Daniel Canónico
| Daniel Canónico | |
|---|---|
 Illustration realized by Francisco Maduro | |
| Pitcher/Manager | |
| Born: February 3, 1916 Guarenas, Miranda, Venezuela | |
| Died: August 20, 1975 (aged 59) Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
Daniel Canónico (February 3, 1916 – August 20, 1975) was a Venezuelan baseball right handed pitcher. His friends and fans affectionately called him Chino, a moniker that he proudly used throughout his life.[1]
Daniel Canónico is best known as the man who anchored the pitching staff for the Venezuela national baseball team which captured the Baseball World Cup in 1941. A short, stocky sort of pitcher with a wicked curveball, Canónico became an instant celebrity in his country, as he was undefeated through five games in the tournament, including the series-tying and deciding games, both against host country Cuba, while placing Venezuela for the very first time among the world baseball elite. But plagued by shoulder and elbow ailments for most of his career, he was solid yet unspectacular over almost two decades in Venezuelan baseball.[2] After retiring, he became a successful manager and coach in amateur baseball.
Early life
Canónico was born in
Career
At age 18, the determined Canónico approached a
In his rookie year, Canónico posted a 3–3 record with a 1.56
In 1937 Canónico moved to the Patriotas de Venezuela, playing for them four years before joining the Vargas (1941), Magallanes (1942–43) Victoria (1943–44) and Los Sapos (1945) squads. His most productive season came in 1945, when he amassed a mark of 11–1. Overall, he posted a 40–18 record with a 2.62 earned run average (ERA) during his seven seasons in the league.[2]
1941 Baseball World Cup
By 1941, Canónico joined the Venezuelan pre-selection baseball team, then was added to the National Team roster for the Fourth Amateur World Series to be played in the month of October. The AWSB featured a nine-team tournament, which was held at La Tropical Stadium in the city of Havana. This was the fourth edition of the tournament, which was won by the Cuban squad in 1939 and 1940. As a result, the local team became a huge favorite before the tournament started. The Venezuelan team prevailed in six of its seven games, with its only defeat coming to the Dominican Republic, and had to face the undefeated Cuban team in the last game of the schedule. Canónico, who had won three of the six victories of his team, was slated to pitch that game and ended up throwing a five-hit, 4–1 victory against Cuba, a disappointing final for more than 30,000 people gathered at La Tropical. With both clubs tied at 7–1 after more than two weeks of play, the visitors to settle proudly for the result. Nevertheless, the overconfidents Cubans insisted on an extra playoff game in order to decide an only winner and even allowed a three-day break, which permitted Canónico to rest his arm for one final showdown encounter. Significantly, Canónico had claimed all four of his starts in the preliminary round and posted a very solid 1.69 ERA across 32 innings of work. As a result, the decisive game was played on October 22, 1941, and Canónico won a pitching duel against legendary star Conrado Marrero as Venezuela beat Cuba, 3–1, which originated great consequences for baseball pride in both countries. Shortly after the victory, the then Venezuelan President Isaías Medina Angarita issued an official decree instituting October 22 as National Sports Day in the country.[2][3][4][5][6] For the fifth Amateur World Series, the Cuban national team was selected by a fan poll, and Marrero was the top vote-getter. The series featured a rematch between Marrero and Venezuela's Canónico. This time the Cubans won 8–0, and the Cuban team regained the Cup.
Venezuelan winter baseball
Furthermore, Canónico was one of the founding members of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in 1946, playing the dual role of pitcher and manager for the Sabios de Vargas club that won the championship title in the league's inaugural season.[2] Canónico formed a battery with catcher Roy Campanella, who also managed some Vargas games on an interim basis early in the season.[7] But soon thereafter his arm problems re-emerged and Canónico never regained his form. Consequently, when he was able to pitch was ineffective and suffered from bouts of wildness and elbow tendinitis.
Canónico later pitched for the
In between, Canónico pitched for Cervecería in the Game 8 of the 1949 Caribbean Series and was credited with a loss to the Almendares Cuban team. He later managed the Indios de Oriente in the 1957-58 and 1961-62 VPBL seasons.
Late life
After retiring, Canónico moved to Barquisimeto, the capital city of Lara state. In his new environment, he worked as an instructor and manager of several amateur baseball teams, including the state's representing team that won three national consecutive titles from 1955 through 1957. His merits began to be recognized widely when he gained induction into the Venezuela Sports Hall of Fame in 1971.[1]
Canónico had four children from his marriage with Marta Dort.[1] He died in Barquisimeto in 1975 at the age of 59.
Honors and awards
For many years Canónico has remained a considerably homegrown icon, even becoming the subject of celebratory songs, while a Caracas sports center was named in his honor in 2013 after his once-in-a-lifetime achievement.[8] In addition, the former Olympic Stadium of Barquisimeto was renamed Estadio Daniel 'Chino' Canónico.[9]
Way back in 1999, the
31 years after his death, Canónico, along with his former teammates of the 1941 Baseball World Champion team, received their long overdue recognition when the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum enshrined the entire team in its 2006 class.[10]
Sources
- ^ a b c "Daniel Canónico Biografía". (Spanish). Venezuela Tuya website.
- ^ ISBN 980-6996-02-X
- ^ Los Héroes del 41 (Spanish). El Universal. Retrieved on November 7, 2013.
- ^ Se cumplen 73 años de la hazaña de los Héroes del 41 Archived 2015-12-08 at the Wayback Machine. Video and notes (Spanish). Últimas Noticias. Retrieved on October 22, 2014.
- ^ Octubre el mes de los Héroes del 41. Notes and box score (Spanish). Baseball WorldWide website. Retrieved on October 25, 2013.
- ^ Baseball Around the World – Venezuela. UF Interactive Media Lab Projects. Retrieved on November 27, 2015.
- ^ Sabios de Vargas history. Pura Pelota. Retrieved on November 27, 2015.
- ^ Gobierno Nacional inauguró Polideportivo Daniel 'Chino' Canónico en la parroquia Macarao (Spanish). Alcaldía de Caracas website. Retrieved on November 27, 2015.
- ^ Estadio Daniel 'Chino' Canónico in Barquisimeto, Lara. Wikimapia.org. Retrieved on November 27, 2015.
- ^ Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum – 2006 inductees Archived 2013-12-03 at the Wayback Machine (Spanish). Museo del Béisbol de Venezuela website. Retrieved on December 29, 2012.