Roosevelt Davis  St. Louis Stars (1924-1925)

Jose Maria Fernandez - New York Cubans (1935-1950)

Jose Maria Fernandez was born in Guanabacoa, Cuba in 1896. As a player, Fernandez was a catcher with exceptional defensive skills and an adequate bat. He was regarded as one of the best catchers of his day in handling pitchers and calling a game.

Over the course of his career as a catcher and manager in the Negro Leagues, Fernandez played or managed the following teams:

                  Cuban Stars (East)                   1916-1929 and 1931-1934

                  Chicago American Giants      1930

                  New York Cubans                    1935-1950

The Cuban Stars (East) were also known as the New York Cuban Stars and Cuban Stars of Havana.

Fernandez started managing in the Negro Leagues in 1938 for Alex Pompez’s New York Cubans. The highlight of his managerial career was winning the Negro National League pennant and then the Negro League World Series over the Cleveland Buckeyes in 1947.

In his native Cuba, Jose M. Fernandez spent 24 seasons in the Cuban Winter League as a player from 1915 to 1943. After his playing days, Fernandez continued his baseball career in the Cuban League by coaching and managing. Fernandez coached and managed in the Cuban League from 1944 until the league folded in 1961.

Fernandez is in the Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame.