Western Canada Baseball Cuban Connection


The Cuban Connection

Even by the 1950's, Cubans were no strangers to the Canadian prairies. 1952 Florida Cubans The Brandon Greys of the Manitoba Senior League were among the earliest to begin importing Cuban players. In 1948 the Greys had Rafe Cabrera (identified in the local paper as "Ralph Calberro") and Bus Quinn (who played under his real name -- Armando Vasquez -- in later years). The 1951 edition of the Greys featured at least a half dozen Cubans, including teenage pitchers Amancio Ferro and Armando Suarez. Pedro Naranjo was a key member of the pitching staff, while Ramon Rodriguez handled the catching, Cabrera played almost everywhere and Vasquez both held down first base and took a turn on the hill The early teams in Indian Head, Saskatchewan had a core of Cuban players (the Florida Cubans had toured Saskatchewan in 1952, and won the '52 Indian Head Tournament playing as the Indian Head Rockets.) The Cubans also captured top money in the 1952 Camrose Tournament. In 1957, Regina worked a deal with Havana (then in the International League) to place five Cubans in the Senators lineup. (Left) Carlos Forten of the 1952 Florida Cubans. Forten took a turn in the outfield when not doing his usual stint on the mound. Left - A member of the Florida Cubans accepts congratulations for the Cubans' victory over Baton Rouge Hardwood Sports in the final of the 1952 Indian Head Tournament Right - The Cubans also captured the 1952 Saskatchewan title downing the Indian Head Rockets 9-2 and 16-11 in the championship series. (Left) Florida Cubans' infield as the team prepared for the 1952 Lethbridge Rotary Tournament. From left to right : shortstop Ezequiel Diaz, second baseman Julio Bonilla, carchter Roberto Ledo, third baseman Leopoldo Reyes and first baseman Pedro Seoane. (Lethbridge Herald, August, 1952)
Mario Amaro Brandon 1952-53	Orlando Arango Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 1954	Cesar Argudin Brandon 1952	Marcelino Arozarena Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 1953-54	Roberto Barbon Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 1953
Julio Bonilla Florida Cubans 1952	Roberto Bouza Regina 1957	Rafe Cabrera Brandon 1948-52 Winnipeg 1953	Tony Campos Drummondville 1952 Williston 1954	Jose Bobby Cesar Regina 1957
Ignacio Cisnero Florida Cubans 1952 Saskatoon 1953	Ezequiel Diaz Florida Cubans 1952 Saskatoon 53-5	Vincente Diaz Lloydminster 1954	Juan Dominguez Florida Cubans 1952	Sergio Fabre Saskatoon 54-55
Carlos Forten Florida Cubans 1952 Winnipeg 1953	Luis Fouste Regina 1957	Orlando Garcia Indian Head 1952	Oswaldo Garcia Lloydminster 1954	Jose Guernino Indian Head 1953
Jose Hernandez Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 1953-54	Mario Herrera Florida Cubans 1953 Saskatoon 1953-1956	Felipe Jimenez Carman 1954	Torribeo Leal Indian Head 1951-1952	Roberto Ledo Florida Cubans 1952
Miguel Miranda Indian Head 1953-1954	Chico O'Farrill Eston 1951 Indian Head 1953 NBattleford 54-55	Mario Penalver Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 1953-1954	Juan Prats Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 1953-1954	Leopoldo Reyes Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 53 Saskatoon 53-54 N Battleford 55
Jose Rodriguez Regina 1957	Ramon Rodriguez Brandon 1949-1951	Pedro Seoane Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 1953-1954	Armando Suarez Brandon 1951-1952	Jose Tartabull Regina 1957
Jose Valladares IH-SK 1954 Saskatoon 55-56	Armando Vasquez Brandon 1948-1952	Gilberto Yzquierdo Florida Cubans 1952 Indian Head 1953-1954	Roberto Zayas MJ-SK 1953 LM 1954-57 LM-MJ 1958
Two of the baseball cards from Cesar Lopez' marvelous site on the history of Cuban baseball. Both Suarez and Naranjo suited up with the Brandon Greys.	Armando Suarez Brandon 1951	Pedro Naranjo Brandon 1950-1951
* The 1953 Indian Head roster included: Gilberto Yzquierdo mgr, Roberto Barbon 2b, Miquel Miranda c, Will Conner p, J. Johnson p, Mario Penalver rf, Sammy White p, Jose Guerino lf, Pedro Seone 1b, Orlando O'Farrill ss, Marcelino Arozarena 3b, and Juan Prats u. In 1953, the Saskatoon Gems featured Cubans Ezequiel Diaz at ss, inf Ignacio Cisnero, pitcher Sergio Martinez, inf-of Roberto Zayas, pitcher Ignacio Romay, and pitcher Jose Vera. In June, 1953, Jim Robinson of Indian Head sent a letter to officials of the Camrose Tournament with news of the Rockets' roster. "The Indian Head Rockets have been Saskatchewan Provincial Champions for the past two years - 1951 and 1952. They are without a doubt the speediest club on the diamond anywhere in Western Canada, lots of hustle and real crowd pleasers. The majority of the club are Cuban boys, the balance are Americans. The players are practically all young fellows, the playing manger, Gilberto Yzquierdo is 26 years of age and handles the club as a veteran. He himself is an outstanding catcher with a bullet peg and a terrific hitter. We carry a second excellent catcher, Miguel Mirana [sic], who does most of the catching, he is fast, a good hitter and a dandy arm. Six top notch pitchers are carried on the roster - Jose Hernandez, Sammie White, Will Conner, Clyde Johnson, Mario Ruiyol and Roberto Barbon. Four other members deserve special mention. They are Leopoldo Reyes, third base, rated as the best third baseman in the west and property of Pittsburgh Pirates; Juan Prats, centre field; a terrific fielder and lead off hitter, property of Pittsburgh Pirates; Mario Penalver, right fielder, a terrific hitter and excellent fielder; Marcelino Arozarena, utility, a super ball player who plays any position. In spring training this club lost two games, one being to the Kansas Cith Monarchs, 5 to 3. On their trip from Florida to Canada they were defeated only twice. Names of the other personnel follow: Pedro Geoane [sic], 1b; Paul Brown, utility; Orlando O'Farrill, ss; Jose Quarino Castilla, lf; Curly Andrews, 2b." (The Camrose Canadian, June 17, 1953)