Silvio García Rendon was a Cuban baseball shortstop and pitcher in the Negro leagues, Mexican League, and minor leagues. He played professionally from 1930 to 1954 with several ballclubs, including the Diablos Rojos del México, Azules de Veracruz México and the New York Cubans.
Garcia began his professional baseball career in 1936 with the Marianao club in Cuba. Silvio would spend the next summer in the Dominican playing on the famous Ciudad Trujillo club with Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson & Cool Papa Bell. Garcia also spent two seasons in the U.S. Negro Leagues, playing for the New York Cubans in 1946-47, leading the club to the Negro League championship in 1947. Silvio also spent many summers playing in the Mexican League and winters in the Cuban Baseball League.
From Garcia's B-R biographical info: It is hard to guess how García would have done in the majors - he generally showed good contact, power and speed for his leagues and had great defensive skills (Leo Durocher said that Marty Marion "can't carry his glove") but had poor plate discipline. He had several very good years as a young pitcher but burned his arm out quickly. Tommy Lasorda said that García was one of the toughest hitters he ever pitched to. In various years, he led his league in hits, RBI, homers, steals and average. García was arguably the top Cuban shortstop of the 20th century and only racism kept him from the majors.
There is a story that Branch Rickey had originally considered García as a candidate to break the color line in Major League Baseball; when García was questioned as to how he would respond to racist remarks, he supposedly said he'd kill the individual. That supposedly ended that opportunity.
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12-15-2021, 04:45 AM
Silvio Garcia
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