1949 Caribbean Series

Batting Average: .533 - Al Gionfriddo , Almendares
Home Runs: 2 - Monte Irvin , Almendares
Runs Batted In: 11 - Monte Irvin , Almendares
Wins: 3 - Agapito Mayor , Almendares

The 1949 Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was the first edition of the first stage of the Caribbean Series. It was held in Gran Stadium in Havana, Cuba from February 20 to February 25. The series featured four teams from Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela. The hometown Almendares of the Cuban Winter League, managed by Fermín Guerra dominated the Series going 6 - 0. The Most Valuable Player was Agapito Mayor, a pitcher with Almendares.

Almendares's OF Al Gionfriddo (.533), 3B Hector Rodriguez (.458) and OF Monte Irvin (.389, .833 SLG, 11 RBI, 2 HR) paced the offense while MVP Agapito Mayor won three games as Almendares went 6-0. The Indios de Mayagüez (from Puerto Rico) went 1-5 thanks to 16 errors. Cerveceria Caracas (3-3) of Venezuela finished second while Panama's Spur Cola was 2-4.

Cuba, managed by Fermin Guerra, also had the only shutout (by Ed Wright) and got wins from Rene Solis and Connie Marrero (in complete games). The other notable offensive players were 1B Chuck Connors (.409, 5 R, 5 RBI) and OF Sam Jethroe (.320, 6 R, 5 RBI, 3 triples). The defense was sharp, too, with only two errors.

Cerveceria Caracas was guided by Jose Casanova and led by P Jose Bracho (2-0) and C-OF Guillermo Vento (.375).

Mayagüez, led by SS-manager Artie Wilson (.346, 3 SB) included Quincy Trouppe (.444), Wilmer Fields (.429, 8 R), Alonzo Perry (0-1, tied for the lead with 10 K as a pitcher; .333 as a hitter) and Luke Easter (.400, 7 RBI)

Spur Cola's staff included Sam Jones (1-1, 10 K) and Pat Scantlebury (1-0, 20 H in 8 1/3 IP) and the offense mustered little punch, scoring 29 runs to tie Cerveceria Caracas for the fewest; they were the only club not to homer.

Final Standings[edit]

Team	League	G	W	L	WPCT	Manager
Almendares	CUB Cuban Winter League	6	6	0	1.000	Fermín Guerra
Cervecería Caracas	VEN Venezuelan League	6	3	3	0.500	José Casanova
Spur Cola	PAN Panamanian League	6	2	4	0.333	León Kellman
Indios de Mayagüez	PRI Puerto Rican League	6	1	5	0.167	Artie Wilson