1961 Amateur World Series

Last updated
1961 Amateur World Series
Tournament details
CountryFlag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica
Teams10
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
Runner-upFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Third placeFlag of Venezuela (1954-2006).svg  Venezuela
Fourth placeFlag of Panama.svg  Panama
←  1953
1965  →

The 1961 Amateur World Series was the 15th edition of the Amateur World Series of international baseball.It was the only one held in Costa Rica, taking place in San Jose from April 7 through April 21, 1961. [1]

Contents

The 1961 tournament was the first Amateur World Series to be held since the 1953 edition, and the first major baseball tournament since the 1957 Global World Series in Detroit. It was also the first international tournament to feature a Cuban entry since the Cuban revolution. [2] Coincidentally, the tournament was ongoing while anti-Castro Cuban exiles, supported by the United States, stormed the Bay of Pigs. [2]

Participants

Ten countries participated in the 1961 Amateur World Series. They were divided into two qualifying groups; the three teams with the best record in each group moved on to the final round. [3]

The tryouts for the Cuban national team were held simultaneously to the establishment of INDER and the replacement of professional sports with amateurism in Cuba, including the abolition of the professional Cuban Winter League. [2]

Tournament summary

In group play, Panama advanced out of Group A with a 4-0 record, followed by Venezuela (3-1) and the hosts, Costa Rica (2-2). [3]

In Group B, Cuba (4-0) and Mexico (3-1) qualified for the final round easily. [3] Cuba defeated the Dutch Antilles 18–0, Nicaragua 16–0, Guatemala 25–0, and Mexico 11–1. [2] However, Guatemala, Nicaragua and the Netherlands Antilles all tied with a record of 1-3, playing an extra series to decide who would advance to the final round; Guatemala defeated Nicaragua 6-5 and the Netherlands Antilles 8-1 to qualify for the final. [3]

Cuban [2] In the decisive stage, Cuba again went undefeated, besting Panama (12–3), Guatemala (13–2), Mexico (13–1), Costa Rica (12–2), and Venezuela (9–3). [2] Mexico and Venezuela took the podium spots, with a record of 4-1 and 3-2 respectively. Cuba was carried by pitchers Alfredo Street (3-0) and Jose M. Pineda (2-0); Pineda allowed only one run and one walk in 18 innings of play, striking out 27 batters. [3]

Tito Fuentes of the Cuban national team ultimately signed with the San Francisco Giants Tito Fuentes Giants.jpg
Tito Fuentes of the Cuban national team ultimately signed with the San Francisco Giants

Several Cuban players attracted the attention of major league scouts. Three of them, Bert Campaneris, Tito Fuentes, and José Miguel Pineda, signed major league contracts; Campaneris and Fuentes went on to have long major league careers, while Pineda ultimately chose to remain in Cuba. [3]

Final standings

Pos.TeamWL
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 90
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of Mexico (1934-1968).svg  Mexico 72
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of Venezuela (1954-2006).svg  Venezuela 63
4Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 63
5Flag of Costa Rica.svg  Costa Rica 45
6Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 18
7Flag of Honduras (1949-2022).svg  Honduras 13
8Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1986-2010).svg  Netherlands Antilles 13
9Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg  Nicaragua 13
10Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 04

Statistical leaders

    References

    1. ↑ Bjarkman, Peter (2007). A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864-2006. McFarland. p. 200. ISBN   0786428295.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Bjarkman, Peter (2018). Fidel Castro and Baseball: The Untold Story. McFarland. pp. 181–82. ISBN   9781538110300.
    3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Historia de la Copa Mundial/World Cup History XI-XX (1950-1972)". Baseball de Cuba (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 22 November 2011.
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