Lino Donoso

Lino Donoso Galata

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 11", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut 1947
• National League Debut June 18, 1955
• Final Game May 2, 1956
• Born September 23, 1922 in Havana, Havana, Cuba
• Died October 13, 1990 in Veracruz, Veracruz Mexico

BR page

Biographical Information

"A Lino Donoso se le reconoce como el mejor pitcher zurdo que llegó al Aguila de Veracruz de todos los tiempos." (Lino Donoso is remembered as the best lefty who ever played for Veracruz). - from the website Conexion Cubana

Lino Donoso played in the majors for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1955 and 1956, and also was a player in the Negro Leagues, in Mexico, and in the Pacific Coast League. He was with the New York Cubans from 1947 to 1949, and was a teammate of Minnie Minoso.

The NLBPA website has a photo of him.

Donoso was born in Cuba in 1922. He started in pro ball in Cuba with Marianao and Almendares. He was encouraged by Martin Dihigo to come to Mexico. By the time he came to the PCL, he was 32 but nevertheless was able to be the league's rookie of the year in 1954. He was 15-3 for the Hollywood Stars before having an appendectomy and ending up the season 19-8. According to the book Crossing the Line, which has a page on him, most of his wins were in Mexico, where he pitched for several teams and became the tenth pitcher to win over 100 games in Mexican baseball. During the 1950s he was one of the most prominent pitchers in Mexico.

He broke into the majors in the same year that Roberto Clemente did with the Pirates.

He pitched for the Juarez Indios of the Arizona-Mexico League in 1958, his last year in the United States minors, but was with the Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz of the Mexican League for a number of seasons after that. He also coached in Mexico after his playing days.

Notable Achievements

• NNL ERA Leader (1947)
• Won one Negro World Series with the New York Cubans in 1947

Related Sites

• Linor Donoso at the SABR Bio Project
• Branch Rickey Papers