Luis Aloma
Encyclopedia
Luis Aloma Barba nicknamed "Witto", was a relief pitcher
in Major League Baseball
who played for the Chicago White Sox
from 1950 through 1953. Aloma batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Havana, Cuba. He would also pitch in farm systems for the Washington Senators
and the Detroit Tigers
.
Aloma died in Park Ridge, Illinois
at 72 years of age.
. In '44 he split time between the Class D Kingsport Cherokees of the Appalachian League
and the Class A-1 Chattanooga Lookouts
of the Southern Association
. He went a combined 8-7 with a 4.68 ERA
in 26 games, eight for starts.
Aloma played the 1945 and the 1946 seasons with the Lookouts. In '45 he went 14-9 with a 3.17 ERA in 31 games, 29 starts. In '46 he went 16-11 with a 3.56 ERA in 36 games, 27 for starts.
In 1947 Aloma split the season between the Lookouts and the Class B Charlotte Hornets
of the Tri-State League
. He had a dismal stint with the Lookouts, going 2-4 with a 6.93 ERA in 15 games. With the Hornets on the other hand he was quite impressive, going 8-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 18 games. He finished a combined 10-11 with a 4.74 ERA in 33 games.
He spent his last year in the Senators' farm system playing for his home town team, Havana Cubans
of the Florida International League
. In what would turn out to be his best professional season at any level he went 19-6 with a 1.77 ERA in 28 games.
.
He spent the '49 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
of the International League
. He compiled a 10-9 record with a 4.60 ERA in 38 games, 22 for start. This would be his only season in the Tigers' system.
for Alex Carrasquel
. He didn't pitch in the minors for the rest of the '49 season.
Aloma was 26 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 19, 1950, with the White Sox. He finished the '50 season going an impressive 7-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 42 games, all out of the bullpen.
In 1951 Aloma continued his success at the Major League level, going 6-0 with a 1.82 ERA in 25 games. This would prove to be his best season in the Majors.
He was again with Chicago in 1952 going 3-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 25 games. He compiled a career high six saves in '52.
His decline continued in 1953 as he was now 28 years of age. Aloma compiled a record of 2-0 with a 4.70 ERA in 24 games. This would be his last season pitching at the Major League level.
In 1954 Aloma spent his entire season with the Double-A Memphis Chickasaws of the Southern Association. He went 6-7 with a 4.25 ERA in 31 games, 14 starts for the Chickasaws. This would be his last professional season of baseball. In a four-season career, Aloma posted an 18-3 record with a 3.44 ERA
and 15 saves in 116 games pitched
.
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
who played for the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
from 1950 through 1953. Aloma batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Havana, Cuba. He would also pitch in farm systems for the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
and the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Aloma died in Park Ridge, Illinois
Park Ridge, Illinois
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,374.6 people per square mile . There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 2,083.8 per square mile...
at 72 years of age.
Washington Senators
In 1944 Aloma signed as an amateur free agent with the Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
. In '44 he split time between the Class D Kingsport Cherokees of the Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
and the Class A-1 Chattanooga Lookouts
Chattanooga Lookouts
The Chattanooga Lookouts are a minor league baseball team based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA. They are named for nearby Lookout Mountain. The team, which plays in the Southern League, has been a Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers major-league club since the 2009 season. The Lookouts...
of the Southern Association
Southern Association
The Southern Association was a higher-level minor league in American organized baseball from 1901 through 1961. For most of its existence, the Southern Association was two steps below the Major Leagues; it was graded Class A , Class A1 and Class AA...
. He went a combined 8-7 with a 4.68 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 26 games, eight for starts.
Aloma played the 1945 and the 1946 seasons with the Lookouts. In '45 he went 14-9 with a 3.17 ERA in 31 games, 29 starts. In '46 he went 16-11 with a 3.56 ERA in 36 games, 27 for starts.
In 1947 Aloma split the season between the Lookouts and the Class B Charlotte Hornets
Charlotte Hornets (baseball)
The Charlotte Hornets was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The club was originally founded in 1901, and lasted in some form until 1973, capturing 11 league titles during its history...
of the Tri-State League
Tri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
. He had a dismal stint with the Lookouts, going 2-4 with a 6.93 ERA in 15 games. With the Hornets on the other hand he was quite impressive, going 8-7 with a 3.62 ERA in 18 games. He finished a combined 10-11 with a 4.74 ERA in 33 games.
He spent his last year in the Senators' farm system playing for his home town team, Havana Cubans
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played in the Class AAA International League from 1954 to 1960 . They were affiliated with Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds, and their home stadium was El Gran Estadio del Cerro in Havana, Cuba.-History:The Sugar...
of the Florida International League
Florida International League
The Florida International League was a lower- to mid-level circuit in American and Cuban minor league baseball that existed from 1946 through July 27, 1954. It was designated Class C for its first three seasons, then upgraded to Class B in 1949 for the final 5½ years of its existence.The FIL...
. In what would turn out to be his best professional season at any level he went 19-6 with a 1.77 ERA in 28 games.
Detroit Tigers
In 1949 he was traded from Washington to the Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
He spent the '49 season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
of the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
. He compiled a 10-9 record with a 4.60 ERA in 38 games, 22 for start. This would be his only season in the Tigers' system.
Chicago White Sox
Aloma was again traded, this time on August 5, 1949 from the Tigers to Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Alex Carrasquel
Alex Carrasquel
Alejandro Eloy Carrasquel Aparicio [car-ras-KAEL] , was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Washington Senators and the Chicago White Sox...
. He didn't pitch in the minors for the rest of the '49 season.
Aloma was 26 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 19, 1950, with the White Sox. He finished the '50 season going an impressive 7-2 with a 3.80 ERA in 42 games, all out of the bullpen.
In 1951 Aloma continued his success at the Major League level, going 6-0 with a 1.82 ERA in 25 games. This would prove to be his best season in the Majors.
He was again with Chicago in 1952 going 3-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 25 games. He compiled a career high six saves in '52.
His decline continued in 1953 as he was now 28 years of age. Aloma compiled a record of 2-0 with a 4.70 ERA in 24 games. This would be his last season pitching at the Major League level.
In 1954 Aloma spent his entire season with the Double-A Memphis Chickasaws of the Southern Association. He went 6-7 with a 4.25 ERA in 31 games, 14 starts for the Chickasaws. This would be his last professional season of baseball. In a four-season career, Aloma posted an 18-3 record with a 3.44 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
and 15 saves in 116 games pitched
Games pitched
In baseball statistics, games pitched is the number of games in which a player appears as a pitcher; a player who is announced as the pitcher must face at least one batter, although exceptions are made if the pitcher announced in the starting lineup is injured before facing a batter, perhaps while...
.