Few people can say they saw Joshua Gibson, Johnny Bench, and Ivan Rodriguez play. One of those lucky ones is Freddie Thon Jr. A family member with solid roots in Puerto Rican baseball, his father, of the same name, was a prominent pitcher and ranger with the San Juan Senators. He also managed the championship …
Freddie Thon Jr. saw Joshua Gibson, Johnny Bench and Iván Rodríguez! Read More »
Part II concluded with Quincy Trouppe managing the 1956-57 Ponce Lions in Puerto Rico. Part III transitions to Trouppe and Joshua Gibson playing in Venezuela and Mexico. Gibson, his 1939-40 Santurce teammate Billy Byrd and Aguadilla pitcher-OF Leon Day traveled from Puerto Rico to Venezuela in early April 1940. They missed the final doubleheader of …
Joshua Gibson and Quincy Trouppe in Venezuela and Mexico: Part III Read More »
Part I concluded with Quincy Trouppe as catcher/manager for the 1947-48 Caguas Criollos, Puerto Rico Winter League (PRWL) champs. Part II highlights exploits by Gibson and Trouppe in Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Coincidentally, Gibson was born in Buena Vista, Georgia, December 21, 1911; Trouppe’s birthplace was Dublin, Georgia, one year later—December 25, …
Joshua Gibson and Quincy Trouppe in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico: Part II Read More »
Joshua Gibson managed and caught for the 1939-40 Santurce Crabbers, in Puerto Rico’s Winter League (PRWL). Quincy Trouppe did likewise for the 1947-48 Caguas Criollos, PRWL champs. Robert Clarke managed the 1945-46 San Juan Senators, as a catcher. Johnny Hayes performed catcher/manager double duty for the 1941-42 Aguadilla Sharks. Part I focuses on these talented …
Joshua Gibson, Quincy Trouppe, other catcher-managers in Puerto Rico/Caribbean: Part I Read More »
The Puerto Rico Professional Baseball League was established in 1938. Since then, 16 of the 37 (43%) Negro Leagues legends in the Hall of Fame, played in the Island. 1. Roy Campanella (Caguas, Santurce and San Juan)-1969 2. Satchel Paige (Guayama and Santurce)-1971 3. Joshua Gibson (Santurce)-1972 4. Buck Leonard (Mayagüez)-1972 5. Monte Irvin (San …
