Clemente photo question a bit OT

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Posted By: Ryan Christoff

"Cangrejeros" is actually "Crabbers".

The photo is from right before the start of the 1954-55 season. The other player could obviously be anyone on the team, but since Clemente and Thurman were both stars, the other player was probably also a star. Here are the most likely possibilities:

* If it's a black guy with glasses, it's probably George Crowe (#17).

* If it looks like Willie Mays, it's probably Willie Mays (#24).

* If it's a black guy with a rounder, almost chubby face, it's probably Buster Clarkson (#33). I can't remember an image of him with his hat pulled down low, so the hat should sort of be pointing up a bit and be kind of high on his forehead.

* If it's a smaller Hispanic guy with kind of big ears that looks like that Giants pitcher on those 1950's Topps cards, it's probably Ruben Gomez (#22).

Crowe, Mays and Clarkson, along with Clemente and Thurman, made up Puerto Rico's Murderer's Row. The 1954-55 Santurce team may have had the best lineup in the history of the league. Gomez was the ace of the pitching staff.

Those are the most likely candidates. Here are a few more, but they are less likely than the 4 above:

#12 Dick Seay
#14 Valmy Thomas
#18 Bill Greason
#32 Monchile Concepcion
#37 Sam Jones

Hope that helps,

-Ryan