1971 Caribbean Series

The fourteenth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) baseball tournament was played in 1971. It was held from February 6 through February 11 with the champions teams from Dominican Republic, Tigres del Licey; Mexico, Naranjeros de Hermosillo; Puerto Rico, Cangrejeros de Santurce, and Venezuela, Tiburones de La Guaira. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico, which boosted its capacity to 18,000 seats. The first pitch was thrown by Bowie Kuhn, by then the Commissioner of Major League Baseball.

Summary

Dominican Republic captured the competition with an undefeated record of 6-0, behind a strong effort by manager Manny Mota, who also led the Series hitters with a .579 batting average (11-for-19) and won Most Valuable Player honors. The pitching support came from Chris Zachary (2-0), Reggie Cleveland (1-0), and reliever Pedro Borbón (1-0, two saves). Other key players for Licey included Jim Beauchamp, Carmen Fanzone, César Gerónimo, Elvio Jiménez and Rafael Robles.

Puerto Rico, Mexico and Venezuela shared second place with a 2-4 record.

Puerto Rico's team, managed by Frank Robinson, was a huge favorite to win the Series, thanks to a roster loaded with prominent players like Sandy Alomar, Don Baylor, Elrod Hendricks, Reggie Jackson, Mike Kekich, Buck Martinez, Jerry Morales, Tony Pérez, Juan Pizarro, but the team faded just after the first half.

For the first time, a representing team of Mexico took part in this tournament. Hermosillo was guided by Maury Wills and the offensive support came from Celerino Sánchez, who led the Series hitters in home runs (3) and RBI (9). Other noted players were Ed Acosta, Bobby Darwin, Héctor Espino, Francisco Estrada, Jim Ray, Sergio Robles, Vicente Romo and Zoilo Versalles.

Graciano Ravelo managed the Venezuela club, which was clearly led by Pat Kelly (.381 BA, 2 HR, .714 slugging) and Ángel Bravo (7-for-21, .333 BA), while Leo Cárdenas hit .409 (9-for-22) for an otherwise weak offense, bottomed out by Ed Spiezio (3-for-19, .158 BA), José Cardenal (4-for-22, .182 BA) and Enzo Hernández (6-for-23, .264). George Lauzerique (1-0, 1.64 ERA, 7 SO) was a high point in a pitching rotation headed by Larry Gura (0-1, 4.00), Steve Barber (0-2, 5.56) and Aurelio Monteagudo (0-1, 9.58). Orlando Peña (1-0, 3.00 ERA) provided a solid support in three relief appearances.


Final standings
ClubWLW/L %GB
Dominican Republic601.000 
Mexico24  .3334.0
Puerto Rico24  .3334.0
Venezuela24  .3334.0
Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Manny Mota/DOMBatting average.579
Celerino Sánchez/MEXHome runs    3
Celerino Sánchez/MEXRuns batted in    9
Teodoro Martínez/DOMRuns    9
Manny Mota/DOMHits  11
Pat Kelly/VENDoubles    2
Sandy Alomar/PRITriples    2
Tony Pérez/PRIStolen bases    2
Chris Zachary/DOMWins    2
George Lauzerique/VENStrikeouts    7
Chris Zachary/DOMEarned run average0.56
Chris Zachary/DOMInnings pitched  16
Pedro Borbón/DOM
Chi-Chi Olivo/DOM
Saves    2
Awards
Manny Mota/DOMMost Valuable Player
Manny Mota/DOMManager
All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Sergio Robles/MEXcatcher
Jim Beauchamp/DOMfirst baseman
Teodoro Martínez/DOMsecond baseman
Celerino Sánchez/MEXthird baseman
Milton Ramírez/PRIshortstop
José Herrera/VENleft fielder
Manny Mota/DOMcenter fielder
Pat Kelly/VENright fielder
Chris Zachary/DOMPitcher
Manny Mota/DOMmanager

Game 1, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic0021000205120
Venezuela0002110004  91
WP: Pedro Borbón (1-0)   LP: Steve Barber (0-1)   Sv: Don Shaw (1)
Home runs:
DOM: Rafael Robles (1), Freddie Velázquez (1)
VEN: Pat Kelly (1), Ed Spiezio (1)

Game 2, February 6

Team1234567891011RHE
Puerto Rico020002000015133
Mexico000001012004100
WP: Bob Chlupsa (1-0)   LP: Gary Ross (0-1)
Home runs:
PRI: Buck Martinez (1)
MEX: Celerino Sánchez (1), Zoilo Versalles 2 (2)

Game 3, February 7

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic0011140108101
Mexico0202001016111
WP: Reggie Cleveland (1-0)   LP: Alfredo Ortiz (0-1)   Sv: Román Colón (1)
Home runs:
DOM: None
MEX: Celerino Sánchez (2)

Game 4, February 7

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela020030001692
Puerto Rico002100110591
WP: Orlando Peña (1-0)   LP: William de Jesús (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: José Herrera (1)
PRI: Reggie Jackson (1)

Game 5, February 8

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela200000210592
Mexico000002000221
WP: George Lauzerique (1-0)   LP: José Peña (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: José Cardenal (1), Pat Kelly (2)
MEX: None

Game 6, February 8

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico002000200491
Dominican Republic01102100X594
WP: Harry Parker (1-0)   LP: Joe Decker (0-1)   Sv: Chi-Chi Olivo (1)

Game 7, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0100000012112
Dominican Republic10000003X4  72
WP: Chi-Chi Olivo (1-0)   LP: Larry Gura (0-1)   Sv: Pedro Borbón (1)

Game 8, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Mexico0100040027102
Puerto Rico0004100005  91
WP: Manuel Lugo (1-0)   LP: Rubén Gómez (0-1)   Sv: Gary Ross (1)
Home runs:
MEX: Celerino Sánchez (3)
PRI: None

Game 9, February 10

Team123456789RHE
Mexico0000000000  22
Dominican Republic00000131X5100
WP: Chris Zachary (1-0)   LP: Maximino León (0-1)

Game 10, February 10

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0102000003110
Venezuela0000001012  80
WP: Mike Kekich (1-0)   LP: Steve Barber (0-2)   Sv: Roger Moret (1)

Game 11, February 11

Team123456789RHE
Mexico2002300007132
Venezuela0100000102  60
WP: Jim Ray (1-0)   LP: Aurelio Monteagudo (0-1)

Game 12, February 11

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic0300200016152
Puerto Rico0100000124  40
WP: Chris Zachary (2-0)   LP: Dave Leonhard (0-1)   Sv: Chi-Chi Olivo (2)
Home runs:
DOM: None
PRI: Arsenio Rodríguez (1), Elrod Hendricks (1)

See also

Sources

  • Antero Núñez, José. Series del Caribe. Jefferson, Caracas, Venezuela: Impresos Urbina, C.A., 1987.
  • Gutiérrez, Daniel. Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela – 1895–2006 . Caracas, Venezuela: Impresión Arte, C.A., 2007.
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