Juan Ealo

Juan Ealo de la Herrán
(Espinacas, Spinach)

• Born October 22, 1912 in Camagüey Cuba
• Died December 22, 1997 in Havana Cuba

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

First baseman Juan Ealo was a long-time amateur star in Cuba, who never turned pro. He was known for his power and large forearms.

He played for the Cuban national team in the 1942 Amateur World Series, hitting .375 and leading the tournament with four doubles, helping his team win Gold. Ealo led Cuba's amateur league in hitting in 1944 (.500). He only hit .206 in the 1944 Amateur World Series, one of Cuba's weaker threats in the event.

He managed the Nicaragua team for part of the 1948 Amateur World Series, but was fired by Nicaraguan dictator Anastasio Somoza, who also succeeded Ealo as team manager.

Ealo was a coach for the Almendares Blues in the dying days of the Cuban Winter League. He coached for Cuba in the 1971 Amateur World Series, when they won Gold.

He spent one year in the minor leagues, playing for the Laredo Apaches in 1950. He later did radio and TV commentary on baseball.

Sources include A History of Cuban Baseball by Peter Bjarkman, Cubadebate.cu