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)

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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.

Juan “Tetelo” Vargas Dominican Super Star

Early Baseball Career 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 Juan Vargas Ribosch (1924) Escogido (1929) Puerto Rico 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. Tetelo Hits 7 Consecutive HR Cuban House of David From 1932 through the 1937 season, Tetelo spent most of his time playing baseball in Venezuela during the regular season. Afro American He is, however, reported to have briefly played for Cuban Stars 08-01-31 of the Negro National League in early August of 1935. 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 Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1943 New York 30 117 32 53 8 4 0 12 4 .453 .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. Juan “Tetelo” Vargas 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 independent-traveling 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 Concordia Aguilas Campeonato de Baseball de Venezuela 12-0 1.000 1934 Concordia Aguilas La Copa Trujillo (Dominican Republic) 6-3 .667 1934 Concordia Aguilas Puerto Rican Series 11-3 .786 1935 Royal Criollos Serie Nacional (Venezuela) 8-4 .667 1938 Gavilanes Campeonato de Baseball de Estadio Zulia 11-3 .786 1940 Vargas Campeonato de Baseball de Primera Division 16-5 .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 1938-39 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).

Juan “Tetelo” Vargas Puerto Rican Baseball Hall of Fame

Seasons AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR SB BA SLG 1938-1950 11 2213 521 773 108 55 22 108 .349 .478 1950-1955 5 608 85 133 11 1 1 20 .219 .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 Runs Scored Triples Stolen bases Number .321 906 606 56 138 Career Rank 6th 11th 4th 5th 6th

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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

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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

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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 Santos Amaro Pedro Arango Sam Bankhead Chet Brewer Carlos Blanco James “Cool Pappa” Bell Martin Dihigo Ramon Bragana Perucho Cepeda Bert Hunter Ernest Carter Francisco “Cho Cho” Correa Cando Lopez Edolfo “YoYo” Diaz Rodolfo Fernandez Horacio Martinez Manuel “Cocaina” Garcia Silvio Garcia Clarence Palm Alejandro Oms Josh Gibson Roy Parnell Javier “Blue” Perez Robert Griffith Pat Patterson Julio Rojo Enrique Lantigua Clyde Spearman Pedro Alejandro San Leroy Matlock David Thomas George “Tubby Scales Satchel Paige Luis Tiant, Sr. Juan “Tetelo” Vargas Cy Perkins Lazaro Salazar Miguel Solis Harry Williams

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 AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI BA SLG

Ramon Bragana EO 21 74 12 23 3 0 3 11 .311 .473 George Scales EO 11 44 7 13 2 0 0 1 .295 .341 Tetelo Vargas EO 26 106 22 30 6 2 0 5 .283 .377 Radames Lopez EO 25 96 11 25 6 0 1 10 .260 .354 Manuel Garcia EO 25 63 4 16 3 0 0 5 .254 .302 Pedro Arango EO 26 96 9 24 2 1 1 8 .250 .323 Alejandro Oms EO 26 99 10 23 4 2 0 9 .232 .313 Melliso Puesan EO 20 40 5 9 3 0 0 10 .225 .300 Julio Rojo EO 25 92 6 20 1 3 0 5 .217 .293 Carlos Blanco EO 21 74 8 16 3 0 0 10 .216 .257 Mon Ruiz EO 13 40 3 7 0 1 0 4 .175 .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.

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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)

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Professional Baseball Returns to the Dominican Republic

From 1938 to 1951 baseball was still played in the Dominican but it was strictly amateur to semi-professional 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.

Juan “Tetelo” Vargas Estrellas Orientales

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 Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1923 Escogido - - - - - - - - - .309 - 1929 Escogido - 37 10 15 - - - - - .405 - 1936 Estrellas - - - - - - - - - .319 - 1937 Estrellas 26 106 22 30 6 2 0 5 - .283 .377 1941 Estrellas - 29 10 13 - - - - - .448 - 1951 Estrellas 51 195 39 64 13 1 0 32 - .328 .405 1952 Estrellas 45 175 52 52 11 2 0 11 - .297 .383 1953 Estrellas 49 186 35 66 8 2 2 16 - .355 .452 1954 Estrellas 25 89 16 26 3 2 0 6 - .292 .371 1955-56 Estrellas 6 17 2 5 0 0 0 1 - .294 .294

Totals 202 834 186 271 41 9 2 71 - .325 .401

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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)

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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 Estrellas Orientales 1955-56

Estadio Tetelo Vargas (Tetelo Vargas Stadium)

San Pedro de Macoris Dominican Republic

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Juan “Tetelo” Vargas in Puerto Rico

Juan Esteban Vargas

Caguas - Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League Contract (1953-54)

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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. Center for

Negro League BB Research

Larry Lester and Dick Clark

Baseball Reference

John Holway

MacMillan Baseball Encyclopedia

1939 .321 .321 .368 .342 ..306 1941 .290 .287 .293 .313 .325 1942 .356 .304 .356 .310 .317 1943 .453 .447 .450 .484 .479 1944 .269 .263 .246 .259 .173 Career Total .336 .333 .343 .339 .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

At Bats

Hits

Career Batting Average

United States 779 274 .352 Cuba 416 119 .286 Dominican Republic 797 256 .321 Puerto Rico 2845 922 .324 Venezuela 378 119 .315 Totals 5215 1690 .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

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Tetelo Vargas Beats out an Infield Hit Venezuela

Juan “Tetelo” Vargas given Automobile for being Selected Caguas Most Valuable (MVP) Puerto Rican Winter League

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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. 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.

2. 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).

3. Along with Ramon Bragana led the Estrellas Orientales to a Dominican League championship in 1936.

4. He helped lead Estrellas Orientales to the 1954 Dominican Summer League title.

5. 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 all-

time. 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.

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Tetelo Vargas in Latin America

Tetelo Vargas and Enrique Lantiqua Tetelo Vargas Atlas (Colombia) Habana Leones

Juan “Tetelo” Vargas, Luis Olmo and Hiram Bithorn

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Playing Career Year Team League 1918-1922 Gimnasio Escolar Dominican Republic 1918-1922 Capotillo Dominican Republic 1923 Escogido Leones Dominican Republic 1923-1924 Humacao Stars Puerto Rico 1924 Escogido Dominican Republic 1924 Ribosch de Cayey Puerto Rico 1925 Arecibo Lobos Puerto Rico 1925 Atlas B.B.C. Colombia 1926 Central Romana Dominican Republic 1926-1928 Guayama Stars Puerto Rico 1927 Cuban Stars (East) Eastern Colored League (ECL) 1927 Havana Red Sox Independent (United States and Canada) 1928 Cuban Stars (East) Independent 1928 Guayama Brujos Puerto Rico 1928-1929 Escogido Dominican Republic 1929 Cuban Stars (East) American Negro League 1930 Havana Red Sox Independent 1931 Cuban Stars (West) Independent 1931 Cuban House of David Independent (United States and Canada) 1932 Concordia Aguilas Asociacion Venezolana de Baseball (AVB) 1932 Concordia Aguilas Series vs York (Venezuela) 1933-1935 Concordia Campeonato de Baseball (Venezuela) 1934 Escogido Dominican Republic 1935 Cuban Stars (East) Independent 1935 Royal Criollos Serie Nacional (Venezuela) 1936-1937 Gavilanes Campeonato de Baseball del Estadio Zulia 1936-1937 Estrellas Orientales Los Campeones Nacionales (Dominican Republic) 1938 Vargas Venezuela 1938 Gavilanes Campeonato de Baseball del Estado Zuila 1938 New York Cubans Negro National League 1939 New York Cubans Negro National League 1939 Centauros Campeonato de Baseball de Primera Division 1940 Vargas Campeonato de Baseball de Primera Division 1941 New York Cubans Negro National League 1941 Estrellas Dominican Republic Serie vs Guyama (PR) 1941 Dominican National BB Team IV Amateur World Series (Havana, Cuba) 1942-1944 New York Cubans Negro National League 1942 Presidente Dominican Republic 1951-1952 Estrellas Orientales Dominican Summer League 1952 Dominican National BB Team XIII Serie Mundial Amateur (Havana, Cuba) 1953-1954 Estrellas Orientales Dominican Summer League 1942 Dominican Republic: Horacio Martinez San Rafael (Nika) Tetelo Vargas Presidente Ventura Escalante San Rafael (Nika)

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1934 Escogido (La Primavera Stadium - Dominican Republic) (Vargas – back row fourth from left)

1947-48 Caguas –Guayama Criollos (Puerto Rico) (Vargas – back row fourth from left)

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Playing Career Winter Leagues 1927 Colored All Stars Independent 1928 Santa Marta Tigres Campeon Nacional de Baseball de Venezuela 1928 Selecion FVB Venezuela 1928 Santa Marta-Marcay Game vs Julio-Royal (Venezuela) 1928 Santa Marta Tigres Series vs Crisfield Crabbers 1929-30 Habana Leones Cuban Winter League 1930 Habana Cuba 1930 Habana Special Season - UNICO (Cuba) 1931 Santa Marta Venezuela 1931 Santa Marta Series vs York (Venezuela) 1933 Concordia Aguilas Series vs Camden 1933 Concordia Aguilas Series vs White Star 1934 Concordia Aguilas La Copa Trujillo Series 1934 Concordia Aguilas Series vs Norfolk 1934 Concordia Aguilas Series vs Puerto Rican Stars 1934 Concordia Aguilas Puerto Rican Exhibition Series 1935 Concordia Aguilas Series vs San Juan Giants (Puerto Rico) 1935 Concordia Aguilas Series vs Licey and Escogido (Dominican) 1936 Brooklyn Eagles Exhibition Series (Puerto Rico) 1938-39 Guayama Brujos Puerto Rican Winter League 1939 Guayama Semi-Pro World Series

vs Duncan Cementers (OK) 1939-40 Guayama Brujos Puerto Rican Winter League 1940 Guayama Brujos Semi-Pro World Series vs Enid Refiners 1940-41 Guayama Brujos Puerto Rican Winter League 1941 Estrellas Orientales Serie Restauracion Financiera

vs Guayama (Dominican Republic) 1941-42 Guayama Brujos Puerto Rican Winter League 1942-43 Habana Leones Cuban Winter League 1943-44 Santurce Crabbers Puerto Rican Winter League 1944-45 Mayaguez Indians Puerto Rican Winter League 1945-46 Santurce Crabbers Puerto Rican Winter League 1946-47 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1947 Caguas-Guayama Crillos Exhibition Series vs New York Yankees 1947-48 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1948-49 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1949-50 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1950 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Caribbean World Series (San Juan, PR) 1950-51 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1951-52 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1952-53 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1953-54 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1954 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Caribbean World Series (San Juan, PR) 1954-55 Caguas-Guayama Criollos Puerto Rican Winter League 1955 Dominican All Stars Series vs Tokyo Giants in Dominican Republic 1955-56 Estrellas Orientales Dominican League

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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)

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Career Statistics – Hitting (Negro League) * Year Team Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1927 Cuban Stars 15 51 11 15 1 0 1 8 1 .294 .373 1928 Cuban Stars 1 5 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 .600 .600 1929 Cuban Stars - 73 21 28 6 1 2 - 2 .384 .575 1931 House of David - - - - - - - - - .313 - 1931 Cuban Stars 17 70 15 21 2 0 1 1 3 .300 .371 1935 Cuban Stars 2 7 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 .143 .286 1938 New York 1 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 .500 .500 1939 New York 14 53 9 17 2 0 1 3 1 .321 .415 1941 New York 34 131 21 38 7 2 1 26 0 .290 .397 1942 New York 17 59 7 21 3 0 0 12 2 .356 .407 1943 New York 30 117 32 53 8 4 0 12 4 .453 .590 1944 New York 31 108 14 29 8 3 0 20 2 .269 .400 Totals 162 678 130 228 37 10 6 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 AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1942 New York 2 5 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 .400 .400 1943 New York 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 Total 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 HR RBI SB BA SLG - - - 22 - 9 - - - - - .409 -

Career Statistics – Hitting (Non-League)

Year Team Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1927 Havana Red Sox 9 37 16 16 4 1 2 - 6 .432 .757 1927 Cuban Stars 2 9 3 5 1 0 1 6 1 .556 1.000 1931 Cuban HOD 9 34 15 19 3 - 7 - 3 .559 1.265 1938 Cuban Stars 2 8 1 4 1 1 0 2 - .500 .875 1941 Cubans 1 5 0 2 0 1 0 - - .400 .800 Total 23 93 35 46 9 3 10 - 10 .495 .978

Career Statistics – Hitting (Venezuela) Year Team Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1927 Santa Marta 1 4 1 1 0 0 0 - 1 .250 .250 1928 Santa Marta 1 3 1 1 0 0 1 - - .333 1.333 1931 Santa Marta 1 5 1 2 2 0 0 - - .400 .800 1932 Concordia 8 27 9 8 2 1 1 - 4 .296 .556 1933 Concordia 1 4 0 2 - - - - - .500 - 1934 Concordia 16 63 19 20 2 1 0 - 8 .317 .381 1935 Concordia - 36 - 14 7 1 - - - .389 .639 1935 Royal Criollos 7 27 9 9 0 1 0 - 9 .333 .444 1936 Gavilanes 14 44 10 13 2 1 0 - 8 .295 .386 1938 Vargas 9 30 9 8 1 0 1 - 2 .267 .433 1939 Centauros 14 50 12 13 5 1 0 - 2 .260 .400 1940 Vargas 21 85 21 28 1 2 0 - 10 .329 .412

Totals 93 378 92 119 22 8 3 - 44 .315 .439

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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)

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Career Statistics – Hitting (Dominican Republic) Year Team Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1923 Escogido - - - - - - - - - .309 - 1929 Escogido - 37 10 15 - - - - - .405 - 1936 Estrellas - - - - - - - - - .319 - 1937 Estrellas 26 106 22 30 6 2 0 5 - .283 .377 1941 Estrellas - 29 10 13 - - - - - .448 - 1951 Estrellas 51 195 39 64 13 1 0 32 - .328 .405 1952 Estrellas 45 175 52 52 11 2 0 11 - .297 .383 1953 Estrellas 49 186 35 66 8 2 2 16 - .355 .452 1954 Estrellas 25 89 16 26 3 2 0 6 - .292 .371 1955-56 Estrellas 6 17 2 5 0 0 0 1 - .294 .294

Totals 202 834 186 271 41 9 2 71 - .325 .401

Career Statistics – Hitting (Winter League - Cuba) Year Team Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1929-30 Habana - 187 40 59 9 0 0 - - .316 .364 1930 Habana - 16 1 4 0 0 1 - - .250 .438 1930 Habana (UNICO) - 22 4 7 0 0 0 - 1 .318 .318 1942-43 Habana - 191 25 49 6 0 0 15 5 .257 .288 Total - 416 70 119 15 0 1 15 6 .286 .329

Career Statistics – Hitting (Winter League – Puerto Rico) Year Team Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG 1938-39 Guayama - 164 59 68 13 9 4 - 14 .415 .677 1939-40 Guayama - 215 69 78 17 6 4 17 33 .363 .553 1940 Guayama 7 24 - 16 - - 1 - - .667 - 1940-41 Guayama - 172 44 57 5 8 - 22 21 .331 - 1941-42 Guayama - 159 41 55 9 4 1 13 - .346 .472 1943-44 Santurce - 134 41 55 - - 1 - 11 .410 - 1944-45 Mayaquez - 134 19 48 - - - 14 - . 358 - 1945-46 Santurce - 155 40 53 3 4 1 15 2 .342 .432 1946-47 Caguas - 251 60 96 20 8 7 37 - .382 .610 1947-48 Caguas - 235 50 85 19 5 1 19 16 .362 .498 1948-49 Caguas - 295 50 88 12 6 2 28 5 .298 .400 1949-50 Caguas - 299 48 90 10 5 1 35 16 .301 .378 1950-51 Caguas - 205 36 46 5 0 1 16 10 .224 .263 1951-52 Caguas - 114 16 26 2 1 0 9 3 .228 .263 1952-53 Caguas - 117 6 21 2 0 0 7 0 .179 .205 1953-54 Caguas 53 133 21 30 1 0 0 9 7 .226 .233 1954-55 Caguas - 39 6 10 1 0 0 7 0 .256 .282 Total - 2845 606 922 119 56 24 248 138 .324 .431

Career Hitting Statistics (Totals) *

Games AB Runs Hits 2B 3B HR RBI SB BA SLG Negro League 162 678 130 228 37 10 6 82 15 .336 .443 East-West All Star Games 3 7 0 2 0 0 0 2 1 .286 .286 Exhibition vs Major League - 22 - 9 - - - - - .409 - Non-League 23 93 35 46 9 3 10 - 10 .495 .978 Venezuela 93 378 92 119 22 8 3 - 44 .315 .439 Dominican Republic 202 797 176 256 41 9 2 71 - .321 .401 Cuba - 416 70 119 15 0 1 15 6 .286 .329 Puerto Rico - 2845 606 922 119 56 24 248 138 .324 .431 Totals - 5236 1109 1701 243 86 46 418 214 .325 .430

• 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.

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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.)

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Batting and League Leader Hitting Titles Category Year League Number Batting 1943-44 Puerto Rican League .410

1953 Dominican League .355 Slugging Average 1938-39 Puerto Rican League .677 1946-47 Puerto Rican League .610 Base Hits 1951 Dominican League 64 Runs Scored 1932 Venezuelan League 9

1934 Venezuelan League 15 1935 Venezuelan League 12 1938-39 Puerto Rican League 59

1939-40 Puerto Rican League 69 1943-44 Puerto Rican League 41 1945-46 Puerto Rican League 40 Homeruns 1930 Cuban League (shortened season) 1 1932 Venezuelan League (short season) 1 Doubles 1951 Dominican League 13 Triples 1938-39 Puerto Rican League 9 1946-47 Puerto Rican League 8 Stolen Bases 1935 Venezuelan League 9

1939-40 Puerto Rican League 33 1940 Venezuelan League 10

1940-41 Puerto Rican League 21 1950 II Caribbean Series 2 Defensive – Gold Glove (Outfield)

1953 Dominican League .973

Radames Lopez, Tetelo Vargas, Samuel Cespedes and Perucho Cepeda 1946-47 Caguas-Guayama Criollos (Puerto Rican League Champions)

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Juan Esteban “Tetelo” Vargas Marcano 1936 Estrellas Orientales (Dominican Republic)

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Selected Career Highlights

• Compiled a Negro League career batting average of .356 when “league” and “non-league” 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 (1998) Dominican Republic (1967) Juan “Tetelo’ Vargas Puerto Rico (1992) Latin Great

• Selected as one of the inaugural members of the Latin American Baseball Hall of Fame

in 2010.

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Juan Esteban “Tetelo” Vargas Marcano