Daniel Canónico

Daniel Canónico (Chino)

• Born February 3, 1916 in Guarenas, Miranda Venezuela
• Died August 20, 1975 in Barquisimeto, Lara Venezuela

Biographical Information

Daniel Canónico was the top pitcher in the early years of the Venezuelan League.

Canónico first gained fame at the 1941 Baseball World Cup in Havana, Cuba. He won five games for Venezuela including the decisive Final game versus Cuba by the score of 3 to 1. He had played second base as a boy but had coverted to a pitcher by the time of his Venezuelan first division debut in May, 1934 with the Caracas team, Senadores (Senators). In 1935, he played for Pastora in Maracaibo. Canónico returned to the Senadores the following year and played 55 games at second base without an error. In 1940, he played for Venezuela, a club sponsored by future Venezuelan League founder Juan Antonio Yánez. His performance for the team erned him a spot on the Venezuelan national team for the fourth Amateur World Series. Returning from Cuba, the team was treated as heros. In the 1942 Amateur World Series, he was less successful, losing the opener 8-0 to the Cuban national team. The Asociación Venezolana de Béisbol (Venezuelan Baseball Association) stripped many of the players, including Canónico, of their amateur status in 1943 for playing in the Panamanian League.

Later in 1946, when the professional baseball in Venezuela began he joined Vargas as both a manager and pitcher. This team won the league's first two titles in 1946 and 1946-[[1947]. In 1947, Canónico joined Gavilanes and won a record 10 games versus 3 losses. After the season he joined Cervecería Caracas managed by his former national team manager and teammate José Casanova. This team won the league's next two championships (1947-1948, 1948-1949). The 1948-1949 team would play in the inagural Caribbean Series in Havana, Cuba. Canónico was one of nine players, and manager Casanova, from the 1941 World Cup team to play for Cervecería. The team was also unique in that it was the only participating team not to feature any American players. Caracas placed second with a 3-3 record. He either managed or coached for Venezuela in the 1952 Amateur World Series.

Canónico was used as a relief pitcher in his final season, 1952-1953. After retiring, Canónico moved to Barquisimeto, where he became a local team manager, including the state's all-star team which was won the national championship in 1955, 1956, and 1957. He was elected to the Venezuelan Salón de la Fama in 1971. He has four children with wife Marta Dort. A stadium in Barquisimeto bears his name.