1974 Amateur World Series

Last updated

1974 Amateur World Series
1974 AWS Logo.png
Tournament details
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Teams9
Final positions
ChampionsFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Runners-upFlag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua
Third placeFlag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Fourth placeFlag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
  1973
1976  

The 1974 Amateur World Series was held mainly in St. Petersburg, Florida from November 13 through November 24, 1974. It was the second baseball Amateur World Series staged by the short-lived World Amateur Baseball Federation (FEMBA), which had split off from the International Baseball Federation (FIBA) the previous year. [1] It was the first and only Baseball World Cup tournament to be held in the United States.

Contents

Most of the tournament, including the final series between Nicaragua and the champion United States teams, was played at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, though some games were held in nearby Tampa, as well as Lakeland, Sarasota, and Bradenton. [2] [3] [4] [5]

The tournament was kept on the books after FEMBA once again joined with the FIBA, retroactively recognized as the Baseball World Cup XXIII. The next edition of the Amateur World Series would be played in [1]

Tournament summary

The 1974 Amateur World Series was the second to be organized by FEMBA after the organization split from FIBA, and the first to be staged in the United States. As such, FIBA member states such as Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, and Panama were not invited (they participated in a FIBA tournament held in Havana the previous year). [1] The Honduras national team had been invited, but withdrew after Hurricane Fifi hit the country. [6]

From the beginning, the tournament suffered from attendance and financing issues; the organizing budget had been set for only $10,000. Teams were critical of the conditions for their athletes, including the Dominican team, which had to leave its motel after it was unable to pay the bill, which was footed by the team rather than the organizers. [4] [7] There were also several on-field controversies; police had to be called to the stadiums on two occasions, and the Taiwanese team nearly withdrew after a contentious decision that saw a player get called out after he hit a triple, on the charge that he had used a colored bat. [4] In one instance, Puerto Rico forfeited their game with the United States after the team's manager and catcher were both ejected for arguing a hit-by-pitch call, and refused to leave the field. [8]

The final tie-breaker between Nicaragua and the United States also sparked controversy. Both teams finished with identical 7-0-1 records, with their only meeting having been called because of darkness while tied 6-6. The Nicaraguans claimed that according to international rules, the game should be replayed in its entirety, with the winner being crowned world champion. However, FEMBA president William Fehring ruled the teams would instead play a best-of-three series, with the winner taking the championship. [4] Nicaragua won the first game, which they said counted as the replayed game, but lost the second in a doubleheader on Saturday, Nov. 23. Several Nicaraguan players protested the ruling, saying they had won the tournament by virtue of winning the first game; even Nicaraguan executive and FEMBA vice president Carlos García Solórzano said "we should be champions right now," to no avail. [4] [9] The two teams played a third game on Sunday, Nov. 24, with the U.S winning 9–2. [4]

Venue

St. Petersburg, Florida Tampa, Florida
Al Lang Field Al Lopez Field
Capacity: 7,500Capacity: 5,000
Baseball game at Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, Florida (9149731077).jpg Al Lopez Field.JPG
Bradenton, Florida Lakeland, Florida Sarasota, Florida
McKechnie Field Joker Marchant Stadium Payne Park
Capacity: 2,000Capacity: 4,900Capacity: 4,000
Pirates-Rays McKechnie.JPG JokerMarchantStadium2009.jpg Tin Can Tourists convention at Payne Park- Sarasota, Florida (6600303555).jpg

Group stage

PosTeamPldWLTRFRARDPCTGB
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States (H)87016313+50.938
2Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 87015117+34.938
3Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 85304526+19.6252.5
4Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 835037436.3754.5
5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 8350456217.3754.5
6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 8350234017.3754.5
7Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China 83503628+8.3754.5
8Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico 835034395.3754.5
9Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 8170137966.1256.5
Source: St. Petersburg Times
(H) Hosts

Results

November 13, 1974 United States  Flag of the United States.svg10–0 (F/8)Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Attendance: 1,000
Boxscore

November 14, 1974
16:30 (UTC-5)
Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico.svg0–6 (F/8)Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 14, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg2–7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 14, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg11–2 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa Joker Marchant Stadium, Bradenton
Boxscore

November 15, 1974
16:30 (UTC-5)
Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico.svg0–5 Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Payne Park, Sarasota
Boxscore
November 15, 1974
17:30 (UTC-5)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg1–11 (F/6)Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 15, 1974
20:30 (UTC-5)
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg1–7 Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 15, 1974
16:30 (UTC-5)
Republic of China  Flag of the Republic of China.svg2–3 Flag of the United States.svg  United States Payne Park, Sarasota
Boxscore

November 16, 1974
11:30 (UTC-5)
Colombia  Flag of Colombia.svg0–5 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic McKechnie Field, Bradenton
November 16, 1974
14:30 (UTC-5)
United States  Flag of the United States.svg6–6(F/9)Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua McKechnie Field, Bradenton
November 16, 1974
16:30 (UTC-5)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg4–3 (F/10)Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 16, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
Republic of China  Flag of the Republic of China.svg6–7 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore

November 17, 1974
10:00 (UTC-5)
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg3–2 (F/10)Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 17, 1974
10:00 (UTC-5)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg0–10 (F/8)Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Al Lopez Field, Tampa
Boxscore
November 17, 1974
13:00 (UTC-5)
Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg5–1 Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China Al Lopez Field, Tampa
Boxscore
November 17, 1974
16:00 (UTC-5)
Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg5–6 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore

November 18, 1974
11:00 (UTC-5)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg1–11 (F/8)Flag of the United States.svg  United States Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 18, 1974
14:00 (UTC-5)
Republic of China  Flag of the Republic of China.svg3–6 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 18, 1974
17:00 (UTC-5)
Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico.svg7–2 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 18, 1974
20:00 (UTC-5)
Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg5–14 Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore

November 19, 1974
16:00 (UTC-5)
Italy  Flag of Italy.svg0–6 Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 19, 1974
16:30 (UTC-5)
Dominican Republic  Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg12–11 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Al Lopez Field, Tampa
Boxscore
November 19, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
Colombia  Flag of Colombia.svg5–2 Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 19, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
United States  Flag of the United States.svg5–1 (F/8)Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Al Lopez Field, Tampa
Boxscore

November 20, 1974
12:00 (UTC-5)
Colombia  Flag of Colombia.svg6–1 Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 20, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg5–3 Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
Boxscore
November 20, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg7–3 Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 20, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
United States  Flag of the United States.svg8–0 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland
Boxscore

November 21, 1974
11:00 (UTC-5)
Republic of China  Flag of the Republic of China.svg12–0 (F/8)Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 21, 1974
14:00 (UTC-5)
Canada  Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg4–5 Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 21, 1974
17:00 (UTC-5)
Puerto Rico  Flag of Puerto Rico.svg3–8 Flag of Italy.svg  Italy Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 21, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
Colombia  Flag of Colombia.svg2–6 Flag of the United States.svg  United States Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore

November 22, 1974
10:00 (UTC-5)
South Africa  Flag of South Africa.svg2–16 (F/7)Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 22, 1974
14:00 (UTC-5)
Dominican Republic  Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg2–4 Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 22, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
United States  Flag of the United States.svg14–1 (F/7)Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 22, 1974
19:30 (UTC-5)
Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg6–1 Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia Joker Marchant Stadium, Sarasota
Boxscore

Tie-breaker

PosTeamPldWLRFRARDPCTGB
1Flag of the United States.svg  United States (H)321148+6.667
2Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 3128146.3331
Source: Centro Caribe Sports
(H) Hosts

Results

November 23, 1974
11:00 (UTC–5)
United States  Flag of the United States.svg1–3 Flag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore
November 23, 1974 Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg3–4 Flag of the United States.svg  United States Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore

November 24, 1938
11:00 (UTC–5)
Nicaragua  Flag of Nicaragua.svg2–9 Flag of the United States.svg  United States Al Lang Field, St. Petersburg
Boxscore

Final standings

RkTeamRecord
Gold medal icon.svgFlag of the United States.svg  United States 9–1–1
Silver medal icon.svgFlag of Nicaragua.svg  Nicaragua 8–2–1
Bronze medal icon.svgFlag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 5–3
4Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic 3–5
5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 3–5
6Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 3–5
7Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China 3–5
8Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg  Puerto Rico 3–5
9Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa 1–7

Honors and awards

Statistical leaders

  1. Gonzalez (PRI), Moreno (COL)
  2. Julio Cuarezma (NIC), Chang (ROC), Moreno (COL)
  3. David Coon (USA), P. Llamas (COL)
  4. Dave Stegman (USA), Brent Hallett (CAN)
  5. Porfirio Altamirano (NIC), George Milke (USA), Mark Beem (USA), R. Izquierdo (COL)

Awards

AwardPlayerRef.
Best Batter Flag of Nicaragua.svg Julio Cuarezma [4]
Best Pitcher Flag of Nicaragua.svg Porfirio Altamirano [4]
Best Designated Hitter Flag of Nicaragua.svg Pablo Juárez [4]

All-Star Team

PositionPlayer
C Flag of the United States.svg Rick Cerone
1B Flag of the Republic of China.svg He Lin
2B Flag of Nicaragua.svg Guillermo Baldizón
3B Flag of Colombia.svg Carlos Velasquez
SS Flag of Nicaragua.svg César Jarquin
OF Flag of Nicaragua.svg Julio Cuarezma
Flag of the United States.svg Dave Stegman
Flag of Puerto Rico (1952-1995).svg Alejandro Gonzalez
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Brent Hallett
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Bonard Luzey
UTIL Flag of the United States.svg Steve Davis
DH Flag of Nicaragua.svg Pablo Juárez
P Flag of Nicaragua.svg Porfirio Altamirano
Flag of the United States.svg George Milke
Flag of the United States.svg Bo McLaughlin
Flag of Colombia.svg Wilfrido Petro
Flag of Nicaragua.svg Sergio Lacayo
Flag of the Republic of China.svg Hsien-Tsung Hu

Source: [11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Bjarkman, Peter (2007). A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864-2006. McFarland. pp. 195–210. ISBN   0786428295.
  2. Slayton, Jack (November 1, 1974). "Amateur baseball meet set". Newspapers.com. St. Petersburg Times. p. 57.
  3. Flowers, Jack (November 25, 1974). "U.S. rules baseball world". Newspapers.com. St. Petersburg Times. p. 29.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Jordan, Pat (December 9, 1974). "Dubious triumph in Florida". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 9, 2025.
  5. "Twinbill set at McKechnie Field: Canada, China, Nicaragua Win World Baseball Games". Newspapers.com. The Bradenton Herald. November 15, 1974. p. 23.
  6. "No money, no angel, Honduras shut out". St. Petersburg Times. November 14, 1974. p. 45.
  7. "Economy disturbs world tourney, too". St. Petersburg Times. November 22, 1974. p. 47.
  8. "Puerto Rico: Fiesta turns to forfeit". St. Petersburg Times. November 20, 1974. p. 37.
  9. "U.S. splits; finale today". St. Petersburg Times. November 24, 1974. p. 49.
  10. 1 2 "World Amateur Tournament". Newspapers.com. St. Petersburg Times. November 25, 1974. p. 30.
  11. "All-Star Team". Newspapers.com. St. Petersburg Times. November 24, 1974. p. 50.