José Antonio Casanova
José Antonio Casanova | |
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Shortstop/Manager | |
Born: February 18, 1918 Maracaibo, Zulia, Venezuela | |
Died: July 8, 1999 (aged 81) Maracay, Aragua, Venezuela | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
Teams | |
As Player As Manager
| |
Career highlights and awards | |
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Member of the Venezuelan | |
Baseball Hall of Fame | |
Induction | 2003 |
José Antonio Casanova (February 18, 1918 – July 8, 1999) was a shortstop and manager in Venezuelan baseball. He batted and threw right handed.[1]
Born in Maracaibo, Zulia, Casanova is regarded as the most successful manager in Venezuelan baseball history. A five-time championship manager, he also led his teams to several international titles in a career that spanned more than three decades.[1]
Casanova started his professional career in unaffiliated Venezuelan first division league in 1937, playing for the Centauros, Vencedor, Cardenales and Cervecería clubs, managing also Cervecería to a title in 1943, before joining the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in its inaugural season of 1946.[2]
During this stint he also played for the Venezuela national baseball team that captured the 1941 Amateur World Series championship in Havana, in which he won the AWS Most Valuable Player honors.
He then launched a fruitful managing career in the VPBL through the 1966 season, winning four titles with the Cervecería Caracas (1947–1948), Leones del Caracas (1952) and Tiburones de la Guaira (1964).[1] Overall, he posted a 436–402 record for a .520 winning percentage.[3]
In addition, he guided the Venezuelan team that clinched championships in the Baseball World Cup in 1944 and 1945,[1] as well as the team that won gold medal at the 1959 Pan American Games held in Chicago.[1] Besides this, he served as manager for the Venezuelan Military Academy team during 29 years.[citation needed] A baseball park in Caracas is named after him.[1]
In 2003, José Antonio Casanova was enshrined into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum as part of their first class. He was inducted as well in the Hall in 2006, when the entire 1941 AWS Champion Team was honored. Then, in 2015 he earned a third induction when the 1959 PanAm Games Champion Team was enshrined.[1]
Sources
- ^ a b c d e f g "Salón de la Fama del Béisbol de Venezuela". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. (Spanish)
- ^ Gutiérrez F., Daniel; Álvarez, Efraim; Gutiérrez G., Daniel. Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela (2006). Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional. ISBN 980-6996-02-X
- ^ Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela
- v
- t
- e
- Luis Aparicio
- José Bracho
- Alex Carrasquel
- Chico Carrasquel
- José Antonio Casanova
- Dave Concepción
- Vic Davalillo
- Luis García
- Vidal López
- Diego Seguí
- César Tovar
- Ernesto Aparicio
- Luis Aparicio Sr.
- Tony Armas
- Teo Acosta
- Emilio Cueche
- Baudilio Díaz
- Ramón Monzant
- Pompeyo Davalillo
- Manuel García
- Manny Trillo
- Héctor Benítez
- Gus Gil
- Luis Leal
- Gonzalo Márquez
- Luis Peñalver
- Urbano Lugo
- Aurelio Monteagudo
- Oswaldo Olivares
- Chucho Ramos
- Luis Tiant
- Luis Zuloaga
- Luis Aponte
- Ángel Bravo
- Andrés Galarraga
- Teodoro Obregón
- Lázaro Salazar
- Wilson Álvarez
- Ozzie Guillén
- Roberto Rodríguez
- Luis Salazar
- Dalmiro Finol
- Luis Sojo
- Dámaso Blanco
- Ossie Blanco
- Leonel Carrión
- Remy Hermoso
- Julián Ladera
- Balbino Inojosa
- Giovanni Carrara
- Bobby Marcano
- Omar Vizquel
- Carlos Ascanio
- Edwin Hurtado
- Leo Hernández
- Robert Pérez
- Bobby Abreu
- Edgardo Alfonzo
- Johan Santana
- Melvin Mora
- Roberto Olivo
- Abelardo Raidi
- Juan Antonio Yanes
- José Del Vecchio
- Herman Ettedgui
- Francisco José Cróquer
- Delio Amado León
- Gualberto Acosta
- Oscar Prieto Ortiz
- Reggie Otero
- Carlos Tovar Bracho
- Pedro Padrón Panza
- Juan Vené
- Martín Tovar Lange
- Carlos Lavaud
- Juan Reggeti
- Luis Rodolfo Machado
- Pablo Morales Pérez
- Antonio Herrera Gutiérrez
- Carlos González
- Rubén Mijares
- Dionisio Acosta
- Carlos Cárdenas Lares
- Adolfo Álvarez
- Marco Antonio Lacavalerie
- Oscar Prieto Párraga
- Alfonso Saer