Tomás Quiñones

Major leaguers have been blessed (or cursed) with colorful nicknames, such as “Pudge,” “Prince Hal,” “Pops,” “Pie,” “Pee Wee,” “Putt Putt,” and those are just some of the ones starting with the letter “P.” To that list, add Tomás “Planchardón” Quiñones, a Puerto Rican right-handed pitcher whose four games in 1947 with the Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns of the Negro American League became part of the official Major League Baseball record books in 2020.1

Although plancha means “bunt” in Spanish baseball lingo, the term is not connected to Quiñones’s sobriquet.2 Instead, his sandlot mates took to calling him “Planchardón” for his unnaturally large feet because plancha’s primary meanings are ironing board or pirate’s plank. At the time, the “Plan Agrícola Chardón” (Chardón Agricultural Plan, named after a government official) sought to reform the island’s agricultural industry.3 So “planchardón” (for large planks) stuck, given the popularity of the term at the time.

Quiñones was born to Santiago and Candelaria Quiñones on June 19, 1920, or 1923.4 The family lived in the Palomas neighborhood of Yauco, a town on Puerto Rico’s southwestern coast. Information on the parents’ occupations and any siblings Tomás may have had has not yet surfaced.

Fundador Arenas, an amateur player who, upon retirement, took care of the grass in Ponce’s Paquito Montaner Stadium, first noticed the youngster. According to Arenas, he  sawthe teenager knocking coconuts off a tree with rocks and said, “Hey Plan, I will teach you how to pitch, you throw very hard.”5 Quiñones grew to 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, an imposing presence on the mound, particularly against right-handed hitters.

Quiñones debuted for the Ponce Leones (Lions) in the 1940-41 season in a game against Caguas. Playing on the road, he allowed a mere run driven in by  Roy Campanella. In 112 innings, Quiñones recorded a 4.82 ERA and a 9–4 record. New Ponce manager George Scales was confident in this club before Quiñones’s sophomore season, and the press lauded the “sensational rookie pitcher ‘Planchardón’ Quiñones, whose fast and effective pitches placed him among a select few of native hurlers last season. Quiñones will begin the year with more experience and the advantage of having Scales nearby to help him unravel the secrets of pitching.”6

Quiñones took a step backward in 1941-42 (49 frames, 6.80 ERA, 4–3) but rebounded in 1942-43 (8–7, 2.48 ERA in 116 innings). Nevertheless, critics felt he could reach another level. Said one, “Quiñones is the fastest Puerto Rican-born pitcher to play in the league…it is a shame he has not yet learned how to use his whole body when throwing. It would help tremendously.”7 Perhaps motivated by his critics, Quiñones’s next two seasons were superb.

A December 3, 1944, start against Mayagüez proved to be historic. After an easy first inning, Quiñones allowed three bases on balls in the second frame to load the bases but escaped harm thanks to a fielder’s choice, a strikeout, and a popup.

Quiñones began the third by hitting Juan “Tetelo” Vargas, marking the fourth Mayagüez baserunner of the afternoon. Little did the Indios know, it would be their last. Quiñones retired the last 21 opponents in a row while his teammates scored eight runs.8 The offensive explosion was welcome, but a mere run would have sufficed. The 3,808 fans proudly cheered for their ace, who tossed the first no-hitter in the young history of the Puerto Rico Winter League (PRWL) , nimbly guided by batterymate Jorge Grifin Tirado.9

He was named the league MVP10 in both 1943-44 (13–5, 1.69 ERA) and 1944-45 (16–3, 2.57 ERA), leading the circuit in both categories. No slouch at the plate, he also led the league with three round-trippers in 1944-45, one of a trio of pitchers to ever accomplish the feat. As late as March 11, 1945, his .435 average (30-for-69) topped the leaderboards.11

Quiñones allowed Luis “Canena” Márquez’s first career hit on December 24, 1944. (Márquez would connect for 1,205 others and remains the PRWL’s all-time leader.) So impressive was Planchardón’s performance that San Juan manager Quincy Trouppe offered him a contract with the 1945 Cleveland Buckeyes, but Quiñones refused the opportunity.12

After a postseason tour in Venezuela with Ponce, Quiñones departed for the Mexican League. In the summer of 1945, he fared poorly for the Puebla Ángeles (Angels) with a 4–9 record and 6.41 ERA in 91 1/3 innings. The Mexican press questioned his makeup, though he was sharp in a 1–0 loss against Tampico in June 1945, broken up in the 10th by Ángel Castro’s home run.13 According to El Mundo, “Planchardón’s good outings have come away from Mexico City, proving that the altitude of the capital does not agree with the youngster.”14

Quiñones’s 10 victories in the 1945-46 PRWL season gave him 39 in a three-year period, but he would not reach double figures again. In late January 1946, he was rumored to have inked a deal with Las Palomas (The Pigeons), an independent Cuban team from New York, for their upcoming season.15 After the PRWL tournament ended, he played for the Puerto Rico team against a Cuban all-star team in an “Antillean Series” in March.

Despite the supposed deal to play with Las Palomas, Quiñones returned to Mexico and played for the Mexico City Red Devils.16 Nearly 20,000 fans witnessed his complete game, 7–5, victory against Torreón on April 4, which he secured with a home run and a two-run double.17  Nevertheless, he was released in early May with a 2–3 record in nine appearances.18 A scant week later, he signed with the Veracruz Azules (Blues),19 but he left the team within a month owing to differences with management.20 A war of words erupted, with Jorge Pasquel noting that Quiñones “did not make the grade” while the hurler predicted the Mexican League’s failure from poor attendance.21 Quiñones also alleged racial animus, but teammate and fellow Puerto Rican Luis Rodríguez Olmo discounted the notion: “‘Plan’ did not have a reason to say there was ill-will between the white and colored players. There was never poor treatment toward the colored players.”22

Back in Puerto Rico with the Leones, Quiñones won eight of his first nine decisions in the 1946-47 PRWL season. He finished with a 9–4 record and a 2.44 ERA in 103 1/3 innings.

Quiñones had a short stint with the Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns in 1947, the same year Jackie Robinson demolished the color barrier (and Larry Doby, Willard Brown, and Hank Thompson went to the American League after starting the season in the Negro Leagues).  Quiñones was called “the Puerto Rican wonder hurler” by Knoxville Journal.23 His presence on the roster—as a newcomer—was noted by newspapers that cited “Thomas Quinones (sic) and Juan Guilbe, both of Puerto Rico.”24 He was walloped in relief on April 27 in an exhibition game against the Kansas City Monarchs. Though no box score is available, Quiñones allowed the Monarchs to “bat around to sew up the contest.” Kansas City scored seven runs in the eighth inning to take a 10–3 lead they held until the final out.25 He fared slightly better on a May 2 rematch, yielding two runs in 1 1/3 innings of a 5–4 Monarchs exhibition victory.26

Quiñones played on May 8 against the Memphis Red Sox, possibly as the starter,27 on May 11 in relief against the Cleveland Buckeyes,28 on May 25 against the Birmingham Black Barons as a reliever,29 on June 1030 and June 1231 against the Monarchs, on June 15 against the Chicago American Giants,32 and on August 5 against the Black Barons in relief.33

Quiñones also pinch-hit on June 834, June 2235, June 2536, and August 17.37 Although unsubstantiated, El Mundo claimed he had clubbed “6he longest hit of the year in the United States Negro Leagues: a clout of around 500 feet.”38

He tossed six-plus innings on July 9 against the Brooklyn Bushwicks in Dexter Park, yielding three walks and four runs in a losing effort.39 By early July, Baltimore Afro-American showed his .389 average (7-for-18 with two runs scored, four driven in, a home run, and a double) as the league’s fourth-highest, though the rest of the top 10 had accumulated significantly more plate appearances.40 He pitched five innings on July 30 against the Memphis Red Sox, securing a 9–6 win for Preacher Henry. Though his pitching line is not recorded, he is credited with a hit, a run scored, and two runs batted in, possibly from a home run.41

On August 13, Quiñones allowed seven hits and seven runs in 3 2/3 innings against the St. Joe’s Auacos. He carried the loss, walked twice, and struck out a pair.42 He fared better in a rematch against Kansas City on August 21; in 8 1/3 frames, he allowed six runs and was responsible for the loss43

Quiñones returned to the PRWL and played six additional seasons, though he was no longer as effective on the mound. (His ERA was as high as 7.14 in one of those years.) Ponce suspended him in January 1948, alleging his “lack of interest, insubordination toward one of the club’s coaches, and failure to attend team practices.”44 League officials upheld the decision and declared him ineligible. However, the punishment was lifted as the 1948-49 campaign began. In 1951, he was part of the Puerto Rican team that won the 12th Amateur World Series. His bat proved powerful, as he hit one of the squad’s three home runs.45

In Quiñones’s 13 years with the Leones, the club won five championships, including four in a row, a feat no other team has matched. His lifetime statistics in the PRWL (82–39, 3.31 ERA in over a thousand innings) earned him a spot among the league’s 75 all-time greatest players, announced in 2013. Of the seven players to win a pair of MVP awards, he is the only one to earn the accolade in consecutive years. His .678 winning percentage is the best in league history, while his 3.31 ERA is the seventh lowest in the circuit’s annals.

Quiñones’s last known appearance on the mound was in New York City’s Central Park in the summer of 1955. Playing for Mueblerías Robles (Robles’s Furniture Store) of the Liga Hispana (Hispanic League), he proved still fearsome on the mound and off as he drove in five runs on June 5.46

Quiñones died on March 9, 1967, in New York City, where had been living for 13 years.47 Ponce civic leaders and the Leones franchise paid for his body to be flown back to Puerto Rico.48 He was buried in Ponce, but not before thousands of fans paid their respects as his body lay in the city’s Parque de Abolición (Abolition Park).49 He was survived by his widow Esther, 14-year-old son Roberto, and seven year old-daughter Elia (Eslie).50 The Yauco Little League (ages 10-13) was renamed in his honor later that year.

Posthumous honors followed, as Quiñones was inducted into the Puerto Rico Sports Hall of Fame in 1968,51 the Yauco Sports Hall of Fame in 198052, and the Puerto Rico Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993, as part of its third class.53

 

Acknowledgments

This biography was reviewed by Rory Costello and Abigail Miskowiec and fact checked by members of the SABR BioProject fact-checking team.

Photo credit: Tomás Quiñones, Trading Card Database.

 

Sources

The author consulted baseballreference.com, retrosheet.org, seamheads.com, beisbol101.com, newspapers.com, negroleaguerspuertorico.com, and the Global Press Archive.

 

Notes

1 The Clowns played in Cincinnati (1942-43), Cincinnati and Indianapolis (1944-1947), and Indianapolis (1948). Since Quiñones played only in 1947, the article will use “Cincinnati-Indianapolis Clowns.”

2 Toque, for “tap,” is the more common term for a bunt, but plancha was popular in the early 1900s, especially in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

3 José E. Ayroroa Santaliz, “Fundador Arenas,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, April 9, 1978: 54.

4 Baseball Reference and Seamheads list 1920. Beisbol101 lists 1923. Newspaper articles about Quiñones’ death reference 1923.

5 Ayroroa Santaliz, “Fundador Arenas.”

6 “Scales indica cree los Leones de Ponce tienen este año equipo ‘championable,’” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, October 12, 1941: 28.

7 Julio Rivera, “A quién pueda interesar,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, January 31, 1943: 7.

8 Fernado Ávila, “Planchardón Quiñones,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, September 14, 1975: 75.

9 Béisbolero, “Relatan el partido sin hits ni carreras de lanzador Quiñones,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, August 29, 1948: 19.

10 To date, he is the only player to win consecutive MVP awards in the PRWL. Six others have won a pair of awards, but none consecutively.

11 “Quiñones se mantiene al frente en bateo,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, March 11, 1945: 11. Unofficially, his .425 final average was second in the league, but he did not garner the minimum number of at-bats.

12 Elmo Torres Pérez, “Quiñones recibe oferta para jugar con Cleveland,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, December 7, 1944: 9.

13 It’s unclear whether Quiñones had tossed nine perfect innings or nine no-hit innings.

14 José Seda, “Planchardón Quiñones lanzó juego sin hits en 9 entradas,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, October 10, 1945: 9.

15 “Firmaron a Quiñones,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, January 28, 1946: 8.

16 “Méjico venció a Veracruz,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, March 26, 1946: 9.

17 “Quiñones bateó un cuadrangular y un doble,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, April 6, 1946: 9.

18 “Olmo reapareció como inicialista en Méjico y figuró en triple jugada; no logró batear de hit en tres turnos,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, May 11, 1946: 18.

19 “Cabrera y Quiñones fueron asignados para jugar con Veracruz en la Liga Mejicana,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, May 18, 1946: 8.

20 Erasmo Vando, “Regresa lanzador Tomas Quiñones,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, June 11, 1946: 9.

21 “Fracasará Liga de Méijco: Quiñones,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, June 12, 1946: 9.

22 Elmo Torres Pérez, “Jugará sólo cuando éste del todo bien,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, September 14, 1946: 9.

23 “King Tut Will Put on Show Here on Thursday Night,” Knoxville Journal, June 1, 1947: 20.

24 “Clowns play NAL debut against Red Sox tomorrow,” Los Angeles Tribune, May 3, 1947: 16.

25 “Kansas City Tops Cincy,” New Pittsburgh Courier, May 3, 1947: 14.

26 Box score available at https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B05020KCM1947.htm

27 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B05080MEM1947.htm

28 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B05111IN91947.htm

29 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B05251BIR1947.htm

30 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B06100IN91947.htm

31 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B06120IN91947.htm

32 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B06151CAG1947.htm

33 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B08050BIR1947.htm

34 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B06082KCM1947.htm

35 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B06221CVB1947.htm

36 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B06250CVB1947.htm

37 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B08172KCM1947.htm

38 Salvador Pabón, “Deportivas de la Sultana del Oeste,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, October 24, 1947: 17.

39 “Bushwicks Win from Cincinnati in Arclight Tilt,” Brooklyn Eagle, July 10, 1947: 16.

40 “Diamond Dust,” Baltimore Afro-American, July 12, 1947: 13. “Alfonso Gerard tiene promedio bateo de .340,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, July 5, 1947: 8.

41 https://www.retrosheet.org/NegroLeagues/boxesetc/1947/B07300MEM1947.htm

42 “Auscos Win 12-11 vs. Indianapolis Clowns,” Herald-Palladium (Benton Harbor, MI), August 14, 1947: 18.

43 Howard V. Millard, “Monarchs Win 6-5 Loop Tilt Before 2,747,” Decatur Daily Review, August 2, 1947: 42.

44 “Lanzador Planchardón Quiñones, de Ponce, declarado inelegible por el resto actual temporada y la próxima,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, January 28, 1948: 18.

45 “Deportes,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, February 6, 1977: 60.

46 Mac López, “Planchardón está activo en la Liga Hispana,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, June 6, 1955: 18.

47 “’Planchardón’ será enterrado en Ponce,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, March 13, 1967: 18.

48 “Ponce colecta suma $1,920,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, March 17, 1967: 35.

49 “Tomás ‘Planchardón’ Quiñones,” Facebook post by Héctor L. Ortiz Rivera, May 1, 2020, https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=planchardon

50 “Miles asisten al sepelio de Tomás ‘Planchardón’ Quiñones,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, March 16, 1967: 27. “‘Planchardón’ será enterrado en Ponce,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico,

51 Pabellón de la Fama del Deporte Puertorriqueño, https://pabellondelafamadeldeportepr.org/directorio-de-exaltados/

52 Luis Varela, “Pabellón de la Fama de Yauco,” El Mundo de Puerto Rico, September 24, 1980: 34.

53 Salón de la Fama del Béisbol Profesional Puertorriqueño, https://safabpp.com/inmortal/tomas-planchardon-quinones/