Pedro Dibut Villafana (November 18, 1892 – December 4, 1979) was a
Cuba
Cuba, officially the Republic of Cuba, is an island country, comprising the island of Cuba (largest island), Isla de la Juventud, and List of islands of Cuba, 4,195 islands, islets and cays surrounding the main island. It is located where the ...
n professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
who played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
in
1924
Events
January
* January 12 – Gopinath Saha shoots Ernest Day, whom he has mistaken for Sir Charles Tegart, the police commissioner of Calcutta, and is arrested soon after.
* January 20–January 30, 30 – Kuomintang in Ch ...
and
1925
Events January
* January 1 – The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria (1925–1930), State of Syria.
* January 3 – Benito Mussolini m ...
. In 1923, Dibut played for the
Cuban Stars (West)
The Cuban Stars were a team of Baseball in Cuba, Cuban professional baseball players that competed in the History of baseball in the United States, United States Negro league baseball, Negro leagues from 1907 to 1930. The team was also sometime ...
Negro league baseball
The Negro leagues were United States professional baseball leagues comprising teams of African Americans. The term may be used broadly to include professional black teams outside the leagues and it may be used narrowly for the seven relativel ...
and in the then-segregated major leagues.
Dibut was a small man who threw a
fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch (baseball), pitch thrown by pitchers in baseball and softball. Its distinctive feature is its high speed. "Power pitchers," such as former major leaguers Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, relied on the ...
, a
curveball
In baseball and softball, the curveball is a type of pitch thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball, causing it to dive as it approaches the plate. Varieties of curveball include the 12–6 curve ...
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...
of the minor league American Association. He had been playing in the Cuban Amateur League, where he was the leading pitcher and had gone 10–3, with 118
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It means the batter is out, unless the third strike is not caught by the catcher and the batter reaches first base safe ...
s in 123 innings. Later that winter, Dibut joined the Red Sox team in the professional
Cuban League
The Cuban League ( Spanish: ''Liga cubana'') was one of the earliest and longest lasting professional baseball leagues outside the United States, operating in Cuba from 1878 to 1961. The schedule usually operated during the winter months, so the ...
under manager Mike González. The 1916/17 season ran from January 29 through February 26, with each team playing 14 games. Dibut pitched in four games with a 1–0
win–loss record Win–loss may refer to:
* Win–loss analytics, analysis of the reasons why a visitor to a website was or wasn't persuaded to engage in a desired action
* Win–loss record, also winning percentage
* Win–loss record (pitching), the number of ...
.
In the spring of 1917, Dibut reported to spring training with Milwaukee. According to '' Sporting Life'', he "showed well at the start of the season", but "was started back to his home at
Cienfuegos, Cuba
Cienfuegos (), capital of Cienfuegos Province, is a city on the southern coast of Cuba. It is located about from Havana and has a population of 178,368 in 2022. Since the late 1960s, Cienfuegos has become one of Cuba's main industrial centers, e ...
" in early April. In addition to pitching, he had been tried as an
outfielder
An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to catch ...
, but did not have enough experience in that position. The next winter he pitched in the Cuban League for
Habana
Havana (; ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center.José Acosta, Jacinto Calvo, and Merito Acosta, Habana won the championship that season.
Dibut then returned to the Cuban Amateur League. In 1920 he was the star pitcher for the
Cienfuegos
Cienfuegos (), capital of Cienfuegos Province, is a city on the southern coast of Cuba. It is located about from Havana and has a population of 178,368 in 2022. Since the late 1960s, Cienfuegos has become one of Cuba's main industrial centers, ...
Federales that won the Amateur League championship with a record of 19–4.
In 1923, Dibut turned professional again and joined the
Cuban Stars (West)
The Cuban Stars were a team of Baseball in Cuba, Cuban professional baseball players that competed in the History of baseball in the United States, United States Negro league baseball, Negro leagues from 1907 to 1930. The team was also sometime ...
, a team of Cuban players that competed in the Negro National League. In 18 games and 109 innings pitched, he went 7–8 with a 4.05
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
.
That winter, Dibut returned to the Cuban League and signed with the
Leopardos de Santa Clara
The Leopardos de Santa Clara (Spanish, 'Santa Clara Leopards') were a Cuban professional baseball team based in Santa Clara, Cuba. Founded in 1922, they played in the Cuban League from 1922 to 1925, from 1929 to 1930, and from 1935 to 1941. Althou ...
. The team, which featured Negro league and Cuban stars
Oscar Charleston
Oscar McKinley Charleston (October 14, 1896 – October 5, 1954) was an American center fielder, first baseman and manager in Negro league baseball and the Cuban League. Over his 43-year baseball career, Charleston played or managed with more th ...
,
Alejandro Oms
Alejandro Oms Cosme (March 13, 1896 – November 5, 1946) was a Cuban professional baseball outfielder in the Negro leagues and Cuban League, most notably with the Cuban Stars (East). Born in Santa Clara, Las Villas, he died at age 50 in Hava ...
,
Dobie Moore
Walter "Dobie" Moore (February 8, 1896 - August 20, 1947) was an American shortstop and right-handed batter in the Negro leagues who played his entire career with the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro National League. His career ended after only ...
, and
Oliver Marcelle
Oliver Marcell (June 21, 1895 – June 12, 1949), nicknamed "Ghost", was an American third baseman in the Negro leagues for a number of teams around the league from 1918 to 1931. He also played shortstop. A Creole born in Thibodaux, Louisiana ...
, along with a pitching staff of
Bill Holland
Willard Saulsbury Holland (December 18, 1907 – May 20, 1984) was an American racing driver from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He won the Indianapolis 500 in 1949 and finished second in 1947, 1948, and 1950. He was runner-up in the 1947 American A ...
José Méndez
José de la Caridad Méndez Báez (March 19,1887– October 31, 1928) was a Cuban professional baseball right-handed pitcher, shortstop, third baseman and manager in the Negro leagues. Born in Cárdenas, Matanzas, he died at age 43 in Havan ...
, in addition to Dibut, dominated the league with a 36–11 record and finished games ahead of second place Habana. According to Figueredo, the 1923/24 Leopardos are "considered as the most dominant team ever in the history of Cuban baseball." Dibut appeared in nine games with a 3–3 record.
Cincinnati Reds
That winter, the Cincinnati Reds signed Dibut as a free agent. Dibut made his major league debut on May 1 against the
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Division. Th ...
, entering in the seventh with the Reds behind 8–1. He pitched the last two innings without giving up a run, allowing only one hit.
After one appearance, Dibut was assigned to the Bridgeport Bears of the Eastern League. In late June, he was reassigned to the St. Petersburg Saints of the
Florida State League
The Florida State League (FSL) is a Minor League Baseball league based in the state of Florida. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following ...
. He went 8–2 with the Saints and allowed only 13 runs in 75 innings pitched.
In August, Dibut was recalled by the Cincinnati Reds and on August 17 he appeared in his second major league game. He entered in the top of the fifth inning against
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...
with the Reds behind 8–3, and pitched five shutout innings without giving up a hit. The final score was 8–5. He made his first major league start a week later against
Boston
Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
and pitched a complete game, holding the Braves to two runs on four hits in an 8–2 victory for the Reds.
Dibut finished the 1924 season with a 3–0 record in seven major league games—two complete game starts and five relief appearances. His earned run average was 2.21 in innings pitched. At the end of the season, he was offered a contract for the following year which stipulated that he was not allowed to play winter ball in Cuba.
In the spring of 1925, Dibut reported late to spring training because of difficulties in obtaining a passport. It was reported that the problems were due to a felony conviction several years earlier in Cuba. Dibut developed a sore arm in spring training in
Orlando
Orlando commonly refers to:
* Orlando, Florida, a city in the United States
Orlando may also refer to:
People
* Orlando (given name), a masculine name, includes a list of people with the name
* Orlando (surname), includes a list of people wit ...
, but remained on the Reds' roster when the season started. His only appearance in 1925 occurred on April 22 against the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Centra ...
. He came into the game in the bottom of the first with two outs, two runners on base, and the Reds already behind 7–2. He proceeded to give up consecutive hits to
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby (April 27, 1896 – January 5, 1963), nicknamed "the Rajah", was an American baseball infielder, manager (baseball), manager, and coach (baseball), coach who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the St. ...
,
Jim Bottomley
James Leroy Bottomley (April 23, 1900 – December 11, 1959) was an American professional baseball first baseman, Scout (sport), scout and Manager (baseball), manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman from 1922 to 19 ...
, and
Les Bell
Lester Rowland Bell (December 14, 1901 – December 26, 1985) was an American professional baseball player, a third baseman who appeared in 896 games played in the Major Leagues from 1923 to 1931 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Braves and Ch ...
, allowing four more runs to score. Harry Biemiller was called in to relieve Dibut before he'd recorded any outs. On May 6, manager
Jack Hendricks
John Charles Hendricks (April 9, 1875 – May 13, 1943) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball as an outfielder, but is best known as the manager of the Cincinnati Reds f ...
announced that the Reds had unconditionally released Dibut.
Later career
In the spring of 1926, Dibut returned to the St. Petersburg Saints, saying that he hoped to return to Cincinnati. In the early weeks of the season, Dibut pitched and also played right field. He was released by the Saints and played for two teams in the amateur city league. In mid-summer he signed with the
Raleigh Capitals
The Raleigh Capitals was a name used by various minor league baseball teams that were based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Most of these teams played at Devereaux Meadow.
There have been minor league baseball teams in the past that played in Raleig ...
in the
Piedmont League
The Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.
Cities represented
The following cities hosted teams th ...
, where he went 8–12 with a 2.93 ERA.
In the winter of 1926/27 Dibut returned to pitch in the Cuban League, pitching for Habana. He went 5–3; his five wins tied for the league lead. His Habana team won the league pennant. In 1927/28 he finished his Cuban League career, pitching two games for Habana without recording a decision.
In the summers of 1928 and 1929, Dibut pitched for the Jacksonville Tars of the
Southeastern League
The Southeastern League was the name of four separate baseball leagues in minor league baseball which operated in the Southeastern and South Central United States in numerous seasons between 1897 and 2003. Two of these leagues were associated w ...
. During the 1929 spring training, the Tars played and beat the world champion
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
. Dibut entered the game in the top of the fifth with the Tars trailing 10– 4. He allowed two runs in the fifth, then held the Yankees scoreless in the last four innings. Meanwhile, the Tars scored 9 runs and won the game 13–12, with Dibut the winning pitcher. In 1928, Dibut went 9–7 with a 3.63 ERA for Jacksonville, and in 1929 he went 4–4 with a 4.28 ERA, pitching for both the Jacksonville Tars and the Pensacola Flyers.