Caribbean Series

From BR Bullpen

The Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe in Spanish) is an annual postseason tournament between the champions of the Caribbean winter leagues. The series began in 1949 and was held annually until 1960; it was restarted in 1970 and has been held annually since. The post-1970 tournaments feature the winners of the Dominican Winter League, Mexican Pacific League, Puerto Rican Winter League, and Venezuelan League. The pre-1960 tournaments featured the Cuban Winter League, Panama League, Puerto Rican Winter League, and Venezuelan League.

The series is currently played over 12 days, usually features six games per team (two versus each opponent). The tournament's winner is the team with the most wins after all of the games are played.

Contents 1 History 2 Championships by Country 2.1 Championships by Club 3 Yearly Results 4 Related Articles

[edit] History

With the major leagues beginning to sign black players, the winter leagues were suffering a talent drain. To develop more interest in winterball, the major countries set up the Caribbean Series. The series was the brainchild of Oscar Prieto and Pablo Morales, who devised the idea after the seeing the success of the Inter-American Series in 1946. Prieto and Morales presented their idea for a Caribbean World Series to the region's baseball confederation, the Confederación de Béisbol del Caribe (CBC), at a conference in Miami, FL in late 1948. Cuba agreed to host the first series in 1949. The tournament would feature top team from each of the CBC member nations - Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela - in a six-day series of doubleheader games to determine the winner.

The first tournament took place in Havana, Cuba with the Cuban team Almendares sweeping the tournament. On February 21, 1952, Tommy Fine of Havana pitched the only no-hitter in Series history, versus Caracas. After the 1960 season, the Series was stopped after Fidel Castro dissolved all professional baseball in Cuba in 1961.

The Caribbean Series was revived in 1970 without Panama or Cuba but with the addition of the Dominican Winter League. The next year the Mexican Pacific League joined as well, making it a 4-team tournament once again. It has continued as such except for 1981 when there was no series due to a player's strike. In 1974, Venezuela did not participate because of a players strike. The four nations take turns hosting the Series, though there was an ill-fated attempt in 1990 and 1991 to move it to Miami, FL. Also in 1991, a championship game format between the top-two teams was used. In 2003, Venezuela did not participate again because of a general strike against Hugo Chávez.

In recent years, at the 2007 series a delegation from the Liga Colombiana de Beisbol Profesional of Colombia put forth a proposal that the champions of that league as well as the champion of the Nicaragua's league join the series in 2009 bring the number of participant teams to six. The proposal is currently (as of 2007) under discussion.

The Caribbean Series Most Valuable Player is given to the tournament's best player and the All Star Team team features the best players at each position during the series.

[edit] Championships by Country

•  Dominican Republic: 17 (1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008)
•  Puerto Rico: 14 (1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000)
•  Cuba: 7 (1949, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)
•  Venezuela: 6 (1970, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1989, 2006)
•  Mexico: 5 (1976, 1986, 1996, 2002, 2005)
•  Panama: 1 (1950)

[edit] Championships by Club

Titles	Club	Nation	League	Years
10	Tigres del Licey	Dominican Republic	Dominican League	1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008
5	Cangrejeros de Santurce	Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican League	1951, 1953, 1955, 1993, 2000
5	Águilas Cibaeñas	Dominican Republic	Dominican League	1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2007
3	Criollos de Caguas	Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican League	1954, 1974, 1987
2	Almendares	Cuba	Cuban Winter League	1949, 1959
	Leones del Caracas	Venezuela	Venezuelan League	1982, 2006
	Cienfuegos	Cuba	Cuban Winter League	1956, 1960
	Tomateros de Culiacán	Mexico	Mexican Pacific League	1996, 2002
	Leones del Escogido	Dominican Republic	Dominican League	1988, 1990
	Navegantes del Magallanes	Venezuela	Venezuelan League	1970, 1979
	Marianao	Cuba	Cuban Winter League	1957, 1958
	Indios de Mayagüez	Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican League	1978, 1992
	Águilas del Zulia	Venezuela	Venezuelan League	1984, 1989
1	Lobos de Arecibo	Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican League	1983
	Vaqueros de Bayamón	Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican League	1975
	Carta Vieja	Panama	Panamanian League	1950
	Habana	Cuba	Cuban Winter League	1952
	Naranjeros de Hermosillo	Mexico	Mexican Pacific League	1976
	Venados de Mazatlán	Mexico	Mexican Pacific League	2005
	Águilas de Mexicali	Mexico	Mexican Pacific League	1986
	Leones de Ponce	Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican League	1972
	Senadores de San Juan	Puerto Rico	Puerto Rican League	1995

[edit] Yearly Results

Year	Host Dates	First Place	Second Place	Third Place	Fourth Place
1949 Details	Cuba Havana, Cuba February 20 - February 25	Almendares: 6 - 0  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Cervecería Caracas: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Spur Cola: 2 - 4  Panama Panamanian League	Indios de Mayagüez: 1 - 5  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League
1950 Details	Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico February 21 - February 26	Carta Vieja: 4 - 2  Panama Panamanian League	Caguas-Guayama: 4 - 2  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Almendares: 3 - 3  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Navegantes del Magallanes: 1 - 5  Venezuela Venezuelan League
1951 Details	Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela February 22 - February 25	Cangrejeros de Santurce: 5 - 1  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Habana: 4 - 2  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Navegantes del Magallanes: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Spur Cola: 1 - 5  Panama Panamanian League
1952 Details	Panama Panamá, Panamá February 20 - February 26	Habana: 5 - 0 - 1  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Carta Vieja: 3 - 3  Panama Panamanian League	Cervecería Caracas: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Senadores de San Juan: 0 - 5 - 1  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League
1953 Details	Cuba Havana, Cuba February 20 - February 25	Cangrejeros de Santurce: 6 - 0  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Habana: 3 - 3  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Chesterfield: 2 - 4  Panama Panamanian League	Leones del Caracas: 1 - 5  Venezuela Venezuelan League
1954 Details	Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico February 18 - February 23	Caguas-Guayama: 4 - 2  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Almendares: 3 - 3  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Carta Vieja: 3 - 3  Panama Panamanian League	Pastora de Occidente: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League
1955 Details	Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela February 10 - February 15	Cangrejeros de Santurce: 5 - 1  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Navegantes del Magallanes: 4 - 2  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Almendares: 2 - 4  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Carta Vieja: 1 - 5  Panama Panamanian League
1956 Details	Panama Panamá, Panamá February 10 - February 15	Cienfuegos: 5 - 1  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Caguas-Guayama: 3 - 3  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Chesterfield: 3 - 3  Panama Panamanian League	Industriales de Valencia: 1 - 5  Venezuela Venezuelan League
1957 Details	Cuba Havana, Cuba February 9 - February 14	Marianao: 5 - 1  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Balboa: 3 - 3  Panama Panamanian League	Leones del Caracas: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Indios de Mayagüez: 2 - 4  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League
1958 Details	Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico February 8 - February 13	Marianao: 4 - 2  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Caguas-Guayama: 3 - 3  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Carta Vieja: 3 - 3  Panama Panamanian League	Industriales de Valencia: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League
1959 Details	Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela February 10 - February 15	Almendares: 5 - 1  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Oriente: 4 - 2  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Cangrejeros de Santurce: 3 - 3  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Cocle: 0 - 6  Panama Panamanian League
1960 Details	Panama Panamá, Panamá February 10 - February 15	Cienfuegos: 6 - 0  Cuba Cuban Winter League	Marlboro: 3 - 3  Panama Panamanian League	Caguas-Guayama: 2 - 4  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Rapiños de Occidente: 1 - 5  Venezuela Venezuelan League
1961 to 1969	The Caribbean Series was not held during these years following the dissolution of Cuba's professional league.
1971 Details	Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico February 6 - February 11	Tigres del Licey: 6 - 0  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Naranjeros de Hermosillo: 2 - 4  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Tiburones de La Guaira: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Only three teams participated in the Series.
1972 Details	Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic February 1 - February 6	Leones de Ponce: 5 - 1  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Águilas Cibaeñas: 3 - 3  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Tigres de Aragua: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Algodoneros de Guasave: 2 - 4  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1973 Details	Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela February 1 - February 6	Tigres del Licey: 5 - 1  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Leones del Caracas: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Cangrejeros de Santurce: 3 - 3  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Yaquis de Obregón: 1 - 5  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1974 Details	Mexico Hermosillo, México February 1 - February 6	Caguas-Guayama: 4 - 2  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Tigres del Licey: 3 - 3  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Yaquis de Obregón: 3 - 3  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Venados de Mazatlán: 1 - 5  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1975 Details	Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico February 1 - February 6	Vaqueros de Bayamón: 5 - 1  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Águilas Cibaeñas: 3 - 3  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Naranjeros de Hermosillo: 3 - 3  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Tigres de Aragua: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League
1976 Details	Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic February 4 - February 9	Naranjeros de Hermosillo: 5 - 1  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Tigres de Aragua: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Águilas Cibaeñas: 2 - 4  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Vaqueros de Bayamón: 1 - 5  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League
1977 Details	Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela February 4 - February 9	Tigres del Licey: 6 - 0  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Navegantes del Magallanes: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Venados de Mazatlán: 2 - 4  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Criollos de Caguas: 2 - 4  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League
1978 Details	Mexico Mazatlán, México February 4 - February 9	Indios de Mayagüez: 5 - 1  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Águilas Cibaeñas: 3 - 3  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Leones del Caracas: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Tomateros de Culiacán: 1 - 5  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1979 Details	Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico February 4 - February 9	Navegantes del Magallanes: 5 - 1  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Águilas Cibaeñas: 4 - 2  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Criollos de Caguas: 2 - 4  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Mayos de Navojoa: 1 - 5  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1980 Details	Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic February 4 - February 9	Tigres del Licey: 4 - 2  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Vaqueros de Bayamón: 3 - 3  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Leones del Caracas: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Naranjeros de Hermosillo: 1 - 5  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1981 Details	Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela	The Caribbean Series was not held due to a Venezuelan player's strike.
1982 Details	Mexico Hermosillo, México February 2 - February 7	Leones del Caracas: 5 - 1  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Leones de Ponce: 3 - 3  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Leones del Escogido: 2 - 4  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Naranjeros de Hermosillo: 2 - 4  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1983 Details	Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela February 4 - February 9	Lobos de Arecibo: 5 - 1  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Tiburones de La Guaira: 4 - 2  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Tigres del Licey: 3 - 3  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Tomateros de Culiacán: 0 - 6  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1984 Details	Puerto Rico San Juan, Puerto Rico February 4 - February 9	Águilas del Zulia: 5 - 1  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Cañeros de Los Mochis: 4 - 2  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Tigres del Licey: 1 - 4  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Indios de Mayagüez: 1 - 4  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League
1985 Details	Mexico Mazatlán, México February 4 - February 9	Tigres del Licey: 5 - 1  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Tomateros de Culiacán: 3 - 3  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Tiburones de La Guaira: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Senadores de San Juan: 2 - 4  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League
1986 Details	Venezuela Maracaibo, Venezuela February 2 - February 7	Águilas de Mexicali: 4 - 2  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Águilas Cibaeñas: 3 - 3  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Tiburones de La Guaira: 3 - 3  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Indios de Mayagüez: 2 - 4  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League
1987 Details	Mexico Hermosillo, México February 4 - February 9	Criollos de Caguas: 5 - 2  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Águilas Cibaeñas: 4 - 3  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Leones del Caracas: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Venados de Mazatlán: 2 - 4  Mexico Mexican Pacific League
1988 Details	Dominican Republic Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic February 3 - February 8	Leones del Escogido: 4 - 2  Dominican Republic Dominican League	Indios de Mayagüez: 3 - 3  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Potros de Tijuana: 3 - 3  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Leones del Caracas: 2 - 4  Venezuela Venezuelan League
1989 Details	Mexico Mazatlán, México February 4 - February 9	Águilas del Zulia: 5 - 1  Venezuela Venezuelan League	Indios de Mayagüez: 4 - 2  Puerto Rico Puerto Rican League	Águilas de Mexicali: 2 - 4  Mexico Mexican Pacific League	Leones del Escogido: 1 - 5  Dominican Republic Dominican League
1990 Details	United States Miami, FL, United States February 2 - February 7	Leones del Escogido: 5 - 1  Dominican Republic