1969 Amateur World Series

Last updated
1969 Amateur World Series
Tournament details
CountryDominican Republic
Teams9
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
Runner-upFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Third placeFlag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
Fourth placeFlag of Venezuela (1954-2006).svg  Venezuela
Tournament statistics
MVP Flag of Cuba.svg Gaspar Pérez
  1965
1970  

The 1969 Amateur World Series was an international baseball tournament held in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from August 15 through August 26, 1969. The competition marked the first time the United States participated in the Amateur World Series since the 1942 tournament. Cuba and the US were both 9-0 when they met in the finals, with Cuba winning 2–1. Gaspar Pérez was the winning pitcher for Cuba and also drove in their first run to tie the game and scored the second, decisive run. Most of the 20,000 fans who watched the finals were pro-Cuba, reportedly due to lingering resentment from the 1965 US invasion of the Dominican Republic. [1]

Contents

Participants

The 1969 edition of the Amateur World Series would be a watershed for international competition, as it saw the return of two powerhouses, the United States and Cuba. The United States, which had not participated in the tournament since withdrawing from the 1942 edition, returned after a 27-year absence. After their victory in the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada had spurred renewed interest in international competitions, William P. "Dutch" Fehring, president of the rejuvenated United States Baseball Federation (USBF), decided to actively participate in International Baseball Federation (FIBA) competitions. [2] The participation of the U.S. was fraught with political tensions; the U.S. military occupation of the Dominican Republic had occurred just four years earlier. [3]

Joaquin Balaguer used the tournament for propaganda purposes Presidente Joaquin Balaguer en 1966 (cropped).jpg
Joaquín Balaguer used the tournament for propaganda purposes

Cuba returned after being absent for the 1965 tournament in Colombia, which it was unable to attend due to visa issues brought on by the Cold War. Dominican authorities were active to ensure that political protests did not derail the event, detaining several protesters. [3] Nevertheless, historians suggest that Dominican President Joaquín Balaguer used the event as propaganda, as a means of legitimizing his rule and positioning the Dominican Republic as an international actor friendly to both the capitalist U.S. and communist Cuba. [3] [4]

Venezuela, which had also not attended in 1965, also made its return.

Venue

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Estadio Quisqueya
Estadio Quisqueya
Capacity: 18,000
Estadio Trujillo 1955.jpg

The tournament, eventually realized in the Dominican Republic, was initially slated to take place in Colombia, which had hosted the 1965 Amateur World Series, in February 1969. However, these plans were abruptly cancelled in December 1968 due to a dispute between the Colombian Baseball Federation and the central government. [5] On April 30, 1969, it was announced that the tournament had been rescheduled for the Dominican Republic. [6]

Results

The group stage featured a round robin format to determine the medal winners. [2]

PosTeamPldWLRFRARDPCTGBFlag of Cuba.svg  CUB Flag of the United States.svg  USA Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  DOM Flag of Venezuela.svg  VEN Flag of Nicaragua.svg  NCA Flag of Panama.svg  PAN Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  PUR Flag of Colombia.svg  COL Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Flag of Guatemala.svg  GUA Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1986-2010).svg  AHO
1Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 101009113+781.0002–110–39–010–18–09–19–35–317–012–1
2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 10917213+59.90011–210–04–08–07–25–312–64–015–06–0
3Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic (H)9725033+17.7782.50–103–105–31–016–17–33–2 [lower-alpha 1] 7–28–2
4Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela 10736135+26.70030–40–93–516–412–56–52–14–29–09–0
5Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 1046336734.40060–81–100–14–168–711–90–10–106–33–2
6Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 1046476518.40062–70–81–165–127–87–27–22–48–38–3
7Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico 104653541.40063–51–93–75–69–112–77–09–17–47–4
8Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 104639478.40066–123–92–31–21–02–70–75–411–18–2
9Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 927283810.2227.50–43–5 [lower-alpha 2] 2–410–04–21–94–50–14–8
10Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 918148066.1118.50–150–172–70–93–63–84–71–111–0 [lower-alpha 3]
11Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1986-2010).svg  Netherlands Antilles 918226543.1118.50–61–122–80–92–33–84–72–88–4 [lower-alpha 4]
Source: Baseball.ch (archived)
(H) Hosts
Notes:
  1. Not played
  2. Not played
  3. Not played
  4. Not played

Final standings

Pos.TeamWL
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of Cuba.svg  Cuba 100
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of the United States.svg  United States 91
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 72
4Flag of Venezuela (1954-2006).svg  Venezuela 73
5Flag of Nicaragua (1908-1971).svg  Nicaragua 46
Flag of Panama.svg  Panama 46
Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico 46
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 46
9Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico 27
10Flag of Guatemala.svg  Guatemala 18
Flag of the Netherlands Antilles (1986-2010).svg  Netherlands Antilles 18

Honors and awards

Statistical leaders

Awards

AwardPlayerRef.
Most Valuable Player Flag of Cuba.svg Gaspar Pérez [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caribbean Series</span> Annual baseball tournament

The Caribbean Series is an annual club tournament contested by professional baseball teams in Latin America. It is organized by the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation. The series is normally played in February, after the various winter leagues have ended their national tournaments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Baseball Federation</span> International baseball governing body

The International Baseball Federation (IBAF) is the former worldwide governing body of baseball. It has since been superseded by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), and continues to exist as the WBSC's baseball division. Between 1944 and 1975, it was known by its Spanish-language name, as the Federación Internacional de Béisbol Amateur, or FIBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World Baseball Classic</span> International baseball tournament

The World Baseball Classic (WBC), also referred to as the Classic, is an international baseball tournament sanctioned by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), the sport's global governing body, and organized in partnership with Major League Baseball (MLB) and Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). The winning team is awarded the World Baseball Classic Championship Trophy. It is one of the two main senior baseball tournaments sanctioned by the WBSC, alongside the WBSC Premier12, but is the only one to grant the winner the title of "world champion".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United States national baseball team</span>

The United States national baseball team, also known as Team USA represents the United States in international-level baseball competitions. The team is currently ranked 2nd in the world by the World Baseball Softball Confederation. The United States has won many international tournaments, many of which are now discontinued. Most notably the team won the Olympic baseball tournament in 2000, and the World Baseball Classic (WBC) in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puerto Rico national baseball team</span> National sports team

The Puerto Rico national baseball team, also known as Team Rubio is the national baseball team of Puerto Rico. The men's senior team is currently ranked 13th in the world. Puerto Rico is the incumbent Pan American and Central American/Caribbean champion, as well as the 2017 World Baseball Classic runner-up. The team will compete against Israel, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Nicaragua in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in March 2023 in Miami, Florida.

The Colombia national baseball team is the national baseball team of Colombia. The team represents Colombia in international competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colombian Professional Baseball League</span> Baseball league based in Colombia

The Colombian Professional Baseball League, is a professional baseball league based in Colombia. It is a four-team winter league that plays during the Major League Baseball offseason. In the past, the league's champion has taken part in the Caribbean Series.

The 1939 Amateur World Series was the second Amateur World Series (AWS), an international men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. Great Britain did not defend the AWS title it had won in the inaugural event the previous year. The tournament took place, for the first time, in Cuba. It was contested by the national teams of Cuba, Nicaragua and the United States, playing six games each from August 12 through August 26. Cuba won its first AWS title – the first of what would be a record 26 titles by the time the series ended in 2011, 22 more titles than the next closest nation.

The 1940 Amateur World Series was the third Amateur World Series (AWS), an international men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. The tournament took place, for the second consecutive time, in Cuba. It was contested by seven national teams playing twelve games each from September 14 through October 6 in Havana. Cuba won its second, and second consecutive, AWS title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1941 Amateur World Series</span> International baseball tournament

The 1941 Amateur World Series was the fourth edition of the Amateur World Series (AWS), an international men's amateur baseball tournament sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. The tournament took place, for the third consecutive time, in Cuba. It was contested by nine national teams playing eight games each from September 27 through October 22 at the Estadio La Tropical in Havana.

The 1942 Amateur World Series was the fifth edition of the Amateur World Series (AWS), an international men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. The tournament took place, for the fourth consecutive time, in Cuba. It was contested by four national teams playing twelve games each from September 26 through October 20 in Havana. Cuba won its third AWS title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1944 Amateur World Series</span> International baseball tournament

The 1944 Amateur World Series was the seventh Amateur World Series (AWS), an international men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. The tournament took place, for the first time, in Venezuela. It was contested by four national teams playing twelve games each from October 12 through November 18 in Caracas. Venezuela won their second AWS title, though in controversial fashion.

The 1971 Amateur World Series was the 19th Amateur World Series (AWS), an international men's amateur baseball tournament. The tournament was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation. The tournament took place, for the seventh time, in Cuba, and was won by the host Cuba national baseball team, their 11th title. They finished with an undefeated record of 9–0, recording six shutouts and scoring 60 runs while allowing only four.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Armando Castillo</span>

José Armando Castillo also known as El Mago(the magician), is a retired baseball and fastpitch softball pitcher of the Dominican Republic National Team. He has won several gold medals in softball in various Central American and Caribbean Games and has been a national trainer in softball. He has been selected as the Softball Player of the Century in the Dominican Republic as well as added to the Corridor of Athletes of Merit of Santiago by the Sports Press Association of Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. In 2016, José Armando was inducted to the Hall of Fame of the Sports of Santiago.

The 1965 Amateur World Series was the 16th edition of the Amateur World Series of international baseball. The tournament was held from February 12 through February 27, 1965 in the Colombian cities of Cartagena and Barranquilla.

The Cuban Professional Baseball Federation, commonly known by its Spanish acronym FEPCUBE, is a baseball governing body that claims to represent expatriate Cuban baseball players. It is not recognized by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) and is opposed by the Cuban government and the Baseball Federation of Cuba (FCB).

The Interamerican Series was an international club baseball tournament that brought together independent and winter league teams in North America and the Caribbean. Held from 1946 to 1950 and from 1961 to 1965, it was the precursor to the modern Caribbean Series.

The Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation, or CPBC, is the body responsible for organizing the Caribbean Series, an annual club baseball tournament contested by the winter league baseball champions of the Caribbean and Latin American region. Four professional winter leagues are full members of the CPBC, and various others have been invited to participate in the tournament. It also administers the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame.

Carlos Manuel Zecca Sequeira was a Costa Rican businessman and baseball executive who was the president of the International Baseball Federation (FIBA) from 1952 to 1969. Zecca's sixteen-year tenure as president of FIBA is the longest in international baseball history.

The Serie de las Américas is a planned international professional baseball tournament contested by winter league professional baseball teams in Latin America. Envisioend as an alternative to the Caribbean Series, the first edition is scheduled to take place from January 24 to 30, 2025, in Nicaragua

References

  1. Bjarkman, Peter (2007). A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864–2006. Jefferson, NC: McFarland. p. 201. ISBN   9780786428298.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "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.
  3. 1 2 3 Yoder, April (2023). Pitching Democracy: Baseball and Politics in the Dominican Republic. University of Texas Press Austin. pp. 96–101.
  4. Yoder, April (September 29, 2016). "Dominican Baseball and Latin American Pluralism, 1969–1974". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History.
  5. "Colombia declinó organizacion de Serie Mundial de Beisbol Amateur" (in Spanish). La Republica. 5 December 1968. Retrieved 16 September 2024.
  6. "Republica Dominicana montara la Serie Mundial Amateur" (in Spanish). La Republica. 30 April 1969. Retrieved 16 September 2024.