The twenty-fifth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1983. It was held from February 4 through February 9 with the champion teams from Dominican Republic (Tigres del Licey), Mexico (Tomateros de Culiacán), Puerto Rico (Lobos de Arecibo) and Venezuela (Tiburones de La Guaira). The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio Universitario in Caracas, Venezuela. Bowie Kuhn, the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, attended the Series, and the first pitch was thrown by Oscar Prieto, Leones del Caracas majority owner and one of the series brainchild.

Summary

The Puerto Rico team was piloted by Ron Clark. After being mauled by the Dominicans in the opening, 17-2, Arecibo crushed the Mexicans 9-1 and defeated Venezuela, 7-6, in 11 innings. Later, a solid effort came from Kevin Hagen and Rich Bordi, both pitching complete games, to beat Mexico and the Dominican Republic. By beating Venezuela and Mexico in their last two games, the Lobos ended with a 5-1 mark en route to winning one of the most celebrated victories in Puerto Rican baseball history. Outfielder Glenn Walker was selected as Most Valuable Player and was chosen for the All-Star Team along Candy Maldonado and Dickie Thon. Other significant members of the roster included pitchers John Hobbs, Gary Lance and Edwin Núñez; catcher Orlando Mercado; infielders Ramón Avilés, Onix Concepción and Wayne Tolleson, as well as utilities Henry Cruz, Carmelo Martínez and Ken Phelps.

Venezuela, managed by Ozzie Virgil, finished in second place with a 4-2 record and also had the only shutout in the Series, by Rick Anderson, who limited the Mexicans to five hits while striking out nine. Second baseman Derrel Thomas paced the Tiburones offense, hitting .476 (10-for-21) to win the batting title and slugged .714. Other contributions came from right fielder Tony Armas (.269 BA, 3 HR, 6 RBI, .654 SLG), first baseman Ron Jackson (.360, 2 HR, 6 RBI, .680 SLG) and reliever Luis Aponte (1-0, one save, six SO in 6.0 innings of work). Other roster members included pitchers Bryan Clark, Luis Leal, Luis Sánchez, Albert Williams and Matt Young; catchers Bruce Bochy and Baudilio (Bo) Díaz; infielders Dave Concepción and Leo Hernández; outfielders Robert Marcano and Luis Salazar, and utilities Ozzie Guillén, Argenis Salazar and Manny Trillo.

The Dominican Republic, guided by Manny Mota, finished 3-3 and had to settle for a modest third place. The most prominent players were catcher Luis Pujols, third baseman Howard Johnson and outfielder César Gerónimo, who were included in the All-Star Team. Meanwhile, pitchers Alejandro Peña, Cliff Speck and David Grier got the victories. The Licey team also featured players such as Steve Baker (P), Tony Fernández (SS), Alfredo Griffin (2B), Pedro Guerrero (1B), Mike Howard (IF/OF), Rafael Landestoy (OF), Ted Martínez (IF), Orlando Peña (P) and Rafael Santana (IF).

Tomateros de Culiacán, led by catcher/manager Francisco Estrada, presented an All-Mexican squad which included local legends such as Cy Acosta (P), Salomé Barojas (P), Nelson Barrera (1B), Bobby Cuellar (P), Maximino León (P), Aurelio López (3B), Mario Mendoza (SS), Vicente Romo (P) and Jesús Sommers (DH). But the opportune hitting and strong defense were undermined by below average running speed and poor bullpen support. Mexico finished with a 0-6 record, to become the second winless team in Series history.



Final standings
ClubWLW/L %GB
Puerto Rico51.833 
Venezuela42.6671.0
Dominican Republic33.5003.0
Mexico06.0005.0
Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Derrel Thomas / VENBatting average.476
Tony Armas / VENHome runs    3
Howard Johnson / DOMRBI    8
Candy Maldonado / PRIRuns    8
Derrel Thomas / VENHits  10
Eight tiedDoubles    2
Bo Díaz / VENTriples    1
Four tiedStolen bases    1
Twelve tiedWins    1
Rick Anderson / VEN
Odell Jones / VEN
Strikeouts    9
Rick Anderson / VENERA0.00
Three tiedSaves    1
Odell Jones / VENInnings pitched11 ⅔
Awards
Glenn Walker / PRIMost Valuable Player
Ron Clark / PRIManager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
Luis Pujols / DOMcatcher
Ron Jackson / VENfirst baseman
Derrel Thomas / VENsecond baseman
Howard Johnson / DOMthird baseman
Dickie Thon / PRI /shortstop
Glenn Walker / PRIleft fielder
Candy Maldonado / PRIcenter fielder
Tony Armas / VENright fielder
César Gerónimo / DOMdesignated hitter
Rick Anderson / VENRH pitcher
Bryan Clark / VENLH pitcher
Ron Clark / PRImanager

Scoreboards

Game 1, February 4

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000000020  2  73
Dominican Republic44000108X17160
WP: Alejandro Peña (1-0)   LP: René Quiñones (0-1)
Home runs:
PUR: None
DOM: Howard Johnson 2 (2), Luis Pujols (1)

Game 2, February 4

Team123456789RHE
Mexico200000000271
Venezuela000000003380
WP: Luis Aponte (1-0)   LP: Antonio Pulido (0-1)
Home runs:
MEX: None
VEN: Ron Jackson (1)

Game 3, February 5

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic0402000219101
Mexico0000000011  71
WP: Cliff Speck (1-0)   LP: Ernesto Escárrega (0-1)
Home runs:
DOM: Tony Fernández (1), Luis Pujols (2)
MEX: None

Game 4, February 5

Team1234567891011RHE
Venezuela112000200006111
Puerto Rico200200002017143
WP: Gary Lance (1-0)   LP: Luis Sánchez (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: Tony Armas (1)
PUR: Carmelo Martínez (1)

Game 5, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic000101000261
Venezuela20010000X390
WP: Bryan Clark (1-0)   LP: Steve Baker (0-1)   Sv: Albert Williams (1)

Game 6, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico000000020280
Mexico010000000150
WP: Kevin Hagen (1-0)   LP: Alejo Ahumada (0-1)

Game 7, February 7

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic0030000104101
Puerto Rico40001020X7  50
WP: Rich Bordi (1-0)   LP: Jim Siwy (0-1)
Home runs:
DOM: None
PUR: Glenn Walker (1), Dickie Thon (1)

Game 8, February 7

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela030011000570
Mexico000000000050
WP: Rick Anderson (1-0)   LP: Mercedes Esquer (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: Ron Jackson (2)
MEX: None

Game 9, February 8

Team123456789RHE
Mexico003001011  6  72
Dominican Republic00305401X13120
WP: David Grier (1-0)   LP: Vicente Romo (0-1)
Home runs:
MEX: Ricardo Guerra (1), Jesús Sommers (1)
DOM: None

Game 10, February 8

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico0110210005131
Venezuela0001000203 71
WP: Jesús Hernáiz (1-0)   LP: Odell Jones (0-1)   Sv: Gary Lance (1)
Home runs:
PUR: Glenn Walker (2), Jesús Vega 2 (2)
VEN: Tony Armas (2)

Game 11, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Mexico001050000  6103
Puerto Rico02202500X11110
WP: Keith Creal (1-0)   LP: Maximino León (0-1)
Home runs:
MEX: Nelson Barrera (1)
PUR: Candy Maldonado (1)

Game 12, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela3120001007110
Dominican Republic0311100006132
WP: Matt Young (1-0)   LP: Joe Beckwith (0-1)   Sv: Luis Aponte (1)
Home runs:
VEN: Tony Armas (3)
DOM: Pedro Guerrero (1), Pedro Hernández (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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