Carlos Paula Explained

Carlos Paula
Position:Right fielder
Bats:Right
Throws:Right
Birth Date:28 November 1927
Birth Place:Havana, Cuba
Death Place:Miami, Florida, U.S.
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:September 6
Debutyear:1954
Debutteam:Washington Senators
Finalleague:MLB
Finaldate:June 23
Finalyear:1956
Finalteam:Washington Senators
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Batting average
Stat1value:.271
Stat2label:Home runs
Stat2value:9
Stat3label:Runs batted in
Stat3value:60
Teams:

Carlos Paula Conill (November 28, 1927  - April 25, 1983) was a Major League Baseball right fielder who played for the Washington Senators from 1954 to 1956. A native of Havana, Cuba, he stood 6'3" and weighed 195 lbs.

Paula was acquired by Washington via a transaction with the Paris Indians Big State League before the 1954 season. He was sent to the Senators Charlotte, North Carolina affiliate, the Charlotte Hornets, on March 30, 1954.[1] When he made his major league debut (September 6, 1954 at Griffith Stadium), he became the first black player in Washington Senators history. He got into nine games that month.

He played in 115 games during the 1955 season, batting .299 with 6 home runs and 55 runs batted in. In 1956 he appeared in only 33 games and batted .183. His last game was on June 23. Paula was optioned to the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association on April 2, 1957.[2] On April 12, 1958, he was sold by the Senators to the Sacramento Solons of the Pacific Coast League.[3]

Career totals for 157 games include a .271 batting average (124-for-457), 9 HR, 60 RBI, 44 runs scored, and a slugging percentage of .416. In his 111 appearances in the outfield, he handled 211 out of 222 total chances successfully for a fielding percentage of .950, well below the league average during his era.

Paula died at the age of 55 in Miami, Florida.

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Notes and References

  1. Article 10-No Title, The New York Times, March 31, 1954, pg. 35.
  2. Paula of Senators Optioned, The New York Times, April 3, 1957, pg. 48.
  3. Paula Sold By Senators, The New York Times, April 13, 1958, pg. S14.