Died 8 October 1954 | ||
Angel D'Meza was a Cuban baseball pitcher in the Cuban League. He played from 1902 to 1908 with several teams, including Fe, Almendares, San Francisco, Azul, and Habana.
Contents
"Angel D. Mesa" appeared on the first set of baseball cards produced in Cuba (Cabanas Tobacco Company, 1909–1910) to commemorate the series of games played between Almenderas and Havana and the visiting Detroit Tigers.
Early life
Ángel D'Meza Hernández was born January 1,1877, in Havana, Cuba, to Ramón D'Meza and Agustina Hernández. His wife was Dorotea Delgado.
A Spanish–American War veteran, fought with Theodore Roosevelt in the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898 near Santiago de Cuba.
Events
The Almendares nicknamed the team "Los Alacranes" (The Scorpions) by pitcher Angel D'Meza during his tenure with the club (1903, 1905–1907) creating the slogan of the franchise. In 1952, the Almendares club honored D'Meza in a ceremony at Havana's baseball stadium for having given the team its nickname and mascot. He was presented with a silver scorpion paperweight and a gold scorpion lapel pin, along with a commemorative scroll.
He died on October 8, 1954 at the age of 77. He is buried at the Christopher Columbus Cemetery inside the American Veteran's Pantheon in Havana.
Statistical history
Angel D'Meza began his career as a baseball player in 1898 with team "Fe" at the age of 21, but due to the Independence War baseball games were suspended.
In 1901 at the age of 24 he returned to the pages of the Cuban League with the team Cuba, or "Cubano". It was reported that he lost 9 games as a pitcher that year.
In 1903, he pitched six games for "Almendares", completing five, winning one and losing four. He participated in the 1903 American Series games, winning one and losing one.
In 1904, he transferred from Club San Francisco, pitching in nine games, completing eight, winning four and losing five. He again participated in the American Series, playing for the club Azul (Blue) against American teams including the Cuban-X-Giants, Lynn (Massachusetts), All Nationals, Tampa and All Americans. He lost all 5 games he pitched.
In 1905, Angel D'Meza improved, with 10 wins and four losses in 18 games pitched. Almendares finally won the flag in 1905. He again played in the American Series with the "All-Cubans", winning one game and losing two.
In 1906, D'Meza played seven games, completing four, winning two and losing four for the Almendares. In the American Series of this year, he lost two games.
In 1907 he only pitched 1 game, which he lost with Almendares. He was part of the 1907 championship team. This year's American Series were played and the Habana team presented him pitching 7 games, winning 3 and losing 4.
In 1908 he was part of the Habana team leaving behind the Almendares.
He also played for a short period of time in the Mexican League of Baseball.