Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League

Last updated
Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League
Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League logo.svg
Sport Baseball
Founded1956
No. of teams5
Country Nicaragua
Most recent
champions		 Leones de León
(9th title)
Most titles Indios del Bóer
(9 titles)
Official website http://lbpn.com.ni/
Nicaragua location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
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Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League team locations

The Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League (Spanish: Liga de Béisbol Profesional Nacional or LBPN), known as the Campeonato Claro for sponsorship purposes, is the professional baseball league of Nicaragua. The league consists of five teams with a 30-game regular season schedule that runs from November to December, followed by a four team playoff round robin; the two best teams advance to a best of seven championship series.

Contents

History

Before the formation of the professional league, Nicaraguan baseball had long been played at the amateur level. However, the first club to sign a player to a professional baseball was San Fernando, signing several Cuban players for the 1955. The following year, the entire league embraced professionalism. [1] The Nicaraguan professional league was formed in 1956, with five teams: Indios del Bóer, Cinco Estrellas, San Fernando, León, and Flor de Caña. [2] Inaugurated on March 30, 1956 at the Estadio Nacional Anastasio Somoza (the site of the modern Estadio Nacional Soberanía), the first game was between San Fernando and Bóer. The first season was suspended in September 1956 due to the assassination of Anastasio Somoza García, but the tournament resumed in March 1957. [3] [4] [5] [6]

The league initially operated on a summer schedule, but was converted to a winter league when it agreed to join organized baseball in 1957. This agreement was facilitated by President Luis Somoza Debayle as part of a resolution between the Nicaraguan league and organized baseball, which accused the league of "raiding" players from Mexican League clubs. [7] [8]

The Nicaraguan public's excitement for baseball grew as foreign professional teams and foreign players came to play in their country's winter league circuit. The teams from Bóer and León were the most successful teams in those years with three championships each. Due to economic difficulties, the league had to shut down in 1967, though baseball continued to be played in an amateur format.

Professional baseball was re-established in Nicaragua in 2004. Since then, Bóer has led the league in championships with six, their most recent victory coming in the 2022–23 season.

Current teams

TeamCityStadiumCapacityFounded
Indios del Bóer Managua Estadio Nacional Soberanía 15,0001905
Tigres de Chinandega Chinandega Estadio Efraín Tijerino 8,0001972
Gigantes de Rivas Rivas Estadio Yamil Ríos Ugarte 7,0002013
Leones de León León Estadio Rigoberto López Pérez 7,2001945
Tren del Norte Estelí Estadio Rufo Marín 1,2001961

Defunct teams

Defunct stadiums

Champions

Key
†Champions also won the Latin American Series that season
†Champions also won the Interamerican Series that season
SeasonChampionFinal
Series		Runners upManager
1956Season suspended due to the assassination of Anastasio Somoza García
1957 Leones de León Tony Castaño
1957–58 Leones de León (2)4–2 Cinco Estrellas Wilfredo Calviño
1958–59 Oriental 4–3 Indios del Bóer Roberto Fernandez Tapanes
1959–60 Leones de León (3)4–1 Cinco Estrellas Julio Moreno
1960–61Season canceled due to extreme weather [9]
1961–62 Cigarilleros del Marlboro [a] 4–2 Indios del Bóer Stanford Graham
1962–63 Indios del Bóer 2–1 Leones de León Tony Castaño
1963–64 Cinco Estrellas †4–2OrientalWilfredo Calviño
1964–65 Indios del Bóer (2)4–2Round robin [b] Calvin Byron
1965–66 Indios del Bóer (3)4–1 Leones de León Calvin Byron
1966–67 Cinco Estrellas (2)4–3 Indios del Bóer Julio Moreno
No professional baseball from 1967 to 2004
2004–05 Leones de León (4)4–3 Tigres de Chinandega Noel Areas
2005–06 Tigres de Chinandega 4–2 Fieras de San Fernando Jorge Fuentes
2006–07 Indios del Bóer (4)4–0 Leones de León Noel Areas
2007–08 Indios del Bóer (5)4–2Fieras de San Fernando Lourdes Gourriel
2008–09Season suspended
2009–10 Leones de León (5)4–1Oriental de GranadaRoger Guillén
2010–11 Indios del Bóer (6)4–1 Tigres de Chinandega Noel Areas
2011–12 Indios del Bóer (7)4–2 Tigres de Chinandega Julio César Sanchez
2012–13 Tigres de Chinandega (2)4–2Oriental de Granada Germán Mesa
2013–14 Gigantes de Rivas 4–1 Indios del Bóer Manny Collado
2014–15 Indios del Bóer (8)4–2 Gigantes de Rivas Javier Colina
2015–16 Gigantes de Rivas (2)†4–3Oriental de Granada Germán Mesa
2016–17 Tigres de Chinandega (3)†4–1 Gigantes de Rivas Len Picota
2017–18 Tigres de Chinandega (4)†4–1 Gigantes de Rivas Len Picota
2018–19 Leones de León (6)†4–1 Tigres de Chinandega Sandor Guido
2019–20 Leones de León (7)4–1 Tigres de Chinandega Sandor Guido
2020–21 Gigantes de Rivas (2)4–2 Tigres de Chinandega Joel Fuentes
2021–22 Leones de León (8)4–3 Gigantes de Rivas Sandor Guido
2022–23 Indios del Bóer (9)4–2 Gigantes de Rivas Joel Fuentes
2023–24 Gigantes de Rivas (3)4–2 Tren del Norte Germán Mesa
2024–25 Leones de León (9)4–3 Tren del Norte Sandor Guido

Championships by team

RankTeamWinsYears
1 Indios del Bóer 91962–63, 1964–65, 1965–66, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2022–23
2 Leones de León 91957, 1957–58, 1959–60, 2004–05, 2009–10, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2024-25
3 Tigres de Chinandega 42005–06, 2012–13, 2016–17, 2017–18
4 Gigantes de Rivas 32013–14, 2020–21, 2023–24
5 Cinco Estrellas 21963–64, 1966–67
6Oriental11958–59
Cigarilleros del Marlboro [a] 1961–62

International competition

From its inception, the Nicaraguan professional league sought to participate in international club competition. It hosted a tournament billed as the Serie Panamericana, or Pan-American Series, in 1958, inviting the champions of the Colombian and Mexican Pacific Leagues. [11] This tournament, won by Leones de León, was a success; Nicaraguan organizers hoped it would allow them to join the Caribbean Series, but such an invitation was not forthcoming. [12]

The LPBN did participate in the Interamerican Series three times [a] in the 1960s, while the Caribbean Series was suspended. It hosted the 1964 edition, which was won by Cinco Estrellas.

Nicaragua was an inaugural member of the Latin American Series, winning the tournament four times in the 2010s.

The LPBN would not participate in the Caribbean Series until 2024, when it was invited to participate in the tournament in Miami. [13] Their entry was controversial, because it was alleged that the regime of Daniel Ortega offered $1 million to the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation to secure the participation in the tournament. [14] [15]

Interamerican Series champions

SeasonWinner
1964 Cinco Estrellas

Latin American Series champions

SeasonWinner
2016 Gigantes de Rivas
2017 Tigres de Chinandega
2018 Tigres de Chinandega
2019 Leones de León

Individual leaders by year

Hitting

SeasonPlayerTeamPlayerTeamPlayerTeam
Batting average Home Runs RBI
2004–05Adolfo Matamoros Chinandega .378Luis Iglesias Chinandega 4Marlon AbeaSan Fernando33
Marlon AbeaSan Fernando4
2005–06Bárbaro Cañizares Bóer .352Michel Abreu Bóer 14Wilson Batista Chinandega 42
2006–07Justo Rivas León .377Clyde Williams Bóer 16Clyde Williams Bóer 40
2007–08 Ofilio Castro San Fernando.351Luke Gorsett Chinandega 6Danilo SoteloSan Fernando32
Jimmy HurtsSan Fernando6
Marcos SánchezSan Fernando6
2009–10 Jimmy González Granada.363Lenín Aragón Bóer 6Lenín Aragón Bóer 38
Edgard López León 38
2010–11José Campusano Bóer .363Brian Nichols León 10Manuel Mejía Bóer 37
2011–12Renato MoralesGranada.387Esteban Ramírez Chinandega 12 Wuillians Vasquez Bóer 51
2012–13 Yurendell DeCaster Chinandega .416 Yurendell DeCaster Chinandega 13 Yurendell DeCaster Chinandega 56
Ramón Flores Chinandega 13
2013–14 Wuillians Vasquez Chinandega .351Ronald GarthGranada8Esteban Ramírez Chinandega 35
2014–15 Yurendell DeCaster Rivas .368Rudy Van Heydoorm Rivas 6Ramón Flores Rivas 38
2015–16Jonel Pacheco Chinandega .427Juan C. TorresGranada6Ronald Garth Chinandega 30
2016–17 Wuillians Vasquez Rivas .407 Wuillians Vasquez Rivas 11 Wuillians Vasquez Rivas 55
2017–18Javier Robles Bóer .354 Curt Smith Chinandega 6Elmer Reyes Rivas 34
2018–19Elmer Reyes Bóer .360Juan Silverio Bóer 6Juan Silverio Bóer 19
2019–20Ofilio Castro León .409Alvaro Gonzalez Chinandega 10Elian Miranda Chinandega 31
Alvaro Gonzalez Chinandega 31
2020–21Ronald Garth León .400 Cheslor Cuthbert Rivas 9 Héctor Gómez Tren 41
Willy García Tren 9
2021–22Alay Largo Tren .424 Willy García Tren 11Alay Largo Tren 45
2022–23Manuel Geraldo Bóer .355Manuel Geraldo Bóer 7Manuel Geraldo Bóer 31
2023–24Omar Mendoza Chinandega .358Jesus Lopez Chinandega 8Omar Mendoza Chinandega 29
2024–25Sabriel Polanco Fernández Tren .369Ademar Rifaela Bóer 12 Chase Dawson León 37

Pitching

SeasonPlayerTeamPlayerTeamPlayerTeam
ERA Win–loss record Strikeouts
2004–05Julio RaudezSan Fernando1.46Julio RaudezSan Fernando10–3Miguel Pérez León 99
2005–06 Wilton López León 1.34Julio Raudez Chinandega 10–0Devern Hansack León 89
2006–07José Luis SáenzSan Fernando1.96 Wilton López León 8–2Willy LebrónSan Fernando/León 89
2007–08 Wilton López León 1.45Diego SandinoSan Fernando10–0Juan Figueroa Bóer 60
2009–10Wilfredo Amador León 1.95Wilder Rayo León 7–2Melvin CuevasGranada57
2010–11Carlos EstrellaGranada1.19Rodney RodríguezGranada8–5Rodney RodríguezGranada93
2011–12Eric Blackwell León 2.75Wilder Rayo León 8–3Juan FigueroaGranada74
2012–13Wilder Rayo León 2.06Juan FigueroaGranada7–1Juan FigueroaGranada79
2013–14Carlos Estrella Rivas 1.62 Carlos Téller Bóer 7–0Santos HernandezGranada71
2014–15Rodney Rodríguez Bóer 2.29Paul Estrada Chinandega 8–1Rodney Rodríguez Bóer 58
2015–16 Austin Davis Bóer 1.12Roger LuqueGranada5–2Paul Estrada Rivas 52
Abraham Elvira Chinandega 52
2016–17Gustavo MartínezGranada1.95José Rosario Rivas 7–1 Frankie de la Cruz Granada58
2017–18Jorge Bucardo Bóer 1.56Manauris Baez Bóer 5–0Paul Estrada Bóer 49
2018–19Luis Angel Mateo León 3.29Jorge Bucardo León 3–0Luis Angel Mateo León 35
2019–20Isaac Silva León 2.59Carlos Sano Chinandega 4–0Carlos Sano Chinandega 37
2020–21Leónardo Crawford Rivas 2.65Willy Paredes León 6-1 Alexander Santana Chinandega 47
2021–22Bryan Torres Rivas 0.81 Ronald Medrano Rivas 5-0Pedro Fernández Chinandega 71
2022–23Edgard Martinez Tren 2.22Yeudy García Bóer 5-0 Ronald Medrano Rivas 57
2023–24Yeris Gonzalez Chinandega 1.69Luis Ramirez Tren 6-2 Yoanner Negrín León 42
2024–25Ismael Cabrera Taveras León 1.11Bryan Torres León 7-0Luis E Peña León 57

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 The Nicaraguan league merged with the Panamanian Professional Baseball League for the 1961–62 season. That year, the champion was Marlboro, a Panama-based team.
  2. ↑ The 1964–65 playoffs were held in a round-robin format, as all four clubs finished the regular season with an identical record. Leon and Cinco Estrellas both tied for second, going 3–3 in the round-robin playoffs [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Nicaraguan fans riding clouds over feats of American players". The Sporting News. 15 January 1958.
  2. ↑ "EL SABADO SE INICIA EN NICARAGUA EL CAMPEONATO PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL" (in Spanish). La Prensa Libre. 1 March 1956. p. 5. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  3. ↑ "DECLARADO DESIERTO CAMPEONATO DE BEISBOL PROFESIONAL EN NICARAGUA" (in Spanish). Diario de Costa Rica. 30 September 1956. p. 15. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  4. ↑ "EL DOS DE MARZO SE INAUGURA EL CAMPEONATO PROFESIONAL DE BEISBOL NICARAGÜENSE" (in Spanish). La República. 27 February 1957. p. 19. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  5. ↑ "El Beisbol Profesional de Nicaragua". 1800beisbol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  6. ↑ Layton Revel; Luis Munoz. "Forgotten Heroes: Silvio Garcia" (PDF). Center for Negro League Baseball Research: 22.
  7. ↑ "Peace Pact Putting Nicaragua in O.B." The Sporting News. 12 June 1957.
  8. ↑ "Relación de los Rasgos de personalidad y el bajo rendimiento en jugadores de béisbol de la Liga Juvenil en el Reparto Antenor Sandino de León, febrero-julio" (PDF) (in Spanish). p. 10. Retrieved 2 October 2024.
  9. ↑ "Floods, Weak Economy Chill Nicaraguan League Hopes". The Sporting News. 16 November 1960. p. 32.
  10. ↑ "Grant Jackson's No Hitter Helps Boer Grab Title". The Sporting News. 13 February 1965. p. 25.
  11. ↑ "Colombia, Mexico sending champs to Managua series". The Sporting News. February 12, 1958. p. 25. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  12. ↑ "Pan-American title captured by Nicaragua". The Sporting News. February 26, 1958. p. 26. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  13. ↑ Enrique Rojas (July 24, 2023). "¿Por qué Colombia se quedó fuera de Serie Caribe 2024?". ESPN Deportes (in Spanish).
  14. ↑ "Colombia no va a la Serie del Caribe por diferencias en pago" (in Spanish). Diario Libre. 25 April 2023.
  15. ↑ "El régimen garantiza un millón de dólares para que Nicaragua participe en Serie del Caribe 2024". Despacho 505. 24 April 2023.
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