SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Carlos Manuel Santiago, a star infielder in the Negro leagues during the 1940s, died today. He was 82.

He died of cardiac failure at his home in Mayaguez, son Carlos Manuel Santiago Feliciano said.

Santiago played second base and shortstop for the New York Cubans in 1945-46. He was invited to spring training by the Cleveland Indians in 1951 but was soon drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Korea. He was honorably discharged as a sergeant about two years later.

This year, Santiago was among the former Negro leaguers invited to attend a ceremonial draft organized by major league baseball.

The Negro leagues lasted from the late 1800s until the mid-1950s, providing a professional outlet for black players. After Jackie Robinson broke the racial barrier in 1947, more blacks joined the majors and the Negro leagues faded.

During much of his retirement, Santiago worked as a coach and scout. He was a general manager for three seasons at Puerto Rico's Mayaguez Indians club, where he got his start playing in 1944. He was inducted into Puerto Rico's Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993.