Winter League Baseball: Serie del Caribe 2018-2019 Preview

2018~2019

61st EDITION

With political turmoil raging throughout Venezuela, for a second straight year the Caribbean Confederation of Professional Baseball was left with no choice but to withdraw out of the city of Barquisimeto.  But whereas the decision to relocate last year's tourney was made in mid-summer,  thus facilitating a smooth transition to Jalisco, Mexico, this year's sudden outbreak of violence left little time for relocating a complex multinational event of this kind.  As such, the 61st edition of Serie del Caribe itself faced outright cancellation.  It would have marked the first tournament postponement since 1981, not coincidentally caused by the Venezuelan league players' strike.

Last year marked Mexico's second straight season as host nation.  As a result, they expressed a reluctance to host a third straight tournament.  Meanwhile, Puerto Rico is still beset with post Hurricane Maria recovery, and is in no position to host.  Dominican Republic offered to host but at the participating country's expense.  Cuba since 2014 is still technically considered a guest of the Caribbean Confederation, and therefore is not yet a host consideration.

Three cheers and bienvenidos a Panama, who at the last minute step in to become this year's Most Valuable Host.  The 2018-2019 Serie del Caribe goes on as scheduled, to be played at Rod Carew Stadium in Panama City.

This marks Panama's long awaited return to Caribe play.  Along with Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and Cuba, they were charter members (1949-1960) of the original confederation, which was forced to disband upon onset of Fidel Castro's Communist revolution.  The original plan was to integrate Panama back into Caribe play by next year.  But considering the circumstances, a year earlier than anticipated suits everyone just fine.

CARIBBEAN CONFEDERATION CHARTER MEMBERS: 1949-1960

• Venezuela (0)
• Panama (1)
• Puerto Rico (4)
• Cuba (7)
• *Serie del Caribe titles

By 1959-1960, Cuba's Communist Revolution seizes control of government.  Fidel Castro nationalizes the country's baseball enterprise, and by banning professionalism transforms the game into regional divisions of strictly amateur competition.  The Serie del Caribe is suspended from 1961 through 1969 as a result.  Panama folds operations.  The circuit is reformed in 1970 with returning charter members Puerto Rico and Venezuela.  Dominican Republic joins the loop in 1970, and Mexico joins the following year.  These four member circuits now make up the present body of the Caribbean Confederation of Professional Baseball.  As a result of slow and steady thawing of decades long political tensions, the Confederation invited Cuba back in 2014 as a guest participant.

Serie del Caribe

Caribbean Confederation of Professional Baseball

CARIBBEAN CONFEDERATION REFORMED MEMBERS: 1970-present

• Dominican Republic (19)
• Puerto Rico (12)
• Mexico (9)
• Venezuela (7)

• Cuba (1) guest participant
• Panama (0) guest participant
• * Serie del Caribe titles

PANAMA (HOST)
Serie del Caribe Championships: 1950

• PROBEIS/Liga de Beisbol Profesional de Panama

LBP Champions: Torros de Herrera

• Torros defeat Aguilas Metropolitanas (3-1; best of five series) capturing club's first Panamanian League championship in only second season of existence.

• Los Torros de Herrera moved on to represent Panama in the Serie Latino Americana 2019.

CUBA
Serie del Caribe Champions: 1949; 1952; 1956-1960; 2015

• BaseballDeCuba

Serie Nacional CHAMPIONS: LENADORES de LAS TUNAS

• Club Founded: 1977
• Record: 65-45 (.591)
• 2018-2019 First Time Serie Nacional Champions/58th Edition; Defeat Leopardos de Villa Clara (four games to one).

• Cuban Baseball Federation Reveals Las Tunas final roster for Serie del Caribe

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Serie del Caribe Champions: 1971; 1973; 1977; 1980; 1985; 1988; 1990-1991; 1994; 1997-1999; 2001; 2003-2004; 2007-2008; 2010; 2012.

• Liga Beisbol Profesional Republica Dominicana

LIDOM CHAMPIONS: ESTRELLAS de ORIENTALES 

• Club Founded: 1910
• Dominican League Champions: 1936
• LIDOM Champions: 1954; 1968; 2019
• Serie del Caribe Champions: none

PUERTO RICO
Serie del Caribe Champions: 1951; 1953-1955; 1972; 1974-1975; 1978; 1983; 1987; 1992-1993; 1995; 2000; 2017-2018

• Liga Beisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

LBPRC CHAMPIONS: CANGREJEROS de SANTURCE 

• Club Founded: 1939
• LBPRC Champions: 1951; 1953; 1955; 1959; 1962; 1965; 1967; 1971; 1973; 1991; 1993; 2000; 2015-2016; 2019
• Serie del Caribe Champions: 1951; 1953; 1955; 1993; 2000

MEXICO

Serie del Caribe Champions: 1976; 1986; 1996; 2002; 2005; 2011; 2013-2014; 2016.

• Liga Mexicana del Pacifico

LMP CHAMPIONS: CHARROS de JALISCO

• Club Founded: 2014
• LMP Champions: 2019
• Serie del Caribe Champions: none

VENEZUELA
Serie del Caribe Champions: 1970; 1979; 1982; 1984; 1989; 2006; 2009

• Liga Venezulana Beisbol Profesional

Despite political and civil unrest dominating the nation's attention, the LVBP championship series  pressed on.

LVBP CHAMPIONS: LOS CARDENALES de LARA

• Club Founded: 1942
• LVBP Champions: 1991; 1998; 2000-2001
• Serie del Caribe Champions: none

ROD CAREW STADIUM

Estadio Nacional de Panama

Panama City

(Feb. 4-10)

GROUP A:

1. CUBA - Lenadores de Las Tunas
2. MEXICO - Charros de Jalisco
3. VENEZUELA - Cardenales de Lara

GROUP B:

1. PUERTO RICO - Cangrejeros de Santurce
2. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC - Estrellas de Orientales
3. PANAMA - Torros de Herrera

Serie del Caribe 

Baseball Hall of Fame Participants:

Jim Bunning ~ Rod Carew ~ Orlando Cepeda ~ Roberto Alomar ~ Monte Irvin ~ Willie Mays Rickey Henderson ~ Reggie Jackson ~ Roberto Cemente ~ Tony LaRussa ~ Juan Marichal Tom Lasorda ~ Edgar Martinez ~ Pedro Martinez ~ Satchel Paige ~ Mike Piazza ~ Tony Perez ~ Frank Robinson Ivan Rodriguez ~ Mike Schmidt ~ Hoyt Wilhelm

* Caribbean Series Baseball Reference

* ESPN Deportes

* Caribbean World Series