Manuel Valdez

Manuel Valdez also listed as Felix; last name also listed as Valdes

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 10", Weight 178 lb.

• Born ~1933 in Cuba

BR Minors page

Manuel Valdez was an infielder in the Negro Leagues, minor league and Cuban Winter League.

Valdez was with the Memphis Red Sox in 1952; though he was hitting just .240, he was picked for the 1952 East-West Game. Starting at second base and hitting 8th for the West, he went 0 for 2 iin a 7-3 win. He was 0 for 4 with a run for Almendares in the winter of 1952-1953, backing up Spook Jacobs (2B), Willy Miranda (SS) and Hector Rodriguez (3B) on the infield.

In 1953, Manuel played for the Paris Indians (4 games) and Decatur Commodores (.265/.352/.364). His 12 triples tied for third in the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League and he led the circuit's third basemen in putouts (128), assists (244), double plays (33) and fielding percentage (.956). Valdez spent 1954 back with Decatur, with a nearly identical average (.263) and slugging (.363) while moving to shortstop. He finished 4th in the MOVL with 13 triples.

Valdez split 1955 between the Salem Rebels (.294, .432 SLG) and two Big State League teams (.202, .261 SLG in 36 G). His 11 triples for Salem tied him for third in the Appalachian League. Manuel ended his career with Almendares in 1955-1956, going 4 for 13 while they started an infield of Miranda (2B), Jose Valdivielso (SS) and Rodriguez (3B).

Sources

• Black Baseball's National Showcase by Larry Lester
• Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History by Jorge Figueredo
• 1954 Baseball Guide