One of the more interesting projects I’ve pursued in this blog has been the disentangling of Luis Padrón and Juan Padrón, two players who for a long time were thought to be the same person. Here’s a quick summary of how I see their careers now. (A number of people have helped with this research, including Jerry Kuntz, Bob Mayer, Jack V. Morris, Patrick Rock, Tito Rondon, Scott Simkus, and David Skinner; if anybody sees anything wrong in what I’ve written below, or has anything to add, please jump right in.)
***Luis Padrón***
Born: ca. 1877-1880, Matanzas, Cuba
Though a 1911 article in a Mansfield, Ohio, newspaper reports that Padrón was born in Mexico, three different passenger manifests give Matanzas, Cuba, as his birthplace. As Tito Rondon has pointed out to me, the reporter (who clearly had trouble understanding Padrón’s English) may have mistaken “Matanzas” for a word he knew, Mexico. In addition, Padrón may have mentioned the fact that he had played ball in Mexico.
Bats: Right
Possibly; see this post
Throws: Right
Tito also reports that César López has found three photographs of Padrón either throwing right handed or wearing a glove on his left hand. More on this soon.
Cuban Teams:
1900-1902, 1904-1912, 1913-15 Habana
1903, 1918-19 Almendares
1913 Fe
1915-16 San Francisco
1917 Red Sox
U.S. Teams:
1902 All-Cubans (independent)
1903 All-Cubans (independent)
1905 Poughkeepsie (Class C Hudson River League) (ADDED 1/30/2008 courtesy Bob Mayer)
1906 Jacksonville (Class C South Atlantic League)1906 Poughkeepsie (Class C Hudson River League) (Padrón did not actually play for Poughkeepsie in 1906, instead returning to Cuba after leaving Jacksonville - 8/4/2009)
1907 Cuban Stars (independent; Padrón listed as manager on passenger manifest) (ADDED 1/30/2008)
1907 Poughkeepsie (Class C Hudson River League) (ADDED 1/30/2008 courtesy Bob Mayer)
1907 Brooklyn (Atlantic League, independent)
1908 New Britain Perfectos Mountaineers (Class B Connecticut League)
1909 Cuban Stars (independent)
1910 Cuban Stars (independent)
1910 Kankakee Kays (Class D Northern Association)
1910 Eddie Hahn’s Red Sox (Chicago City League)
1910 Peoria Distillers (Class B Three-I League)
1911 Mansfield Brownies (Class C Ohio-Pennsylvania League)
1911 Cuban Stars (independent) (ADDED 12/21/2007)
1911 New Britain Aviators (Class B Connecticut League) (ADDED 8/4/2009)
1912 (uncertain; destination on passenger manifest is Paterson, New Jersey, home of Coogan’s Smart Set, a black team) Paterson Smart Set (independent black team owned by Dick Cogan) (ADDED, CORRECTED 8/4/2009)
1913 Long Branch Cubans (Class D New York-New Jersey League)
1914 Newark/Long Branch Cubans (Class D Atlantic League)
1915 Long Branch Cubans (independent)
1916 Long Branch Cubans (independent)
In 1909, Luis Padrón tried out for the Chicago White Sox, but was not signed. In 1913, he was purchased by the Boston Braves but never called up.
***Juan Padrón Acosta***
Born: ca. 1892-1893, Key West, Florida
I think I’ve found Juan Padrón’s family—more on this in another entry.
Bats: ?
Throws: Left
See this post, for example. There are many further references, both in the United States and Cuba, to Juan Padrón’s left-handedness.
Cuban Teams:
1915-16 Almendares
U.S. Teams
1915 Almendares
1915 Lincoln Stars
1915 Cuban Stars (Molina)
1916 Cuban Stars (Molina)
1916 Chicago American Giants (one game)
1917 Royal Poinciana (Florida Hotel League)
1917 Cuban Stars (Molina)
1918 Breakers (Florida Hotel League)
1918 Cuban Stars (Pompez)
1919 Cuban Stars (Pompez)
1920 Cuban Stars (Pompez)
1921 Cuban Stars (Pompez)
1922 Chicago American Giants (NNL)
1923 Cuban Stars (Molina; NNL)
1923 Birmingham Black Barons (NNL)
1924 Chicago American Giants (NNL)
1925 Chicago American Giants (NNL)
1925 Brooklyn Royal Giants (ECL)
1926 Cuban Stars (Molina; NNL)
1926 Indianapolis ABCs (NNL)
(From 1924 on, I am relying on Riley.) Juan Padrón went on to play for semi-pro teams in Michigan well into the 1930s; he passed away in Grand Rapids in December, 1981. (UPDATE 12/20/2007 He died on December 7, 1981.)
Luis Padrón and Juan Padrón played in the same game once that I know of (on opposing sides), in Havana on December 4, 1915.
It's great to hear from you! Yes, his middle name being "Luis" may have something to do with the confusion between the two.
Andre has been in touch--I'm really looking forward to comparing notes. Thanks!
Posted by: Gary Ashwill | June 21, 2008 at 02:30 PM
Juan Padron, my grand uncle, was Juan Luis Padron. Possibly the reason for some of the confusion. Not sure where Acosta came from, but I've heard it from the family. As a family historian, still not making the connections. If you can help, great.
To the best of my knowledge and according to census and ship's manifests, my Juan Luis Padron was born in NYC, Oct 20, 1892 and died in Grand Rapis, Dec 7, 1981. He was the son of Manual Padron Sr. His brother, my grandfather, was Manuel Padron Jr. My son Andre Padron, will send you the obits and news articles re: Juan. Hope this helps.
Posted by: Nancy Padron | June 20, 2008 at 06:38 PM