Pipo de la Noval

Tomás de la Noval (Pipo)

Pipo de la Noval played for three summers in Cuba and later was a manager and coach. He was a starting outfielder for Habana in 1934-1935, hitting only .222 and slugging .278. He was Habana's 4th outfielder in 1935-1936, going 8 for 37 with a double, then wrapped up his playing career with a 1-for-9 season in 1936-1937.

De la Noval managed the Deportivo Matanzas to Cuban amateur titles in both 1943 and 1945. He also managed the Cuban national team in the 1944 Amateur World Series, withdrawing the team after a photographer threw the ball to a Venezuelan player during a play; the player was called out despite this interference. Mexico also withdrew due to biased umpiring in favor of the Venezuelan hosts. Cuba was still awarded the Bronze Medal.

Pipo managed Matanzas in the 1946 Cuban summer league. He replaced Armando Marsans as skipper of Matanzas in the 1946-1947 Cuban Winter League. Holding that role for all of 1947-1948, he was 32-40, finishing in last place in the four-team league. He later coached for Habana from 1950-1953, with three straight trips to the Caribbean Series.

Sources

• Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History by Jorge Figueredo
• A History of Cuban Baseball by Peter Bjarkman