Forgotten Heroes: Juan “Tetelo” Vargas

Transcription

Forgotten Heroes:
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas
by
Center for Negro League Baseball Research
Dr. Layton Revel
and
Luis Munoz
Copyright 2014
Juan Vargas (Team Mascot) – Licey Tigers (1921)
(Vargas – standing second from right)
Juan Vargas (Team Mascot) – Escogido Leones (1922)
(Vargas – seated front row by himself)
Juan Esteban “Tetelo” Vargas Marcano was born on April 11, 1906
in Santo Domingo de Guzman (Dominican Republic) to Isaias
Vargas, a local shoemaker, and Baudilla Marcano. Tetelo would
go on to become the greatest Dominican ball player of his time.
He stood five feet ten inches tall and weighed 160 pounds during his
playing career.
Tetelo was an excellent all around ball player. As a hitter he always
batted a solid .300 everywhere he played. In the field, he was an
excellent defensive player. Tetelo could cover a lot of ground and
had a strong, accurate arm in the outfield. During his career he was
given the nickname of “El Gamo Dominican” (The Dominican Deer)
because of his blazing world-class speed. Tetelo was excellent at
stealing bases and always seemed to know how to score, once he got
on base. He was known to routinely beat out ground balls to shortstop
and third base. It was also not uncommon for him to take second
base on a throw to first base. Millito Navarro who played with and
against Tetelo in the 1920’s and 1930’s had the following to say
about Tetelo’s speed: “He would score from first base on a single
and he would often score from second base on a sacrifice fly.” Over
his career he led his league five times in stolen bases and seven times
in runs scored.
Tetelo started his baseball career as an infielder: playing shortstop,
second base and occasionally third base. Over the years he transitioned
into one of the best defensive outfielders in Negro League and Latin
baseball.
Early Baseball Career
Dominican Super Star
Tetelo grew up in Santo Domingo playing sandlot ball. From 1918 to 1922 the primary teams that
Tetelo played for were Gimnasio Escobar, Capotillo and the Licey “B” team. In 1921 he was the
batboy and team mascot for the Licey Tigres. Already recognized for his baseball talents on the
field, Tetelo was asked to be the batboy and team mascot for Escogido during their 1922 baseball
season. Tetelo’s first season as a professional baseball player was in 1923 when at the age of 17
he joined his older brothers Eduardo “Guagua”
and Juan Rafael to play for the Escogido team in
Santo Domingo. He also made his professional
debut in Puerto Rico with Humacao in 1923.
Tetelo played professional ball in the Dominican
Republic and Puerto Rico until he went to the
United States and Venezuela in 1927. From
1923 to 1927, Tetelo played for the following
teams in Puerto Rico: Humacao Stars (1923-24),
Ribosch de Cayey (1924), Arecibo Lobos (1925)
and Guayama Stars (1926). After his trip to
United States in 1927 to play for the Cuban
Stars, Tetelo returned to Puerto Rico and played
for Guayama for the 1927 season. He also
played for Guayama in 1928.
Vargas Brothers Playing for Escogido (1923)
(Guagua, Tetelo and Juan)
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During the 1920’s, Juan Vargas also continued to play professional baseball in Dominican
Republic for Escogido (several seasons) Estrellas Dominicanas (Dominican All Stars) and
Central Romana (1926). In 1925 Juan and his good friend and fellow ball player Enrique
Lantigua traveled to Colombia (South America) to play for the Atlas B.B.C.
Juan Vargas
Ribosch (1924)
Puerto Rico
Juan Vargas
Escogido (1929)
Dominican Republic
Negro League Career
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas first came to the United States in 1927 when he signed to play for Ramiro
Ramirez’s Havana Red Sox. The Red Sox was an independent team with a roster of only 14
players that barnstormed all over the country. They were presented in the media as being a
representative of the Cuban Winter League which was not true. Vargas was the team’s starting
shortstop, batted lead-off and was the team’s best hitter. Havana often billed Tetelo as “Babe”
Vargas because of his exceptional hitting ability. Other star players on the Havana Red Sox team
in 1927 were Antonio Castro (C), Agustin Parpetti (1B) and Ramiro Ramirez (OF).
Vargas also played briefly for Alex Pompez’s Cuban Stars (East) of the Eastern Colored League
and the Colored All Stars during the 1927 season. In late August, the Cubans Stars were in the
middle of the pennant race for the Eastern Colored League championship. Pompez signed Vargas
in an attempt to strengthen his roster for the pennant drive. Needing to win their final seven
games, the Cuban Stars faltered and finished in third place in the final “league” standings with a
record of 33-32 (.508). The Colored All Stars were formed in late September after the regular
season and were made up of players from the Buffalo Colored Elks, Havana Red Sox and
Homestead Grays.
In 1928 Tetelo appeared briefly in August for the Cuban Stars during their 1928 season. Vargas
returned to the United States in 1929 to play for both the Havana Red Sox and the Cuban Stars of
the American Negro League. The Havana Red Sox were owned by promoter Syd Pollock and
played an independent schedule. Pollock billed the Red Sox as the “World Colored Champions.”
They were extremely successful and by the end of June had already won 70 games according to
an article that appeared in the Chicago Defender. From late July to the middle of September,
Vargas played for the Cuban Stars during their American Negro League season. While playing
for the Cuban Stars, he went 28 for 73 for a .384 batting average and a .575 slugging percentage
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against “league” teams. Research by John Holway credits Tetelo Vargas with a .484 batting
average for the season. Other top hitters on the 1929 Cuban Stars team were Angel Alfonso,
Bernardo Baro, Jose “Blue” Perez and Jose Ramos. The starting pitching rotation for the Cuban
Stars included Isidro Fabre, Willie Gisentaner, Oscar Levis, Juan Mirabal and Basilio Rosell. The
Cuban Stars finished last in the final standings of the 1929 American Negro League season with a
record of 15-39 (.278).
Prior to the start of the 1930 season Vargas was signed by Syd Pollock to play for his Havana
Red Sox team. Like all their seasons in the past, the Red Sox were very successful in their
independent schedule. In an article that appeared in the Chicago Defender on August 2nd, the
newspaper reported that the Havana Red Sox while playing at least one ball game every day had
only lost three games since June 8th.
Before the start of the 1931 season, Syd Pollock changed the name of the Red Sox to the Cuban
House of David and his first priority was to sign Tetelo Vargas. Under manager Ramiro Ramirez,
the Red Sox had a very successful season and compiled an impressive record of 167-31-6 (.840)
for the season. Over the season the team traveled over 34,000 miles through 32 different states.
The Cuban House of David was led by the hitting of Tetelo Vargas and Jacinto Roque. Pollock
billed Vargas as the “fastest player in baseball” and Roque as the “Babe Ruth” of Cuba. Also in
the line-up for the Cuban House of David were Pelayo Chacon, Cando Lopez, Oliver Marcell,
Alejandro Oms and Javier “Blue” Perez. Luis Tiant, Sr. was the ace of the Cuban pitching staff.
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas had one of the best seasons of his
career in 1931. While playing in a baseball tournament
in Sioux City (IA) in July, Tetelo hit seven consecutive
homeruns over two days. The event was reported in the
Afro American on August 1st. The Cuban House of David
won the Southwestern Iowa Baseball Tournament. Then
in September it was reported that he set a world record of
13.25 seconds for circling the bases. This remarkable feat
was accomplished in Sioux City, Iowa.
During the 1931 season Tetelo also played for the Cuban
Stars (West). They were an independent team that was
owned by Abel Linares and played primarily in the western
part of the United States. Box scores have been found for
17 games that Vargas played for the Cuban Stars (West).
He went 21 for 70 for a .300 batting average in these games.
From 1932 through the 1937 season, Tetelo spent most of his
time playing baseball in Venezuela during the regular season.
He is, however, reported to have briefly played for Cuban Stars
of the Negro National League in early August of 1935.
Tetelo Hits 7 Consecutive HR
Cuban House of David
Afro American
08-01-31
Vargas spent most of the 1938 season in Venezuela but was also recruited by Alex Pompez to
play for the 1938 New York Cubans as they prepared to enter the Negro National League.
During the 1938 season the New York Cubans played an independent barnstorming schedule.
The New York Cubans entered the Negro National League in 1939 and Tetelo was one of the
team’s starting outfielders. Mickey Casey, Ramon Heredia and Juan Vargas led the team in
hitting. In 14 “league” games Tetelo batted .321. Fifty year old Silvino Ruiz was the top pitcher
for the team during the season. During the season the New York Cubans were also billed as the
Cuban Stars of Havana (Cuba). Their first year in the Negro National League was very rough on
the Cubans. They only managed to win 5 of their 27 “league” games and finished the regular
season in last place in the “league” with a record of 5-22 (.185).
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Juan “Tetelo” Vargas – New York Cubans
Horacio Martinez, Herberto Blanco, Juan “Tetelo” Vargas and Unknown
New York Cubans - Negro National League (1942)
Pancho Coimbre, Tetelo Vargas and Ameal Brooks
New York Cubans (1943)
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He did not return to play for the New York Cubans in 1940. Alex Pompez, the owner of the New
York Cubans, did convince Vargas to come back to the United States and play for the Cubans in
1941. Behind the hitting of Clemente Cabrera (.310), Pancho Coimbre (.294) and Juan Vargas
(.290), the New York Cubans won the second half of the 1941 Negro National League season.
Dave Barnhill (13-8) was the top pitcher for the Cubans in 1941. Following the regular season,
the New York Cubans lost a two game playoff to the Homestead Grays for the championship.
Tetelo returned to the New York Cubans for the 1942 Negro National League season. He was the
team’s leading hitter during the season. In 17 “league” games for New York he batted .356. Dave
Barnhill, Bill Anderson and Barney Morris anchored the pitching staff for the Cubans. As a team
the New York Cubans struggled all season and finished the Negro National League season with a
losing record of 8-19 (.296). For his outstanding play during the regular season, Tetelo was
selected to the East-West All Star game which was played in Comiskey Park (Chicago, IL).
1943 New York Cubans
(Vargas – middle row third from left)
In 1943 Tetelo Vargas had the best season of his Negro League career. He destroyed Negro
National League pitching all season. His complete hitting statistics for “league” games were:
Year
Team
1943
New York
Games
30
AB
117
Runs
Hits
32
53
2B
8
3B
HR
RBI
4
0
12
SB
BA
4
.453
SLG
.590
Other New York Cuban hitters who also had good seasons were Francisco “Pancho” Coimbre
(.400), Javier “Blue” Perez (.321) and Ameal Brooks (.289). Dave Barnhill (12-4) and Bill
Anderson (7-4) led the Cubans’ pitching staff. Tetelo was selected to play in the 1943 East-West
All Star game. The New York Cubans as a team also enjoyed a good season and finished in
second place in the final Negro National League standings with a record of 23-16 (.590).
The 1944 Negro National League season would be Tetelo’s last in the United States. During the
regular Negro National League season, the Cubans were led by the hitting of Lou Louden (.329),
Pancho Coimbre (.318), Dave Thomas (.287) and Hector Rodriquez (.283). Vargas had an off
season and only hit a mere .269 for the 31 “league” games in which he played. The New York
Cubans had a strong pitching staff in 1944 that included Dave Barnhill (4-1), Victor Greenridge
(4-1), Barney Morris (4-2), Pat Scantlebury (3-2) and Luis Tiant (2-2). The New York Cubans
played 34 “league” games during the 1944 season and compiled a won-loss record of 18-16.
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Concordia Aguilas (1932)
(Back row left to right – Balbino Inojosa, Anselmo Perez, Luis Aparico (Sr.), Narciso Diaz, Manuel Pereira,
Martin Dihigo and Juan “Tetelo” Vargas. Front row left to right – Cesar Nieves, Placido Delgado, Adolfo Ugueto,
Manuel “El Pollo” Malpica, Silvino Ruiz and Nieves Rendon. Eduardo Antich – mascot.)
Concordia Aguilas (1934)
(Vargas – back row second from left, Martin Dihigo - back row third from left, Josh Gibson - back row second from
right and Rap Dixon - front row fourth from right)
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Venezuelan Baseball Career
Juan Vargas first went to Venezuela to play baseball in 1928. He was signed by the Santa Marta
Tigres of the Campeonato Nacional de Baseball de Venezuela to play third base. The highlight of
the season for Vargas was hitting the first homerun in the newly built Estadio San Augustin. At
the end of the season he was selected to the “league’s” all-star team (Selecion FVB). During the
1928 season Tetelo also played for Santa Marta in their series against the Crisfield Crabbers
(Class D - Eastern Shore League) and for the combined Santa Marta-Marcay team against the
combined team of 29 Julio-Royal.
After an absence of three years, Tetelo returned to Venezuela in 1931. He was signed to play
shortstop for Santa Marta of the Serie Nacional de 1931. During the season Santa Marta also
played an exhibition series against York (New York-Pennsylvania League) of the United States.
1931 Doble Aguila Sport
Cigarette Baseball Card
Venezuela
In 1932 Juan “Tetelo” Vargas was signed by Gonzalo Gomez who owned the Concordia Aguilas
(Eagles), a club that would become one of the greatest teams in Latin baseball history. Concordia
played in the La Asociacion Venezolana de Baseball (AVB) and also played an independenttraveling schedule during the 1932 season. Vargas was the team’s starting shortstop during the
season. Several of the other star players on the 1932 Aguilas team besides Vargas were Martin
Dihigo (P), M.A. “El Pollo” Malpica (C), Emilio “Millito” Navarro (2B) and Silvino Ruiz (P).
Concordia also played a series against York during the 1931 season.
Tetelo returned to Venezuela to play for Concordia for their 1933 season. Concordia returned
most of their starters from the season before and also strengthened their roster by adding Luis
Aparicio, Sr. (father of Chicago White Sox shortstop and National Baseball Hall of Famer Luis
Aparicio). Aparicio played third base while Tetelo moved to the outfield. During the season,
Concordia played in the Campeonato de Baseball (regular season) and exhibition series against
two “white” teams from the United States (Camden and White Star).
Vargas was back in the starting line-up for the Concordia Aguilas when the 1934 season opened
for play. Concordia was virtually unstoppable all season. They dominated their Campeonato de
Baseball “league” opponents and finished the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record. Other
teams that participated in 1934 “league” season were Santa Marta (7-5), Deportivo University
(5-6), Senadores (4-7) and the Royal Criollos (1-11). Anchoring the hitting attack for Concordia
in 1934 were Martin Dihigo, Herbert “Rap” Dixon, Josh Gibson, Luis Aparicio, Balbino Inojosa,
M.A. Malpica and Juan “Tetelo” Vargas. Slugging Major League first baseman Johnny Mize also
played with Concordia for part of the 1934 season. The pitching staff was very strong and
included Martin Dihigo, Moncho Blondet, Silvino Ruiz and Pedro Alejandro San.
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In addition to Venezuelan “league” play, Concordia also played major exhibition series in the
Dominican Republic (La Copa Trujillo), Puerto Rico (two series in Puerto Rico versus the Puerto
Rican Stars and the Puerto Rican Tournament) and a series played in Venezuela against Norfolk.
The Puerto Rican Tournament included the top teams in Latin American. Playing in the Puerto
Rican Tournament were Concordia (11-3), Ponce (12-9), Licey (5-8), Norfolk (6-11), Guayama
(0-4) and Lucky Strikes (0-2). The Concordia Aguilas easily won all four of these series.
Box scores have been found for 16 games that Vargas played during the 1934 season in
Venezuela. He collected 20 hits in 63 at bats for a .317 batting average. He also scored 19 runs
and stole 8 bases in these games. These statistics are not considered complete for the 1934 season.
During the 1935 Venezuelan season, Tetelo Vargas played for both the Royal Criollos and
Concordia Aguilas. Vargas helped lead the Royal Criollos (8-4) to a championship in the Serie
Nacional. Other teams that competed in the Serie Nacional in 1935 were the Senadores (7-5),
Deportivo Caracas (5-7) and Paraiso (4-8). In the seven games for which box scores have been
found with Tetelo playing for the Royal Criollos, he went 12 for 27 for a .444 batting average.
Tetelo also played for Concordia in their exhibition series in Puerto Rico and the Dominican
Republic during the winter of 1938. In Puerto Rico the Aguilas played a series against the San
Juan Giants who were considered the top team on the island. In 36 at bats against the San Juan
Giants, Vargas collected 14 hits for a .389 batting average. Also making the trip to Puerto Rico
with Concordia were Pedro “Grillo A” Baez, Alejandro Carrasquel (P), Martin Dihigo (SS),
Millito Navarro (2B), M.A. “El Pollo” Malpica (C) and Alejandro Oms (OF). During their tour of
the Caribbean, the Aguilas also played an exhibition series in the Dominican Republic against
Escogido and Licey.
One of the major problems in researching Venezuelan baseball is that most of the records are
unpublished and no real effort has been made to uncover box scores and game accounts. From the
fragmented records that we have found, it is obvious that Tetelo was a consistent .300 hitter and
one of the premier baseball stars of Venezuelan baseball from the late 1920’s through 1940.
Currently 93 box scores have been found for games Tetelo played in Venezuela. In these 93
games, he had 378 “official” at bats and collected 119 hits for a .315 batting average. He also had
at least 44 stolen bases in these 93 games.
When Tetelo Vargas returned to Venezuela in 1936, he signed with Gavilanes for the season in
the Serie Nacional. Vargas spent the next three (1936-1938) seasons with Gavilanes. Vargas
culminated his career with Gavilanes by helping them win the 1938 Campeonato de Baseball del
Estadio Zulia championship. Gavilanes posted a won-loss record of 11-3 for the 1938 season.
In 1939 Vargas joined the Centauros of the Campeonato de Baseball de Primera Division. The
Venezuelan “league” in 1939 included Vargas (14-8), Valdes (13-9), Venezuela (9-13) and
Centauros (8-14).
Before the start of the 1940 season, Tetelo signed with Vargas to help them defend their
Venezuelan title. Vargas won the “league” title with a record of 16-5, Venezuela (13-8) finished
in second place and Cardenales (6-16) was in last place. In the 20 games Tetelo played for
Vargas, he went 28 for 86 for a .326 batting average. Also appearing for Vargas during the 1940
season were Ray Dandridge (.379) and Leon Day (.323 w/ 13-2 pitching record and a 1.69 ERA).
Over his career in Venezuela he played for the following championship teams.
Venezuelan Championships
Year
Team
League
Record
1934
1934
1934
1935
1938
1940
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Royal Criollos
Gavilanes
Vargas
Campeonato de Baseball de Venezuela
La Copa Trujillo (Dominican Republic)
Puerto Rican Series
Serie Nacional (Venezuela)
Campeonato de Baseball de Estadio Zulia
Campeonato de Baseball de Primera Division
12-0
6-3
11-3
8-4
11-3
16-5
1.000
.667
.786
.667
.786
.762
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Club Gavilanes – Maricaibo (1937)
(Vargas – back row fourth from left)
Cuban Winter League Career
After the conclusion of the American Negro League season in the United States, Vargas traveled
to Cuba to play the winter league season of 1929-30 for the Habana Leones. There were four
teams that played in the 1929-30 Cuban Winter League. They were Cienfuegos (32-19), Santa
Clara (21-21), Almendares (23-26) and Habana (20-30). The season opened play on November
26th and ended the season on January 23rd. Habana was led by the hitting of Negro Leaguers Jud
Wilson (.363), Charles “Chino” Smith (.338), Juan Vargas .316 and George “Tubby” Scales
(290). The Leones pitching staff included William Bell (9-8)), Adolfo Luque (4-8) and Oscar
Levis (4-5). The Habana Leones struggled all season and finished in last place in the “league.”
Tetelo returned to Cuba in the winter of 1930 to play for the Habana team for a second season.
Unfortunately, the 1930 Cuban League season was shortened due to a dispute between the team
owners and the owners of the La Tropical Stadium. When the dispute over a financial
arrangement for renting the stadium could not be worked out, the owners cancelled the rest of the
season. The Habana Leones only played three games before the season was cancelled. They went
one and two. Vargas went 4 for 16 in these three games for a .250 batting average.
A second “Special Season – UNICO” was organized and Vargas once again played for Habana.
Unfortunately, only a few games were played before this season was also suspended. Owners
made several roster changes for the start of the “new” season. The following players were added
to the team to strengthen the hitting attack: Charles Dressen (2B), Alejandro Oms (OF), Joseito
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Tetelo Vargas in Puerto Rico
1938-39 Guayama Brujos – Puerto Rican League Champions
(Vargas - front row third from right)
1939-40 Guayama Brujos – Puerto Rican League Champions
(Vargas – middle of photo)
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Rodriquez (1B) and Charles “Chino” Smith (OF). The pitching staff also underwent changes with
the addition of Johnny Allen, Manuel “Cocaina” Garcia and Silvino Ruiz. The roster changes
made little difference because Habana only played 11 games during the UNICO season. Tetelo
had a good season, be it ever so short with a .318 batting average.
Habana Leones (1942-43)
(Standing left to right – Julio Rojo, Antonio Ordenana, Juan Montero, Mike Gonzalez, Carlos Blanco, Gilberto Torrez,
Sungo Carreras, Salvador Hernandez, Rodolfo Fernandez, Martin Dihigo and Juan “Tetelo” Vargas.
Kneeling left to right – C. Gonzalez, Rafael Villa-Cabrera, Cuco Correa, Herberto Blanco, Clubhouse
Attendant Alfarito, Saguita Hernandez, Horacio Martinez and Manuel “Cocaina Garcia.)
The shortened seasons of 1930 would be Vargas’ last winter season in Cuba until he returned to
play for the Habana Leones for the 1942-43 season. The Leones were led by the hitting of
Carlos Blanco (.327) and Gilberto Torres (.301). Tetelo only had a mediocre season at the plate,
hitting .257. Manuel “Cocaina” Garcia (10-3) was the ace of the pitching staff. The Leones
finished with a record of 24-24 which put them in second place in the three-team “league.”
Puerto Rican Baseball Career
When the Puerto Rican Winter League played its inaugural season in 1938, Juan “Tetelo” Vargas
was one of the Latin stars that team owners lured to play in Puerto Rico. Tetelo played the 193839 season for the Guayama Brujos (Witches). Tetelo responded to the challenge. He hit .415 and
along with Perucho Cepeda (.465) helped lead Guayama to a 27-12 record for the Puerto Rican
Winter League championship. Tetelo would spend the next three winter league seasons with
Guayama. Over these years he hit .363 (1939-40), .331 (1940-41) and .346 (1941-42). Guayama
won a second straight Puerto Rican Winter League championship during the 1939-40 season by
finishing with a record of 39-17. During the 1939-40 season Vargas also established the “league”
record for stolen bases with 33 steals. While they did not win the league championship the next
two years, they did come in second place both seasons. When Guayama did not field a team for
the 1942-43 season, Tetelo went to Cuba to play winter ball. The Santurce Crabbers convinced
Vargas to return to Puerto Rico in 1943. Tetelo had another outstanding season in 1943-44 and
finished the year with a .410 batting average. His .410 batting average won him the Puerto Rican
Winter League batting title. Tetelo would move to the Mayaguez Indians for the 1944-45 season.
In Mayaguez he continued his hot hitting and finished the season with a .358 batting average.
Tetelo was back with Santurce the next season and responded with a .342 batting average.
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Puerto Rican Winter League All Star Team (1944-45)
(Back row left to right – George Scales, John Markham, Al Gerard, Roy Partlow, Terris McDuffie and Lazaro Medina.
Kneeling left to right – Thomas “Pee Wee” Butts, James Williams, Sam Jethroe, Juan “Tetelo” Vargas,
Roy Campanella, Ducky Davenport and Sam Bankhead)
Caguas Criollos (1948-49)
(Vargas – back row third from left)
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Before the start of the 1946-47 season Tetelo signed with the Caguas-Guayama Criollos. Vargas
spent the next nine seasons (1946 through the end of the 1955 season) with Caguas-Guayama.
Some of the highlights of Tetelo’s career with the Criollos are:
•
•
•
•
Batted .382 and had a .610 slugging average during the 1946-47 season.
In 1947 in three exhibition games versus the World Champion New York Yankees
collected seven hits in fourteen at bats.
Batted .362 with a .498 slugging average during the 1947-48 season.
Helped Caguas-Guayama win three Puerto Rican Winter League championships
(1949-50, 1950-51 and 1953-54).
Tetelo’s final career statistics in Puerto
Rican Winter League are very
misleading. It is important to note that
he played 16 seasons in Puerto Rico
starting in 1938 at the age of 32. If you
look at his hitting statistics for the first
11 seasons of his Puerto Rican career,
Tetelo had a .349 batting average. This
would rank him as the second leading
all-time hitter in Puerto Rican Winter
League history behind Negro League
superstar and National Baseball Hall of
Famer Willard Brown (.350). In 1950,
Tetelo turned 44 and his productivity
went down dramatically. The following
chart compares Tetelo’s Puerto Rican
batting statistics during his first 11
seasons (from ages 32 to 44) with his
batting statistics for the final 5 years of
his Puerto Rican career (ages 45 to 49).
Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Fame
Seasons
AB
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
HR
SB
BA
SLG
1938-1950
1950-1955
11
5
2213
608
521
85
773
133
108
11
55
1
22
1
108
20
.349
.219
.478
.245
Totals
16
2821
606
906
119
56
23
138
.321
.428
Even though some of Tetelo’s statistics are missing and the fact that his total career statistics are
skewed by a player who played way beyond his prime, he still ranks among the career Puerto
Rican Winter League leaders in several categories:
Category
Batting Average
Base Hits
Number
.321
906
606
56
138
6th
11th
4th
5th
6th
Career Rank
Runs Scored
Triples
Stolen bases
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Escogido Leones (Dominican Republic)
(Vargas – standing third from right)
Las Estrellas Orientales (1936)
(Back row left to right – Pedro Fortunato, Juan “Tetelo” Vargas, Bebecito del Villar, Papo de la Rocha, Enrique
Meja, Mateo de la Rosa, Ramon Bragana, Javier “Blue”Perez and Aladino Paez.
Kneeling left to right – Manuel “Cocaina” Garcia, Pinao Acosta, Julio Anglada, Luis Troche, Jose Beltran,
Tone Medina, Mascot Papote Nina and Pedro Arango)
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Dominican Baseball Career
Juan Vargas started his career in Dominican baseball as a mascot
for the Licey Tigres in 1921. Even at a young age, his baseball
talents were being recognized. The Escogido Leones, the primary
rival of Licey, recruited Juan to be their mascot for the 1922 season
because they knew he was developing exceptional baseball skills
and was on the verge of making the team (Escogido) as a player
in a very short period of time.
Tetelo’s first year as a professional baseball player came at the
age of 17 when he joined his brothers (Guagua and Juan Rafael)
to play for the Escogido Leones in 1923. In 1924 the Leones
del Escogido finished runner-up to the Tigres del Licey for the
Dominican Championship.
During the 1929 Dominican season Tetelo is credited with a .405
batting average while his team, the Leones de Escogido, finished
runner-up to the Tigres del Licey for the “Dominican Championship.”
Tetelo played regularly in the Dominican Republic from 1923
until his retirement in 1956. Some of the professional teams that
he played for during the 1920’s and 1930’s included: Escogido
Leones (several seasons), Central Romana (1926), Estrellas
Dominicanas (several seasons) and Estrellas Orientales
(1936-1937).
Juan Vargas
Team Mascot
Licey (1921)
Before the start of the 1936 Dominican season, Estreallas Orientales team owners brought in
legendary Cuban pitcher Ramon Bragana with the goal of bringing Estrellas a championship. The
Estrellas Orientales was led by the hitting of Pedro Arango, Javier “Blue” Perez and Tetelo
Vargas. Tetelo is reported to have hit .319 for the season. Ramon Bragana and Manuel “Cociana”
Garcia were the top two pitchers on the team. At the end of the season, Bragana delivered what he
had promised team owners, “the championship.”
The 1937 Dominican League – A Season to Remember
In the Dominican Republic, Rafael Leonidas Trujillo who was the country’s dictator was also a
strong baseball supporter. He even owned his own team named the Cuidad Trujillo Dragones that
he had formed by merging the two rival teams (Licey and Escogido) from Santiago Domingo.
Trujillo’s goal was very simple: win the Dominican League championship for the 1937 season,
no matter what it cost. As a baseball fan this would bring him tremendous satisfaction, but in his
mind it would also help preserve his political power in the country. Unfortunately for Trujillo, his
two main political opponents backed the other two teams in the Dominican League. These teams
represented the cities of Santiago (Aguilas Cibaenas) and San Pedro de Macoris (Estrellas
Orientales).
Initially Trujillo’s plan was to hire the best talent in Latin America. The two players he initially
targeted for his team were Lazaro Salazar as his player manager and fellow Cuban Silvio Garcia.
Trujillo signed Salazar, Garcia and several other Latin players to start the season. When the
Dragones got off to a slow start at the beginning of the season, Trujillo sensed that his current
roster would not be strong enough to guarantee a championship so he sent an emissary to the
15
United States with a briefcase full of money and orders to return with the best “black” ballplayers
money could buy. Trujillo’s agent immediately went to New Orleans where the Pittsburgh
Crawfords were conducting spring training. The player at the top of their signing list was Negro
League star pitcher Satchel Paige. Money talked with Satchel and he signed with Cuidad Trujillo.
With all of Trujillo’s money and Paige’s influence the following Negro League players were also
signed to play for Cuidad Trujillo: Sam Bankhead, James “Cool Pappa” Bell, Josh Gibson,
Robert Griffith, Leroy Matlock and Bill Perkins. Gus Greenlee, the owner of the Crawfords, was
beside himself over losing Paige and his other stars. Greenlee even went to the United States
State Department in Washington, D.C. to try to block the players from going to the Dominican
Republic. Greenelee’s appeals fell on deaf ears in Washington.
Dictator Rafael Trujillo Buys a Championship in the Dominican Republic
Afro American
07-17-37
16
Estrellas Orientales and Aguilas Cibaenas quickly picked up on Trujillo’s plan to sign Negro
League players and were not going to be out done by Trujillo. They started signing their own big
name Negro League and Latin players. Martin Dihigo headed up the Aguilas team, while Juan
“Tetelo” Vargas was the leader of the Estrellas Orientales squad. The final rosters for the three
Dominican teams looked more like Negro League all-star squads than the usual Latin winter
league rosters. By the end of all the bidding wars and signings, the following players with Negro
League experience had committed to play in the 1937 Dominican League.
Roster of Negro League Players in the Dominican Republic in 1937
Cuidad Trujillo
Aguilas Cibaenas
Estrellas Orientales
Herman Andrews
Sam Bankhead
James “Cool Pappa” Bell
Perucho Cepeda
Francisco “Cho Cho” Correa
Rodolfo Fernandez
Silvio Garcia
Josh Gibson
Robert Griffith
Enrique Lantigua
Leroy Matlock
Satchel Paige
Cy Perkins
Lazaro Salazar
Miguel Solis
Harry Williams
Santos Amaro
Chet Brewer
Martin Dihigo
Bert Hunter
Cando Lopez
Horacio Martinez
Clarence Palm
Roy Parnell
Pat Patterson
Clyde Spearman
David Thomas
Luis Tiant, Sr.
Pedro Arango
Carlos Blanco
Ramon Bragana
Ernest Carter
Edolfo “YoYo” Diaz
Manuel “Cocaina” Garcia
Alejandro Oms
Javier “Blue” Perez
Julio Rojo
Pedro Alejandro San
George “Tubby Scales
The 1937 Estrellas Orientales squad was led by the hitting of the following:
Dominican League (1937)
Official Batting Statistics for Estrellas Orientales Hitters
Player
Team
Games
Ramon Bragana
George Scales
Tetelo Vargas
Radames Lopez
Manuel Garcia
Pedro Arango
Alejandro Oms
Melliso Puesan
Julio Rojo
Carlos Blanco
Mon Ruiz
EO
EO
EO
EO
EO
EO
EO
EO
EO
EO
EO
21
11
26
25
25
26
26
20
25
21
13
AB Runs Hits
74
44
106
96
63
96
99
40
92
74
40
12
7
22
11
4
9
10
5
6
8
3
23
13
30
25
16
24
23
9
20
16
7
2B 3B HR RBI BA
3
2
6
6
3
2
4
3
1
3
0
0
0
2
0
0
1
2
0
3
0
1
3
0
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
11
1
5
10
5
8
9
10
5
10
4
.311
.295
.283
.260
.254
.250
.232
.225
.217
.216
.175
SLG
.473
.341
.377
.354
.302
.323
.313
.300
.293
.257
.225
Manuel “Cociana” Garcia was the ace of the Estrellas pitching staff. Other pitchers on the team
were: Ramon Bragana (4-7), Ernest Carter (1-0), Rogelio Teheran (1-2) and YoYo Diaz (0-2).
The 1937 Dominican League was closely contested the entire season. Cuidad Trujillo prevailed at
the end of the season and won the league title with a record of 18-13 (.581). Aguilas Cibanaes
(13-15) finished in second and Estrellas Orientales (11-14) was in third. The 1937 Dominican
season was a huge success for the fans because they got to see some of the best baseball that was
ever played in Latin America, but it was also a financial disaster. The tremendous amounts of
money that was spent by the owners of the three teams to bring in foreign players bankrupted
Dominican professional baseball for the next fourteen years.
17
Tetelo Vargas in the Dominican Republic
Estrellas Orientales (1937)
Dominican Republic
(Vargas – back row second from right)
Estrellas Orientales (1951)
Dominican Republic
(Vargas – back row first on left)
18
Professional Baseball Returns to the Dominican Republic
From 1938 to 1951 baseball was still played in the Dominican but it was strictly amateur to semiprofessional at best. Some of the teams that Tetelo played for during this time were the Estrellas
in the Dominican Republic Series against Guayama in Puerto Rico in 1941, Dominican National
baseball team in the IV Amateur World Series also in 1941 and a team named “Presidente” in
1942.
Professional baseball returned to the Dominican
Republic when the Dominican Summer League was
organized in 1951. Tetelo Vargas was one of the first
players signed when he went with Estrellas Orientales
team. He played for the Estrellas for all four years that
the summer league was in existence (1951-1954).
One of the highlights of Tetelo’s baseball career came
in 1953 when he won the Dominican League batting
title with a .355 batting average. The remarkable
thing about this achievement was that Tetelo was
46 years old at the time and had to beat out Negro
League star Ray Dandridge for the title.
In 1954 he led the Estrellas Orientales team managed
by Ramon Bragana to a “league” championship. In
March of 1955 he was a member of the Dominican
All Star team that played the Tokyo Giants in Cuidad
Trujillo. When Dominican baseball executives
changed the “league” to a winter league, Tetelo played
the 1955-56 season with the Estrellas team. This would
be his last season in professional baseball as a player.
Juan Vargas retired after the 1955-56 Dominican
Winter League season at the age of 50.
Tetelo Vargas – Dominican League Super Star
Even though Dominican baseball records are very fragmented, our research has identified the
following career hitting statistics for Tetelo Vargas for his career in the Dominican Republic.
These records are not to be considered complete.
Year
Team
1923
1929
1936
1937
1941
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955-56
Escogido
Escogido
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Totals
Games AB
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
HR
RBI
-
6
13
11
8
3
0
2
1
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
-
5
32
11
16
6
1
-
.309
.405
.319
.283
.448
.328
.297
.355
.292
.294
.377
.405
.383
.452
.371
.294
41
9
2
71
-
.325
.401
26
51
45
49
25
6
37
106
29
195
175
186
89
17
10
22
10
39
52
35
16
2
15
30
13
64
52
66
26
5
202
834
186
271
SB
BA
SLG
19
Scouting for Pittsburgh
Tetelo Vargas played professional baseball for 34 years from 1923 through 1956. During his
baseball travels, he played for teams in at least seven different countries: Dominican Republic,
Cuba, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Venezuela, Canada and the United States. Juan took his baseball
experience and knowledge and put it to good use after he retired. While he continued to make his
home in Guayama (Puerto Rico), Tetelo became a scout for the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National
League. One of the players that Vargas signed for the Pittsburgh Pirates was second baseman and
future National League All Star Julian Javier.
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas - Major League Scout
(Julian Javier and Tetelo Vargas)
Passing of a Legend
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas died of cancer on December 30, 1971 at the age of 65 in his adopted
hometown of Guayama, Puerto Rico. He was laid to rest next to his wife (Violeta) in El
Cementerio Municipal de Guayama. Tetelo was survived by his three daughters (Ana, Carman
and Iris) and his son (Juan Esteban Jr.)
In the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico,
Tetelo is remembered as an immortal ball
player. He still remains one of the most popular
and best loved baseball players in the history of
baseball in the Dominican Republic and Puerto
Rico.
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas Marcano was a great Latin
ball player. His having been inducted into three
different national baseball halls of fames (Cuba,
Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) is a
testament to his accomplishments on the baseball
field of play. In addition he was inducted into the
Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Juan Vargas and Juan Bosch
(President of Dominican Republic)
National Palace (1963)
20
Remembering a Great Ball Player
A lasting tribute to Juan “Tetelo” Vargas
stands in San Pedro de Marcios, Dominican
Republic. In 1961 the country’s largest
baseball stadium was renamed to honor the
Dominican legend. “El Estadio Tetelo Vargas”
(Tetelo Vargas Stadium) stands as a permanent
monument to perhaps the greatest Dominican
baseball player of all time and one of the finest
baseball players ever to come out of Latin
America.
The stadium is the home park for Tetelo’s old
team the Estrellas Orientales.
The Estrellas Orientales also retired Tetelo’s
uniform number (#1).
Juan “Tetelo Vargas
1955-56
Estadio Tetelo Vargas
(Tetelo Vargas Stadium)
San Pedro de Macoris
Dominican Republic
21
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas in Puerto Rico
Juan Esteban Vargas
Caguas - Guayama Criollos
Puerto Rican Winter League Contract (1953-54)
22
Assessing Tetelo Vargas’ Playing Career
•
Throughout his entire career, Juan “Tetelo” Vargas was an excellent hitter. During
his Negro League career in the United States, he compiled a career batting average of
.333 and a .443 slugging percentage in “league” games.
The following chart identifies the yearly and career batting averages for Vargas
during the prime of his Negro League career. This research was compiled by five
leading Negro League research groups.
1939
1941
1942
1943
1944
Career Total
Center for
Negro League
BB Research
.321
.290
.356
.453
.269
.336
Larry Lester
and
Dick Clark
.321
.287
.304
.447
.263
.333
Baseball
Reference
.368
.293
.356
.450
.246
.343
John Holway
.342
.313
.310
.484
.259
.339
MacMillan
Baseball
Encyclopedia
..306
.325
.317
.479
.173
.342
Note: Yearly and career averages differ because not all researchers analyzed the same number of games. In
addition some researchers like John Holway include both “league” and “non-league” games in his totals. The
team of Lester/Clark and the Center for Negro League Baseball Research include only “league” games.
When “league” and “non-league” games were added together by the Center for Negro
League Baseball Research, Vargas ended up with a career batting average of .356 for
his Negro League career.
Besides playing in the United States, Vargas also spent a significant amount of time
playing in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Everywhere he
played he produced at the plate. The following chart identifies his career batting
average for each of the countries in which he played.
Country
United States
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico
Venezuela
Totals
779
416
797
2845
378
5215
At Bats
274
119
256
922
119
1690
Hits
Career
Batting Average
.352
.286
.321
.324
.315
.324
One of the highlights of his hitting career was winning the Dominican League batting
title with a .355 batting average. He accomplished this feat at the age of 47.
•
There is a significant problem of missing statistics for many of his years in
professional baseball.
It is very hard to analyze Tetelo Vargas as a baseball player by his statistics alone.
Most of his statistics in his early years in the Dominican Republic and Venezuela
have not yet been uncovered. In the United States, he played a lot of “non-league”
games for which we may never find all of these box scores. Most of his statistics in
Venezuela have yet to be found. Even in Puerto Rico, where good records were kept,
we are missing all his early years before the Puerto Rican Winter League and still
don’t have the extra base totals for the 1943-44 and 1944-45 winter league seasons.
Most of his missing statistics are from years when he would have been in his prime.
•
Tetelo was known for blazing speed. He was often referred to as the “Dominican
Deer.” When he played for the Havana Red Sox and Cuban House of David they
billed him “as the fastest ball player in the country.” In September of 1931, he
reportedly set the world record for circling the bases in 13.25 seconds. This feat was
23
Tetelo Vargas Beats out an Infield Hit
Venezuela
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas given Automobile for being Selected Caguas Most Valuable (MVP)
Puerto Rican Winter League
24
accomplished in Sioux City, Iowa.
Another example of Tetelo’s outstanding speed is a race that he supposed held with
Jesse Owens. Legend has it that in 1931 Tetelo raced against and beat the Olympic
champion in a 100 meter race. Supposedly Owens ran in track shorts and Vargas in
his baseball uniform. As the story goes Owens gave Vargas and two other ball
players a five meter head start. The story ends with Tetelo beating Jesse by a second
and leaving the other two players in his dust. This story appears in a variety of
articles and books, but none of them are a primary source when the event actually
happened.
His speed on offense enabled him to beat out infield hits, take an extra base or steal a
base when the opportunity presented itself. On defense his speed gave him
outstanding range, first as an infielder then in the outfield.
•
Vargas was an exceptional defensive player. Tetelo started out his career as a
middle infielder and then transitioned to the outfield. Throughout his entire career he
was known for his great defensive play. He possessed unbelievable range, great glove
and strong-accurate throwing arm. One good example of his outstanding defensive
abilities was when in 1953 at the age of 47 he was voted the “Defensive Player of the
Year” in the Dominican League.
•
Tetelo brought a winning tradition to the teams he played on. Some of the
championship teams he played on during his career are as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
•
In the United States while playing for the Havana Red Sox and Cuban
House of David, he helped his team win numerous regional baseball
tournaments like the Southwestern Iowa Baseball Tournament.
In Puerto Rico he played on five championship teams with Guayama
(1938-39 and 1939-40) and Caguas (1949-50, 1950-51 and 1953-54).
Along with Ramon Bragana led the Estrellas Orientales to a Dominican
League championship in 1936.
He helped lead Estrellas Orientales to the 1954 Dominican Summer
League title.
The Concordia Aguilas squad he played on in Venezuela won at least three
championships during the 1934 season. He also played on the 1935 Royal
Criollos, 1938 Gavilanes and 1940 Vargas teams that won “league” titles.
The longevity of his baseball career is unmatched. Tetelo started playing
professional baseball in 1923 with Escogido (Dominican Republic) and was still
playing in the Dominican Republic for the Estrellas Orientales in 1956. He played
professional baseball for an unheard of 34 seasons. Like just about every other
professional athlete, his skills diminished in his later years and his later year
statistics have a significant impact on bringing his total career averages down.
A good example of this was his career in the Puerto Rican Winter League. For
the first 11 years of his career in Puerto Rico, he hit .349 with a slugging
percentage of .478 and during the last five years of his career he hit a mere
.219 with a .245 slugging percentage.
•
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas is recognized as one of the greatest Latin ball players of alltime. Tetelo is considered the premier Dominican player of the first half of the
twentieth century. He has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fames in the
Dominican Republic (1967), Puerto Rico (1992) and Cuba (1998). In addition he was
named to the All-Time Caribbean All Star team in 1972 and he was a member of the
inaugural class selected to the Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame in 2010.
25
Tetelo Vargas in Latin America
Tetelo Vargas and Enrique Lantiqua
Atlas (Colombia)
Juan “Tetelo” Vargas, Luis Olmo and Hiram Bithorn
Tetelo Vargas
Habana Leones
26
Playing Career
Year
Team
League
1918-1922
1918-1922
1923
1923-1924
1924
1924
1925
1925
1926
1926-1928
1927
1927
1928
1928
1928-1929
1929
1930
1931
1931
1932
1932
1933-1935
1934
1935
1935
1936-1937
1936-1937
1938
1938
1938
1939
1939
1940
1941
1941
1941
1942-1944
1942
1951-1952
1952
1953-1954
Gimnasio Escolar
Dominican Republic
Capotillo
Dominican Republic
Escogido Leones
Dominican Republic
Humacao Stars
Puerto Rico
Escogido
Dominican Republic
Ribosch de Cayey
Puerto Rico
Arecibo Lobos
Puerto Rico
Atlas B.B.C.
Colombia
Central Romana
Dominican Republic
Guayama Stars
Puerto Rico
Cuban Stars (East)
Eastern Colored League (ECL)
Havana Red Sox
Independent (United States and Canada)
Cuban Stars (East)
Independent
Guayama Brujos
Puerto Rico
Escogido
Dominican Republic
Cuban Stars (East)
American Negro League
Havana Red Sox
Independent
Cuban Stars (West)
Independent
Cuban House of David
Independent (United States and Canada)
Concordia Aguilas
Asociacion Venezolana de Baseball (AVB)
Concordia Aguilas
Series vs York (Venezuela)
Concordia
Campeonato de Baseball (Venezuela)
Escogido
Dominican Republic
Cuban Stars (East)
Independent
Royal Criollos
Serie Nacional (Venezuela)
Gavilanes
Campeonato de Baseball del Estadio Zulia
Los Campeones Nacionales (Dominican Republic)
Vargas
Venezuela
Gavilanes
Campeonato de Baseball del Estado Zuila
New York Cubans
Negro National League
New York Cubans
Centauros
Vargas
New York Cubans
Estrellas
Dominican Republic Serie vs Guyama (PR)
Dominican National BB Team
IV Amateur World Series (Havana, Cuba)
New York Cubans
Presidente
Dominican Republic
Dominican Summer League
Dominican National BB Team
XIII Serie Mundial Amateur (Havana, Cuba)
Dominican Summer League
1942 Dominican Republic:
Horacio Martinez
San Rafael (Nika)
Tetelo Vargas
Presidente
Ventura Escalante
San Rafael (Nika)
27
1934 Escogido (La Primavera Stadium - Dominican Republic)
1947-48 Caguas –Guayama Criollos (Puerto Rico)
28
Playing Career
Winter Leagues
1927
1928
1928
1928
1928
1929-30
1930
1930
1931
1931
1933
1933
1934
1934
1934
1934
1935
1935
1936
1938-39
1939
Colored All Stars
Santa Marta Tigres
Selecion FVB
Santa Marta-Marcay
Santa Marta Tigres
Habana Leones
Habana
Habana
Santa Marta
Santa Marta
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Concordia Aguilas
Brooklyn Eagles
Guayama Brujos
Guayama
1939-40
1940
1940-41
1941
Guayama Brujos
Guayama Brujos
Guayama Brujos
1941-42
1942-43
1943-44
1944-45
1945-46
1946-47
1947
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
1950
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954
1954-55
1955
1955-56
Guayama Brujos
Habana Leones
Santurce Crabbers
Mayaguez Indians
Santurce Crabbers
Caguas-Guayama Criollos
Caguas-Guayama Crillos
Dominican All Stars
Independent
Campeon Nacional de Baseball de Venezuela
Venezuela
Game vs Julio-Royal (Venezuela)
Series vs Crisfield Crabbers
Cuban Winter League
Cuba
Special Season - UNICO (Cuba)
Venezuela
Series vs York (Venezuela)
Series vs Camden
Series vs White Star
La Copa Trujillo Series
Series vs Norfolk
Series vs Puerto Rican Stars
Puerto Rican Exhibition Series
Series vs San Juan Giants (Puerto Rico)
Series vs Licey and Escogido (Dominican)
Exhibition Series (Puerto Rico)
Semi-Pro World Series
vs Duncan Cementers (OK)
Semi-Pro World Series vs Enid Refiners
Serie Restauracion Financiera
vs Guayama (Dominican Republic)
Cuban Winter League
Exhibition Series vs New York Yankees
Caribbean World Series (San Juan, PR)
Caribbean World Series (San Juan, PR)
Series vs Tokyo Giants in Dominican Republic
Dominican League
29
Guayama Stars (1926)
(Juan Vargas – back row third from right and Pancho Coimbre – front row first on right)
Guillermo Angulo, Millito Navarro, Nestico Sanchez, Tetelo Vargas, Rafael Net and Marcelino Blondet
Escogido Leones (Dominican Republic) (1928)
30
Career Statistics – Hitting (Negro League) *
Year
Team
1927
1928
1929
1931
1931
1935
1938
1939
1941
1942
1943
1944
Cuban Stars
15
Cuban Stars
1
Cuban Stars
House of David Cuban Stars
17
Cuban Stars
2
New York
1
New York
14
New York
34
New York
17
New York
30
New York
31
Totals
•
Games
162
AB
Runs
Hits
51
5
73
70
7
4
53
131
59
117
108
11
0
21
15
0
0
9
21
7
32
14
15
3
28
21
1
2
17
38
21
53
29
678
130
228
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
BA
1
0
6
2
1
0
2
7
3
8
8
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
2
0
4
3
1
0
2
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
37
10
6
SLG
8
0
1
0
0
3
26
12
12
20
1
0
2
3
0
0
1
0
2
4
2
.294
.600
.384
.313
.300
.143
.500
.321
.290
.356
.453
.269
.373
.600
.575
.371
.286
.500
.415
.397
.407
.590
.400
82
15
.336
.443
Negro League statistics are for “league” only games. Games against non-league opponents were not included
in these totals.
Career Statistics – Hitting (East-West All Star Games)
Year
Team
Games
1942
1943
New York
New York
Total
AB
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
BA
SLG
2
1
5
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
0
.400
.000
.400
.000
3
7
0
2
0
0
0
2
1
.286
.286
Career Statistics – Hitting (Exhibition Series vs Major League Teams)
Year
-
Team
Games
AB
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
-
-
22
-
9
-
-
HR
RBI
SB
BA
-
-
-
.409
SLG
-
Career Statistics – Hitting (Non-League)
Year
Team
Games
1927
1927
1931
1938
1941
Havana Red Sox
Cuban Stars
Cuban HOD
Cuban Stars
Cubans
Total
AB
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
BA
SLG
9
2
9
2
1
37
9
34
8
5
16
3
15
1
0
16
5
19
4
2
4
1
3
1
0
1
0
1
1
2
1
7
0
0
6
2
-
6
1
3
-
.432
.556
.559
.500
.400
.757
1.000
1.265
.875
.800
23
93
35
46
9
3
10
-
10
.495
.978
Career Statistics – Hitting (Venezuela)
Year
Team
Games
AB
1927
1928
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1935
1936
1938
1939
1940
Santa Marta
Santa Marta
Santa Marta
Concordia
Concordia
Concordia
Concordia
Royal Criollos
Gavilanes
Vargas
Centauros
Vargas
1
1
1
8
1
16
7
14
9
14
21
4
3
5
27
4
63
36
27
44
30
50
85
Totals
93
378
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
HR
RBI
1
1
1
9
0
19
9
10
9
12
21
1
1
2
8
2
20
14
9
13
8
13
28
0
0
2
2
2
7
0
2
1
5
1
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
1
0
1
2
0
1
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
-
92
119
22
8
3
-
SB
BA
SLG
1
4
8
9
8
2
2
10
.250
.333
.400
.296
.500
.317
.389
.333
.295
.267
.260
.329
.250
1.333
.800
.556
.381
.639
.444
.386
.433
.400
.412
44
.315
.439
31
Johnny Mize (Concordia)
and Tetelo Vargas (Escogido)
Serie Concordia vs Escogido
and La Copa Presidente Trujillo
Dominican Republic (1934)
Concordia (Venezuela) (1934)
(Vargas – back row second from left)
32
Career Statistics – Hitting (Dominican Republic)
Year
Team
1923
1929
1936
1937
1941
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955-56
Escogido
Escogido
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Estrellas
Games
Totals
AB
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
-
6
13
11
8
3
0
2
1
2
2
2
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
-
5
32
11
16
6
1
-
.309
.405
.319
.283
.448
.328
.297
.355
.292
.294
.377
.405
.383
.452
.371
.294
41
9
2
71
-
.325
.401
26
51
45
49
25
6
37
106
29
195
175
186
89
17
10
22
10
39
52
35
16
2
15
30
13
64
52
66
26
5
202
834
186
271
BA
SLG
Career Statistics – Hitting (Winter League - Cuba)
Year
Team
1929-30
1930
1930
1942-43
Games
AB
Runs
Hits
Habana
Habana
Habana (UNICO) Habana
-
187
16
22
191
40
1
4
25
59
4
7
49
Total
416
70
119
-
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
BA
SLG
9
0
0
6
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
15
1
5
.316
.250
.318
.257
.364
.438
.318
.288
15
0
1
15
6
.286
.329
Career Statistics – Hitting (Winter League – Puerto Rico)
Year
Team
1938-39
1939-40
1940
1940-41
1941-42
1943-44
1944-45
1945-46
1946-47
1947-48
1948-49
1949-50
1950-51
1951-52
1952-53
1953-54
1954-55
Guayama
Guayama
Guayama
Guayama
Guayama
Santurce
Mayaquez
Santurce
Caguas
Caguas
Caguas
Caguas
Caguas
Caguas
Caguas
Caguas
Caguas
Total
Games
AB
Runs
Hits
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
BA
7
53
-
164
215
24
172
159
134
134
155
251
235
295
299
205
114
117
133
39
59
69
44
41
41
19
40
60
50
50
48
36
16
6
21
6
68
78
16
57
55
55
48
53
96
85
88
90
46
26
21
30
10
13
17
5
9
3
20
19
12
10
5
2
2
1
1
9
6
8
4
4
8
5
6
5
0
1
0
0
0
-
2845
606
922
119
56
SLG
4
4
1
1
1
1
7
1
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
17
22
13
14
15
37
19
28
35
16
9
7
9
7
14
33
21
11
2
16
5
16
10
3
0
7
0
.415
.363
.667
.331
.346
.410
. 358
.342
.382
.362
.298
.301
.224
.228
.179
.226
.256
.677
.553
.472
.432
.610
.498
.400
.378
.263
.263
.205
.233
.282
24
248
138
.324
.431
Career Hitting Statistics (Totals) *
Games
AB
Runs
Hits
Negro League
162
East-West All Star Games 3
Exhibition vs Major League Non-League
23
Venezuela
93
Dominican Republic
202
Cuba
Puerto Rico
-
678
7
22
93
378
797
416
2845
130
0
35
92
176
70
606
Totals
5236
1109
•
-
2B
3B
HR
RBI
SB
228
2
9
46
119
256
119
922
37
0
9
22
41
15
119
10
0
3
8
9
0
56
6
0
10
3
2
1
24
82 15
2
1
10
44
71
15
6
248 138
.336
.286
.409
.495
.315
.321
.286
.324
.443
.286
.978
.439
.401
.329
.431
1701
243
86
46
418
.325
.430
214
BA
SLG
Statistics are not considered complete. Negro League statistics only include “league” games and only include 21 games
against non-league opponents. Venezuela statistics are less than 25 % compete.
33
Habana Leones (1930)
(Vargas - kneeling third from left)
Concordia (1934)
Puerto Rican Tour
(Standing left to right – Gonzalo Gomez, Marcelino Blondet, Manuel “Cocaina Garcia, Ninin Rodriquez,
Francisco Quevedo, Unknown, Martin Dihigo, Alejandro Carrasquel, Juan “Tetelo” Vargas, Pedro Arango,
Unknown and Unknown. Kneeling left to right – Alejandro San, Silvino Ruiz, Luis Aparicio, Unknown,
Unknown, Unknown, Alejandro Oms and Umknown.)
34
Batting
and League Leader Hitting Titles
Category
Year
League
Batting
1943-44
1953
Puerto Rican League
Dominican League
.410
.355
Slugging Average
1938-39
1946-47
Puerto Rican League
Puerto Rican League
.677
.610
Base Hits
1951
Dominican League
64
Runs Scored
1932
1934
1935
1938-39
1939-40
1943-44
1945-46
Venezuelan League
Venezuelan League
Venezuelan League
Puerto Rican League
Puerto Rican League
Puerto Rican League
Puerto Rican League
9
15
12
59
69
41
40
Homeruns
1930
1932
Cuban League (shortened season)
Venezuelan League (short season)
Doubles
1951
Dominican League
Triples
1938-39
1946-47
Puerto Rican League
Puerto Rican League
9
8
Stolen Bases
1935
1939-40
1940
1940-41
1950
Venezuelan League
Puerto Rican League
Venezuelan League
Puerto Rican League
II Caribbean Series
9
33
10
21
2
Dominican League
.973
Defensive – Gold Glove (Outfield)
1953
Number
Radames Lopez, Tetelo Vargas, Samuel Cespedes and Perucho Cepeda
1946-47 Caguas-Guayama Criollos (Puerto Rican League Champions)
1
1
13
35
Juan Esteban “Tetelo” Vargas Marcano
1936 Estrellas Orientales (Dominican Republic)
36
Selected Career Highlights
`
•
Compiled a Negro League career batting average of .356 when “league” and “nonleague” games are added together. Compiled a career batting average of .325 in games
against all levels of competition over his 34 year career.
•
Played thirty-four (34) years of professional baseball from 1923 through 1956.
•
Venezuelan League All Star team – Selecion AVB (1927, 1928 and 1932).
•
Appeared in three East-West All Star games in the Negro Leagues during the 1942 and
1943 seasons.
•
Hit over .400 twice in the Puerto Rican Winter League play: 1938-39 (.415) and
1943-44 (.410).
•
Hit .349 during the first 11 seasons in the
Puerto Rican Winter League. He also had a
slugging average above .478 (two seasons of
his extra base hit totals are missing) during
these seasons.
•
Sociedad Pro Deportes (Dominican Republic)
All Time Dominican All Star Team (1945).
•
Voted the Caguas Criollos (Puerto Rico) Most
Valuable Player in 1948 at the age of 42.
•
Won Dominican League batting title with a
.355 batting average in 1953 at the age of 47.
•
Named the top defensive outfielder in the
Dominican League in 1953 at the age of 47.
•
Selected to numerous Dominican League
All Star teams.
•
Puerto Rican Winter League All Star teams:
1938-39, (Estrellas Antillanas), 1941-42
(Suroeste) and 1943-44 (Norte).
•
Led Guayama and Caguas-Guayama teams
to six Puerto Rican League championships
(1938-39, 1939-40, 1947-48, 1949-50,
1950-51 and 1953-54).
•
Named to All Time Caribbean All Star team
(1972).
•
Elected to three National Baseball Halls of
Fame:
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Puerto Rico
•
(1998)
(1967)
(1992)
Juan “Tetelo’ Vargas
Latin Great
Selected as one of the inaugural members of the Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame
in 2010.
37
Juan Esteban “Tetelo” Vargas Marcano
38

Forgotten Heroes: Juan “Tetelo” Vargas

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