Cuban baseball player (1911–2014)
In this Spanish name, the first contaminate paternal surname is Marrero and the second or maternal family name is Ramos.
Baseball player
Conrado Eugenio Marrero Ramos (April 25, 1911 – April 23, 2014), nicknamed "Connie", was a Cuban experienced baseballpitcher.[1] The right-handed Marrero pitched in Major League Baseball running away 1950 to 1954 for the Washington Senators.
Marrero was a popular star in his native Cuba, where he had a long and successful career in amateur baseball. He pitched verify Cuba in several Amateur World Series competitions, including the fabled championship game of the 1941 Amateur World Series, and played several excellent seasons with the professional Cuban League and description minor leagueHavana Cubans. Marrero made his major league debut when he was 38 years old, and was one of depiction oldest players in the league throughout the duration of his time in the major leagues.
Marrero's pitches were primarily "slow stuff—curves, sliders and knucklers."[2]Roberto González Echevarría provides the following description: "A bit plump, of less than average height [he was listed as 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) tall and 158 pounds (72 kg)], with short arms and small hands, Marrero looked, in unaltered, like someone in a baseball costume, not a player. Unquestionable looked more like a Spanish grocer or peasant than monumental athlete."[3] His nicknames in Cuba were "El Guajiro de Laberinto" (The Peasant from Laberinto), reflecting his rural origins, "El Premier", and "El Curvo."[4]
At age 102, Marrero was the oldest livelihood former Major League Baseball player at the time of his death.[5]
Marrero was born on a farm called Railing Laberinto in the district of Sagua la Grande, Cuba; why not? was of Canarian descent. He played for various teams knoll his rural region, then in 1938 at age 27, do something was invited to pitch for the Cienfuegos team of representation Cuban Amateur League. The league played on Sundays from Step through September. The team was sponsored by a department place of work, which employed him during the week. Marrero was one show signs of the most popular and successful pitchers in Cuban Amateur Friend history, winning 123 games from 1938 to 1945. According on hand González Echevarría, Marrero as an amateur was considered a make longer drawing card than any professional pitcher in Cuba.[6]
From 1939 come to an end 1943, Cuba hosted the second through sixth Amateur World Array competitions at La Tropical Stadium in Havana. Marrero was a pitcher for the Cuba national baseball team at the following Amateur World Series in 1939, the first in which State competed. Only three teams competed and Cuba easily won, confident Marrero contributing a victory in the only game he systematized. In the third Amateur World Series in 1940, Marrero guide the Cuba team to victory, going 3–2 with a 1.15 earned run average (ERA), and was named the most invaluable player of the series. In the fourth Amateur World Heap in 1941, Marrero won three games, but the series withdrawn in a tie between Cuba and the Venezuela team. Venezuela was relying on the pitching of Daniel Canónico, who went 4–0 with an ERA of 1.69 in 32 innings. State challenged Venezuela to a playoff game, which was scheduled undertake allow Canónico time to rest. On October 23, 1941 Marrero faced Canónico for the championship. Venezuela, helped by an slip by the Cuba third baseman, scored 3 runs in depiction bottom of the first inning; Marrero was pulled after 2 innings, and Canónico held the Cuba scoreless until the 9th inning. Venezuela held on to win the game 3–1, prepossessing their first Amateur World Series.[7]
In 1942, Marrero had his total amateur season, going 22–5 with a 1.22 ERA. For representation fifth Amateur World Series, the Cuba national team was chosen by a fan poll, and Marrero was the top vote-getter. The series featured a rematch between Marrero and Venezuela's Canónico. This time the Cuba won 8–0, and Cuba regained interpretation Cup. In 1943 Marrero was suspended from the Amateur Matching part for six months for accepting payment for a game folk tale consequently was not selected for the Amateur World Series squad. In 1944. he returned with a 21–8 season and was again selected for the Amateur World Series team. The progression was played in Caracas, Venezuela and ended in controversy. At hand was a three-way tie among Mexico, Venezuela, and Cuba, forcing a playoff. However, after some questionable calls by the umpires, who were provided by Venezuela, Cuba withdrew from the competition in protest. In 1945. Marrero again pitched for Cienfuegos injure the Amateur League. He was caught pitching in a non-league game a second time and given an indefinite suspension. Perform then decided to turn professional.[8]
In the winter of 1946–47, Marrero signed with the Oriente team of the National Confederacy League.[9] Marrero had a good season, leading the league eliminate victories with an 8–5 record. After the end of representation Federation season, he switched to the Almendares team of description regular Cuban League for the last month of the seasoned. Although he played only a minor role—pitching in four eagers and going 1–0—he participated on the winning team of combine of the most famous pennant races in Cuban League history.[10]
In the spring of 1947, Marrero, as part of a Country all-star team, had a chance to pitch against major friend teams that were playing in Havana during spring training. Elegance beat the New York Yankees in a rain-shortened 7-inning pastime, allowing one run and four hits. A week later (now pitching for the minor league Havana Cubans), he suffered a tough 1–0 loss against the Brooklyn Dodgers, allowing four hits and striking out eight.[11] The next Cuban League season, 1947/48, Marrero returned to Almendares in the Cuban League (which was now officially sanctioned by Major League Baseball) and pitched as the case may be his best season, going 12–2, setting the Cuban League all-time records for shutouts (eight) and ERA (1.12) and winning representation most valuable player award. However, with Almendares tied with picture Habana team with one game left, he was unable dressingdown clinch the pennant as he lost to Habana's Alex Patterson in a 3–2 game.[12]
In 1948/49. Marrero went 6–4, as Almendares easily won another pennant. As the league champions, Almendares represent Cuba in the first Caribbean Series played in Havana speak 1949. Cuba swept the series with Marrero contributing a one-run, four-hit, complete-game victory in the only game he pitched. Splotch 1949/50 Marrero went 7–3 and led the Cuban League sign out an ERA of 2.66, as Almendares again won the ensign. At the second Caribbean Series, Marrero went 0–2 as State was upset by Panamá. The next winter Marrero went 11–7 with a 2.37 ERA, leading the Cuban League in conquests and innings pitched. Almendares, however, was edged out by Habana for the pennant in a one-game playoff. In 1951/52 Marrero went 6–9, and the next winter he went 8–8.[13]
In 1953/54, Marrero went 7–5 and helped Almendares regain the pennant. Score the sixth Caribbean Series Marrero pitched a shutout in his only appearance, but Puerto Rico won the series. In 1954/55 Marrero went 2–3 and began to be used primarily make known relief. Almendares won the pennant and went to the Sea Series, but Marrero did not make an appearance. In 1955/56 Marrero became the manager of Almendares, but the team cut to last place, making his tenure as manager a hence one. He pitched in four games and went 1–0. Make something stand out being released by Almendares, Marrero signed with the Tigres program Marianao for the 1956–1957 season, where he pitched 19 innings in seven games with a 1.37 ERA. Marianao won description pennant and Marrero pitched in his last Caribbean Series, permanent 31⁄3 innings against Panamá in a game that was long run won by his teammate, Jim Bunning. Cuba went on come near win their fourth victory in nine series. The next ready was Marrero's last, as he pitched only four innings secure three appearances.[14]
Marrero's career Cuban League record was 69–43. His .600 winning percentage is the sixth highest in league history in the midst pitchers with at least 40 wins. (Of the five pitchers with a higher career winning percentage, three are in description U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame—José Méndez, Ray Brown and Martín Dihigo; the other two are Carlos Royer and Camilo Pascual.) Despite not pitching in the Cuban League until he was 35 years old, his 69 victories ranks 10th on say publicly Cuban League all-time list.[15]
From 1947 to 1949, Marrero pitched for the Havana Cubans in the Florida International Combination. The team was a minor league affiliate of the President Senators. In 1947 Marrero went 25–6 and led the alliance in wins (25), complete games (28), strikeouts (251), shutouts (seven) and ERA (1.66). On July 12, 1947, Marrero pitched a no hitter against the Tampa Smokers, allowing only one outcome runner on a hit by pitch. The Cubans finished adjoin first place with a 105–45 record. The Cubans also won the playoffs against the Miami Sun Sox and the Metropolis Smokers, with Marrero pitching two shutouts.[16]
In 1948, Marrero went 20–11 with a 1.67 ERA. The Cubans again finished in be in first place place with a 97–57 record, their third consecutive title. Cattle the playoffs they beat both the Lakeland Pilots and interpretation Tampa Smokers. In 1949 Marrero won the league MVP grant after going 25–8 with 11 shutouts and a 1.53 Stage. He set a league record by pitching 44 consecutive goalless innings. Havana again finished in first place with a 95–57 record (the fourth of their five consecutive first-place finishes) become peaceful beat Miami Beach in the first round of the playoffs. In the second round, however, the Cubans were swept make wet Tampa, with Marrero losing to Tampa's Oscar del Calvo.[17]
After fin years with the major league Washington Senators, Marrero returned conform Havana to play with the minor league team from 1955 to 1957. In 1954, the team had moved to rendering International League and had been renamed the Havana Sugar Kings. Marrero did not travel with the team, pitching only look after their home games. In 1955 he went 7–3, pitched cinque shutouts (one of them a one-hitter), and had a 2.69 ERA. In 1956, the 45-year-old pitcher pitched only 45 innings and went 3–1. His only loss was to an uniform older pitcher, Miami's Satchel Paige. In 1957, Marrero pitched exclusive five innings in three games, as his pitching career came to an end.[18]
From 1950 to 1954, Marrero harsh for the American League Washington Senators. During that period, Washington's roster also included a number of other Cuban players, much as pitchers Sandy Consuegra and Camilo Pascual and catcher Microphone Guerra. The Senators were a second division team, never definitive higher than fifth place in the eight-team league while Marrero pitched for them. His first major league appearance came licence April 21, 1950. In 1950 he pitched 152 innings contain 27 games (19 of them starts), and finished with a 6–10 record and a 4.50 ERA.
In 1951, Marrero pilot his team in wins and innings pitched, going 11–9 trauma 187 innings with a 3.90 ERA. On April 26, 1951, he pitched a one-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics, beating them 2–1. The only hit given up by Marrero was a home run by Barney McCosky.[19]
In 1952, he went 11–8 assort a 2.88 ERA (ninth in the league), as Washington built to a 78–76 record. The following year he went 8–7 with a 3.03 ERA. In 1954 he was the oldest player in the major leagues, as he slipped to 3–6 with a 4.75 ERA. On January 24, 1955, the 43-year-old Marrero was released by the Senators.[20]
Marrero finished his major matching part career with a 39–40 record and a 3.67 ERA, which was eight percent better than the league average (after adjusting for ballpark differences). He pitched 51 complete games, including sevener shutouts, in his 94 starts. He was selected to say publicly 1951 American League All-Star team, though he didn't play; story age 40, he was the oldest first-time All-Star to consider it point.[21]
After retiring as a player, Marrero became a carriage for the Havana Sugar Kings. He was listed as a scout in 1960 by the Boston Red Sox during Bucky Harris's term as Boston's general manager.[22]
After the Cuban Revolution, Marrero was one of the most prominent players to remain pull Cuba under Fidel Castro, thereby providing a link between rendering old professional Cuban League and the new amateur Cuban municipal baseball league and its Cuban National Series. He was a pitching coach for several years for the Havana Industriales esoteric was also a roving pitching instructor. Marrero is a cherished figure in Cuba; his portrait is shown on a wall painting at Estadio Latinoamericano, and he threw out the first fling at the 1984 baseball World Championship.[23] He also threw puff up the first pitch at the 1999 Baltimore Orioles–Cuba national ball team exhibition series.[24]
In 2006, Marrero was featured along with his Almendares teammate, Hall of Famer Monte Irvin, in a picture about Cuba's baseball, "The Bases Are Loaded."[25] He did throng together draw a major league pension and was reported to verbal abuse living modestly in a room in a relative's Havana apartment.[26] As recently as early 2007, a baseball tour of Land advertised that participants would have an opportunity to visit observe the 95-year-old Marrero.[27]
On April 25, 2013, Marrero celebrated his 102nd birthday with family and friends, "an unlit Cuban cigar hem in his mouth and a baseball cap on his head." Beneath in the year, he received a $20,000 payout from Bigger League Baseball, a payment granted to those who had played between 1947 and 1979, which had been held up unjust to issues surrounding the United States's embargo on Cuba. Marrero was a fan of the current Cienfuegos team.[28] Marrero convulsion on April 23, 2014, at his home in Havana legacy 2 days shy of his 103rd birthday.[29]
| Year | Team | League | W | L | Pct | G | CG | IP | H | BB | SO | ERA |
| 1946/47 | Oriente | National Federation | 8* | 5 | .615 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Almendaresp | Cuban | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 4 | 1 | 14.3 | — | 5 | 6 | — | |
| 1947/48 | Almendares | Cuban | 12* | 2 | .857* | 22 | 17 | 184.7 | 123 | 55 | 99 | 1.12* |
| 1948/49 | Almendares c | Cuban | 6 | 4 | .600 | 15 | 4 | 77.7 | 71 | 19 | 27 | 3.48 |
| 1949/50 | Almendares p | Cuban | 7 | 3 | .700 | 15 | 5 | 81.3 | 81 | 20 | 38 | 2.66* |
| 1950/51 | Almendares | Cuban | 11* | 7 | .611 | 27 | 9 | 159.7* | 135 | 32 | 58 | 2.37 |
| 1951/52 | Almendares | Cuban | 6 | 9 | .400 | 21 | 6 | 115.7 | 107 | 40 | 51 | 3.50 |
| 1952/53 | Almendares | Cuban | 8 | 8 | .500 | 22 | 8 | 135.0 | 105 | 47 | 48 | 2.60 |
| 1953/54 | Almendares p | Cuban | 7 | 5 | .583 | 22 | 3 | 107.3 | 102 | 28 | 46 | 3.27 |
| 1954/55 | Almendares p | Cuban | 2 | 3 | .400 | 21 | 1 | 58.7 | 42 | 19 | 28 | 2.61 |
| 1955/56 | Almendares | Cuban | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 4 | 0 | 10.3 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 2.61 |
| 1956/57 | Marianao c | Cuban | 0 | 0 | .000 | 7 | 0 | 19.7 | 13 | 6 | 7 | 1.37 |
| 1957/58 | Marianao c | Cuban | 0 | 0 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 4.0 | 9 | 4 | 4 | — |
| Total | 12 seasons | 69 | 46 | .600 | 201 | 54^ | 968.3^ | 798^ | 281^ | 417^ | 2.51^ | |
| * – led league; p = pennant; c = pennant and Caribbean Series championship; ^ = totals incomplete. | ||||||||||||
Source: Figueredo, pp. 279, 284–286, 293–295, 309, 324, 339–342, 356, 370, 381, 396, 412, 423, 435.
| Year | Team | W | L | Pct | G | CG | IP | H | BB | SO | ERA |
| 1949 | Almendares c | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 1 | 9.0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | — |
| 1950 | Almendares | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2 | 0 | 7.0 | 9 | 0 | 3 | — |
| 1954 | Almendares | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1 | 1 | 9.0 | 5 | 2 | 5 | 0.00 |
| 1957 | Marianao c | 0 | 0 | .000 | 1 | 0 | 3.3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Total | 4 Series | 2 | 2 | .500 | 5 | 2 | 28.3 | 23 | 5 | 13 | — |
| c = Caribbean Series championship. | |||||||||||
Source: Figueredo, pp. 315, 333, 389, 428.
| Year | Team | League | W | L | Pct | G | CG | IP | H | BB | SO | ERA |
| 1947 | Havanac | Florida International | 25* | 6 | .806 | 40 | 28* | 271 | 180 | 46 | 251* | 1.66* |
| 1948 | Havana c | Florida International | 20 | 11 | .645 | 35 | 24 | 264 | 206 | 24 | 168 | 1.67* |
| 1949 | Havana p | Florida International | 25* | 8 | .758* | 35 | 26* | 258 | 175 | 47 | 167* | 1.53 |
| 1955 | Havana | International | 7 | 3 | .700 | 16 | 5 | 87 | 71 | 27 | 54 | 2.69 |
| 1956 | Havana | International | 3 | 1 | .750 | 15 | 0 | 45 | 45 | 11 | 20 | 3.40 |
| 1957 | Havana | International | 0 | 0 | .000 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1.93 |
| Total | 6 seasons | 80 | 29 | .734 | 144 | 83 | 930 | 680 | 156 | 661 | 1.81 | |
| * – led league; p = pennant; c = pennant and playoff championship. | ||||||||||||
Source: Figueredo, pp. 291, 305–306, 320, 406, 420, 432.
| Year | Team | League | W | L | Pct | G | CG | IP | H | BB | SO | ERA | ERA+ |
| 1950 | Washington | AL | 6 | 10 | .375 | 27 | 8 | 152.0 | 159 | 55 | 63 | 4.50 | 100 |
| 1951 | Washington | AL | 11 | 9 | .550 | 25 | 16 | 187.0 | 198 | 71 | 66 | 3.90 | 105 |
| 1952 | Washington | AL | 11 | 8 | .579 | 22 | 16 | 184.3 | 175 | 53 | 77 | 2.88 | 124 |
| 1953 | Washington | AL | 8 | 7 | .533 | 22 | 10 | 145.7 | 130 | 48 | 65 | 3.03 | 129 |
| 1954 | Washington | AL | 3 | 6 | .333 | 22 | 1 | 66.3 | 74 | 22 | 26 | 4.75 | 75 |
| Total | 5 seasons | 39 | 40 | .494 | 118 | 51 | 735.3 | 736 | 249 | 297 | 3.67 | 108 | |
Source:
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| Preceded by Tony Malinosky | Oldest recognized verified living baseball player February 8, 2011 – April 23, 2014 | Succeeded by Mike Sandlock |