Preview: Serie del Caribe 2017

From the desk of: Winter League Baseball

SERIE del CARIBE
2017
CULIACAN, MEXICO

THE FIELD of FIVE

LIGA de BEISBOL PROFESIONAL DOMINICANA

The Dominican Republic leads all winter baseball circuits with 19 Serie del Caribe championships.

• 2016-17 LIDOM Title: Tigres del Licey defeat Aguilas Cibaenis.

Founded in 1907, Licey is a titan of international competition.  They lead all Dominican professional baseball clubs with 24 league titles.  Their 10 Serie del Caribe titles are the most by any Winter League organization, their last coming in 2008.  Licey has also run the table on three occasions, going undefeated in 1971, 1977, 1991 ... another Serie del Caribe record.


LIGA MEXICANA del PACIFICO

Mexico is the defending Caribbean champion (Venados de Mazatlan).  The LMP has emerged into a winter league power in recent years, winning four of the last six Serie del Caribe titles, and nine overall.

• 2016-17 LMP Title: Aguilas de Mexicali defeat Caneros de los Mochis.

• Culiacan, Mexico, home of los Tomateros de Culiacan, will serve as this year's host.  All games will be played in new Tomateros Stadium opened in 2015.  Click link for virtual view.

Founded in 1976, the Eagles of Mexicali have won four LMP titles, and earned their only Series del Caribe title in 1986.


LIGA de BEISBOL PROFESIONAL ROBERTO CLEMENTE

Puerto Rico is second behind the Dominican Republic with 14 Serie del Caribe titles.   They have gone 16 years (2000), however, since capturing their last.

• 2016-17 LBPRC Title: Criollos de Caguas defeat Cangrejeros de Santurce.

• ICYMI: LBPRC Serie Final Review, Criollos retire Ivan Rodriguez #7, and more

Founded in 1938, los Criollos de Caguas have won 17 league pennants, and three Serie del Caribe titles (1954, 1974, 1987), ranking them fifth among winter league clubs.


LIGA VENEZOLANA de BEISBOL PROFESIONAL

Next year's scheduled host, Venezuela has won seven Serie del Caribe titles, their last coming in 2009.

• 2016-17 LVBP Title: Aguilas de Zulia defeat Cardenales de Lara.

Founded in 1969, the Eagles of Zulia have won six LVBP titles, and earned a pair of Serie del Caribe victories in 1984 and 1989.


SERIE NACIONAL de CUBA

The original Confederation of Caribbean Baseball was comprised of Cuba, Panama, Venezuela, and Puerto Rico.  Cuba won the inaugural Serie del Caribe of 1949, then a second in 1952.  Between 1956 through 1960, Cuba reeled off another five straight Caribbean titles.  After more than a half-century of non-participation, Cuba won the 2015 Serie del Caribe.

• 2016-17 SNC Title: Alazanes de Granma defeat Ciego de Avila.

Founded in 1977, this season marked los Alazanes de Granma first ever Serie Nacional title.  Granma is the former team of NYM outfielder Yoenis Cespedes.

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As part of the revolution in Cuba, Fidel Castro disbanded the county's professional baseball circuits. At the same time, Panama's professional league ceased operations as well.  As a result, the Serie del Caribe was suspended between the years 1961 through 1969.

Since 1961, all Cuban players remain amateurs within their nationalized baseball structure.

The years prior to 1961 are referred to as Stage One Serie del Caribe.

The four team Caribbean tournament resumed when the Dominican Republic joined the confederation in 1970 along with returning Venezuela and Puerto Rico, and when Mexico joined in 1971.

The era since 1970 through the present time is referred to as Stage Two.

Generally speaking, the United States trade embargo against Cuba has long prevented direct competition between nations, and impacted all winter league rosters where it concerned American players under contract with MLB.

Aside from perhaps the Pan-American Games and Olympics, the process of reintegrating Cuba into the greater baseball community of the Americas began in earnest with the 2006 World Baseball Classic.  After which, having Cuba rejoin Caribbean competition seemed just a matter of time.  In 2014 Cuba participated in their first Serie del Caribe since 1960, and a short year later captured their first Serie del Caribe title in 55 years, the country's eighth overall.

Despite the loosening of several restrictions, and suggestions of further attempts at normalizing relations, the embargo against Cuba still remains largely in place.

Now making their fourth straight reappearance in the Serie del Caribe, Cuba continues participating on an invitation basis extended by the four member confederation.

Despite the loosening of several restrictions, and suggestions of further attempts at normalizing relations, the embargo against Cuba still remains largely in place.