View source for Martín Dihigo

{{Short description|Cuban baseball player (1906–1971)}}
{{family name hatnote|Dihigo <small>(de-ee'-go)</small>|Llanos <small>(lyah'-nos)</small>|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
| name          = Martín Dihigo
| image         = Martin Dihigo.jpg
| team      = 
| position      = [[Pitcher]] / [[Utility player (baseball)|Utility player]] / [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]]
| birth_date     = {{birth date|1906|5|25|mf=y}}{{efn|name=birthdate|Sources disagree on Dihigo's birthdate.  Hogan, p. 386, shows his birthdate as May 25, 1906, while Riley, p. 233, and [https://www.baseball-reference.com/nonmlbpa/dihigma99.shtml baseball-reference.com] show May 25, 1905.}}
| birth_place = [[Limonar]], Cuba
| death_date     = {{death date and age|1971|5|20|1906|5|25|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Cienfuegos]], Cuba
| bats          = Right
| throws        = Right
| debutleague   = Negro leagues
| debutdate     = 
| debutyear     = 1923
| debutteam     = Cuban Stars (East)
| finalleague   = Negro leagues
| finaldate     = 
| finalyear     = 1945
| finalteam     = New York Cubans
| statyear      = 
| statleague    = Negro leagues
| stat1label    = [[Win–loss record (pitching)|Win–loss record]]
| stat1value    = 27–19
| stat2label    = [[Earned run average]]
| stat2value    = 3.34
| stat3label    = [[Strikeout]]s
| stat3value    = 246
| stat4label    = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat4value    = .307
| stat5label    = [[Home run]]s
| stat5value    = 68
| stat6label    = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
| stat6value    = 309
| stat7label    = Managerial record
| stat7value    = 58–51–6
| teams         = 
;As player
*[[Cuban Stars (East)]] ({{by|1923}}–{{by|1927}}, {{by|1930}})
*[[Homestead Grays]] ({{by|1927}}–{{by|1928}})
*[[Hilldale Giants]] ({{by|1929}}, {{by|1930}}–{{by|1931}})
*[[New York Cubans]] ({{by|1935}}–{{by|1936}}, {{by|1945}})
;As manager
*[[New York Cubans]] ({{by|1935}}–{{by|1936}})
| highlights    =
;Negro leagues
* 2× [[East-West All-Star Game|Negro League All-Star]] ([[1935 East-West All-Star Game|1935]], [[1945 East-West All-Star Game|1945]])
* [[List of Major League Baseball batting champions#Negro leagues|Eastern Colored League batting champion]] (1926)
;Cuban League
* 4× Cuban League [[Most Valuable Player|MVP]] (1927/28, 1935/36, 1936/37, 1941/42)
* 107 career [[win (baseball)|win]]s
* 121 career [[complete games]]
;Mexican League
* .676 career winning percentage (minimum 1,000 [[innings pitched]])
;Hall of Fame inductions
* [[Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame]] (1951)
* [[Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame|Mexican Baseball Hall of Fame]] (1964)
* [[National Baseball Hall of Fame]] (1977)
* Dominican Hall of Fame
| hoflink       = National Baseball Hall of Fame
| hoftype       = National
| hofdate       = [[1977 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting|1977]]
| hofmethod     = Negro Leagues Committee
}}

'''Martín Magdaleno Dihigo Llanos''' (May 25, 1906{{efn|name=birthdate}} – May 20, 1971), nicknamed "'''the Immortal'''" and "'''the Maestro'''", was a Cuban [[pitcher]], [[Utility player (baseball)|utility player]], and [[Manager (baseball)|manager]]. He played in the [[Negro league baseball|Negro leagues]] and Latin American [[Winter league baseball|winter leagues]] from 1923 to 1945 as a [[two-way player]], predominantly as a [[pitcher]] and a [[second baseman]], although he excelled at all nine positions and later as a manager.

Debuting with the [[Cuban Stars (East)|Cuban Stars]] in 1923, Dihigo spent most of his early career in the Negro leagues. He led the [[Eastern Colored League]] in home runs in 1926 and tied for the lead in 1927. He had successful stints with the [[Homestead Grays]] and [[Hilldale Giants]], and signed with the [[New York Cubans]] as [[player manager]] in 1935. Dihigo spent much of his later playing career in the [[Mexican League]], though he returned to the New York Cubans for the 1945 season.

Dihigo was inducted into the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|National Baseball Hall of Fame]] in 1977, the second Hispanic-born ballplayer to be inducted after [[Roberto Clemente]]. He also holds the unique distinction of membership in three other baseball halls of fame: [[Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame|Cuban]], [[Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame|Mexican]], and Dominican.

== Early career ==
Dihigo was born in the sugarmill town of Cidra in [[Matanzas Province]], Cuba. He was the only child of Benito Dihigo, a sergeant in the [[Cuban Liberation Army]] who fought against Spanish rule, and Maria Llanos. At the age of four, his family moved to a modest wood-frame house in [[Matanzas]], less than one hundred yards from the historic [[Palmar de Junco]] that was supposedly the site of Cuba's first baseball game.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Bjarkman |editor1-first=Peter |editor2-last=Nowlin |editor2-first=Bill |title=Cuban Baseball Legends: Baseball's Alternative Universe |page=366}}</ref>

He began his professional baseball career in the winter of 1922-23 at the age of 16 as a substitute [[infielder]] for [[Habana (Cuban League)|Habana]] in the [[Cuban League]]. As a pitcher, he once defeated [[Satchel Paige]] while Paige was touring Cuba.{{citation needed|date=July 2021}}

== Negro leagues ==
The following summer, Dihigo broke into American baseball as a [[first baseman]] for the [[Cuban Stars (East)|Cuban Stars]]. He played in the Negro leagues from 1923 through {{baseball year|1936}} and again briefly in {{baseball year|1945}}. Over the course of his career, he played all nine positions. As a hitter, he led the Negro leagues in [[home run]]s in {{baseball year|1926}} and {{baseball year|1935}}.

Dihigo's career record in twelve seasons in the Negro leagues was a .307 average and .511 slugging percentage, with 431 hits, 64 home runs, 61 doubles, 17 triples, 227 RBI, and 292 runs scored in 1404 at bats. He drew 143 walks and stole 41 bases. As a pitcher, he went 26–19 with a 2.92 ERA, with 176 strikeouts and 80 walks in 354 innings.<ref>Hogan, pp. 386–87, 404–05.</ref> Dihigo served as [[player-manager]] of the [[New York Cubans]] in 1935 and 1936.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/manager.php?playerID=dihig01mar |title=Martin Dihigo Manager Page |publisher=seamheads.com |access-date=October 12, 2020}}</ref>

== Latin American leagues ==
[[File:1922-23 Almendares Team.jpg|thumb|left|Dihigo (front row, center) on club [[Almendares (baseball)|Almendares]].]]
From 1922 to 1947, he spent much of Cuban career with Habana, though he also played several seasons with [[Almendares (baseball)|Almendares]] (1923–24, 1929–30, 1931–32), [[Marianao (baseball)|Marianao]] (1926–27, 1936–38), [[Leopardos de Santa Clara|Santa Clara]] (1935–36), and [[Cienfuegos (Cuban League baseball club)|Cienfuegos]] (1939–40, 1945–47).<ref name="stats">{{cite book |last1=Bjarkman |first1=Peter |title=Baseball with a Latin Beat |date=1994 |pages=224–25}}</ref> Over the course of his Cuban League career, he accumulated a 109-59 record as a pitcher with a .296 average at the plate. 

Dihigo played in Venezuela from 1931 to 1935, mainly with the Concordia club owned by Gonzalo Gómez, son of President [[Juan Vicente Gómez]].<ref name="vzla">{{cite news |author1=Miguel Dupouy |title=Martín Dihigo en Venezuela |agency=Beisbol Inmortal |date=11 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Martín 'El Inmortal' Dihigo puede haber sido el mejor pelotero de todos los tiempos |url=https://espndeportes.espn.com/beisbol/nota/_/id/6853481/martin-el-inmortal-dihigo-puede-haber-sido-el-mejor-pelotero-de-todos-los-tiempos |access-date=7 February 2025 |agency=ESPN Deportes |date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title="El Maestro'' y "El Inmortal''. ¿Quién fue este pelotero cubano para muchos el más versátil de la historia? |url=https://www.elnuevoherald.com/deportes/beisbol/article288800255.html |access-date=8 February 2025 |agency=El Nuevo Herald |date=28 May 2024 |language=es}}</ref> There he played alongside Hall of Famers [[Johnny Mize]] and [[Josh Gibson]], as well as [[Luis Aparicio Sr.]] and [[Tetelo Vargas]].Dihigo also played with Concordia in overseas tournaments in Puerto Rico (1933) and the Dominican Republic (1934).<ref name="vzla" />

Although a two-time [[East-West All-Star Game|All-Star]] in the American Negro leagues, Dihigo's greatest season came in {{baseball year|1938}} with [[Rojos del Aguila de Veracruz]] in the [[Mexican League]], where he went 18-2 with a 0.90 [[earned run average|ERA]] as a pitcher, while winning the [[batting average (baseball)|batting title]] with a .387 average. In another season in the Mexican League, he had a 0.15 ERA. In his Mexican career, he was 119-57 with a .317 batting average. In Cuba, Dihigo was known as "El Inmortal" ("The Immortal"); in other Latin American countries, he was called "El Maestro" ("The Master").

In 1943, at the age of 38, Martin Dihigo managed his own baseball team. This team was located in the Dominican Republic and featured New York Giants player Johnny Mize. While coaching the team he also was a player. They had a 6-3 record but then lost three games in a row to end the exhibition tour.

== Career statistics ==

In Dihigo's career, including statistics from Dominican, American, Cuban, and Mexican leagues, he compiled a lifetime .302 career batting average with 130 home runs, although eleven seasons of home run totals are missing. As a pitcher, he compiled a 252-132 win–loss record.

Page denoting Negro Leagues statistics entered into Major League Baseball’s official records: https://www.mlb.com/player/martin-dihigo-819764

== Post-playing career ==

After retiring, Dihigo became a radio announcer for the Cuban Winter League. He fled Cuba in 1952 to protest the rise of Fulgencio Batista. He managed the [[Leones del Caracas]] in the 1953 Caribbean Series. Upon [[Fidel Castro]]'s rise to power, Dihigo returned to Cuba where he continued to mentor other players until his death.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bjarkman |first1=Peter |title=A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864–2006 |date=2007 |publisher=McFarland |location=Jefferson, NC |isbn=978-0786428298 |page=34}}</ref>

Dihigo died at age 64, on May 20, 1971, in [[Cienfuegos]], Cuba. He is buried in Cementerio Municipal Cruces in [[Cruces, Cuba|Cruces, Cienfuegos, Cuba]]. 

== Legacy and honors ==
[[File:Martín Dihigo plaque.jpg|thumb|upright|left|110px|Dihigo's plaque at the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Baseball Hall of Fame]]]]
Known as humorous, good-natured, well read, as well as a versatile player, Dihigo is one of the only players to be inducted into four major baseball halls of fame: the [[National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|American]], [[Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame|Cuban]], [[Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame|Mexican]], and Dominican Baseball Halls of Fame.{{efn|Dihigo has been widely described as be a member of five halls of fame; the four mentioned, as well as the [[Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum|Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame]]. However, Dihigo was never officially inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news |title=Martín Dihigo sin fama en Venezuela |url=https://momentodeportivord.com/martin-dihigo-sin-fama-en-venezuela/ |agency=Momento Deportivo |access-date=7 February 2025 |language=es |date=26 June 2022}}</ref><ref name="vzla" />}}

Dihigo's stature as a ballplayer is reflected in this conversation between former Dodgers general manager [[Al Campanis]] and broadcaster [[Jaime Jarrín]]:

{{cquote|Al said, 'Jaime, the best player that I have ever seen in my life is Martin Dihigo, but he never came to the Major Leagues,'" Jarrin said. "'After Dihigo, I would put [[Roberto Clemente]] above [[Willie Mays]]. Those are the two best players I have ever seen in my entire life.'<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120919&content_id=38655100&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb| title=Clemente headlines All-Time Latino Team| author=Jesse Sánchez| work=Major League Baseball| access-date=2012-09-28}}</ref>}}

Others had heaped praise on him earlier, as well. Hall of Famer [[Buck Leonard]] said, “He was the greatest all-around player I know. I'd say he was the best ballplayer of all time, black or white. He could do it all. He is my ideal ballplayer, makes no difference what race either. If he's not the greatest I don't know who is. You take your Ruths, Cobbs, and DiMaggios. Give me Dihigo and I bet I'd beat you almost every time.” 

Hall of Famer [[Johnny Mize]] said, “He was the only guy I ever saw who could play all nine positions, manage, run and switch-hit.”<ref>{{cite web|last=Bayne |first=Bijan C. |url=https://andscape.com/features/the-immortal-martin-dihigo-may-have-been-the-best-baseball-player-ever/ |title='The Immortal' Martin Dihigo may have been the best baseball player ever — Andscape |publisher=Andscape.com |date=2020-04-13 |accessdate=2022-08-11}}</ref>

In February 2025, Dihigo was selected by a committee of journalists as a pitcher for the Mexican League Centennial All-Time Team on the occasion of the league's hundredth anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|title=LMB: El Equipo Ideal del Centenario de la Liga Mexicana de Beisbol|url=https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/lmb-el-equipo-ideal-del-centenario-de-la-liga-mexicana-de-beisbol|website=[[Minor League Baseball]]|date=26 February 2025|access-date=27 February 2025|language=es}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of members of the Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame]]
{{clear}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
*{{citation | last1=Clark | first1=Dick | last2=Lester | first2=Larry | title=The Negro Leagues Book | place=Cleveland, Ohio | publisher=Society for American Baseball Research | year=1994 }}
*{{citation | last=Figueredo | first=Jorge S. | title=Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878–1961 | place=Jefferson, North Carolina | publisher=McFarland & Company | year=2003 |
isbn=0-7864-1250-X }}
*{{citation | last=González Echevarría | first=Roberto | title=The Pride of Havana: A History of Cuban Baseball | publisher=Oxford University Press | year=1999 | isbn=0-19-514605-0 }}
*{{citation | last=Hogan | first=Lawrence D. | year=2006 | title=Shades of Glory: The Negro Leagues and the Story of African-American Baseball | place=Washington, D.C. | publisher=National Geographic | isbn=0-7922-5306-X | url-access=registration | url=https://archive.org/details/shadesofgloryneg00hoga }}
*{{citation | last=Riley | first=James A. | title=The Biographical Encyclopedia of the Negro Baseball Leagues | place=New York | publisher=Carroll & Graf | year=1994 | isbn=0-7867-0959-6 }}

==External links==
{{Portal|Cuba|Baseball|Biography}}
{{commons category|Martin Dihigo}}
* {{Baseball Hall of Fame profile|dihigo-martin}}
* {{Baseballstats|mlb=819764|br=d/dihigma99}}, or [https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dihigo002mar Baseball-Reference Black Baseball / Minor league stats], or [https://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/player.php?playerID=dihig01mar Seamheads]
* {{baseball-reference manager|dihigma99}} and [https://www.seamheads.com/NegroLgs/manager.php?playerID=dihig01mar Seamheads]
*{{SABR Baseball Biography Project|dc4b7b28}}
* {{find a Grave|20686}}

{{Negro league baseball batting champions}}
{{1977 Baseball HOF}}
{{Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame}}
{{Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame members}}
{{Mexican League Centennial All-Time Team}}
{{Mexican League batting title}}
{{Algodoneros de Unión Laguna managers}}
{{Leones del Caracas managers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dihigo, Martín}}
[[Category:1906 births]]
[[Category:1971 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Cuban sportsmen]]
[[Category:Águilas Cibaeñas players]]
[[Category:Algodoneros de Torreón players]]
[[Category:Algodoneros de Unión Laguna managers]]
[[Category:Azules de Veracruz players]]
[[Category:Baltimore Black Sox players]]
[[Category:Caribbean Series managers]]
[[Category:Cuban expatriate baseball players in Mexico]]
[[Category:Cuban expatriate baseball players in the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Cuban expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Cuban Stars (East) players]]
[[Category:Homestead Grays players]]
[[Category:Leopardos de Santa Clara players]]
[[Category:Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Mexican League baseball pitchers]]
[[Category:National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Negro league baseball managers]]
[[Category:Negro league baseball players from Cuba]]
[[Category:New York Cubans players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Cienfuegos Province]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Hilldale Giants players]]
[[Category:Rojos del Águila de Veracruz players]]
[[Category:Baseball players from Matanzas Province]]
[[Category:Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo players]]
[[Category:Tuneros de San Luis Potosí managers]]
[[Category:Tuneros de San Luis Potosí players]]
[[Category:Leones del Caracas managers]]