The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1946-12-16
FOLLOWING
THROUGH
PEDRO AcunAH

CHATTER
Fans will remember as far
back as 1898 when Key West
played the U. S. S. Maine before
it sailed for Havana, and the
Baltimore Orioles when they
went through here to Cuba and
wore bright yellow suits. They
called them the Yellow Monkeys
and John McGraw who was with
them was nicked-named the yell
low monkey. That moniker stuck
to him for many years after.
In 1908 the Key West team
visited Cuba and won from the
Havana Reds, 3 to 2, and from
the Cuban Browns, 4 to l, but
lost to Almendares by 8 to 0
score with the great Mendez in
the box. On Oct. s, 8. and 10,
Almendares came to Key West
for return games and we all can
remember when he pitched and
shut out Key West by the same
score as in Cuba, 3 to 0. He
yielded anly one hit, a bunt by
Tomas and only two men reached
first, Tomas and Cheek, the
catcher who was hit by a pitched
ball.
Key West had five players from
the Three I league, Cheek the
catcher, Hagerman the pitcher,
Cuthbert at second, Neyes at
third and Shannon, who pitched
and played in the .outfield. In
1909 Hagerman pitched for Ha-
vana and won the flag for them
and in 1910 joined the Cubs in
the National league along with
his catcher Cheek. e.:
With Pent at first, Evaristo
Rodriguez at short, and Tomas,
Medina and Cheche Mira in the
gardens, along with Shannon, Key
West really had a ball club. In
1901, and 1912, Panther Pent,
Tomas, Evaristo and Tomas play
ed with Tampa in the Cigar City
league and Bradenton, Fla, in
the Phosphate League. In 1912 the
Brooklyn Dodges played at the
Barracks, and Jake" Daubert
played first base. He was the
leading hitter of the NATIONAL
League, the Dodgers won 1 to o.
Mule Sanchez pitched for the To-
Gals and Charlie Serondo was the
catcher. Panther Pent was on
first, Nile Leon on second, Char
lie Brown on third, Freddie Dion
at short, and Tomas, Medina and
Mira in the gardens.
The Dodgers were so impress
ed with the playing of Freddie
Dion that they gave him tryont
the next summer but he was sent
to a farm club and Fred decided
that he would end his career in
the Army and remain in Key
West, That year the Kelly slug
gers sor Sheriff Jaycocks as they
were known had one of the best
clubs in South Florida. They
won in Miami, Palm Beach, Tam
pa and other cities in the south.
Kelly Carballo was the manager,
Serondo, the catcher, Sanchez,
Brown, Dion, Perez, Corche
were then pitchers and some
times Panther Pent would pitch.
Panther was on first, Leon on
second, Brown on third, Dion at
short, Aguilar, Medina and Mi
"a in the outfield.
Then the St. Louis Federals
played at the Barracks, Long
Branch. The Federals had Adolph
Luque and Mike Gonzalez, both
just starting their careers. The
New York Giants played the
and Mario Mira was
photographed along with Long
George Kelly. 1t was Mutt and
Jeff affair, for Mira had a height
Of s. 2" and Long George better
than 6 feet.
Miami, Miami Beach, Home
stead, Tampa, Orlando and other
clubs from Florida played here,
so did the Cuban police, Univer-
sity of Havana, Arroyo Narange,
Regla, and other clubs. Paddy
played in the Florida
State League, as did Paddy Dor
an.
Armando Acevedo had tryout
with Mobile in the Southern
league, Quintan Lopez and Cyril
Griffin with Toledo in the Amer
lean Association. Joe, Juanie Ma
varro. Jack Carbonnel and Harry
Wickers tried out with ST. Aug
Justine in the State league and
Bill Gates played and managed IN
the State league.
Clayton Sterling played in the
State league. AS far back as
can recall the White Stars were
CITY champs from 1902 to 1910.
The Kelly Sluggers from 1910
to 1914, Key, West 1914 to 1920.
Kew. West Regulars 1920 to 1928.
Pirates. 1928 to 1884. Key West
played in the Florida East Coast
league in 1880 and won seven
straight games. In the second