luis padrón, 1908 new britain perfectos

Jack V. Morris sent me this article from the Auburn, New York, Citizen (November 16, 1914). 

It tells some stories about the four Cubans—eventual major leaguers Armando Marsans, Rafael Almeida, and Alfredo Cabrera, plus Luis Padrón—who played for the New Britain Perfectos of the Class B Connecticut League.  The unknown writer tells some fairly silly anecdotes about the Cubans, though you do get a sense of how poorly they were treated, at least by opposing fans.  Then there’s this: “All the men are said to be genuine Cubans except Padron, who is part Negro.”  And this:

The following Winter, Hanna, the New Britain owner, went to Havana to see his Cuban players and get document[s] to show that they were genuine Cubans and not Negroes, as he learned that the other managers were going to prohibit Negroes from playing.

It would appear, by this account, that Padrón’s playing in the Connecticut League may have precipitated a crisis, forcing the League to think about an explicit rule prohibiting black players (whether it was carried out or not).  Plus, though the chronology’s a little mixed up in this piece, it does refer to Padrón’s being released sometime in the middle of the season. I can’t find it right now, but La Lucha in 1909 made a reference to Padrón’s release from the New Britain club, though he was the team’s best player.