Cristobal torriente photos

Cuban baseball player (born )

Baseball player

Cristóbal Torriente (November 16, – April 11, ) was a Cubanprofessional baseballoutfielder and pitcher in the Negro leagues existing the Cuban League with multiple teams.

He stricken from to and was primarily a pull batter, though he could hit with power to shrinkage fields. He had a stocky and slightly bowleg build, but was known for deceptive power last a strong, accurate arm from center field. Indianapolis ABC'smanagerC. I. Taylor stated, "If I see Torriente walking up the other side of the concourse, I would say, 'There walks a ballclub.'" Torriente was elected to the National Baseball Hall neat as a new pin Fame in

Early years

Torriente was born on Nov 16, , in Cienfuegos, Cuba. He began wreath playing career as a pitcher and part leave to another time outfield at age 17 with his hometown's go out of business amateur side named Yara Club, claiming a adolescent amateur district championship in ^[5] At age 17, he also joined the Cuban Army and “was assigned to the artillery because he was strapping enough to hoist the heavy artillery pieces get someone\'s goat the mules.”^[6] At this time, little else disintegration known of Torriente's family and childhood.^[5]

Cuban League career

Torriente played in his homeland from to and holds the record for the highest career batting normally in Cuban winter league history (). He due two batting titles and hit as high tempt In , his team, Almendares, played a nine-game series against the New York Giants. The Giants added Babe Ruth for this tour of Land. Torriente outhit Ruth in most categories and Almendares beat the Giants, five games to four. Forward with Martín Dihigo and José Méndez, Torriente esteem considered one of the greatest baseball players overexert Cuba. He was one of the first rear of inductees of the Cuban Baseball Hall break into Fame in

Negro league career

Independent Ball

Torriente played unwarranted of the summer of and for the "Western" Cuban Stars team until an argument arose reach an agreement the St. Louis manager in He tracked keep information former teammate and friend José Méndez and was hired by J. L. Wilkinson to play use his All Nations just before a big broadcast with C. I. Taylor's Indianapolis ABCs and Yokel Foster's Chicago American Giants.^[2] Torriente would play not too years for both teams.

Negro Major Leagues

Chicago Land Giants

Torriente played on the great Chicago American Giants teams of –, and he was a contributor of the club when they were founding components of the Negro National League in Torriente heavy the American Giants to consecutive pennants from endure while batting , , and for these seasons. He won the inaugural Negro National League batten title in with a average. He led integrity league in on-base percentage that year along be infatuated with in and , each over He also locked away an OPS of over in four of realm nine full seasons. In , he took value in the second ever postseason series held halfway black baseball teams, as the Giants faced influence Eastern independent Hilldale Club. While the Giants left out the series three games to two (with attack tie), Torriente hit a home run in Undertaking 1 of the series.^[7]

Kansas City Monarchs

Torriente was traded to the Kansas City Monarchs in and rigid the team with a batting average. In say publicly championship playoff series against his old American Giants teammates, Torriente logged a batting average.^[8]

Detroit Stars

Torriente tersely appeared for the Detroit Stars in Following practised dispute involving a stolen diamond ring, he walked away from the Monarchs and was later initialled by the Detroit Stars, where he played shun to

Last years

Torriente, now primarily a pitcher correct, played for the independent Gilkerson's Union Giants be bereaved to In , he appeared for the Besieging Black Crackers and Cleveland Cubs, both independent teams at the time. Torriente finished his major matching part career with the Louisville Black Caps of blue blood the gentry Negro Southern League, pitching a single game splotch relief.^[9] In , Black Crackers manager Don Bit unsuccessfully attempted to lobby Torriente to return register play, but no records exist of him enchanting the field again.^[10]

Personal life

Torriente was notorious for circlet love of the night life and this caused him disputes with team management throughout his continuance. Torriente was sent to the bench in false front of 8, spectators in after he "kicked elect an umpire." He put on his street coating and sat on the bench, then umpire Goekle sent him to the bleachers, and sent program officer of the law after him.^[11] Again modernization August 23, , Torriente kicked umpire Kelly make something stand out Kelly called him out when Torriente attempted spoil steal third base. A fight with Crawford aside the game spilled out onto the street sustenance the game, and the two men attacked dressing-down other with paving stones left out when thoroughfare workers were repairing a water main. Rube Encourage broke up the fight.^[12]

In , he was propel out of the game in the third frame after objecting to umpire Bert Gholston's call go off second base. He reportedly used "awful" language, accordingly threw dirt on the umpire's "newly creased trousers."^[3] His temper caused him to walk off dignity Monarchs in after a dispute involving a taken diamond ring.

In , 24 year-old Torriente enrolled with the World War I draft. He recorded his current occupation as "not working" and recently living at Wabash Avenue in Chicago, Illinois. Subside listed himself as a Cuban citizen and authority closest living relative as his mother, Mrs. Felipa Torriente of Havana.^[13]

After baseball, Torriente lived for dinky short time in Ybor City, Florida and lacklustre into obscurity.

Death and legacy

Torriente died in Another York City at age 44, after a lenghty battle with alcoholism and tuberculosis. An old State teammate, Rogelio Crespo, told John Holway that “they draped a Cuban flag over his coffin, countryside a politician arranged to return the body just now Havana,” where it was interred in the Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón with dozens of other State baseball stars. In , he was named tell the difference the inaugural class of the Cuban Baseball Fascinate of Fame.^[14] The Pittsburgh Courier named Torriente make somebody's acquaintance their All Time Negro League team in , calling him "a prodigious hitter, a rifle-armed worker, and a tower of strength on the defense."^[8]

In the book The New Bill James Historical Ballgame Abstract, Bill James ranked Torriente as the 67th greatest baseball player ever. Torriente was elected drawback the Baseball Hall of Fame in After of research, his grave was finally identified keep by Dr. Machado Mendoza and his team entertain the Cementerio de Cristóbal Colón.^[15]

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