Víctor Greenidge

Víctor Alexander Greenidge
(Slicker, Panama Green)

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 185 lb.

• Debut 1941
• Final Game 1944
• Born 1919 in Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá Panamá

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Biographical Information

Víctor Greenidge was an early Panamanian star, the first Panamanian major leaguer.

Greenidge was 0-1 with a 4.11 ERA (107 ERA+) for the New York Cubans in the 1941 Negro National League. It appears he was the first Panamian in the Negro Leagues; he preceded Frank Austin, Pat Scantlebury, Gil Garrido Sr. and Ule Mahoney by a few years. When MLB retroactively deemed the Negro Leagues of that era to be major leagues, Greenidge thus became the first Panamanian big leaguer, taking the spot from Humberto Robinson.

The right-hander was a bright spot for the Panamanian national team in the 1943 Amateur World Series, going 3-2 with a 2.23 ERA when the rest of their staff was 1-6. He did not lead the team in ERA as Scantlebury was at 2.05. He tied Rogelio Martínez and Julio Moreno, both future big leaguers, for the event lead in wins, and was 9th in ERA (between Scantlebury and Luis Castro). While he would seem an odd inclusion in an amateur event, other pros were occasionally playing in the Amateur World Series in this era, such as Bobby Avila.

Víctor was 1-2 for Almendares in the 1943-1944 Cuban Winter League, pitching 12 games, 4th on the team behind MLBers Sandy Ullrich and Tommy de la Cruz as well as Agapito Mayor. He is listed as the second Panamanian in the CWL, 21 years after Oscar Levis, but Levis was later shown to be Jamaican. That meant he was the first Panamanian in the Cuban Winter League, edging Austin by one year.

Greenidge returned to the New York Cubans in 1944, going 3-2 with a save and a 3.30 ERA (128 ERA+). He was not alone as a Panamian as Garrido and Scantlebury were teammates. He edged Scantlebury and Barney Morris for the team's lead in ERA, by .03. It would be his last stint in either the US or Cuba, though.

Notable Achievements

• NNL Saves Leader (1944)