Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
First season | 1949 |
Director | Juan Francisco Puello Herrera |
Organizing body | Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation |
Countries | Colombia Dominican Republic Mexico Panama Puerto Rico Venezuela |
Region | Caribbean and Latin America |
Most recent champion(s) | Tiburones de La Guaira (1st title) (2024) |
Most titles | Tigres del Licey (11 titles) |
TV partner(s) | United States: ESPN Deportes Bally Sports |
Related competitions | LPB LIDOM LMP PROBEIS LBPRC LVBP |
Official website | seriedelcaribe.net |
2024 Caribbean Series |
The Caribbean Series (Spanish: Serie del Caribe) 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.
The Dominican Republic has won the most Caribbean Series championships (22), with Tigres del Licey being the most successful team in the tournament's history. The series has been won by 29 teams from seven different countries. Only two teams have won the tournament two consecutive years, the most recent being Criollos de Caguas from Puerto Rico in 2017 and 2018.
The competition was the brainchild of Venezuelan baseball entrepreneur Pablo Morales and Oscar Prieto Ortiz, who devised the idea after seeing the success of the Serie Interamericana in 1946, which featured the clubs Brooklyn Bushwicks from the United States, Cervecería Caracas from Venezuela, Sultanes de Monterrey from Mexico, and an All-Star team composed of Cuban players. [1]
Inspired by the Interamerican Series and his experience as a former president of the International Baseball Federation, Morales joined Prieto and presented the idea to baseball representatives of Cuba, Panama, and Puerto Rico during a meeting held in Havana on August 21, 1948. [2] The representatives then agreed to stage a four-country, round-robin tournament 12-game to be known as the Serie del Caribe, to be launched in Cuba from February 20–25 of 1949.
The Series ran annually from 1949 through 1960, with Cuba winning seven times. However, the event was suspended in 1961, as a result of the Cuban Revolution. Fidel Castro dissolved all professional baseball in Cuba, and MLB Commissioner Ford Frick ruled that American major leaguers were barred from playing in Havana, where the 1961 series had been scheduled. [3] [4]
It was not until 1970 that the Caribbean Series was revived. Moreover, the 1981 Caribbean Series was not held due to a Venezuelan League player's strike.
The tournament featured the champions of the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela for over 40 years. Cuba returned in 2014. Panama returned to host the 2019 edition. Colombia was added for the 2020 edition, replacing Cuba who could not participate due to visa issues. Curaçao was invited as a guest in 2023. [5]
Country | League | First edition | Latest edition |
---|---|---|---|
Cuba | Cuban League | 1949 | 1960 |
Cuban National Series | 2014 | 2019 | |
Cuban Elite League | 2023 | ||
Colombia | Colombian Professional Baseball League | 2020 | 2023 |
Starting with the 2013 Caribbean Series, a championship game was introduced where the two teams with the best win–loss record from the round-robin first stage would meet to determine the champion. In 2013 the first round consisted of 12 games and each team faced the other teams twice, one as home club and the other as an away team; from 2014 on, with the return of Cuban teams to the tournament, the first stage was changed to a round robin of 10 games where each team faced the other teams once.
Year | Venue | Champion | Result | Runner-up | Manager |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013 | Hermosillo | Yaquis de Obregón | 4–3 (18) | Leones del Escogido | Eddie Díaz |
2014 | Isla de Margarita | Naranjeros de Hermosillo | 7–1 | Indios de Mayagüez | Matías Carrillo |
2015 | San Juan | Vegueros de Pinar del Río | 3–2 | Tomateros de Culiacán | Alfonso Urquiola |
2016 | Santo Domingo | Venados de Mazatlán | 5–4 | Tigres de Aragua | Juan José Pacho |
2017 | Culiacán | Criollos de Caguas | 1–0 (10) | Águilas de Mexicali | Luis Matos |
2018 | Guadalajara | 9–4 | Águilas Cibaeñas | ||
2019 | Panama City | Toros de Herrera | 3–1 | Leñadores de Las Tunas | Manuel Rodríguez |
2020 | San Juan | Toros del Este | 9–3 | Cardenales de Lara | Lino Rivera |
2021 | Mazatlán | Águilas Cibaeñas | 4–1 | Criollos de Caguas | Félix Fermín |
2022 | Santo Domingo | Caimanes de Barranquilla | 4–1 | Gigantes del Cibao | José Mosquera |
2023 | Caracas and La Guaira | Tigres del Licey | 3–0 | Leones del Caracas | José Offerman |
2024 | Miami | Tiburones de La Guaira | 3–0 | Tigres del Licey | Ozzie Guillén |
Rank | Team | Wins | Years |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tigres del Licey | 11 | 1971, 1973, 1977, 1980, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2008, 2023 |
2 | Águilas Cibaeñas | 6 | 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2021 |
3 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | 5 | 1951, 1953, 1955, 1993, 2000 |
Criollos de Caguas | 1954, 1974, 1987, 2017, 2018 | ||
5 | Leones del Escogido | 4 | 1988, 1990, 2010, 2012 |
6 | Tigres de Marianao | 2 | 1957, 1958 |
Alacranes del Almendares | 1949, 1959 | ||
Elefantes de Cienfuegos | 1956, 1960 | ||
Navegantes del Magallanes | 1970, 1979 | ||
Águilas del Zulia | 1984, 1989 | ||
Indios de Mayagüez | 1978, 1992 | ||
Tomateros de Culiacán | 1996, 2002 | ||
Leones del Caracas | 1982, 2006 | ||
Yaquis de Obregón | 2011, 2013 | ||
Naranjeros de Hermosillo | 1976, 2014 | ||
Venados de Mazatlán | 2005, 2016 | ||
17 | Carta Vieja Yankees | 1 | 1950 |
Leones del Habana | 1952 | ||
Leones de Ponce | 1972 | ||
Vaqueros de Bayamón | 1975 | ||
Lobos de Arecibo | 1983 | ||
Águilas de Mexicali | 1986 | ||
Senadores de San Juan | 1995 | ||
Tigres de Aragua | 2009 | ||
Vegueros de Pinar del Río | 2015 | ||
Toros de Herrera | 2019 | ||
Toros del Este | 2020 | ||
Caimanes de Barranquilla | 2022 | ||
Tiburones de La Guaira | 2024 |
Rank | Country | Wins | Years |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Dominican Republic | 22 | 1971, 1973, 1977, 1980,1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2020, 2021, 2023 |
2 | Puerto Rico | 16 | 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1972, 1974, 1975, 1978, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2017, 2018 |
3 | Mexico | 9 | 1976, 1986, 1996, 2002, 2005, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
4 | Cuba | 8 | 1949, 1952, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 2015 |
Venezuela | 1970, 1979, 1982, 1984, 1989, 2006, 2009, 2024 | ||
6 | Panama | 2 | 1950, 2019 |
7 | Colombia | 1 | 2022 |
No. | Team | Record | Years |
---|---|---|---|
3 | Tigres del Licey | 6–0 6–0 5–0 | 1971 1977 1991 |
2 | Cangrejeros de Santurce | 6–0 6–0 | 1953 2000 |
2 | Águilas Cibaeñas | 6–0 7–0 | 1998 2021 |
1 | Alacranes del Almendares | 6–0 | 1949 |
1 | Leones del Habana | 5–0 | 1952 |
1 | Elefantes de Cienfuegos | 6–0 | 1960 |
1 | Senadores de San Juan | 6–0 | 1995 |
1 | Venados de Mazatlán | 6–0 | 2016 |
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 competed against Israel, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Nicaragua in the 2023 World Baseball Classic in March 2023 in Miami, Florida.
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League is the top-level professional baseball league in Venezuela. The league's champion takes part in the Caribbean Series each year.
The 1949 Caribbean Series was the first edition of the Caribbean Series. It was held from February 20 through February 25 with the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Alacranes del Almendares; Panama, Spur Cola Colonites; Puerto Rico, Indios de Mayagüez and Venezuela, Cervecería Caracas.
The second edition of the Caribbean Series was held from February 21 through February 27, in 1950. It featured the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Alacranes del Almendares; Panama, Carta Vieja Yankees; Puerto Rico, Criollos de Caguas, and Venezuela, Navegantes del Magallanes. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Sixto Escobar Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The third edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1951. The Series inauguration on February 21 was delayed due to heavy rain and it was held from February 22 through February 26, including two double-headers on February 25, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones del Habana; Panama, Spur Cola Colonites; Puerto Rico, Cangrejeros de Santurce, and Venezuela, Navegantes del Magallanes. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Cervecería Caracas Stadium in Caracas, Venezuela.
The fourth edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1952. It was held from February 20 through February 26, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones del Habana; Panama, Carta Vieja Yankees; Puerto Rico, Senadores de San Juan and Venezuela, Cervecería Caracas. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Panama City. The first pitch was thrown by Alcibíades Arosemena, by then the President of Panama.
The twelfth edition of the Caribbean Series was a baseball tournament held from February 10 through February 15, 1960 featuring the champion teams from Cuba (Cienfuegos), Panama (Marlboro), Puerto Rico (Caguas) and Venezuela (Rapiños). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Estadio Nacional of Panama City.
The ninth edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1957. It was held from February 9 through February 14, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Tigres de Marianao; Panama, Cerveza Balboa; Puerto Rico, Indios de Mayagüez, and Venezuela, Leones del Caracas. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio del Cerro in Havana, the Cuban capital. The first pitch was thrown by Ford Frick, by then the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.
The eighth edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1956. It was held from February 10 through February 15, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Elefantes de Cienfuegos; Panama, Chesterfield Smokers; Puerto Rico, Criollos de Caguas and Venezuela, Industriales de Valencia. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio Olímpico de Panamá in Panama City, Panama.
The fifth edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1953. It was held from February 20 through February 25, featuring the champion baseball teams of Cuba, Leones de la Habana; Panama, Chesterfield Smokers; Puerto Rico, Cangrejeros de Santurce, and Venezuela, Leones del Caracas. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio del Cerro in Havana, the Cuban capital.
The sixth edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1954. It was held from February 18 through February 23, featuring the champion baseball teams from Cuba, Panama, Puerto Rico ,(Criollos de Caguas) and Venezuela. Lácteos de Pastora were the champion of the Liga Occidental de Béisbol Profesional rather than the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio Sixto Escobar in San Juan, P.R.
The tenth edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1958. It was held from February 8 through February 13 with the champions teams from Cuba, Tigres de Marianao; Panama, Carta Vieja Yankees; Puerto Rico, Criollos de Caguas and Venezuela, Industriales de Valencia. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio Sixto Escobar in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The seventeenth edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1974. It was held from February 1 through February 6 with the champions teams from Dominican Republic, Mexico and Puerto Rico, represented by the Tigres del Licey, Venados de Mazatlán and Criollos de Caguas, respectively. This time Venezuela did not participate in the tournament due to a players strike, being replaced by the second place team from the Mexican Pacific League, the Yaquis de Obregón. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played in Hermosillo, Sonora, to become the first Caribbean Series held in Mexican baseball history.
The twenty-first edition of the Caribbean Series was played in 1978. It was held from February 4 through February 9 with the champions teams from the Dominican Republic, Águilas Cibaeñas; Mexico, Tomateros de Culiacán; Puerto Rico, Indios de Mayagüez and Venezuela, Leones del Caracas. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Estadio Teodoro Mariscal in Mazatlán, México.
Luis Zuloaga was a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher.
Pablo Antonio Morales Pérez was a Venezuelan baseball executive and promoter. He served as president of the International Baseball Federation (FIBA) in two periods, and also took the reins of the organizing committee of the 1944 Amateur World Series held in Caracas.
Luis Romero Petit was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He batted and threw right handed.
The 2023 Caribbean Series was the 65th edition of the Caribbean Series, played at La Rinconada Baseball Stadium in Caracas and Jorge Luis García Carneiro Stadium in La Guaira, Venezuela from February 2 to February 10, 2023.
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.