Florida
Tampa Semi-pro championship
1938
1939-1-21 Times. Goody-Goody, West Coast League champs, will play Loyal Knights, Intersocial League champs. Goody-Goody manager Johnny Boromei has signed Peaches Hernandez, who is home for the winter, to pitch. Pic of Goody-Goody catcher Lawrence Polk. Peaches won 26 games for an Albany team last year.
1897-4-07 Weekly Tribune. Chase and Tampa will play. Tampa has been trying to organize a strong nine for two years - finally has one, the best in the state.
1902-9-19 Trib. "The baseball war is over.
A united Tampa team, composed of the very best players the city affords, has been formed, and will hereafter represent this city on the diamond against the teams of other cities.
At a meeting held last night, at the office of M. F. McKay, a mutual agreement was reached, whereby the two local teams, Green Stockings and Tampas, which have existed in this city, were disbanded, and the best men of both teams selected to form a new Tampa team, wearing the city's base- ball colors, and capable of taking care of the city's baseball interests on the field."
"The new team will wear the Tampa uniforms, which were purchased by the citizens at the beginning of the season.
The new team will line up for the three games with Gainesville and the seven games with Key West, which are now on the docket.
By the agreement, the management of both of the former teams will recover the amounts they have lost on recent games, and the players will receive a more liberal share of the receipts than has heretofore been the rule.
GAINESVILLE TODAY.
The Gainesville team arrived last night from Key West, and the first game of the series will be played this afternoon at DeSoto Park.
The line-up of the new Tampa team in this afternoon's game will be as follows:
Alfonso, catcher; McKay, pitcher; Streety, first base; Allan, second base; Brown, third base; Barry, shortstop; Butler, right field: Fromherz, left field; Solberg, centerfield.
With one exception, Streety at first, this will be the same wonderful array that represented Tampa in the great final game of the last Jacksonville series-and everybody knows that Streety is all right anywhere on the diamond."
1909-4-17 Stachelberg team has Leon, Corcho, and Sorondo. [Stachelberg = cigar manufacturer owned by Edgar J. Stachelberg.
1909-9-25 Tampa Athletic Association organized - the team, playing under name of Hyde Park, has been 1-1-4 v. the Stachelbergs, the Nite Hawks, and Port Tampa. W.F. Zimmerman of Hyde Park = MG.
1912-3-24 Trib. Tampas-New Tampas game will decide city championship. The teams have played once before this year - game called on account of darkness.
H. Leon is New Tampas MG - Paco listed as sub.
1912-3-25 Times. Keen rivalry between the two teams - considered to be the best amateur teams in the city. Tampas added pitcher Schooley to replace pitcher Brown. Fred Allen is new manager of Tampas. Leon is manager of New Tampas - the Cubans have not lost a game yet this season.
"Schooley will be in the box for the Tampas, while Corcho and Sorronto will look after the interests of their team. There is no doubt but that Sorronto is the best semi-professional catcher in the state.
The regular South Florida league series will commence within a short time, and it is thought that the game this afternoon will be the last between these two teams until that time."
Line for Tampa Eagles beating Young Men's Catholic Club 12-4. Schooley pitched for Eagles.
1912-3-25 Trib. Game will be at Tampa Bay athletic grounds.
"Several of the players on the teams playing this afternoon are fast enough for some minor league club, and one or two of them have received offers, but prefer to remain in Tampa and play in the South Florida league."
"Schooley, recently secured from Lakeland, will be on the receiving end of the battery for Tampa, and he expects to cut down any of the New Tampa players who attempt to pilfer a bag. Lyles or Crawford will do the twirling, and as both are good men. the hits made off them will be very few, and well scattered. The battery for New Tampa will be the old reliable Corcho and Sorronto, who have been working together for the past several seasons. Sorronto is without a doubt the best semi-professional catcher in the State. He had several years' experience in the City League several years ago, and in the South Florida League of 1909. Corcho is a hard worker and never gives up hope as long as he is in the game. He has a varied assortment of curves, and his speed and control is wonderful.
All who witness this game will be ampiy repaid by seeing an exception- ally close and exciting contest."
1912-4-12 Times. Tomorrow the Tampa Eagles will play the New Tampas at the Tampa Athletic Grounds. Both teams will be strengthened. The teams have already played two games - first a tie, the second the Cubans won 1-0. Walter Brown, the great local hurler, has returned from Bessemer AL and will pitch for the Eagles. The "invincible Montgomery" will catch him. The game will be called at 3:30. Admission is 25 cents - ladies are admitted free.
1912-5-30 St. Pete. Preview - lists Cubans' lineup.
1912-6-23 Trib. The New Tampas and Tampa Eagles are merging. All their prior scores listed. The Tampa Eagles are 7-9-4; the New Tampas are 4-0-3.
Roster of reorganized nine listed.
1912-7-03 Times. The New Tampas will play Ft. Dade tomorrow. The New Tampas "are greatly weakened by the loss of Paco, Corcho, Sorronto, Sanchez and Brown, who will not be in the game on account of being out of the city."
"Another thing we will mention is that the present Tampa team was formerly known as the Tampa Eagles and that the old New Tampa team defeated them several times, on some Occasions by much larger scores than they [Tampa] beat the Soldiers on the 21st. Tampa has strengthened a bit since then, but have lost the services of Brown, Jeter, Gonzalez and Cooper. They recently signed Paco, Corcho, Winn and Butzloff to take the places of the players lost and it is hard to determine if the team is stronger or weaker now than it was before. Tampa plays Winter Haven a double-header tomorrow at Winter Haven."
1902-10-07 Trib. Line. Key West Cubans 9, Tampa 1. 200 ATT. Cartoon. Sixth and last game of series - Key West won five straight.
"Yesterday's game wound up the series. Tampa lost five straight games to the brilliant little players from the Island City. Last night, four of the champions sailed for home, carrying back with them the blue flag which they brought here. The other members of the team will remain in Tampa, having obtained work in the local cigar factories.
The Key Westers speak in glowing terms of the manner in which they have been treated by the Tampa players, their Cuban friends and by the public generally.
THE BASEBALL FUTURE.
The baseball future in Tampa is somewhat uncertain. It was reported yesterday that Manager Castillo would reorganize the Green Stockings, taking in the five Key West men who will make their homes here. It is hoped, however, that the Tampa team, as at present organized, will stick together, and that games can be arranged with other cities in the near future, which will give the home boys an opportunity to regain some of their lost laurels.
That Tampa has excellent baseball material there can be no question. The local players are deficient in many things, however, and in going up against a well-trained, thoroughly organized aggregation like the Key Westers, they naturally got the worst of it.
But there are other teams in Florida, and there is no reason why we should not have more good baseball, with results more flattering to Tampa's vanity than the Key West series."
1908-7-04 Trib. Optimos 7, Stachelbergs 4. Optimos 3, Tampa Royals 3. (11 innings) 2500 ATT.
Commentary only. Player badly spiked; had to be rushed in a buggy to the doctor. Tapane, Corcho, etc. - Leon played short for the Tampa Royals. Gunst with Stachelbergs.
1909-9-28 Trib. Athletics 3, Stachelbergs 0. Box. Athletics were once Hyde Park - have won three games and tied three out of six games played.
"The management wishes to state that games will be played all winter, and that the Tampa Athletic Association intends to give the baseball-loving people of Tampa a chance to witness good ball without the corrupting influence of professionalism."
Sorronto (Sorondo) led off for Stachelbergs.
1909-10-09 Trib. Stachelbergs 3, Athletics 2. Line. Two local amateur teams. Leon hit a two-run double for the Stachelbergs. Fast game.
1909-10-09 Trib. Stachelbergs 3, Athletics 2. Line. Two local amateur teams. Leon hit a two-run double for the Stachelbergs. Fast game.
1912-2-26 Trib. Baseball season opened in city: New Tampas 9, Tampa Eagles 2.
"The games now are forerunners of a new South Florida League. If the people of Tampa and vicinity show that they will support a league team here by attending the games now be- ing played, it will in all probably be the cause of another league being formed with with Tampa as the leading town of the circuit.
There are several excellent amateur and semi-professional teams in South Florida, and the people are assured of seeing good, clean sport here this summer."
1912-3-04 Trib. Baseball season opened in city: New Tampas 3, Tampas 3. Leon, Sorrento [Sorondo], and Concho [Corcho] with New Tampas. Paco at ss-3b - could be Lujan? Madden struck out 16 for Tampas.
1912-3-04 Times. Tampas called Tampa Eagles.
1912-5-30 St. Pete. St. Petersburg 6, Tampa All-Star Cubans 3. "Yesterday afternoon the largest crowd that has been seen in a good long while at the ball park assembled there, some in automobiles, some in carriages, some on motor-cycles, and a great crowd on the street cars..."
Sorronto (Sorondo), Brown, and Phillips was the Cubans' battery. Leon tripled. St. Petersburg's "red-headed battery" of Goss and McCrea was too much for the Cubans.
1913-9-24 Times. Cuesta-Rey manager, Jose Acosta, refutes aspersions cast on the behavior of the Romeo-Juliet team.
1913-9-27 Times. VG. Summary of every game Romeo and Juliet played here. Romeo and Juliet were 7-2-1; pitching listed for them and their opponents. They made just 10 errors while their opponents made 31.
Good account of team.
1913-9-19 Times. Romeo and Juliet 3, Tampa 2. Howard Miller, Tampa Gas pitcher, struck out 11 of the visitors in six innings. Box, play by play. Good commentary. Pent's triple was the longest hit of the season at the Tampa Bay grounds.
"The whole Romeo and Juliet team was full of arguments, and put one umpire out of the game, kicking on every play that was made, when any way close."
1915-3-08 Trib. Habana Reds team pic. Have Ferrer, Calixto Romero, Jose Gutierrez, Ogarzon, and Lujan.
Itinerary listed; will play in Tampa March 20, 22, 23.
Cigar City League
begin:
1913 Cuesta-Rey
1914 Ybor City
1915
Ballesteros, Gerardo p CUWL/BLK 1914 Ybor City
Ogarzon, Andres if-c CUWL/BLK 1914 West Tampa
1913-8-25 Times. Good team pic of Cuesta-Rey. (Unfortunately, the players are not identified.) Cuesta-Rey has a 19-7-3 record for the season. Scores for every game given - total stats of team and opponents given.
"Many fans in Tampa predicted at the beginning of the season, that the Cuesta-Rey team would take a grand "Blow" before the season was half over. The Cuestans have not only maintained the pace they set at the beginning of the season, but they have worked under many difficulties those who sat in the grandstand knew nothing of. For the past three weeks the Cuesta-Rey team has consisted only of nine men. Every man had to play in every game, as there was no one to relieve him. Leon has played on a sprained ankle, Pent has had a strained muscle in his leg for the last two weeks, Sorondo has been catching with his hand swelled to nearly twice its natural size, Medina has had a split hand and A. Corcho has played many games when he should have been in bed. All in all, they are a game bunch of ball tossers. Following is the team's record for the season."
1913-9-20 Times. "Treasurer Roscoe Nettles is trying to get the financial affairs of the Cigar City league shaped up in such fashion that he can make a final settle- ment and pay out the money now on hand on Monday night. If he is able to get in a few bills and make account for all of the outstanding season tickets in the hands of a few of the team managers, he will be able to do this. In that event the meeting will be called for eight o'clock at The Times office, headquarters of the league.
The last week of games was not a financial success due to the rain which knocked out two dates and the lack of interest due to the fact that the pennant race was a foregone conclusion. After paying the ground rent for the season the league was some $30 or more shy of making even on the month. Its expenses have been the same while its income had not kept pace. As told in The Times yesterday the Knight & Wall Co. came to the rescue and bridged the deficit with a check that just balanced the matter.
There is still the money from the season tickets and the $25 forfeit from each club to be divided. This will make quite a nice little sum to be turned over to each team."
Hugh C. Macfarlane, league president, has given $100.
1914-5-21 Times. Ruby Red reviews Ybor City roster presented by "playing manager and captain" Nilo Leon. "Cigar City Free Baseball League."
"Villarin, your second sacker, is one of the fastest men that has ever played semi-pro ball in this city. He has a good arm and a good head, but is not so strong at the bat."
Outfielder Brack hit about .300 in the Cigar City League last summer.
1914-5-25 Times. Rosters with full names for West Tampa, Ybor City, and Tampa. Manuel Villarin. Fan who recently arrived in Tampa from Georgia says that Cigar City players are better than Georgia State League players.
1914-7-13 "Laurence Gunst gave a dinner to the Ybor City baseball team at the Sevilla restaurant, Ybor City, last night, in appreciation of the team's fine work in maintaining an unbeaten record so far and especially in defeating the formidable West Tampans in the two first games of the championship series. The record of games won by the club was posted above the banquet table and aroused much enthusiasm. All the players were present except Galloway, whose absence was regretted and who came in for a share of the good words said of the club. Cuban Consul R. M. Ybor, Directors J. E. Worthington and E. D. Lambright and the representative of La Lucha, Havana, were also present. After the dinner, there were complimentary talks for the players and they all responded. Mr. Gunst spoke very highly of Nilo Leon, manager of the team, who came into his factory seven years ago as an apprentice and had become not only one of the best cigarmakers but who had shown his ability in collecting an unbeatable team. He presented Leon with a gold pin, representing a bulldog's head, as emblematic of the manager's bulldog tenacity in building up a winning club.
Evincing the intense interest felt by the Ybor City fans in all movements of the team, a large crowd assembled outside the restaurant and awaited the end of the dinner when they surrounded the players and gave them an ovation. The Ybor players are all gentlemanly in deportment and temperate in habits and they expressed their appreciation of the fine treatment given them by the management and by the people of Tampa. Jose Rodriquez, the player who has been out of the game on account of serious illness, made a particularly appropriate talk.
Vallestero, the Ybor pitcher, has received an offer from the Washington Americans, who have heard of his work, but will not leave Tampa until the local season is ended. He is only nineteen years old and realizes that he has lots of time to go into big league company. Vallestero is a blacksmith by trade but it is safe to say that his blacksmithing days are over. Of the other members of the club, two, Fernandez and Villarin, are lithographers, and all the rest cigarmakers.
The club has been asked to play at Loughman next Saturday and probably will do so, as Arcadia comes here to play West Tampa on that day.
It was reported last night that Brown and Fernetty, two of the best players of the West Tampa club, had signed with Brewster, in the Phosphate League. This was not confirmed."
1914-8-06 Tribune. Ybor City has signed Barze, Kissimmee pitcher, and West Tampa has signed Bryant Bowden, "powerful curve artist."
"Ybor has always been shy of pitchers, having no regular man on the team except Vallestero. That stout smithy has worked game after game with no signs of weakening, but the management realizes that, with the city championship series to finish in the next week or so, the Havana boy will need relief. Barze is said to be "the goods' and it is the intention of Manager Leon to work him today.
West Tampas pitching staff was depleted by the deflection of Felipe Alvarez, who found Brewster more congenial. Just how the Mackmen succeeded in annexing Bowden is not known to the fans generally, because it is known that the Dade City lad was drawing down $125 a month at Brewster and had recently refused to consider an offer within the payroll, limit of the Cigar City Leagues It was a case of "have to" with West Tampa, however, and it is supposed that the management didn't stop at expense. Bowden is "some pitcher" and the contest to- day ought to be a pitchers' battle from the jump.
This will be the fifth game of the city series, three having resulted in favor of Ybor City and one, the last one played, a tie. West Tampa will have to win six to win the series and therefore needs a pretty, good pitching staff.
1924-8-28 (Ten years ago) "Manuel F. Villarin, the gentlemanly first baseman of the Ybor team, was married by proxy to Miss Maria Diaz, of Havana, in Consul Ybor's office just before the game with West Tampa yesterday."
1914-8-30 Times. Batting/fielding through 8-08.
Ybor City Redbirds team pic.
Last Saturday the second year of the Cigar City League Baseball league came to a close, after having furnished good baseball to 81,000 fans at Plant Field this summer. Thirty-two games have been played, and the average attendance has easily been 2,500. It has been good ball, too, and while there have been only two clubs in the organization for the past few weeks, still they have played a class of ball that is equal to anything that is being played in the South Atlantic league, and maybe just a grain better.
The season started with four clubs, Tampa, Fort Dade, West Tampa, and Ybor City. West Tampa and Ybor city we composed of some of the fastest ball players in this city, and several good men from Havana. After several weeks of playing it was found that the Fort Dade club and the Tampa club were so outclassed that it was useless for them to play the rest of the schedule, so the directors tied the can to both. The Soldiers had some good ball players, but they lacked team work, and nearly every game they would appear with a different line-up. With Tampa it was not so bad, but they could not show the class of the two fast Cuban teams, and after a series of unfortunate incidents they were ousted.
West Tampa and Ybor City played on the dates that the other clubs were scheduled and have created more interest in baseball in this city, than there has ever been before. The Ybor City team showed the real class of the four clubs from the beginning, fielded better and hit the ball harder than the other three. Manager Nilo Leon rounded out a wonderful little infield and his batteries have all showed up well. The Redbirds got a lead in the early part of the season and were never headed. West Tampa played good ball, but were plainly outclassed as their series with the Eastsiders will show.
This summer the gates were opened to the public of Tampa free of charge, that is there was no charge for general admission, a small price being charged for grandstand seats, which was used for the upkeep of the chairs and to keep the diamond in condition.
Many Tampans thought when the first movement for "free baseball" was started that it was impossible to pull such a thing, but after Messrs. H. C. Macfarlane, Perry G. Wall, Henry E. Snow, Harry Gunst, Roscoe Nettles, J. E. Worthington and E. D. Lam-bright had held a little session in the board of trade rooms one evening the plan was soon proven to be a good and easy one. Every merchant was called upon for a donation for free baseball, and before many days the cash needed for the project was in Treasurer Roscoe Nettles' strong box; $4,400 being collected.
The election of officers for the league resulted as follows: H. C. Macfarlane, president; Edwin D. Lambright, vice-president, J. E. Worthington, secretary, and Roscoe Nettles, treasurer, and a board of directors composed of the following: H. C. Macfarlane, Perry G. Wall, Roscoe Nettles, E. D. Lambright, J. E. Worthington, L. A. Gunst and H. E. Snow.
The idea of free baseball was first thought of by Col. H. C. Macfarlane, but to Roscoe Nettle and J. E. Worthington should go the credit for getting the league started. Free baseball is certainly an original idea, and the proposition is something that has never been tried before in the history of the game. It has been a great success, and the gentlemen who have given their time and money to it deserve a great deal of credit.
The Cigar City league is a youngster, but though it is only two years old, it has drawn about three times as many fans to its park as the Jacksonville team in the South Atlantic league has. The league was started in May, 1913, largely through the efforts of J. E. Worthington, city editor of the Tampa Times. He decided one day in the early part of May that Tampa ought to have some baseball during the summer months, so he sent one of his thugs out to all the cigar factories in the city, and also the wholesale houses, and asked the bunch to meet at the Times office for a little get-together.
They all came out, and it was just two weeks from that time that the first game was played at Plant Field. There were eight clubs in the league last summer, and the Cuesta-Rey team carried off the pennant, Charley Sorondo had a fast club of Cuban ball players and they were as strong in comparison to their class, as Ybor City was this year."
Roy Galloway was the top all-around player. "Baby" Mira, smallest player in league, was the best hitter.
Lots of good commentary about players.
Yesterday's game was benefit for the players, not under the auspices of Cigar City League; Nilo Leon attempted to charge ten cents admission but league directors stopped that.
13 players chosen to represent Tampa in Florida State League. Ballesteros spelled Ballestero.
1914-8-30 Tribune. Florida League season will begin 9-02.
1915-8-11 Times. Preview. "Rookie" Culbreath. Business Manager Charley Bishop says game will start at 3:30 o'clock. Katz, a Jacksonville semi-pro, will try out with West Tampa - one of three new players for tomorrow's game.
1915-8-17 Times. "Baseball in Tampa is cheaper than any place on the map. And yet the fans are not turning out, to support two teams that are putting up good ball, playing close games and presenting exhibitions filled from start to finish with baseball. Plenty of thrills- of critical moments, when the fan should sit with tense satisfaction awaiting the outcome of the play- are pulled off in the Cigar City league games at Plant Park and yet at no game has the crowd run above 1,000.
The baseball is "free" baseball-but the crowds of last year are not turning out. Villarin, Rodriguez and the others with some considerable fame have not been imported from Havana this year, but their places have been taken by ball players of ability-if not "rep"-and the games are fully as interesting. Corcho has pitched a no- hit game, and Young let the West Tampans down yesterday with but one hit. That's evidence enough of the class of pitching.
As it stands now, the free baseball is a donation by the players. Certainly that would appear to be the fact, when the share in the receipts from yesterday's game received by the West Tampa players was but sixty cents, while the Ybor City men received $1.10 apiece. The ball players are practically playing for nothing-certainly they cannot live on a $1, three times a week. Yet many who attend the game begrudge the few cents it costs for a seat in grandstand or box!
Charlie Bishop, business manager for the league, reports that there were 280 paid admissions at the game yesterday with the gate receipts about $30. After expenses had been paid the money was divided, 60 cents to the losers and $1.10 to the winners.
Thursday's game will start at 3:30 'clock. Mr. Bishop hopes to see a good crowd out, as an average of at least $100 a game is required if the players are to get enough to make it worth while.
For Thursday Bowden will pitch for West Tampa and Stuckey for Ybor City. Both Bowden and Stuckey are well known for their performance in the South Florida league. L. Hatton will be back and will probably take a place in center field while Purcell continues at first."
Ballestero has recently refused an offer from Columbia (SALLY)
1917-5-12 Times. "Jaime Pendas, president of the Centro Asturiano, and one of the most popular men of the city, has accept- ed the task of heading the organization to handle baseball in Tampa this summer. Mr. Pendas, as president, with Charles A. Faircloth, president of the National City bank, as secretary and treasurer, and H. S. Brazzell, steward at the Hillsboro, as vice-president, will comprise the officers of the association. Directors will be named and other plans completed at a meeting to be held at the board of trade rooms Monday night.
Free baseball seems to strike the popular chord here, and it is likely it will be adopted, although the alternative of a ten cent charge at the gate is to be considered before final plans are made.
Ybor City and West Tampa would be the opposing teams, with a thirty-six game schedule to be played at Plant Field Thursdays and Saturdays in June, July, August and September. Efforts would be made to bring out of town teams here for games, varying the attraction occasionally, one of the Tampa teams going out of town for a game on the occasion of an outsider's visit.
Herrera, Villarin, Lujan and others who played here in past seasons and are now in Havana, are said to be ready to return to Tampa this summer, to take part in West Tampa-Ybor City series, and A. Corcho, Nilo Leon, Charles Sorondo and others who have the ability to edify the baseball loving public are in the city."
1913-8-16 Times. Play by play, standings and boxes - good talk. Tampa Gas purchased a player from Transportation for $50.
1913-8-23 Times. Play by play, standings and boxes for Ladies' Day doubleheader. Pent called that Cuesta-Rey would win 1-0 in 7 innings.
1913-9-11 Tribune. Boxes.
"A catch by Coarsey was one of the features of the game. Big Jim chased a tall fly to the line of autos near the bleachers and finally nabbed it." 500 ATT.
1914-5-30 Tribune. Ybor City 10, Fort Dade 0. Box/ play by play.
1914-5-30 Times. Box/ play by play.
"Vallestero is a classy hurler, and if he is used against Tampa, there is going to be "some" battle.
Nilo Leon was the fastest thing on that Ybor City club and made quite an impression playing third. He had not been used to performing in that section of the diamond, and was charged with a couple of errors.
Old Ruby Red did not have any trouble in picking the good thing Saturday, but he is going to think over things a bit before he makes any rash assertion for Thursday afternoon.
Oakley got one of Vallestero's shoots on the bean and the cover or the pill almost came off. The ball struck the soldier going at a terriffic rate, but he trotted down to first base just like nothing had happened. They had to buy a new ball, though.
Ralph Ybor put a soft answer on Colonel Macfarlane Saturday. The colonel was a little anxious to know where some of the Ybor City fast ones came from and asked Mr. Ybor.
"Why, we brought them over from Havana, colonel," said he.
"Aren't you afraid you'll get into trouble with the contract labor law," asked the colonel, who was beginning, perhaps, to fear that Ybor might beat West Tampa.
"Oh, no, colonel," said Ybor. "These are not working men, they are artists. They come in on exactly the same terms as if they were opera singers."
And, odd as it may seem, they do. They could not come here to work but it is perfectly proper to bring them over for exhibition purposes. The big leagues have at least a dozen Cuban players now on exactly the same terms."
1914-7-04 Ybor City 4, Fort Dade 0. Box/ play by play. Vallestero k'd 10 and allowed one hit.
1914-7-09 Thur. 5K ATT for opening game of championship series at Plant Field. Ballesteros called Vallestero. Ybor City called Red-shirts. Burleson was expected to pitch for Ybor but could not get over from St. Pete - instead, the reliable Vallestero won his seventh straight game. "Ferrer, of course, caught for Vallestero."
"Corcho and Vallestero both pitched cleverly and well, but Ybor had the best of the argument. Pent's two three-baggers were without result, while Ybor's hits counted. Vallestero proved himself a master of control, especially in those trying circumstances with a man on third and none out. As the smoke of battle cleared, a yelling swarm of Yborites descended upon the field, and each played got a series of bunny hugs which left him breathless. Larry Gunst motored homeward wearing that 1.000-per cent smile and Colonel Macfarlane, with that true sportsmanship which distinguished the "good loser" praised the work of both teams and hoped for better success Saturday.
The crowd demonstrated that Tampa is enthused over the present series and Saturday's game will see yesterday's attendance exceeded. With the grandstand and bleachers packed, a circle of intent fans surrounded the field, scrambling for points of vantage. There was no "jinx" in sight, unless we count the overgrown umbrella which an Ybor partisan elevated repeatedly from the topmost round of the sunboards."
1914-7-16 Tribune. Ybor City 1, West Tampa 0. Vallestero relieved in shutout. Alvarez pitched for West Tampa.
1914-8-20 3K ATT. Wrangling. Crowd was a polyglot Greek chorus, commenting upon the umpire's decisions in "English, yankee profane, Spanish and Castilian profane."
1914-8-24 3K ATT. "Long Branch" Gutierrez won 4-1 for West Tampa. Plant Field.
Box, play by play.
1914-8-27 Ybor City 6, West Tampa 2. 3K ATT. Vallestero won despite allowing 12 hits.
Ybor City Redbirds team pic, with Vallestero. Good quality.
"In honor of the Ybor City baseball team, 1914 champions of the city, L. B. Gunst, one of the directors of the Cigar City League and the one who's indefatiguable interest in the team has contributed much to make possible its brilliant success, dined the members and a few friends last night at the Seville banquet hall.
There was much good fellowship apparent, though the gathering brought representatives of two nations together, some of whom on each side, were unable to converse with other. There were willing interpreters among the diners and the evening passed with enjoyment and merriment.
Ybor Speaks of Good Feeling
R. M. Ybor, Cuban Consul, was the principal speaker. He spoke of the good feeling which the organization of the team had engendered. He said the boys who composed the team were in a strange land and that they appreciate the manner in which Tampa had treated them and would always remember the city with kind feelings. He spoke first in Spanish and then in English.
Salvadore Ybor spoke briefly as did C. A. Barranca, former Chancellor in the Cuban Consul's office in this city, now on his way to his new posts as Consul at Pforzheim, Germany. Mr. Gunst acted as toastmaster.
Those present were R. M. Ybor, Salvador Ybor, C. A. Barranco, R. Gordillo, Gilbert Freeman, "Ruby Red." L. B. Gunst, and the members of the team, Vallestero, Rodriquez, Romero, Barze, Villarin, Mira, Leon, Alvarez, Bishop Vaiden, Fernandez, Herrera and Ferrer.
Later P. G. Wall, Roscoe Nettles. and J. E. Worthington showed up from the Rotary Club gathering and proceeded to join in the merrymaking. Mr. Worthington presented the toast of the evening. "To our Bridegroom" Villarin-and the party drank heartily to the genial Redbird first sacker who has ventured on a new era in life.
Ybors Present Keepsakes
The two Ybor brother, Salvador and Ralph M., presented each member of the club with a pair of cuff buttons neatly engraved as a keepsake of the season which is now passing into history. There will be one more game between the Ybor and West Tampa. teams, Saturday, after which they will disband and the Tampa team organized."
1914-8-29 Times. Last game between West Tampa and Ybor City this season. West Tampa 3, Ybor City 0. Box/play by play.
1915-8-12 Times. Corcho threw no-hitter for West Tampa - won 2-1. 900 ATT.
1915-8-14 Times. "Little Mira, the favorite outfielder of the fans a year ago, made his debut on the mound Saturday for Ybor City, and lost a 4 to 3 game to the West Tampa nine." West Tampa called Mackmen. "The midget southpaw [Mira], 'Cinche' as he is familiarly and perhaps impertinently known..."
Box, play by play, standings. 750 ATT.
1915-8-16 Times. Box, play by play. Young - Hillsborough high school star - threw 3-0 1-hitter for Ybor City. 600 ATT. Corcho threw a no-hitter a few days ago.
Ybor City Stars won 2-0 - their manager, Miguel Diaz, challenges both teams of the Cigar City League.
1915-8-19 850 ATT, and nearly all 850 stayed to the end, which was at nearly 6 o'clock. 11 innings. Next games are on Sat-Mon-Thu at 3:30 PM.
1915-8-26 Standings, box, play by play. 500 ATT. Only two teams in the league: West Tampa (6-5) and Ybor City (5-6). Ybor City described as "Generalissimo Leon's stragglers."
1917-3-19 Tribune. West Tampa 8, Ybor City 2. Cesar Alvarez at 3b for West Tampa.
1917-3-26 Times. West Tampa 4, Ybor City 3. In addition to Cesar Alvarez, there is A. Alvarez and F. Alvarez. F. Alvarez = Felipe Alvarez.
1917-4-15 Tribune.
1914-7-18 Ybor City 6, Arcadia 0. Box/ play by play. Vallestero k'd 10 and allowed four hits.
"Down in Arcadee they consider Ram Miller some sprinter and undoubtedly the rangy boy can kick up a lot of speed when he gets started for he beat out a bum throw yesterday with ease."
1922-2-18 times. "West Tampa will probably start a state league battery - Alvarez and Quinn - with a Southern League hurler, Hernandez, and a state league heaver, Corcho, in reserve. Dominguez and Leon have both seen service in fast company. Others on the West Tampa team are faster than many players now glued to a league payroll."
Two Washington Americans, Harris and Foss, with City Leaguers - also Virginia Leaguer Barber, state leaguers Brack, "Saucer" Osborne, "Doc" Nance, "Skinny" Watts, "Sonny" Brown, and players who are fast enough for any minor circuit: Gilmartin, Culbreath, Capo, Sinclair, Westlake, Stalnaker, Fabian, and Mike Sweeney.
1922-3-01 Times. "The interest shows in the inter-city series baseball games played at Macfarlane park since Christmas is evidence aplenty that a league composed of Tampa and West Tampa teams would be about the most exciting amateur of ring possible to arrange in the way of sports. It would certainly mean a post-season series this fall.
Soon Barber will be leaving for Newport News, Foss for New Orleans, Hernandez for Memphis, Leon for New Brunswick. Watts has written the Durham club of the Piedmont league that he must have a contract calling for more coin of the realm, else there'll be nothing doing for Skinny in the land of Bull Durham. It is said that Hernandez is disappointed over his contract with Memphis, but that he hopes to adjust things when he reaches the home of the Blues.
1922-1-08 Times. West Tampa 9, City League 0. 1.5K ATT. Leon at 2b, Hernandez on mound for West Tampa. Box.
1922-1-15 Times. West Tampa 6, City League 4. 2.3K ATT. "President Bennett had more fun than a circus "ragging" his West Tampa friends during the first eight innings of the game. His friends came back strong in the ninth, however, and had a little fun of their own. Bennett took it in high good humor.
J. P. Kennedy, a well known baseball figure in the north, was an interested spectator at Sunday's game. He batted fungos to both teams in practice and yelled for both sides during the game. His home is at Salem, Mass., but he is in Tampa for the winter. Since passing the age of active playing, Kennedy has officiated in many college and amateur games of note."
1922-1-15 Trib. West Tampa Cubans 6, Tampa 4. 2.5K ATT at MacFarlane Park. No box. Valdez pitched for West Tampa.
1922-1-22 times. Tampa 4, West Tampa 1. 2.8K ATT.
1922-2-05 times. Tampa 12, West Tampa 7. 2.5K ATT. Hernandez and Valdez pitched for West Tampa. Deeby Foss hit the first homer of the inter-city series, an inside-the-parker that blazed past Mira.
1922-2-19 Tampa 4, West Tampa 3. Series tied 3-3. 2.7K ATT. Gilmartin is classiest 1b outside of minor leaguers. Cars in outfield.
1922-2-26 Tampa 4, West Tampa 3. 10 innings. 3K ATT. Brack saved Tampa with spectacular throw from outfield to catch Gonzalez at plate.
1924-1-22 Results of voting thus far to select Cuban All Star team.
1924-3-07 Tampa Cuban All-Stars will face Washington Senators scrub team in exhibition. All-Stars have Antonio Valdes, "little Cuban southpaw," Villarin, and Mira.
1926-1-18 La Gaceta. "Los "fans" de Ybor y West Tampa están encantados con los elogios que de César Alvarez hacen todos los periódicos de la capital cubana.
Es lógico.
Pues si es iógico, vamos preparar un gran recibimiento a César, "amigo de todos." ¿Estáis dispuestos?
César es a Tampa lo que Luque a la Habana. Actuemos.
"The "fans" of Ybor and West Tampa are delighted with the praise that all the newspapers in the Cuban capital give to César Alvarez.
It stands to reason.
Well, if it is logical, we are going to prepare a great welcome for Caesar, "friend of all." Are you willing?
César is to Tampa what Luque is to Havana. Let's act."
Intersocial League (Liga Intersocial)
Intersocial League (Liga Intersocial)
1921-6-12 Picked team from Inter Social League will play a three game series v. Palatka as the Tampa Cubans. The Inter Social League plays at the Macfarlane park in West Tampa.
1921-6-15 Palatka preview.
1922-4-21 Times. Cubans organize league - have doubleheaders scheduled every Sunday thru 11-01.
"The games played by the Cuban teams of Tampa and West Tampa have always been drawing cards for Tampans in general, as the clubs have invariably played a high class of ball and have gained a reputation as being among the best as good sportsmen."
1922-6-10 Trib. City and Intersocial Leagues have called off Sunday games - will play on "blue Monday."
1922-7-07 Trib. Schedule for rest of season - have double headers scheduled each Sunday at Macfarlane Park.
1922-8-02 Trib. Tomorrow the Police team of the "more or less disintegrated City League" will the Cuban Club of the Intersocial League in "blue rivalry."
1922-9-05 Times. The Santiago team, which finished 2nd in the Cuban International Amateur League, will arrive in Tampa 9-17 and play a team of picked stars from the Intersocial League.
1923-8-06 Times. Jose Dominguez, Centro Asturiano manager, left for New York Sunday (8-05) night.
1923-10-06 "LOS JUEGOS DE MAÑANA El "trabuco" del Atlético Cubano jugará mañana en los terrenos de McFarlane con La América.
Tiene el Atlético dos buenos lanzadores, Atkins y Pullara, pero los "americanos" han logrado el concurso de una estrella de primera magnitud: Cesar Alvarez.
Es muy probable que mañana sostengan un duelo de pitchers Atkins y Cesar. "Sicilianos" y "asturianos" jugarán en segundo término. Ambas novenas tienen magnificos jugadores y están dispues tas a representar un buen papel en la segunda serie.
La forma en que se están reforzando las novenas del Premio Intersocial han hecho que el entusiasmo se haya despertado de nuevo en el público."
TOMORROW'S GAMES The "blunderbuss" of Atlético Cubano will play tomorrow on the McFarlane grounds with La América, Atlético has two good pitchers, Atkins and Pullara, but the "Americans" have achieved the help of a first-class star: Cesar Alvarez. It is very likely that tomorrow they will have a pitching duel between Atkins and Cesar. "Sicilians" and "Asturians" will play in the background. Both teams have magnificent players and are willing to play a good role in the second series. The way in which the novenas [nines] of the Intersocial Prize are being reinforced has caused enthusiasm to be awakened again in the public."
1923-10-08 Game rained out.
1922-5-07 Trib. Boxes, standings. Cy Young pitched for Centro Espanol, Casendyke and Langet played infield for Cubano - M. Mira was at 2b and J. Mira was in left for Cubano -
"The crowd at the games yesterday was so large that the officials of the Intersocial League stated last night that they are contemplating the erection of a larger grandstand to replace the old one which is filled to overflowing long before the games start."
1922-5-21 Trib. Boxes, standings. About 1500 saw the two games.
1922-7-23 Trib.
1922-7-30 Trib. Boxes, standings.
1922-8-27 Trib. Boxes.
1923-8-05 Boxes. Culbreth - almost always called Culbreath. Possibly but not probably Culbreth, Bernie. More probably Hugh Culbreath, Cigar City Leaguer.
"veterano Medina" - probably either M. or Y. Medina, Cigar City Leaguers. Cy Young - Cigar City Leaguer.
1923-8-26 Box. Nene Pullara played 1b for de Cubanos. Mario Mira played 2b for them. Other game was forfeited - seems like due to argument with umpire.
1923-10-14 La Gaceta. Boxes. Sicilia 2, Cubanos 1. America 9, Asturianos 5. Pullara, A. Valdes, F. Casares, Mira, Pedrero,
 |
| Game at Macfarlane Park, 1922 |
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/burgert/11/ High-def version of pic - really awesome
https://www.tampapix.com/macfarlanepark2.htm VG
1923-1-21 Times. Espanol 2, Cubano 1. Espanol won the league championship last year. If they won the championship again, they will be permitted to keep the cup.
Espanol won the first half championship and Cubano won the second half championship.
1923-2-11 Times. Box. Centro Espanol and Circulo Cubano are now tied in championship series. Large crowd. Llauget, M. Mira, Casares, Pedrero with Cubano.
1923-1-29 Trib. series will occur in about three weeks - first names listed of Americans who are desired for team. Cubans will be picked team from Intersocial League.
1923-3-11 Trib. All-Cubans 13, All-Americans 7. 1st of seven game series. 2K ATT at Macfarlane Park. Cubans in better shape than Americans because they just completed their Intersocial League series while the Americans have been dormant.
1923-4-01 Cubans 6, Americans 4. Cubans up 3-1 in series. Bill Stalnaker pitched for Americans - relieved by Cy Young. Francisco Lujan at 3b for Cubans.
1923-6-16 Trib. Hav-a-Tampa 7, Sacred Heart College 6. Mira, Pullara.
1923-8-30 Mira, Villarin, and Casares with C.H.S.
1924-6-12 Times. Hav-a-Tampa Cigar Makers 3, Dade City 0. Grandio at c. Llauget, two Miras, Pullara, Casares.
1924-7-10 Port Richey. New Port Richey 14, Tampa United Markets 3. Line only.
1924-7-17 Port Richey. New Port Richey 5, Tampa United Markets 1. Llauget, Mira, Stalnacker with United Markets. Grandes at c.
1924-7-24 times. United Markets 5, Sarasota 5. Game called after nine innings to clear field for negro baseball game.
1925-8-20 Times. Dade City 6, Lacoochee 0. Bill Stalnaker threw no-hitter for Dade City; Llauget played short and led off for Lacoochee.
1926-3-08 Washington D.C. Evening Star. Senators 3, Cuban Stars 0. Mira, Villarin, Al Lopez, Pedrero, Cesar Alvarez with Cuban Stars.
preview Trib. La Reguladora and Ybor City chamber of commerce teams will play today. Cesar Alvarez will pitch for Ybor City - M. Llauget will play 2b and Onis will play right field for Reguladora. Three game series - other two games will be played 1-02 and 1-03. Al Lopez will umpire.
1929-1-28 Times. Edward Valdes Generique, real estate and insurance agent, elected president of the Circulo Cubano (Cuban club). With pic. Baseball is his favorite sport.
Ybor City League
1927
1936
Toenes, Hal 1936 Gary 3b - pitcher as pro
1927-7-26 times. M. Llauget (Manuel Llauget) pitched for Primo Lord. M. Villarin at 2b for Spicola & Sons.
1927-9-06 Times. Boxes. Llanget [Llauget] played short and led off for Glenn Henderson.
1927-11-21 Times. Spicola and Sons 1, Primo Lord 0. Spicola took all three games of championship series. Box. Spicola has been challenged by Tampa Electric Company, Tampa City League champions, to a series for the city title.
Villarin at 1b for Spicola and Alvarez at pitcher.
Team pic of Spicola team.
1936-7-17 Trib. Box. (Actually diamondball, but whatever.)
1936-8-02 Trib. Commentary - opening games in 2nd half. Aprox 1K ATT at Cuscaden park.
Cigarmakers' League
1931
Casares, Fausto (Faustino) FLOR/SEAL/MATL
Jerez, Roberto
1932-1-27 Trib. All-Star team practicing in preparation for game with Cincinnati Reds. Fausto Casares is the team's playing manager. "One section works out at Macfarlane park and the other club at Cuscaden field at Fifteenth street in Ybor City." Players listed, with full names. Antonio Grandio.
1931-8-08 Trib. Boxes, standings. Villarin at 1b for Garcia yVega. Pedrero with Morgan.
1931-9-27 Trib. Garcia-Vega clinched 1st in Eastern Division - will play Corral-Wodiska, Western division champs, in best-of-three league championship series. Last game of season - played at Plant field. One of best games of season - 2K+ ATT. Grandio with Garcia y Vega.
Intersocial League Ybor City League, Ybor City Intersocial League)
1938 Italian Club
1939 Italian Club
1940 Loyal Knights
1941 Centro Asturiano
1942 Italian Club
1943 Cuban Club
1944 Centro Asturiano
1945 Italian Club
1946 Cuban Club
1947 Cuban Club Final batting
1948 Cuban Club
Cuellar, Charlie p 1943
unconfirmed:
DeLaTorre, Albert (Buck)
1938-7-10 Trib. Standings, preview. Buck Torres, Cuban pitcher, is described as the Vander Meer of local baseball. Manuel Llauget is Central Auturiano Lions MG-2b. 1K+ paid admission last week - league record which officials hope will be broken today.
1938-10-30 Trib. Cesar Alvarez is Loyak Knights MG. Faustino Casares is Italian MG. Gabby Castro is Cuban MG. Pedrero is top pitcher - 3-0. Robert Jerez, oldest pitcher in league, will pitch for Centro Asturiano. Centro Asturiano won the first half title with only two veteran pitchers but has not been able to get started in the second half. Still a dangerous team.
Cheo Hernandez has been released as umpire.
1940-4-05 times. Season will start 4-07. Victoriano Manteiga is league president. Price of admission for doubleheader is 15 cents. Rosters listed, with full names or initials.
J. Gaddy listed as Loyal Knight pitcher.
1941-4-06 Trib. Fourth season begins today. Rosters listed, with full names.
1941-6-04 Trib. Players are more than amateurs - lists nine former pros. Among them are Lingo Rodriguez and Buck Torre.
1941-9-20 Times. Championship series begins tomorrow between Cuban Club and Centro Asturiano. Percy Gonzalez, Loyal Knights 2b, won the league batting title - will receive prizes, including wristwatch, valued at $45.
1942-5-30 Times. Intersocial League All-Stars will face West Coast League All-Stars. Frank Clementi, now with Tasco in the West Coast League, played short for the Italian Club last year.
VG pic of Garry Granell.
1942-8-02 Trib. Standings, rosters with full names. No new players can be signed expect to replace players lost to injury or armed forces.
1943-3-08 Times. Gonzale Granell replaces Manuel Onis as Italian Club manager, as Onis is in service.
1943-3-12 Trib. Al Jiminez is in service, stationed at Norfolk. The thing he misses most is the Intersocial League. He's starred in the league for years. This is the first time he won't be there for opening day.
1943-3-13 Times. "Long a familiar figure to all Tampa baseball fans is Vincent Grapell, current player manager of the Cuban club entry in the Ybor City Inter-Social League.
When the name of Granell comes up, fans automatically tab him as manager of this or that team. It's been that way for enough seasons to make Vincent a genuine "veteran manager."And in the opinion of Gonzale Granell, it's been that way long enough.
Gonzale is the baseball playing brother of "Manager Vincent." Last season he played for Vince's Cuban club team which battled the Italian club to a losing decision in the Inter-Social League's championship playoff.
This season Gonzale is shaking off the family baseball yoke and will manage the Italians instead of playing for Brother Vincent and the Cubans.
It's his first crack at running a baseball team. And Gonzale takes over with ambitions to make Tampa fans be more specific henceforth when they identify "Manager Granell." He has another and even greater ambition, too. That's to lick Brother Vincent and his Cubans in his first outing with the Italians tomorrow afternoon."
1943-12-14 Trib. Bitsy Mott is the reason why the Cuban Club didn't win the league crown in 1942 and why they did win it in 1943.
League finished until next spring.
1945-8-03 Tribune. Protest regarding eligibility of Chief Joe Mitchell, Italian star pitcher. He is technically ineligible under the rules, which say that no class A pitcher can pitch in the league. However, Mitchell has only played ten games and five innings in A. He's not really a class A pitcher - should be lenient.
"I'm making this suggestion because I believe the Ybor City league is one of the best semi-pro leagues in the south, and because so many servicemen, Mitchell included, have made it possible for the local circuit to continue successfully during wartime.
INCIDENTALLY, SPORTS EDITOR JIM BURNS of the Miami Herald called yesterday and said that an all-star team from the Victory league, top circuit in the East Coast city, was ready to meet a Tampa star team in Miami on Sunday, Aug. 26.
If officials of the Ybor City league are willing to forego their regular doubleheader on that day the two star teams can get together in Miami, and perhaps play a return game in Tampa the next week.
Reason for the Aug. 26 date instead of Labor day, as suggested by Tampa officials, is that play in the Miami Victory league ends on Aug. 20, and Miami league heads say they would have trouble keeping the team together, as many of the boys play football, and will join their grid squads during the final days of August and early in September.
I firmly believe a team composed of the best players in the Ybor City league can defeat the best the Victory league can muster.
Chief Mitchell told me yesterday that his arm has been giving him considerable trouble, but that diathermic treatments are helping a lot, and he hopes to be in form again within a few days. He'd enjoy pitching against "Lefty" Covington, a former major leaguer."
1946-1-01 Trib. "The Intersocial League in Ybor City carried the major burden during the war years, and gave Tampans a good brand of ball, as good as most class D leagues. Crowds and interest were good."
1947-10-12 Trib. Pic of two Loyal Knights veterans: Manager Andrew Espolita and pitcher Prudencio (Peaches) Hernandez.
Standings, stats.
1947-11-02 Trib. Centro Asturiano will play Cuban Club in best-of-three semi-finals in order to decide who will meet Italian Club, 1st place finishers, in the finals.
"The Asturians will miss Faustino Casares, player-manager, who was hurt in a play at the plate and will be out for the rest of the year. Casares is considered one of the best, if not the best, outfielder in the league."
Virgil Mendez will probably pitch for the Asturians - for the season he was 7-5, with 42 strikeouts in 89 innings. Doug Forster was 5-1. Batting averages given for lineups.
1948-1-26 Trib. Banquet for champion Cuban Club.
1948-4-09 Al "Buck" Torre, who led the league in home runs last year while playing for the Cuban Club, signed a contract yesterday to play for the Cuban Club. All four teams sought him. He bats right.
Hector Ginesta, Cuban manager, has signed two other players. One, infielder Leon Senk, recently moved to Tampa from Jersey City.
1948-4-10 Trib. Preview.
1948-4-11 Trib. Season opens today - pic of managers. Cuban Club pitcher Doug Forster starred for University of Tampa - was league MVP last year. Good roster previews.
1948-5-15 Trib. Centro Asturiano team pic, with standings and stats.
1948-5-18 Trib. Players who have jumped league to play for other teams will be suspended for a year.
1948-5-23 Trib. Cuban Club team pic.
Loyal Knights signed an infielder, Albert Merino, who played semi-pro ball in New Jersey last year.
1948-5-29 Trib. Stats, standings.
1948-6-13 Trib. League standings - Loyal Knights team pic.
1948-6-19 Pic of four delegates who represent the clubs on the league governing board.
1948-7-18 Trib. League standings - pic of league officers.
1948-11-10 Trib. Intersocial League All-Stars named, with full names - will play Bitsy Mott's All-Stars. Intersocial squad bolstered by Charlie Cuellar and Virgilio Mendez, Orange Belt League pitcher. Al Lopez will manage.
1949-4-10 Trib. League opens today. 3K ATT expected. Lineups listed, with full names.
1940-5-12 Trib. Pic of Manuel Llauget, Cuban Club manager, and Willie Paz, Loyal Knight manager, receiving trophies from Ybor City Round Table president.
1940-5-12 Trib. Boxes. Games, "played for the benefit of the Ybor City round table milk fund for underprivileged children, attracted a crowd of 1250, one of the largest of the season."
1940-9-22 Trib. Boxes.
1940-9-22 Times. Boxes. Manuel Llaugett (Llauget) at 1b for Cubans.
1942-5-24 Times. Boxes.
Intersocial League All-Stars pic. 4
1943-9-19 Trib. Centro Asturiano team pic. From left to right, front row: Bob Pulido, Henry Gomez (delegate), Joe Yglesias (manager), J. Mirabal, Ralph Fernandez, Manuel Tamargo (delegate), Chip Clementi, Marcelo Maseda, Mich Fernandez, Faustino Casares.
Back row: Mac Traina, Ed Contreras, Jack Gaddy, Bud Rollins, Aemando Cohalla, Willie Paz, Manuel Fernandez. Mano Yglesias, front left, bat boy. Centro Asturiano 1, Cuban 0. Regular schedule ends next Sunday - only postponed games left after that.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1069209481656471&set=gm.3753310741597878&idorvanity=3111277135801245
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=971401461270041&set=pcb.971402207936633
Posted again just now at
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1220703616724455&set=a.741973951264093
In which I posted names of players in reply.
Hillsborough-Manatee League
Pros:
Brush, Wally p high K high BB 1931 Williston
Not baseball
1922-2-03 Manuel Villarino and Charley Larzo, 1921 stars, will return to Palatka. F.J. Fearnside Jr. was again elected manager for the coming season.
1914-7-10) Ocala. Play by play but no box. Farina played 1b for Riverside.
Integró el HABANA de la Liga Profesional Cubana en la temporada de 1912 (.200) y el FE de 1914-1915 (.500). Total: en 3 desafíos y 9 veces al bate logró 3 hits para promedio de .333, con 3 anotadas y 1 triple. Entre 1921 y 1924 participó en tres campañas de Ligas Menores de los Estados Unidos con los equipos: GREENVILLE BURLEY CUBS (1921, 1923 y 1924) y TAMPA SMOKERS (1923 y 1924). En 347 desafíos y 1 200 veces al bate registró 356 hits para promedio de .296.
1946-6-09 Trib. Boxes.
1942-11-15 Trib. Italians 9, Cubans 7. 7th and deciding game. "Cuscaden park was jammed with an overflow crowd which set a record in attendance." Mickey Hernandez won four games in the series.
Joe Benito, playing his last game before entering the armed forces, hit two homers for the Italians. Bitsy Mott made two errors for the Cubans in the fifth inning to help give the Italians the win.
Italian team pic.
1944-11-19 Trib. Centro Asturiano 8, Cuban Club 2. 7th and deciding game. Faustino Casares has managed four championship teams: twice with Centro Asturiano, and twice with the Italian Club in the first two years of the league.
1940-11-27 Al and F Grocery is composed of the leading pro players of Tampa. Managed by Al Lopez. Charlie Cuellar's "famous submarine ball" won the 2nd game - Roberto Pulido won 1st game for Knights.
1940-12-15 times. Al and F Grocery 8, Loyal Knights 1. Concludes series at Cuscaden Park. Charlie Cuellar and John Gaddy with Al and F.
1942-11-22 Trib. Preview. Italian Club will face Al Lopez-managed Ybor City All-Stars. Manuel Onis will make his last appearance before joining the Navy. Expected ATT of 3000 based on advance sale of tickets.
Pic of Charlie Cuellar.
1952-6-28 Times. Pic of Andrew "Tiger" Espolita, who will coach the Cuban White All-Stars in their game v. the Tampa All-Stars, a black team. Peaches Hernandez, Gary Granell, Lingo Rodriguez, etc. with Cuban White All-Stars. This will be the first time a black team has played a white team at Plant Field. The Tampa All-Stars are tied for first in the Florida Negro League. Peaches Hernandez called one of the best knuckleball pitchers in the state.
"One of the nation's oldest semi-pro baseball leagues is in trouble, fast being driven out of business by boating, bowling, golf, television, backyard barbecues and all the other pleasant recreations which have taken the place of a Sunday afternoon at the ball park.
A week ago the gate at a Tampa Bay League game at storied Cuscaden Park here totaled less than $25. Expenses were $36.
There was a time when as many as 1,200 saw the games, years when average game attendance was about 1,000.
It is the Tampa Bay League which is in deep trouble and the Tampa Bay League is the new (two-year-old) name for the once healthy Intersocial League, a most unusual name for a baseball conference.
The Intersocial League was born back in 1938. Organizing it were delegates from four Ybor City Latin clubs, Centro Asturiano, Loyal Knights, Cuban and Italian Clubs. They had two purposes: (1) to provide a training ground for prodigious youngsters who had professional baseball ambitions; (2) to make money for the clubs' benevolent programs. It was really quite natural for to this day Ybor City remains, if more in emotion and personal interest, a hot-stove center for baseball with Al Lopez the rallying point."
"The park was built in stages after Cuscaden gave the property (15th Street and 18th Avenue) to the city. Half of the grandstand was built in 1938, the rest in stages. The roof was put on in about 1940 and the lights added in 1949.
Along the way, the league sent Bitsy Mott to the Phillies, Charlie Cuellar to the White Sox, Bobby Kline to Washington and Pete Wojey to the Dodgers and Detroit.
Among those others who moved on to pro ball of one class or another were Benny Fernandez, Manny Fernandez, Sindo Valle, Vince Grannell, Joe Benito, Louis Rodriguez, Faustino. Casares, Buck Tanner, Rudy Tanner, Pete Schiro, Mickey Hernandez, Jack Gaddy. Ward Wilson, Manuel Lopez, Andy Gurri, Jim Saladino and Joe Schiro. Ed Riddell, to become an all-world catcher for the Clearwater softball Bombers, played in the league too.
And the MacDill teams had such names as Charlie Trippi, Hank Greenberg, Tom Blalock, Frank (Moon) Mullins, Albert Yoylin, Lefty Moran and J. B. Mitchell at one time or another.
T here were Charlie Bucci, Cris Van Cuyk, Brad (Preacher) Dinsmore, Harry Coe and Bob Porterfield who took to the Cuscaden Park diamond at one time or another in the league.
No Answers, Just Regrets
With major league contracts and assigned to the minors with Intersocial (Tampa Bay) experience behind them are Don Porter of Dade City (Minnesota at Jacksonville), Tony LaRussa of Tampa (Kansas City), Dennis Aust of Tampa (Cardinals at Portsmouth), Harold Lanier of St. Petersburg (Giants in Cali- fornia), and Gary Overstreet (Minnesota).
What happened?
Nothing really, nothing that hasn't happened to minor league baseball, a change of tastes and habits.
"I just know it's sad," said Gabriel Parrado, who has handled league public relations for 20 years. "Everyone seemed to have a good time in the old days. I think the difference was that lots of people used to go, the daddies and friends and for the rest of the week they'd talk about the game. Interest would mount. Not all the daddies pay to go now.
"During the early years each club made as much as $1,000 in profits. In the last few years the city has helped with $500 a year. This usually has absorbed the losses but I'm not sure it will this time."
The face of the league has changed. All of the charter-member teams are gone. The present lineup includes Gibsonton, MacDill AFB, West Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Seminole Indians, Dade City and Plant City. Gibsonton has dominated the league in recent years and is this time. The Chiefs are, frankly, loaded and perhaps this domination, ironically, may have had an affect on attendance.
Among the present league officers, Parrado has the longest service with his 20 years. Second vice president Armando P. Valdez Jr. has been with the loop 14, treasurer Antonio Capello for 10, president Pete Leto and commissioner Fred Lupien eight each.
There seems to be no particular recommendation, no magic formula for returning the league to its once prominent position. But you need not have a solution to point to the happy days of the band playing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," and somebody paying attention, nor to reminisce over the genuine benefits that came from that first organizational meeting of the four Latin clubs 26 years ago."
1963-6-26 Trib. "Dear Tom:
"Your column about the old Intersocial League stirred some long-dormant ashes in my boyhood memories of Cuscaden Park.
"Besides Benny Fernandez, whom I saw make the greatest catch a first baseman can ever make, I remember Willie Paz, a colorful and popular catcher; Julio Pelaez, who had a hot hitting era for a couple of years, then went into politics; and most of all I remember my step-father, Chelo Castillo, who preferred rolling cigars in the sanctity of Ybor City to a baseball career.
"Having been raised in the shadow of Cuscaden Park, I can understand why Sunday baseball is folding because one no longer has the old Austurians rooting against the Cuban Club or the Italians against the Loyal Knights.
"That generation is gone and in its place are sons and grandsons too busy with what you described expertly as bowling, golf, television and backyard barbecues. Sobeit.
"Youngsters of today may be luckier than us barefooted park boys of old Cuscaden because they have uniforms and better supervision, but they don't have the Intersocial League on Sundays and I'll always be glad I grew up then."
Signed: BARNEY WATERS Managing Editor Pompano Sun-Sentinel
"Dear Tom:
"I have just finished reading your column on the Intersocial League and it stirred many pleasant memories.
"I would like to make corrections of the year it was organized. My first trip to Tampa, in 1925, I came with the Washington Senators for a tryout. I was a young rookie but recalled very well that the Intersocial League already existed. Games were played at Macfarlane Park. I remember because Al Lopez and Mike Bouza were the talk of the town in Latin Clubs. Probably the league disbanded for a few years and reorganized again in 1938.
"I played against these two baseball stars in the Southern League, Lopez played with Atlanta and Bouza with Little Rock. Lopez made the grade his first year and became one of the best receivers the game ever had. Mike Bouza played more than 10 years in the minors and hit more than .300.
"Another great player was Manuel Onis. He had a brilliant. career as a catcher and played for Brooklyn. Also remember another Tampa player, Peaches Hernandez, pitching for Ports- mouth, Va., Piedmont League. I believe he established a na- tional record by pitching 59 consecutive scoreless innings. Andrew Espolita played in the Georgia-Florida League as a good third baseman. He did a splendid job as manager in Central America and is now teaching young kids fundamentals. He is an asset to the Tampa recreation department.
"Ballplayers of that era gave the fans thrills and excitement. You are right, Mr. McEwen, these were the days of wieners and roasted peanuts. I am planning to buy a home in Brandon and catch up on my fishing."
Signed: JIM WORKMAN Brandon
1975-6-22 Trib. Memories of Cuscaden Park. Now dingy. Tampa Lookouts still play in it, but it ain't the same. It was built on 15th St. by the WPA in 1937 - land was once an orange grove. Members of the Cuscaden family still live nearby.
Loyal Knights of Columbus was a lodge.
"[The four teams'] rooters were so close to the teams that they segregated themselves, usually, in groups in the stands.
"But, there were many cases of relatives playing for opposite teams and Italians playing for the Cubans, Spanish for the Italians, etc."
Andrew Espolita, player and manager, remembers a crowd of 4100 for game 4 of the 1938 playoffs.
"AT FIRST, they passed the hat and, [Joe R.] Valdes recalls, the first time they did so they got a collection of $9 toward expenses.
Later they charged a quarter and then increased it to 40 cents because of taxes and between 1942 and 1945, the following disbursements were made to the clubs at the end of the year: Centro Asturiano, $2,129.09; Loyal Knights, $2,118.08; Italian Club, $2,178.65; Cuban Club, $2,104.48.
Charlie Garcia served as the league's first president, followed by Armando P. Valdes, Joe R. Valdes and Peter Leto.
Joe Valdes served 10 years - he now is president of the Florida Amateur Baseball League - after having served as the Intersocial League's secretary for two years.
[?] statistician, Angelo Capello the treasurer, Faustino Casares the commissioner for many years and also Fred Lupien was commissioner."
Espolita and Valdes list outstanding players produced by the league - Espolita lists players in first playoff.
" 'As we remember it, it was something that meant so much to so many people,' Valdes said. 'Then things changed and it was all over. That's what makes it so bad. I guess there will never be days like those again.' "
1990-4-20 Pic of former players and coaches looking at pics at Cuscaden Park.
"TAMPA For awhile the other day, baseballs bounced off 14th Street in Ybor City as if Cuscaden Park had become a field of dreams for the Intersocial League 33 years ago.
"See that house over there?" Manuel Fernandez said, pointing toward an old brown house well to the west of the street. "One day I hit a ball into the porch there on the second floor. The guy came out waving his arms and wondering what's going on."
Joe Valdes said he remembered seeing Eddie Contreras hit a ball onto the roof of that house.
Either blast would have been well into the left-center field seats in any marjor-league dome or ballpark today.
For Fernandez and Valdes, they were good memories of the days when Cuscaden Park, bounded by 14th and 15th streets and 21st Avenue, just north of Columbus Drive in Ybor City, was a baseball hotbed in an era unequaled today in Tampa or, perhaps, anywhere else.
But, unlike the movie, "Field of Dreams," there is no cornfield, no players of yesteryear, and no playing field at Cuscaden.
In fact, when Fernandez, Valdes and 15 other former players, managers, umpires and officials of the Intersocial League gathered for nostalgia's sake at Cuscaden Tuesday, crews were sodding what used to be the infield to make it ready for soccer.
There will be two soccer fields, and they will be ready in three or four weeks. The old lights that were installed for the Intersocial League in 1949 will be used for night soccer.
Willie Barb's Tampa Bay League was the last to play baseball at Cuscaden. Baseball activity now shifts to Eddie Lopez Field on 22nd Street, and continues at A.T. Rollins Field in Port Tampa, the southwest Port Tampa field, and to Doc Nance Field when it is not in use by Hillsborough Community College.
Tampa had its cigar factory league in the 1920s and '30s, and in more recent times, the Municipal League and the Florida Amateur League, but none of them created the aura of the Intersocial League.
[small talk about 1938 championship game - 3K ATT]
The league folded in 1957.
Serving as presidents were Charlie Garcia, Dr. Jose Franco, Victoriano Manteiga, Vincent Guastella, Antonio Castro, Joe Caruso, Armando P. Valdes Jr., Frank Tamargo Jr., Charlie Cuervo, Sam P. Vento, L.A. "Mac" Traina, Joe Valdes and Pete Leto,
Faustino Casares managed the Italian Club to championships in 1938 and '39 and led Centro Asturiano to the pennant in 1941.
Cuscaden looked like a right-handed power hitter's paradise because the left- field foul line was only 300 feet away. However, a 20-foot screen was put up and a ball had to be hit solidly to reach 14th Street. Those hit by Fernandez and Contreras and others went over the screen fence, the street lights and the street.
Buck DeLaTorre of Centro Asturiano unofficially hit the the most home runs in a season, eight, in 1951. DeLaTorre also had the most doubles, 12, for the Cuban Club in 1947 and the most hits, 46, for the Loyal Knights in 1950.
The all-time top hitter was the Cuban Club's Joe Benito, .443 in 1948. Pete Schiro of the Italian Club hit .429 in 1947, and Andy Prieto of Centro Asturiano hit .429 in '49. Sergio Castillo of the Elks, which entered the league in the latter stages of its operation along with Gibsonton and MacDill Air Force Base, hit .398 in 1955, and Lou Garcia hit .394 for the Elks in '55.
The Loyal Knights' Willie Martinez had the all-time best pitching record, 8-2 in '49. Next were Joe Fernandez of the Cuban Club, 7-1 in '45, and Robert Hill of the Italian Club, 7-1 in '46.
"They had good ballplayers all the time," said Andrew Espolito, who managed and played in the league from 1939-47, with time out for Army duty. "From time to time, there were brother combinations, Joe, Steve and Manuel Iglesia; Angelo, Sam and Frank Scionti; Benny, Manuel and Regino Fernandez and Joe, Nick and Pete Schiro. The games always drew. A crowd came out for every club. Rivalries were good. The Loyal Knights and Centro Asturiano were mostly Spanish. The Cubans, some were born here. The Italians supported the Italian Club. Maybe there were fights in the stands, but as far as big fights, no. They had more trouble in softball than in the Intersocial League." Espolito said had era has passed.
"It's sad to see soccer take over the field where we played so much baseball," Espolito said. "It's sad because so many people went to the games. But I believe it is a new generation now. People are working and they spend their money. Before, nobody had a buck and it was hard to get anything."
1990-10-03 Al Lopez/Intersocial.
2002-5-05 Lasted a few years in 1920s then folded. Marcelo Maseda said he managed every team in the league at one point or another. League considered semi-pro because admission was charged - four clubs took half of proceeds, rest distributed among the players.
2019-3-23 ""It is so important to remember what a major role baseball played for so many of us growing up in Tampa. If we weren't playing ourselves, we were watching the Inter-social League games. Every Sunday they would play doubleheaders, and you could barely fit everyone in the park to watch." - Lou Piniella
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Charlie-Cuellar/ Grew up in Ybor City - describes it. Cuellar was with American Legion team that lost finals in 1934 in Gastonia - same tournament Taliaferro was in.
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/Al-Lopez/ Grew up in Ybor City
https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/manuel-onis/ Parents were Tampa cigar workers. Dropped out of HS to work for Tampa Electric Company.
Pic of Bitsy Mott as Elvis' body-guard - memories of him
1959-3-22 Gibsonton rejoins Intersocial League. Things are a little tense between the area's two semi-pro leagues - Intersocial League and West Coast League. All just a misunderstanding. Other four teams currently in Intersocial League are Lake Thonotosassa (turned down by Coast League), Cuban Club, Italian Club, and Centro Asturiano.
https://www.cigarcitymagazine.com/stories/inter-social-league Louis Piniella and Joe Magadan with Loyal Knights in 1943 - fathers of big leaguers. 1943 season ended 9-26.
2016-4-15 Pic of Cuban Club. Built in 1917.
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| 1943 Tampa Italian Club with Intersocial League trophy |
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| 1943 Centro Asturiano team pic. Players listed - see 1943-9-20 |
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=971401461270041&set=pcb.971402207936633
Posted again just now at
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1220703616724455&set=a.741973951264093
In which I posted names of players in reply.
Florida State League
1909 Bartow
1909-7-03 Trib. "Three new athletes arrived in the local camp yesterday. McDonald, from Knoxville, a pitcher; Rivers, from Anniston, Ala., cracked up to be the best twirler outside of big league harness in the South, and Bagwell, a husky outfielder from Bowman, Ga. The new men are in condition and will be worked at the first oppor tunity.
So confident is a local fan who recently came here from Alabama in the ability of Rivers, that he has offered to defray his expenses if he doesn't "make good" from the jump. McDonald is strongly recommended also. The new hurling material will be kept in reserve for the two stirring contests of Monday, when the leaders grapple for the mastery.
Belue will be in shape and will pitch his first game since graduating from the hospital corps, next Wednesday, against Lakeland.
Tapane, the fast Cuban outfielder, is to receive the tin ornament at once, so "Dad" Groves announced last night. Tapane's fielding is all to the tobacco, but in hitting he has contracted a mingled balloon and fan habit that has reduced his swatting avoirdupois to a beggarly 160 per cent. Many will hate to see the Cuban retire, as his pretty runs for wide flies are features of the games, Mr. Harris is also slated for the canning process within the next few days, according to the Tampa manager.
"O you Sammy" has been designated permanent first-baser for the "Perfect- os," and will play in that position to the end of the chapter, unless unforeseen accidents should so cripple the available supply of pitchers as to require the genial Mr. Richardson's services in the box.
Z. N. Parker, manager of the Governors, yesterday wired President Stovall protesting the game played with Bartow Thursday and advised that a letter would follow giving particulars.
The 17-inning game between Arcadia and Bartow June 30 was forfeited to Arcadia by Umpire Buck, 9 to 0, although Arcadia had the lead in the score when the finish came. The Bartow players quit the field and the umpire waited the usual time and administered heroic treatment to the recalcitrants.
If the weather is good this morning, a game will be played this afternoon. Bartow did not come over yesterday, being advised by Manager Groves that a contest was out of the question.
Hereafter, persons who see the local games in automobiles and carriages will be required to pay the grandstand admission. This is the rule in the other towns of the league and it is nothing more than right that those who enjoy this special privilege pay as much as the occupants of the stand.
A double header will be played with Arcadia Monday, one game at 2 and another at 4. The general admission will be 50 cents for both games, including grandstand.
Moran, the new Tampa first baseman, who came all the way from New York to join the orange-blossom athletes, didn't like the climate and "Jumped" Thursday night, hitting the trail for the far East. He didn't stay long enough to give local fans a glimpse of his work."
Revised schedule.
Long profile of Samuel O.U. Richardson, new 1b. Played in the SALLY.
1909-9-18 Records of Bartow and Tampa for the entire season. Top pitching.
1909-9-09 Trib. Standings, box. Tampa 2, Bartow 1. Sorronto caught for Tampa. The Tampa Municipal Band played.
Prim = Tampa MG.
Doubleheader today. Briscoe and Benton are left handers. When Arcadia and Lakeland (both league teams) disbanded, both Tampa and Bartow got busy picking up their players.
"Manager Prim announced last night that Royer has left the club. Royer objected to the release of Carrillo and Sanchez. Neither of these players strengthened the team materially, and Royer's hitting in the last few games has been hopelessly weak. He was a good fielder, but did not seem to be able to get his batting eye going."
"A large number of the Bartow excursionists remained over last night to witness today's doubleheader, and there promises to be plenty of noise."
1909-9-10 Trib. Standings, box. Bartow 4, Tampa 1. 13 innings.
Wednesday's game has been thrown out of the standings.
Bartow won the first half of the season. If Tampa wins today, Tampa and Bartow will play off. If Tampa loses, Bartow will be uncontested champions.
1909-9-11 Trib. Standings, box. Bartow 3, Tampa 1.
Cartoons.
Season not over - Bartow and Tampa will play off three postponed games.
Sportswriter picks all-star team.
1909-9-13 Trib. Box. Bartow 0, Tampa 0.
Bartow declared champs. Five games will be played this week for the benefit of the players. Cartoons.
Florida State League
1914 Tampa
Leon, Nilo 1919 Tampa FLOR 1914 Tampa
Lujan, Francisco 1914 Tampa 2
"Arrangements for street car service to Sunshine Park for the league games have been made and announcements will be made in a few days of the schedule. Superintendent Case, of the St. Petersburg & Gulf Railway Company, has assured the local club that he will handle all patrons of the game and will run cars to Coffee pot just as often as necessary both to get the people there and to bring them home."
1914-8-31 Tribune. Rosters and schedules listed.
Talk.
1914-9-01 Times. State league is a go. Tampans will have at least one more month of free baseball.
1914-9-21 Times. Special train from Tampa to St. Petersburg - team went on train. "Blacksmith" Ballestero.
1914-9-07 Times. Tampa took doubleheader from St. Petersburg. Estimated 4K ATT at afternoon game. Rube Zellars lost the first game for the St. Petersburg Carpenters
Play by play and box for afternoon game.
Gives batting/fielding for players - gives batting and fielding for every team in every game.
Lakeland-Ft. Meade box.
1914-9-19 Times. Ballestero beat Lakeland 2-1; 3.5K ATT. Box, play by play. FSL play is fully class D; comes up to standard of Georgia State League.
1914-10-03 Tribune. Doubleheader. Tampa clinched pennant - presented with Reach cup by Mayor McKay. Ballestero pitched five-inning 0-0 tie in second game. 1.5K and 1.8K ATT.
Lakeland's catcher and leadoff hitter, Van, has the full name of VanLandingham.
1914-10-01 St. Petersburg. Local box.
1914-10-03 Lakeland. Boxes.
1914-10-03 Lakeland. contin. "Some catcher, Van L.
Must be a great bunch of sports in Fort Meade. Couldn't support the ball team they had.
Wonder if some kind Tampa gentleman gave Lewis a silver loving cup. It is a good thing for the town that the baseball season is over for the umpiring of Lewis has caused a whole lot of dissension and the attendance would be mighty slim, almost as slim as it was after we had played Fort Meade eight or nine games and had not seen a thing of Tampa and St. Pete.
Now that it is all over, let's give credit where it is due, to George Trimble, Claire Henley and Joe LeVay for their untiring work and all the boys who have given us clean sport and did their best to win the pennant. It was not their fault that the flag did not come to the best little town of its size in the State. Our team beat Ybor City three out of five and there never was a dispute of any kind."
Hillsborough-Manatee League
1941
1941-7-19 Trib. Peaches Hernandez will pitch for the league all-stars in a benefit game against the West Coast League All-Stars. Described as a "chunky veteran," he says that he'd like to pitch the whole game as "I already know the weaknesses of many of the coast league hitters as I once pitched for Johnny Boromei in that circuit."
Peaches has won 11 straight games.
1941-7-20 Trib. Preview and pics, including a good one of Peaches.
1941-7-21 Times. Pic of Peaches congratulating Coast League All-Stars' winning pitcher.
1941-7-13 Thur. Times. Peaches Hernandez' 59-inning scoreless streak was snapped though he threw a one-hitter; pitching for U.S. Phosphoric Plant.
Pics of Peaches Hernandez and U.S.P.P. manager Cliff Prevatt, who has piloted the team to 20 wins.
Orange Belt League
1940
St. Petersburg City League
1914
1914-5-23 3rd in series. Thomas J. Haley, former pro. From East St. Louis MO - played on sandlots with Lefty Liefield, Arthur Hoffman, Bobby Byrne, and others. Hit .323 for Pensacola in 1912. Managed independent teams in Texas in 1909 and 1910.
1914-5-26 Luther O. Thompson profile. From Atlanta.
Tampa City League
1921
1927 Tampa Electrics
1929 Tampa Electrics
1930 Tampa Electrics
1931
1934 Schwab-Davis
Capo ss 2 for 43 1922 FLOR 1921 Catholic Club
Casares, Fausto (Faustino)
1922-6-10 Trib. City and Intersocial Leagues have called off Sunday games - will play on "blue Monday."
1922-8-02 Trib. Tomorrow the Police team of the "more or less disintegrated City League" will the Cuban Club of the Intersocial League in "blue rivalry."
1930-4-11 Trib. Quinlan reelected president. Six new teams admitted. 4 teams carry over from last year. All league games must be played on diamonds in Greater Tampa. Each team may have up to two former pro players, as long as they were not on a pro roster in the past year.
1931-12-10 Trib. W.L. Quinlan, superintendent of public recreation here, was appointed director of the Florida State Amateur Baseball Association. Quinlan has been president of the City League the last three years and is now president of the Cigarmakers' League. He has been connected with amateur baseball in Tampa for the last eight years.
1933-8-13 Trib. Commented averages.
1935-4-06 Trib. Tampa All-Stars roster listed - made of City Leaguers, including Llauget - will play exhibition game v. Toronto Maple Leafs.
1939-2-24 City league organized, with four teams that will play on Sunday afternoons at Plant Field. Managers: Albert Dominguez, 7-Up; Johnny Boromei, Goody-Goody; Manuel Fernandez, Labor Temple Cigar union; Cesar Alvarez, Knight and Wall.
League will play thirty-game schedule divided into two equal halves. The winners of the two halves will meet in a five-game championship series. Will begin play on 4-09.
Ralph Wallof, West Coast League secretary last year, is league president. Ralph Smith is vice president.
Who's Who in the City League
1930-6-25 W. Kyle Massey, Transportation c, Joe Domingo, Transportation pitcher, C.R. Johnson, Transportation short stop.
1930-7-02 Jimmie White, Transportation 3b, J.L. "Pete" Smith, Transportation pitcher, Manuel Onis, Transportation catcher.
1930-7-10 Tony Jimenez, Transportation 1b, Mario Alvarez, Transportation pitcher, Phillip Bondi, La Reguladora 2b.
Mario Alvarez pitched in the Ybor City League, 1926-1928.
1930-7-17 W.T. "Willie" Atkinson, Transportation 2b, Atillio Pullaro, Orange Crush 2b, Robert Guerra, Orange Crush 3b, Howard Rogers, Orange Crush pitcher, Justin Herrell, Orange Crush pitcher
1930-7-24 Pete Hevia, La Reguladora pitcher-manager (20 years old), Alfonso "Fish" Garcia, Reguladora pitcher, Bill Fowler, Reguladora outfielder.
1930-8-08 Dick Walkney, Transportation outfielder, John "Nut" Shirley, Transportation 1b,
1921-8-04 Thur. Trib. Filipe Alvarez, Post Office pitcher, threw seven-inning no-hitter - first no-hitter in league history. Mira - 200 ATT.
1921-9-15 Thur. Smallest attendance of season. Mira, J. Mira, and Dominguez with Post Office.
1931-6-07 Sun. Trib. Boxes, standings. Gradio,
1931-6-28 Trib. Ybor City walked off field in 7th, protesting a call - crowd of 2K fans began to pour onto field - game forfeited after half an hour. League President Quinlan says that Ybor City faces the loss of its league franchise.
1933-5-13 Trib. Opening game. Box.
1933-6-11 Times. Don Julian won the first half title - large crowd. Boxes, standings. Tuero lost for Cuesta-Rey v. Don Julian. Llauget and two Schiros with Grower Press.
1933-6-25 Trib. Mira at 2b for Cuesta-Rey.
1933-9-03 Trib. Florida Grower Press tied two games yesterday, 0-0 and 3-3. First game called by rain, second by night. Grower Press has won five and tied three of its last eight games.
1934-4-22 Trib. Opening games, boxes. 1K+ ATT. Tony Schiro. Llauget played 3b for Schwab-Davis. Grandio played 1b for West Tampa. Castendyke with Herman's Sausage Company. Mira at 2b for Ybor City.
1930-8-26 Trib. Tampa Electric 5, Dixie Damp 1. Joe Domingo set a night baseball record with 15K.
1933-10-01 Trib. Boxes. Regensburg beat Cuesta-Rey 2-1 to clinch playoff spot, then beat Don Julian 4-1 in the first game of the five-game championship series. Mira with Cuesta Rey - 3b-2b.
1934-9-23 Times. Schwab-Davis won both halves of schedule - challenged to best-of-three exhibition series by runners-up Regensburg. Schwab-Davis 5, Regensburg 0 - won exhibition series in two straight games.
1930-7-28 Tampa Electrics will play Bradenton Seminoles, a team with plenty of former State Leaguer. The Seminoles have an 18-3 record.
Joe Domingo is 7-0 for the Electrics.
Tampa Recreation League
1932
1932-8-14 times. Standings, boxes. Two (G. and J.) Castendykes with Tampa Pirates and Llauget in left field - Maseda with Glenn Henderson. Arenas/Aremas (Hipolito Arenas?) caught for Tampa Pirates. Don Julian team.
1932-8-28 Glenn Henderson has ten game winning streak. Llauget at 2b and left for Pirates.
1932-9-25 Llauget at 2b for Pirates.
1932-10-09 Times. Based solely on fielding, seems to have been decent league.
West Coast League
1932 1st half Tampa batting + pitching - first half was 59 games final 2nd half standings
Granell, Vincent ss 1932 Tampa Smokers
Todd, Stanley p - abt 150 pro wins * 1932 Tampa Smokers
Onis, Manuel c - 1 for 1 in MLB career * 1932 Tampa Smokers
1932-5-05 Times. "Manager Doc Nance, former catcher in the Florida State league. has gathered together the cream of the local sandlot players to represent Tampa in the league. Although. most of the new Smoker outfit are young and inexperienced players, the club is well balanced with veterans who have been under fire in organized ball for a number of years. Nance will carry 15 men on the team, most of them recruited from the Cigarmakers' league, semi-pro teams, and independent outfits."
1932-7-20 "The [Clearwater] city commission voted Monday night to get behind the Clearwater baseball club of the West Coast league and guarantee its operation throughout the season. The commission instructed City Manager H.S. Riddle to confer with the ball park committee on a method of supervising receipts and expenditures of the junior and senior organizations."
"Earl Sands, star shortstop of the Saints, is an expert tennis and bridge player."
Stanley Todd is flame-haired.
Saints sign four players to strengthen team for second half, including Hoyt Ewing, 6'0" 175 BR of, who was hitting .375 for Lakeland when the the club was dropped from the league.
W/boxes and standings.
On labor day, Leesburg and Center Hill, the half-season winners of the Florida Central League, will play St. Petersburg and Plant City of the Florida West Coast League. Plant City won first half of the West Coast League.
"A special train will bring hundreds of Leesburg and Center Hill rooters to the city and these, added to the local and Plant City rooters, should result in the largest turnout of the year."
1932-8-26 "Hal Lanigan, former former St. Louis and Boston sports editor, who has put the West Coast league over in good shape this summer," suggests that Jacksonville and Daytona Beach enter a winter league.
W/ standings and boxes.
1932-9-06 (Tampa Bay Times) President Lanigan ordered Plant City to play afternoon double-header against St. Petersburg. They refused to play the games, and both games were forfeited to Saints.
1932-9-06 (Tampa Bay Times) President Lanigan ordered Plant City to play afternoon double-header against St. Petersburg. They refused to play the games, and both games were forfeited to Saints.
The Saints and Berries had both already won morning games.
To avoid disappointing largest crowd of season, Saints played exhibition game against Tampa Smokers.
Statement from President Lanigan, which ends:
"Due to all this excitement, tomorrow night's Winter League meeting in Plant City has been called off. Will hold it middle of next week and will let you know in what city.
"Applications for franchises received from Earl Sands for St. Petersburg, Lester Glasscock, the aviator, for Clearwater; F.G. Surchio for Fort Myers, and Fred Harrison for Winter Haven. W.F. White of St. Petersburg prepared to finance a club in any city on west coast I could name.
"I have invited St. Augustine, Daytona Beach, Sanford and Deland to enter."
1932-9-07 (Tampa Bay Times) President of Plant Head, W.H. Prosser, has been indefinitely suspended. Plant City has been invited to league championship v. Saints thru VP, Jim Robinson.
If the Plant City Berries refuse to play the Saints, they will be suspended from the league and the first-half championship will be taken from them and bestowed upon Tampa.
"[Lanigan] also stated that all he required from Manager "Red" Evers of the Berries was a promise of good behavior in the future, but he was emphatic in his statement that Prosser could not be connected with the Berries' organization in any capacity in a play-off series."
1932-9-08 (Tampa Bay Times) Officials vote unanimously to uphold President Lanigan's proposal that Plant City be removed from league.
Admission will be forty cents to "little world series" between St. Petersburg and Tampa.
With Plant City out of the league, Clearwater is the only remaining team. The Saints and Smokers will be strengthened by its players.
Explanation of how the gate receipts will be divided.
1932-9-08 Tampa Times is outraged at way Plant City Berries were cheated out of pennant by President Lanigan.
1932-9-09 (Tampa Bay Times) At four o'clock today, in Tampa at Plant Field, the St. Petersburg Saints and Tampa Smokers will initiate the West Coast League playoffs.
"Hal W. Lanigan, president of the West Coast league, announced last night that William A. Kenmuir, who staged a successful drive to keep the Saints in the league this summer, had been appointed honorary commissioner of the little world series between the Saints and the Smokers. Kenmuir will have the final decision in all questions and disputes arising from the playing of the series."
1932-8-26 Hugh Webber, Saints' curve baller.
West Coast League
1937
1941 Plant City
1942
Rodriguez, Raymond (Ramon, Lingo) 1941 U.S.P.P.
1937-8-01 St. Pete. Standings, preview. St. Petersburg Saints' franchise taken over by Freel team, "sponsored by the S.A. Freel Distributing company, wholesale food distributors."
Wally Brush signed by Foodmen - team roster listed, with full names.
1941-4-26 Trib. Lines.
1942-5-10 Tribune. Lines
1990-7-08 "Your article of May 25, going home to Wauchula or memorial to an old coach, brought back memories. I think that in 1937 I was playing in the West Coast League for the late Johnnie Boronie, who is missed. He was manager of the Mirabella team and we went to Wauchula to play their team. Playing for that team were the Albritton brothers, who were good ballplayers. Bull Foot Masters pitched against us; he had a record of winning 12 straight games. The year before we won the game 3-2. He pitched a good game - the majority of the time you pitch like that you win. He was big and strong and threw hard. Bitsy Matt played shortstop for Wauchula the first and only time I played against him. He left for Macon, Ga., in the South Atlanta League. Butch Henline and Hank DeBerry were team catchers for Brooklyn with our own beloved Al Lopez in 1930. We had three Tampa players on that team that went to play pro Raymaund Rodriguez, who played in the Bi States league in the Carolinas, hit over .300 four years. Sindo Valle played against Matt for a team in Georgia. Willie Paz played for Leesburg in the Florida State League."
- Andrew Espolita, Tampa
West Coast Winter League
1920-21
Foss, George "Deeby" 1921 WSH - if 1920-21 Tampa
1921-1-07 Trib. Sarasota beat Tampa 10-0. 45 ATT, most of them northerners, of which have left in disgust as the game progressed. Skinny Watts started for Tampa. Local box - foreign line.
Tampa Midwinter City League
Tampa Midwinter City League
1921-22
Capo ss 2 for 43 1922 FLOR 1921-22 Catholic Club
1921-10-18 Times. Foss and LaMotte, former Tampa Smokers now with Washington Senators, return home to Miami with wives.
1921-12-25 Times. Police forfeited game - first loss - when didn't have nine players on field by game time. Exhibition played so fans didn't put their money in McGee's derby (Red McGee = Police MG) in vain. 5-5, ten innings, triple play.
Greater Tampa League
1923-24
Capo ss 2 for 43 1922 FLOR 1923-24 Tampa
1923-12-02 Times. West Tampa 4, Ybor City 3. Alvarez pitched for Ybor City, Jose Hernandez pitched for West Tampa.
1923-12-23 Times. Ybor City 4, West Tampa 4. 11 innings. Grandio, Villarin, Pedrero, Casares, and Leon with West Tampa, and Mira (2b) and Quinn (c) with Ybor City.
1923-12-30 Trib. Tampa 4, West Tampa 4.
Pros:
Villarin, Manuel Villarino Villarin, M. (Villarina) 1b 1924 FLOR 1921 Palatka Poor attendance is the norm. 1922 Gainesville 1923 Titusville Tamers 1923 C.H.S. w/Mira
Tampans recall finest hours -
1961-8-15 Ewell Blackwell.
1962-6-26 Tues. Charlie Cuellar.
1962-8-08 Wed. Bitsy Mott.
1963-11-19 Tues. Manuel Fernandez.
Not baseball
1962-5-29 Jai alai
1963-12-03 Track star.
Tampa Smokers
https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Tampa_Smokers records
https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/295201#! vg pics incl Tony Cucinello w/cigar
https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/295201#! vg pics incl Tony Cucinello w/cigar
https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/56179 Ben Podolsky signed by Tom Spicola
https://tampahistorical.org/items/show/23 some comparison with free baseball of city leagues v. unsuccessful 1924 team.
https://tampahistorical.org/items/show/23 some comparison with free baseball of city leagues v. unsuccessful 1924 team.
"Not all mourned the end of the Smokers. Prior to 1924, the Smokers had been champions of the basement in the FSL. In an editorial in the morning’s newspaper, the author blamed the team’s financial situation of its lack of success. Moreover, they author remembered a time when baseball was free in the city: “Tampans seem to prefer games between local clubs to games between a local league club and clubs of other towns. This is easily proved by harking back a number of years to the old City League…when the so-called ‘free baseball’ was in operation. Great crowds attended the games between the Ybor City and West Tampa clubs – and they got the best baseball Tampa ever saw.”
good.
1924-3-25 Trib. First scheduled workout is today. 3b Francisco Lujan and his brother, an outfielder, have been signed. The most promising local player is Valdez, who pitched great ball versus the Senators in an exhibition this spring.
1926-8-29 Trib. Joe Domingo pic. Domingo is 19. Fort Myers has refused many offers for him. Domingo is 5'9.5", 185 lb.
1927-6-03 Times. Grandio and Domingo have been released by their teams and are available for Tampa to sign - but Tampa is already at player limit and would have to release two players to sign them. It is understood that both players were released primarily for not getting along with their managers.
1928-2-23 Times. Joe Domingo pic - is currently at 200 lb. - 220 five weeks ago. Domingo is a southpaw. He is working out with the Senators.
1928-3-06 Joe Domingo pic.
1928-6-08 Trib. Wally Brush threw 47 consecutive scoreless innings for the Gainesville Badgers.
1928-6-30 Times. Good pic of Wally Brush, who has been wild in three games for Krewes. Had reputation as best semi-pro player in state - multiple no-hitters. Has walked 19 in 13.1 innings thus far - review of games.
1929-7-19 Times. Wally Brush is 8-4 on the road but 2-4 at home.
1929-8-29 Trib. Wally Brush has sore arm. Good profile of Brush. Cesar Alvarez had tonsilitis but close to healthy now that his tonsils are gone.
1930-4-11 Times. Wally Brush as told to sports editor - surprised that NYG sent him back to Tampa.
1930-4-11 Trib. Smokers lose $7500 as the Giants returned Wally Brush. Giants gave Smokers $2600 cash for Brush, with another $7500 to be paid if he either made the team or was farmed out.
VG pic of Wally Brush.
1932-1-05 Wally Brush's arm without pain now - mostly played outfield for Williston last year but was able to pitch a 6-0 game late in the season. Seeks job with NYY.
"Brush probably was the greatest baseball enigma ever to parade on Plant field. He appeared to have everything a promising young baseballer should have, yet today finds him looking for a permanent post
after five years of flashing in and out of the majors and minors.
Wally's speed ball fairly hummed over the plate. Opposing batters couldn't see it. His curve was a back breaker, and he had a nice change of pace. His control, terrible when he first joined the Tampa club, improved wonderfully during his first season here. He is young, claiming to be 23 years, and he is anxious to make good.
The young pitcher first appeared on the Florida west coast baseball front as a stripling of 17 years in the spring camp of the Boston Braves. It so happened that Boston was overloaded with young pitchers that season, and so Brush was shipped to Providence in the Eastern league, thence to Miami in the Florida State league.
Miami, in the thick of the pennant race, declined to gamble with youngster, returned Brush to Providence, and then Wally was released out of organized baseball. All this happened in 1927.
The youngster next popped up at Gainesville with two semi-pro no-hit
(Continued on Page 12)"
1964-6-30 Trib. Wally Brush remembered, but inaccurately, in letter.
1964-7-07 Trib. ""Dear Tom:
"I was really amused by the article in your column on June 30 written by John Dolcater. Mr. Dolcater admits being a little hazy on points and in his case is very uncomplimentary.
"I think the least he and Bobby Hicks (who confirmed that Brush would walk a man now and then) could do before writing this type article would be to confer with Red Newton who was sports editor of the Tampa Times, and also the sport pages of the Tribune handled by Marvin McCarthy in 1928-29.
"TO REFRESH Mr. Dolcater's memory, Roy Elam was manager of the Tampa club in 1928 which was owned by Herb Wolfe of St. Augustine. In 1929, ownership was acquired by Messrs. J. L. Cone and W. L. Cobb of Tampa, the club renamed the 'Smokers' and managed by Pop Kitchens. The record will also show Al Lopez was in Jacksonville in 1928, then sold along with Ben Cantwell to Brooklyn.
"Well, Tom, it is a pleasure to know there is someone who remembers ole Wally and recalls the old Southeastern League even though their memory is a bit hazy. I'll have to admit being a wild hombre in 1928, but I think if you'll check the sports pages for 1929, you'll find Wally wasn't so bad up until a day in June when I hurt my arm in the first game of a doubleheader with Selma. Cesar Alvarez, a real good righthander, pitched the second game.
"From that moment on, I began as an alleged pitcher even though I was sold to the Giants conditionally, but was returned to Tampa the next year, 1930, where I had a good start and a lousy finish when the arm finally died."
Sgnd: J. W. (Wally) Brush
Tampa Ship Repair & Dry Dock Co. Tampa
1998-6-14 Tom Spicola obit. Was owner of Tampa Smokers 1946-1952. Lawyer, hardware store owner, and former brewery president. Owned Spicola Hardware.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1141&context=sunlandtribune About Charlie Spicola
1932-7-01 Trib. U.S.S. Tampa Junior Legion team has Raymond (Lingo) Rodriguez, Phillip Schiro, Robert Pulido, and William Beasley, among others. Seven of the 15 players were on the 1931 edition of the team that won the state championship last year. Won the city championship this year by winning all nine of their games scheduled against other Junior Legion teams in the area.
1922-2-03 Manuel Villarino and Charley Larzo, 1921 stars, will return to Palatka. F.J. Fearnside Jr. was again elected manager for the coming season.
1912-10-08 Sorronto (Sorondo) caught for Bradentown.
1922-7-04 Palatka 3, St. Petersburg American Legion 0. Miserable - 200 ATT for one of the two games v. the Saints.
Manuel Villarino is playing with Gainesville.
Key West
Memories:
Memories:
https://www.newspapers.com/search/results/?city=Key+West&county=Monroe&keyword=sorondo®ion=us-fl
1942-10-20 1928 - league formed - roster given - Chelo Castillo with Pirates.
1942-10-20 1928 - league formed - roster given - Chelo Castillo with Pirates.
Games with Miami
1908-9-08 Miami News. Key West 4, Miami 1. Score only.
"The Cuban players of Key West are among the best in the state, and seem to be more at home playing ball than at the cigar-making table. Most of the Key West players are cigar makers."
1912-8-07 Miami Herald. Miami Indians 14, Key West Pirates 9. Key West made 11 errors. Leon, Mira, Pent, Sorondo with Key West. Box, long descr.
1912-8-08 Ambroso won both ends of the doubleheader for Key West, 6-4 and 6-1. Decided the championship between Miami and Key West. "Little Nemo Mira" - "Pent showed the Miami fans something new in base running. With the speed of a sprinter, though sometimes taking desperate chances, he generally makes the steal good, which is sure going some with Tenny back of the plate."
"In the seventh [inning of the second game] Tomas[, Key West left fielder,] made the most extraordinary catch ever made on the Royal Palm grounds. Once more Sneddy was there with the willow, and he laid against it so hard it went to the fence. Tomas after a hard run, which threw his back against the fence with a thud, nailed the leather just in the nick of time. It might not be made again in a thousand tries. It was at this juncture that Reed threw his cap away. Talk about luck, but it was some catch as well."
Key West made four combined errors for the two games.
St. Petersburg
1905-4-01 V.N. Ridgely is the manager of a construction company.
1905-5-19 (Tampa) Defeated a team from the forts 2-1. "[Arthur] Williams has already gained a reputation by his work in the box, and from present indications will be the crack twirler of South Florida ere long."
1905-4-01 V.N. Ridgely is the manager of a construction company.
1905-5-19 (Tampa) Defeated a team from the forts 2-1. "[Arthur] Williams has already gained a reputation by his work in the box, and from present indications will be the crack twirler of South Florida ere long."
1905-6-03 Beat Largo 5-2 in a well-played game. Also beat Bradentown 4-2 yesterday - no account because of lateness of game.
1905-7-15 Beat Company 111 Coast Artillery from Fort Dade of Egmont Key 1-0.
1905-7-22 Lost 4-2 to Bradentown. The field was in bad condition and the play was shoddy. St. Petersburg's first defeat.
St. Petersburg was to play the All-Cubans but rain broke out and the All-Cubans skipped off with the gate receipts - with accompanying cartoon. Manager V.N. Ridgely is infuriated.
1905-7-22 Lost 4-2 to Bradentown. The field was in bad condition and the play was shoddy. St. Petersburg's first defeat.
St. Petersburg was to play the All-Cubans but rain broke out and the All-Cubans skipped off with the gate receipts - with accompanying cartoon. Manager V.N. Ridgely is infuriated.
1905-7-29 (Sat.) Beat the Company 111 Coast Artillery 4-3 on Tues. and lost to them 6-4 on Wed. Lines and game accounts. Both teams are amateur.
1905-8-05 Beat the 111th Artillery Co. 17-6.
1905-8-26 Lost 6-1 to Fort Dade, whose lineup was bolstered by seven Egmont players. A Fort Dade player even homered into left field when the fielder could not find the ball.
1905-9-09 Beat Ft. De Soto 4-1. A large crowd of St. Petersburg fans went along, and fans and players were treated alike with boundless hospitality.
1914-7-10) Ocala. Play by play but no box. Farina played 1b for Riverside.
1914-7-17) Ocala. Box. Riverside 9, Ocala 7. 3 and 9 errors. Lee St. Johns, who played short for Riverside in this game and will pitch tomorrow, "has the reputation of being one of the best amateur pitchers in the state." Largest crowd of season."
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arenahi01.shtml
Black Tampan - could not play in Intersocial League - mostly played for independent black teams.
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/arenahi01.shtml
Black Tampan - could not play in Intersocial League - mostly played for independent black teams.
Faustino Casares
1987-5-14 Trib. VG profile.
1995-11-12 Died 11-09 at 92. Began his pro career with the Tampa Smokers in 1920 at 17.
Celido A. Castillo
1976-10-16 Miami Herald. Obit. Died at 64. Worked 36 years for Pan-Am as a mechanic.
Andrew Espolita
1976-10-16 Miami Herald. Obit. Died at 64. Worked 36 years for Pan-Am as a mechanic.
Andrew Espolita
1942-6-30 Pic in army uniform.
1950-12-27 Times. Pic of Andrew Espolita receiving medal from General Somoza, president of Nicaragua.
"Andrew Espolita, well known Tampa baseball coach, brought honors to Tampa and himself by his management of the Nicaragua amateur baseball team which won second place in the recent World's Amateur Championships.
The best previous record that Nicaragua had been able to acquire was one single win against seven defeats. This year under Espolita's management, the Latin American team won seven games and lost four.
For his fine work, Espolita was awarded a gold medal which is pinned on above by General Somoza, president of Nicaragua. He also was offered a new contract for next year and the job as pilot of the team for the Pan-American series to be held at Buenos Aires in Feb. 1951."
1973-12-16 Trib. Dinner planned for him for 1-26.
1974-1-21 Trib. Retired last month at 65 - party will be held for him. Pic of Espolita.
"Espolita's major accomplishmants have been in baseball. He was chosen as a good-will representative to manage the Nicaraguan team in the Pan-Am Games, then later in the Amateur World Series in Mexico in 1951. He remembers that Jack Stallings, the baseball coach at Florida State, was playing second base then for Wake Forest and the Nicaragua team hurt the Deacons because they beat them and Wake finished second to Cuba.
A great number of young men who played under Espolita I went on to their own achievements in sports-Tony LaRussa, Bucky DeLaTorre, Dickie Fernandez, Frank Permuy, Danny Rivioro, Phil Maggio, Bobby Jordan, George Marino and Lou Garcia to name a few.
ANDREW played third base in the old Intersocial League when games filled Cuscaden Park, then after Tank Corps duty in the Army in World War II, came back to manage the Cuban Club to a championship.
"The thing I have enjoyed most," he said, "was working with kids and seeing the majority of them grow up to become successful citizens.
"It is much more difficult to handle kids now than it was when I began in 1947. Years ago you tried to tell them the basics of the game. Now, they watch television, then go out and think that the things you say aren't the basic things.
"But, I still like children. The only reason I'm going out is I am 65. I have the gout in my knee and a year ago the doctor said I had angina. It has been a night and day job, but I would do it all over again. It's going to be hard for me. I've been doing it so long, I guess if I see some kids playing ball, I'll just go and play with them."
1975-4-21 Cuscaden Park renamed Andrew Espolita Park.
1984-4-05 Trib. In 1950 he was an employee of the Tampa Recreation Department, and the director, Nash Higgins, sent Espolita to coach the Nicaraguan national team. (???) Had as player Eduardo Green, father of current STL David Green.
"Espolita had much success in his own right. Among those who played for him around old Cuscaden Park were LaRussa, Lou Piniella, Frank Permuy, Buck DeLaTorre and Pop Cuesta.
LaRussa said, "People talk about professionals, well Andrew Espolita was a real pro."
Pic of Espolita holding pics of himself and Eduardo Green.
1990-9-30 Trib. About Andrew and his father Jose.
1999-9-02 Trib. Learned English as a young child at the V.M. Ybor Elementary School. Reminiscences about school.
1999-9-02 Trib. Learned English as a young child at the V.M. Ybor Elementary School. Reminiscences about school.
2000-7-09 Pic of Espolita holding ball from 1931 team. Pic of youth team with Tony LaRussa that he coached. VG pic in Tampa Smokers' uniform in early 30s. Pic being interviewed by juvenile officer in 50s after balls were stolen from Cuscaden Park.
Good account of Espolita's career.
2001-6-16 Memories of '54 team.
2004-2-25 About 50th anniversary of Ybor City Optimist all-stars of 1954 who toured Cuba.
Pic of team about to board flight to Cuba with Espolita.
2004-2-25 Contin. Will go back to Cuba - hope still-vital Espolita can make trip. About the 1954 tour.
2011-1-19 Managed 1954 Cuscaden Park all-star team of 11-year-olds that toured Cuba. Buck Delatorre was a member of the team.
longtime HS coach - infamous for cutting Fred McGriff - taught by Espolita
Peaches Hernandez
1968-2-17 Received the Ybor City Sertoma Club's "Service to Mankind" award for his youth coaching.
Peaches Hernandez
1968-2-17 Received the Ybor City Sertoma Club's "Service to Mankind" award for his youth coaching.
1951-3-25 Trib. Pitching for Tampa All-Stars, one-hit Arcadia 5-0. He struck out 12. He has added a knuckleball to his repertoire. Described as "ancient."
Cubans
1928-9-22 Relief fund donation by Manuel Llauget.
1932-10-31 Pearl Elmer Baker survived by his daughter, Mrs. Manuel Llauget of Tampa.
1936-2-28 In badminton club.
Tony LaRussa
1983-9-17 "[LaRussa's mother's parents were] immigrants from Asturias in Spain. The LaRussa grandparents came from Sicily. Everybody worked in the cigar plants at one time or another.
In pro ball
1983-9-17 "[LaRussa's mother's parents were] immigrants from Asturias in Spain. The LaRussa grandparents came from Sicily. Everybody worked in the cigar plants at one time or another.
"When we got married, we lived with my wife's parents," said the elder LaRussa. "I guess that is why Tony speaks Spanish better than Italian. If we had lived with my parents, he would have spoken Italian better. I speak both and he does a little.
"He played baseball from six years on with Andrew Espolita's kid teams and then on up with Jefferson and the Colt league. Even went to Cuba twice when he was 10 with a Boys Club team. I remember all of that."
Tony does too.
"Andrew Espolita helped me a lot way back," said LaRussa. "Later on it was Lingo Rodriquez who was my Legion coach. My dad played a lot with me and believe it or not, I used to throw to my mother in the alley."
1984-2-09 "He began learning the game at a very young age and was at night and day. By the time he was 13 he was as polished in the fundamentals, if not more so, than the 19 and 20 year olds signing pro contracts these days. LaRussa knows because he has seen it first hand.
"I'm still surprised to see kids come into the White Sox organization that have a world of ability but still haven't learned the lessons I learned at Cuscaden Park and MacFarlane Park," LaRussa said.
"Tony was always a very smart boy, a very smart player," said Andrew Espolita, who coached LaRussa and hundreds of other young baseball players at Cuscaden Park. "There were a lot of nice boys at Cuscaden Park when I worked there. A lot of them are lawyers today," including LaRussa.
Later, after his family moved from Ybor to West Tampa, there would be people like Lingo Rodriguez, Joe Sanchez and Nello Ramaldi that worked with LaRussa, taught him the game the correct way, from the ground up.
Sanchez coached Pony and Colt League teams. He had a batting cage in his backyard, probably the only private batting cage in the town at the time. Baseball was and is important to the youths of West Tampa and Ybor City and the men who coach them."
2014-7-27 VG pic of 1954 team posing at Cuscaden Park with Espolita.
"The La Russas' apartment above the service station at 12th and Columbus wasn't far from the baseball diamond at Ybor's Cuscaden Park, and Tony soon wore out the path.
He'd head over to the park nearly every morning, playing all day, playing with older boys, and playing well, picking up techniques and nuances of the game from a coach, Andrew Espolita, whom he still credits today. And when he wasn't playing, he was at the park watching older kids play.
"Tony basically grew up at Cuscaden Park," said childhood buddy Buck DeLaTorre.
He would dabble in other sports, and when forced, he'd miss a day for a family outing to the beach or somewhere, but all La Russa really wanted to do was play baseball.
"He always couldn't wait to get back to the park," Fojaco said. "Mom took us for swimming lessons at Cuscaden Park and he didn't want to stay in the pool. He'd point to the field. She said, you have to learn how to swim. He wasn't interested."
The scene was much the same when the La Russas moved across town to west Tampa, the house on MacDill not far from MacFarlane Park, where Tony - now in seventh grade - again took up residence, quickly emerging as one of the best.
"Everything was the game," said Charlie Miranda, the Tampa City councilman who was another childhood crony. "I could see Tony carried a lot of the characteristics from that little park into his baseball career and into managing." How impressive was La Russa even then? When the Ybor City Optimist's Club put together a team of 12-and 13-year-old all-stars for a trip to Cuba in 1954, La Russa was chosen as the shortstop and co-captain at the age of 9."
Pic of LaRussa chatting with Al Lopez in 60s.
Saladino Old-Timers' Day
In pro ball
1935-4-09 Three Tampans going to pro ball: Charlie Cuellar, who will be farmed out to Decatur, and two going to Tallahassee: 17-year-old Legion junior outfielder Jesus Rodriguez, and City League infielder Chelo Castillo.
1935-8-05 Chelo Castillo sent home from Tallahassee because of injured ankle - got married - day after getting married, call from Tallahassee: they need him. Didn't want 24-hour honeymoon; compromised that he'd return to Tallahassee after a week.
Cubans
Villarino with Abbeville SC in 1925 Carolina League - see Carolina Leagues.
Lujan, Francisco alt CUWL/milb - Enciclopedia Biografica del Beisbol Cuban, p. 371 - 1888-7-30 to 1962-3-19 - confirmed that both the minor leaguer and the winter leaguer were the same player.
Nicknamed "Paco."
"Luján, Francisco (1888-1962). Receptor y jugador de cuadro; derecho. Conocido por Paco. Nació en el barrio Versalles, Matanzas, el 30 de julio de 1888 y falleció en su ciudad natal el 19 de marzo de 1962. Para 1914 había defendido el campo corto en el equipo WEPETEC en el estadio La Base de los Mulos de su localidad, en 1918 era el receptor y cuarto bate del BELLAMAR. Después jugó con el TOSCA de Santa Clara y el DELICIAS. Según Modesto García Tuñón, en un artículo titulado «El deporte en el tiempo. Paco Luján»:
En su época, -según el decir de Martín Dihigo que fue compañero de Paco Luján- fue un jugador excelente, con un brazo poderoso; jugaba la tercera base con soltura y tiraba limpiamente. Jugador agresivo, la forma de bloquear el home era algo que siempre originaba discusiones, porque se sentaba a la hora de recibir la pelota y por muy valiente que fuera el corredor, no podía pisar la goma..."Luján, Francisco (1888-1962). Receptor y jugador de cuadro; derecho. Conocido por Paco. Nació en el barrio Versalles, Matanzas, el 30 de julio de 1888 y falleció en su ciudad natal el 19 de marzo de 1962. Para 1914 había defendido el campo corto en el equipo WEPETEC en el estadio La Base de los Mulos de su localidad, en 1918 era el receptor y cuarto bate del BELLAMAR. Después jugó con el TOSCA de Santa Clara y el DELICIAS. Según Modesto García Tuñón, en un artículo titulado «El deporte en el tiempo. Paco Luján»:
Integró el HABANA de la Liga Profesional Cubana en la temporada de 1912 (.200) y el FE de 1914-1915 (.500). Total: en 3 desafíos y 9 veces al bate logró 3 hits para promedio de .333, con 3 anotadas y 1 triple. Entre 1921 y 1924 participó en tres campañas de Ligas Menores de los Estados Unidos con los equipos: GREENVILLE BURLEY CUBS (1921, 1923 y 1924) y TAMPA SMOKERS (1923 y 1924). En 347 desafíos y 1 200 veces al bate registró 356 hits para promedio de .296.
(Con documentación de Modesto García Tuñón, Martín Dihigo, Jorge Figueredo, Eladio Secades, Manolo de la Reguera, Baseba- ll-Reference.com y otra fuentes).
""Luján, Francisco (1888-1962). Catcher and infielder; right-handed. Known as Paco. He was born in the Versalles neighborhood, Matanzas, on July 30, 1888 and died in his hometown on March 19, 1962. By 1914 he had played shortstop on the WEPETEC team at the La Base de los Mulos stadium in his town; in 1918 he was the catcher and fourth bat for BELLAMAR. Later he played with TOSCA de Santa Clara and DELICIAS. According to Modesto García Tuñón, in an article titled «Sports in time. Paco Luján»: In his time, -according to Martín Dihigo who was a teammate of Paco Luján- he was an excellent player, with a powerful arm; he played third base with ease and threw cleanly. An aggressive player, the way he blocked home was something that always caused discussions, because he sat down at the time of the game. He received the ball and no matter how brave the runner was, he couldn't touch the rubber... He was part of HABANA of the Cuban Professional League in the 1912 season (.200) and the FE of 1914-1915 (.500). Total: in 3 games and 9 times at bat he achieved 3 hits for an average of .333, with 3 runs scored and 1 triple. Between 1921 and 1924 he participated in three campaigns of the Minor Leagues of the United States with the teams: GREENVILLE BURLEY CUBS (1921, 1923 and 1924) and TAMPA SMOKERS (1923 and 1924). In 347 games and 1,200 times at bat he recorded 356 hits for an average of .296. (With documentation from Modesto García Tuñón, Martín Dihigo, Jorge Figueredo, Eladio Secades, Manolo de la Reguera, Baseball-Reference.com and other sources)."
Gibbons, John p 1940 Pepsi-Cola Giants
Gibbons, Walter p
Young, Adam 3b 1941 NBY 1940 Pepsi-Cola Giants
Gibbons, John p 1940 Pepsi-Cola Giants
Gibbons, Walter p
Young, Adam 3b 1941 NBY 1940 Pepsi-Cola Giants
1940-9-16 Pepsi-Cola Giants 6, Orlando Hoboes 4. Line.
1997-4-04 Quack Brown and Bay Gibbons remember the days when Negro League players weren't permitted at Cuscaden, so the all-white teams went to them at 22nd Street and Lake, where they played for the Pepsi-Cola Giants before signing contracts with professional Negro League teams.
"They would come down here to play in the spring and would give the good players contracts," said Gibbons, who pitched for the Philadelphia Stars in 1941.
Billy Felder signed up, too. He played shortstop for the Newark (N.J.) Eagles in 1945 and went 3-for-3 against Satchel Paige in the Negro League World Series.
"Only my three [outs] were all strikeouts," he said, recalling the series the Eagles won in seven games from the Kansas City Monarchs.
Gibbons and his colleagues, who made $150 a month and traveled in station wagons or "rickety buses," marveled at today's $60 million contracts.
"Those were hard times," Gibbons said, "But you block that out and only remember the good things that happened."
"We would have played for nothing," said his brother, Dirk Gibbons, a pitcher with the Indianapolis Clowns from 1947-49, a few years before Hank Aaron joined the team.
Dirk Gibbons and Brown would go on to play for Rochester, N.Y., the Cardinals' Triple-A club, but neither stayed because there wasn't enough money offered to support families back home in Tampa.
"I wish I had stayed," Brown said. "Nine times out of 10 I would do it all again."
Pic of Walter "Dirk" Gibbons
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/burgert/648/ Tampa Tarpons team pic
"A Ball-player's dream"
1912-7-18 "A cloud of dust could be seen coming down the drive at a forty mile clip. As it approached the stands, the spectators could make out the ponderous form of our famous yale tackle, Mr. Hoskins, As he drew nearer one could distinguish that he held tightly grasped in his right hand the neck of a human being who resembled a wet cigarette. His long legs dangled out behind trailing in the dust made by the ancient gridiron warrior's hurried approach. At this moment a wild scream could be heard behind the famous Ford and out sprang Tom Vaiden with a smile on his face as long as a rope. He rushed over to Mr. Hoskins' capture, and fell on his neck and wept. At this funny spectacle it began to dawn on some of the spectators, who this queer looking individual was. And the magic word "Sorronto" began to pass from lip to lip throughout the entire field. Sorronto, the boy wonder, the pride of Tampa, and the kid that made Key West famous. The greatest catcher and batter in the tin pan league. He could lay on his back and toss 'em out at second without even wiggling his toes. He had an arm like a rifle. He was the man we needed. The psychological moment had arrived and he was the hero. The crowd was in an uproar. Cheers rent the air. Our Phenom had arrived. Well, as Billy always says, the game was on ice from this time on, as far as scoring on Sanford's part was concerned. Sorronto was the kandy kid, no Sanford player dared move more than two inches from any bag. This put confidence in Doc and the game went to the eleventh inning with the score tied.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/burgert/648/ Tampa Tarpons team pic
"A Ball-player's dream"
1912-7-18 "A cloud of dust could be seen coming down the drive at a forty mile clip. As it approached the stands, the spectators could make out the ponderous form of our famous yale tackle, Mr. Hoskins, As he drew nearer one could distinguish that he held tightly grasped in his right hand the neck of a human being who resembled a wet cigarette. His long legs dangled out behind trailing in the dust made by the ancient gridiron warrior's hurried approach. At this moment a wild scream could be heard behind the famous Ford and out sprang Tom Vaiden with a smile on his face as long as a rope. He rushed over to Mr. Hoskins' capture, and fell on his neck and wept. At this funny spectacle it began to dawn on some of the spectators, who this queer looking individual was. And the magic word "Sorronto" began to pass from lip to lip throughout the entire field. Sorronto, the boy wonder, the pride of Tampa, and the kid that made Key West famous. The greatest catcher and batter in the tin pan league. He could lay on his back and toss 'em out at second without even wiggling his toes. He had an arm like a rifle. He was the man we needed. The psychological moment had arrived and he was the hero. The crowd was in an uproar. Cheers rent the air. Our Phenom had arrived. Well, as Billy always says, the game was on ice from this time on, as far as scoring on Sanford's part was concerned. Sorronto was the kandy kid, no Sanford player dared move more than two inches from any bag. This put confidence in Doc and the game went to the eleventh inning with the score tied.
In the last half of the 12th, came the earthquake. The spectators were keyed up to the highest point. Their nerves were on edge. The first man up reached first on a fumble by Wofford, the next man sacrificed and put him on second, the next was an easy out to catcher. Then up came Sorronto swinging his four bats that his pet stick might feel light. Roar after roar swept the field as the boy wonder advanced to the plate. Father Wallace grew quite nervous for the fame of this phenom had penetrated the ozone as far back into oblivion as al station on the Coast Line called Sanford. The first ball pitched split the plate but the phenom did not even wriggle a toe. As Walace began to wind up a death like hush fell over the gathered multitude only to be interrupted by a whack like the crack of a pistol. The boy wonder had met the ball fair on the nose." (To be continued.)
1912-7-19 Concluded. 
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