1972 Caribbean Series

The fifteenth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1972. It was held from February 1 through February 6 with the champions teams from Dominican Republic (Aguilas Cibaeñas), Mexico (Algodoneros de Guasave), Puerto Rico (Leones de Ponce) and Venezuela (Tigres de Aragua). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio Quisqueya in Santo Domingo, D.R., which boosted capacity to 14.000 seats, and the first pitch was thrown by Joaquín Balaguer, by then the President of Dominican Republic.

Summary

Puerto Rico won the Series with a 5-1 record and was managed by Frank Verdi. The Leones de Ponce was in the middle of the pack in runs scored (33), prevailing their strong pitching. The club got a fine offensive performances from 1B and Series Most Valuable Player Carlos May, who won the batting title with a .455 batting average (10-for-22), while three of the four series home runs were belted by outfielders Don Baylor (grand slam), Tommy Cruz and Rusty Torres. The pitching staff posted a collective 1.67 ERA, including two shutouts by Gary Neibauer (one-hit) and Daryl Patterson, and received fine efforts from Gary Jones (2-0, 0.81 ERA, 11.0 innings pitched), and Jim Magnuson (1-0, 1.00 ERA). Other significant players in the roster included Sandy Alomar (2B), Bernie Carbo (OF), Pat Corrales (C), José Cruz (OF), Jackie Hernández (SS), José Ortiz (OF), Santiago Rosario (PH) and Chris Zachary (P).

Dominican Republic and Venezuela finished tied for second place with a 3-3 mark.

The Dominican's Aguilas Cibaeñas squad was piloted by Ozzie Virgil. Other than Secundino Almonte (five-hit shutout), Gene Garber (1-1, 2.57 ERA) and Ed Acosta (1-0, 4.97), the pitching staff was inconsistent at times. Two hitters carried much of the offensive weight, RF César Cedeño (.348 BA) and LF Adrian Garrett (one home run, four RBI). The team also featured Ps Charlie Hough, Juan Jiménez and Ray Newman; C Charlie Sands; IFs Julián Javier, Winston Llenas, Ted Martínez and Frank Taveras, and OFs César Cedeño, Gene Clines and Sam Mejías.

The Venezuelan Tigres de Aragua debuted in the tournament, being guided by manager/second baseman Rod Carew (.400 BA, .500 SLG); C Faustino Zabala (.333 BA, .476 SLG) and SS Dave Concepción (.348 BA, /435 SLG). The pitching support came from starters Alan Closter (2-0, 3.38 ERA, nine strikeouts in 13 ⅓ IP) Earl Stephenson (1-0, 0/0.00 ERA, 13 strikeouts in 10 ⅔ IP) and Milt Wilcox (1-1, 1.76 ERA, 14 SO), and closer Roberto Muñoz (0-1, three saves in five games). The Venezuelan club also featured players as Ps Aurelio Monteagudo and Pablo Torrealba; IFs Brant Alyea, César Gutiérrez and Luis Salazar, and OFs Ted Ford, Pat Kelly and César Tovar.

Mexico was represented by the Algodoneros de Guasave and finished last at 1-5. The hapless Mexicans were piloted by Vinicio (Chico) García, as the team scored the fewest runs (12) and set a series record for most consecutive shutouts (2). Thor Skogan did an excellent job, pitching a five-hit shutout in Game 2 and losing a 1-0 decision in Game 9, after allowing just one hit and one unearned run. 3B Celerino Sánchez (.333) and OF Ramón Montoya (.312) led the attack for an otherwise weak offense. Were also included in the roster Héctor Espino (IF), Al Hrabosky (P), Sergio Robles (C) and Aurelio Rodríguez (IF)



Final standings
CountryClubWLW/L %GB
Puerto RicoLeones de Ponce51.833 
Dominican RepublicAguilas Cibaeñas33.5002.0
VenezuelaTigres de Aragua33.5002.0
MexicoAlgodoneros de Guasave15.1674.0


Individual leaders
PlayerStatistic
Carlos May (PRI)Batting average  .455
Don Baylor (PRI)
Tommy Cruz (PRI)
Adrian Garrett (DOM)
Rusty Torres (PRI)
Home runs      1
Don Baylor (PRI)RBI      6
Jackie Hernández (PRI)Runs      7
Carlos May (PRI)Hits    10
Brant Alyea (VEN)
Ted Ford (VEN)
Pat Kelly (VEN)
Doubles      2
Santos Alomar (PRI)
Rod Carew (VEN)
David Concepción (VEN)
Faustino Zabala (VEN)
Triples      1
Seven tiedStolen bases      1
Alan Closter (VEN)
Gary Jones (PRI)
Wins      2
Alan Closter (VEN)Strikeouts    16
Thor Skogan (MEX)ERA  0.00
Thor Skogan (MEX)Innings pitched  18.0
Roberto Muñoz (VEN)Saves      3
Roberto Muñoz (VEN)Games pitched      5
Awards
Carlos May (PRI)Most Valuable Player
Frank Verdi (PRI)Manager


All-Star Team
NamePosition
Faustino Zabala (VEN)catcher
Carlos May (PRI)first baseman
Rod Carew (VEN)second baseman
Celerino Sánchez (MEX)third baseman
David Concepción (VEN)shortstop
Don Baylor (PRI)left fielder
Ramón Montoya (MEX)center fielder
César Cedeño (DOM)right fielder
Thor Skogan (MEX)starting pitcher
Roberto Muñoz (VEN)relief pitcher
Frank Verdi (PRI)manager

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 1

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000002101472
Venezuela001002000282
WP: Gary Jones (1-0)   LP: Milt Wilcox (0-1)   Sv: Gary Neibauer (1)

Game 2, February 1

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic00000000  0  52
Mexico00203023X10134
WP: Thor Skogan (1-0)   LP: Gene Garber (0-1)

Game 3, February 2

Team123456789RHE
Mexico0000000000  84
Puerto Rico10014110X8120
WP: Daryl Patterson (1-0)   LP: Félipe Leal (0-1)

Game 4, February 2

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0020022006101
Dominican Republic0000000004  60
WP: Alan Closter (1-0)   LP: Charlie Hough (0-1)   Sv: Roberto Muñoz (1)

Game 5, February 3

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela000001000191
Puerto Rico000000000041
WP: Earl Stephenson (1-0)   LP: Al Hrabosky (0-1)   Sv: Roberto Muñoz (2)

Game 6, February 3

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic000000001172
Puerto Rico000010001260
WP: Gary Jones (2-0)   LP: Charlie Hough (0-2)
Home runs:
DOM: None
PRI: Rusty Torres (1)

Game 7, February 4

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0010000001  72
Puerto Rico03043003X13143
WP: Jim Magnuson (1-0)   LP: Pablo Torrealba (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
PRI: Don Baylor (1), Tommy Cruz (1)

Game 8, February 4

Team123456789RHE
Mexico0000000000  51
Dominican Republic00000210X3100
WP: Secundino Almonte (1-0)   LP: Mike Baldwin (0-1)
Home runs:
MEX: None
DOM: Adrian Garrett (1)

Game 9, February 5

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000001000140
Mexico000000000011
WP: Gary Neibauer (1-0)   LP: Thor Skogan (1-1)

Game 10, February 5

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic000100001271
Venezuela001000000181
WP: Gene Garber (1-1)   LP: Milt Wilcox (0-1)

Game 11, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Mexico0110000002  80
Venezuela0101000=2X4120
WP: Alan Closter (2-0)   LP: Raúl Gómez (0-1)   Sv: Roberto Muñoz (3)

Game 12, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0110100205  91
Dominican Republic01100220X6102
WP: Ed Acosta (1-0)   LP: Raúl Mercado (0-1)   Sv: Charlie Hough (1)

See also

Sources

  • Antero Núñez, José. Series del Caribe. Impresos Urbina, Caracas, Venezuela.
  • Araujo Bojórquez, Alfonso. Series del Caribe: Narraciones y estadísticas, 1949-2001. Colegio de Bachilleres del Estado de Sinaloa, Mexico.
  • Figueredo, Jorge S. Cuban Baseball: A Statistical History, 1878 - 1961. Macfarland & Co., United States.
  • González Echevarría, Roberto. The Pride of Havana. Oxford University Express.
  • Gutiérrez, Daniel. Enciclopedia del Béisbol en Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela.

 

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