Winter League Baseball
MEXICO * DOMINICAN REPUBLIC * PUERTO RICO * VENEZUELA * CUBA
This year's Serie del Caribe was originally scheduled for play in Barquisimeto, Venezuela. During the summer, however, the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation voted in favor of relocating the winter league tournament, due to instability in the region, back to Mexico for a second consecutive year. Therefore, Jalisco Stadium, home of Los Charros de Jalisco, Guadalajara, will host this year's field of five. Culiacan, Mexico, was the site of last year's games. Barquisimento is still tentatively in line to host next year's series.
Estadio Charro, Guadalajara
Mexico
Site offers a comprehensive overview of
entire 2017-2018 Winter League season.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
- Round Robin, Feb. 2-6
- Semi-Finals, Feb. 7
- Final, Feb. 8
CHAMPION: Tomateros de Culiacan (def. Mayos de Navojoa)
A member of the confederation since 1971, Mexico is third among the field with nine Serie del Caribe championships. More recently, they've won four titles in the last seven years, and seven titles since 2001. Los Venados de Mazatlan captured Mexico's last Caribbean title in 2016.
Los Tomateros de Culiacan won their second Pacific League championship in the last four years. Their eleven league titles are second most in LMP history behind los Naranjeros del Hermosillo.
Culiacan is vying for a third Serie del Caribe championship, having previously captured Caribbean titles back in 1996 and 2002.
CHAMPION: Aguilas Cibaenas (def. Tigres de Licey)
A member of the confederation since 1970, Dominican Republic leads the field with nineteen Serie del Caribe championships. Like Mexico, they have won seven championships since 2001. Los Leones de Escogido are the last Dominican member club to win a Caribbean title back in 2012. Los Tigres de Licey hold the Serie del Caribe record with ten championships.
Licey defeated Aguilas Cibaenas last year to win their league leading 22nd championship. This year, Aguilas exacted their revenge, defeating Licey to capture their 21st Dominican league title.
Aguilas returns to the Serie del Caribe for the first time since 2008. Their five Serie del Caribe championships are tied with Puerto Rico's Cangrejeros de Santurce for second most among all winter league member clubs. They are also one of only nine teams to ever sweep the field, posting a perfect 6-0 record in 1998.
CHAMPION: Criollos de Caguas (def. Cangrejeros de Santurce)
- In the aftermath of both Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, and the conditions brought to bear upon the island, Puerto Rico's professional baseball league still managed an abbreviated season (under amended rules) whereby four participating teams faced each other six times each.
An original member of the confederation since 1949, Puerto Rico is the defending Caribbean champion. Their fifteen Serie del Caribe titles are second most in tournament history. However, their last two titles came seventeen years apart. Los Cangrejeros de Santurce won the tournament back in 2000; Puerto Rico did not win another until last year.
Los Criollos de Caguas are back-to-back LBPRC champions. They turned away Santurce to capture their eighteenth league championship, tying them with los Indios de Mayaguez for most titles in Puerto Rican league history.
Caguas is also the defending Serie del Caribe champion. They edged host Mexico 1-0 in 10-innings last year to win their fourth Caribbean title in Criollos history. That ties them with los Leones de Escogido (D.R.) for the third most Caribbean championships among all winter league member clubs.
CHAMPION: Caribes de Anzoategui (def. Cardenales de Lara)
The first ever Serie del Caribe tournament played in 1949 was the brainchild of two Venezuelan business partners, Oscar Prieto Ortiz, and Pablo Morales, according to Wikipedia.
An original member of the confederation since 1949, Venezuela has won seven Serie del Caribe championships. Los Tigres de Aragua are the last Venezuelan club to win the tournament back in 2009.
Established in 1987, los Caribes de Anzoategui claimed their third LVBP title, and thus will be making their third Serie del Caribe appearance since 2011.
CHAMPION: Alazanes de Granma (def. Caneros de Las Tunas)
The first ever Serie del Caribe tournament played in 1949 was held at Havana, and won by host Cuba. In fact, they dominated the field through the tournament's first twelve years, winning seven titles and reeling off five in a row from 1956 through 1960.
Then along came Fidel Castro. As part of his greater revolution, Fidel disbanded Cuba's professional league and nationalized the game. The Serie del Caribe, as a result, was suspended from 1961 through 1969. While baseball in Cuba has remained an amateur endeavor ever since, the winter league tournament reconvened in 1970 without them. Returning members Puerto Rico and Venezuela were joined by the Dominican Republic in 1970, then by Mexico in 1971.
After 54-years of Cold War and thaw, Cuba was invited back into the fold. By 2015, they were winning their eighth Serie del Caribe championship.
Established in 1977, los Alazanes de Granma are back-to-back Serie Nacional de Cuba champions, and therefore are making their second straight Serie del Caribe appearance.
Winter Leagues: Hank Aaron in 1953 playing for Caguas Criollos.
EXTRA INNINGS:
- Panama (1949-1960) was the fourth member of the original confederation. In 1950, they captured their first, and only Serie del Caribe championship. Panama did not return when the confederation reconvened in 1970. Last year, the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation announced in March that Panama will be rejoining the tournament in 2019.
- Serie del Caribe alumni: Roberto Clemente; Roberto Alomar; Willie Mays; Tony Perez; Ken Griffey Jr.; Mike Schmidt; Vladimir Guerrero; Rod Carew; Luis Aparicio; Gary Carter; Pedro Martinez; Ivan Rodriguez; Manny Mota; Edgar Martinez; Carlos Beltran; Bartolo Colon; Carlos Delgado; David Ortiz; Vinny Castilla; George Bell; Miguel Tejada; Steve Garvey; Juan Gonzalez; Terry Francona; Magglio Ordonez; Dave Concepcion; Carlos Baerga; Joaquin Andujar; Vic Power; Bernie Williams.
- This is the 60th anniversary of the Serie del Caribe.
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