuela.
Summary The Puerto Rico team won the Series with a 5-1 record and was managed by George Scales. Their only defeat came from Cuba. The team was led by OF Luis Rodríguez Olmo, who was named Most Valuable Player after hitting .423 (11-for-26) with three home runs and nine RBI. Other contributions came from pitchers Pantalones Santiago (two complete-game wins), Rubén Gómez (two wins, one save), 1B George Crowe (.333, one grand slam, 7 RBI), and SS Stan Breard (.423, seven runs, 4 doubles, 8 RBI). Also in the Puerto Rican roster were Jim Gilliam (2B), Buster Clarkson (3B), Bob Thurman (OF) and Willard Brown (OF).
Managed by Mike González, Cuba finished in second place with a 4-2 mark. 1B Lorenzo Cabrera led the Series hitters with an astronomical .619 batting average (13-for-23), while the pitching staff was led by Adrián Zabala (2-0), Hoyt Wilhelm (1-1) and Bill Ayers (1 win, 1 save). Also included in the roster were Sandy Amorós (OF), Pedro Formental (OF), Bert Haas (3B), Spider Jorgensen (2B), Ed Mierkowicz (OF), Jiquí Moreno (P) and Carlos Pascual (P).
Venezuela was managed by Lázaro Salazar and finished 2-4, with both victories over Panama. The team was led by 1B René González, who hit .316 (6-for-19), including two doubles, two home runs and a Series-leading 11 RBI. Pitcher José Bracho posted a 1-0 record and a 0.71 earned run average in innings pitched, helping himself with the bat while hitting .500 (3-for-6) with a double, one run and four RBIs. Other significant players in the roster included Luis García (3B), Vidal López (LF), Jim Pendleton (SS), Chucho Ramos (1B) and Ken Staples (C), as well as pitchers Frank Biscan, Julio Bracho, Alex Carrasquel and Clem Labine.
Panama ended with a 1-5 mark and was managed by catcher León Kellman. The team's only victory came behind a strong pitching effort from starter Connie Johnson over the Cuban team, while 1B Archie Ware paced the offense in average (.348), hits (8) and RBI (4).
Participating teams Team Manager Cangrejeros de Santurce George Scales Leones del Habana Mike González Navegantes del Magallanes Lázaro Salazar Spur Cola Colonites León Kellman
Final standings
Scoreboards Game 1, February 22
Game 2, February 22
Game 3, February 23
Game 4, February 23
Game 5, February 24
Game 6, February 24
Game 7, February 25
Game 8, February 25
Game 9, February 25
Game 10, February 25
Game 11, February 26
Game 12, February 26
Statistics leaders Statistic Player Team Total Batting average Lorenzo Cabrera Leones del Habana .615 Home runs Luis Olmo Cangrejeros de Santurce 3 Runs batted in René González Navegantes del Magallanes 11 Runs Stan Breard Cangrejeros de Santurce 8 Hits Lorenzo Cabrera Leones del Habana 13 Doubles Stan Breard Cangrejeros de Santurce 4 Triples Sandy Amorós Leones del Habana 1 Jim Gilliam Cangrejeros de Santurce Bob Thurman Cangrejeros de Santurce Stolen bases Charles Douglas Spur Cola Colonites 3 Wins Rubén Gómez Cangrejeros de Santurce 2 José Santiago Cangrejeros de Santurce Adrián Zabala Leones del Habana
Awards
+ Tournament Awards Award Player Team MVP Luis Olmo Cangrejeros de Santurce Best manager George Scales Cangrejeros de Santurce
+ All Star Team Position Player Team First base Lorenzo Cabrera Leones del Habana Second base Spook Jacobs Spur Cola Colonites Third base Jimmy Dicks Navegantes del Magallanes Shortstop Stan Breard Cangrejeros de Santurce Left field Pedro Formental Leones del Habana Center field Luis Olmo Cangrejeros de Santurce Right field Bob Thurman Cangrejeros de Santurce Catcher Güigüí Lucas Cangrejeros de Santurce Pitcher José Santiago Cangrejeros de Santurce
See also Ballplayers who have played in the 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)