Baseball in Mexico
Baseball (Spanish: Béisbol ) is a very popular sport in Mexico . The origins of the sport go back to the 19th century. In the 1870s the sport found its way from the USA , especially from Texas , to northern and central Mexico, while to Yucatán the route mainly led through Cuba during the 1890s.
The first Mexican professional league was founded in 1925: the Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (LMB) with six teams (74 Regimiento, Club México, Agraria de México, Nacional de México, Club Guanajuato and Rojos del Águila de Veracruz) from the Mexico City region , Guanajuato and Veracruz . In 1937 this league established itself with 15 teams beyond the borders of central Mexico, including the Monterrey Industriales, the Nuevo Laredo Tecolotes and the Torreón Algodoneros.
In 1945 today's Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (LMP) was founded with four teams, today it consists of eight. These play from October to January, i.e. a winter season, also with players from the American professional league ( Major League Baseball ), after which the league takes part in the series del Caribe . In 1955, the LMB was on the verge of collapse, then it was rescued under new league leadership, which among other things agreed on a contractual cooperation with the US professional league Major League Baseball (MLB). In 1973 the LMB played with 16 teams in four divisions (Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest). In 1979 it was increased to 20 teams.
Since 1981 the LMB has been playing again with 16 teams and since 1983 again in a north and south division. The most successful team to date are the Diablos Rojos del México from Mexico City with 15 championship titles, followed by the Sultanes de Monterrey with nine titles. The Ligen Liga Norte de México (LNM) (until 2008 Liga Norte de Sonora (LNS)), the Liga de Béisbol del Noroeste de México (LBN), the Liga Invernal Veracruzana (LIV ), the Liga Tabasqueña de Béisbol (LTB) and the Campeonato Estatal de Beisbol Chihuahua .
Leagues
LMB - Liga Mexicana de Béisbol
In 2015 she plays with 16 teams in two divisions:
Zona Norte (North):
Zona Sur (South):
LMP - Liga Mexicana del Pacífico
The LMP was founded in 1945 in Hermosillo , Sonora , with four teams as the Liga de la Costa del Pacífico . Since 1970 the league has been called Liga Mexicana del Pacífico with eight participating clubs.
Teams 2011–12:
LPBNS - Liga Profesional de Béisbol Norte de Sonora
The LPBNS, formerly LNS and Liga Norte de México (LNM), serves the LMB and the LMP as talent scouting and promotion. Six teams play their season from May to August.
Teams 2012:
- Rieleros de Empalme (Empalme, Sonora)
- Ostioneros de Guaymas (Guaymas, Sonora)
- Rojos de Caborca (Caborca, Sonora)
- Internacionales de Nogales (Nogales, Sonora)
- Mineros de Cananea (Cananea, Sonora)
- Vaqueros de Agua Prieta (Agua Prieta, Sonora)
LBN - Liga de Béisbol del Noroeste de México
The LBN with six teams is also a league for talent detection and development. The season runs from October to January, so it is a winter season.
Teams 2011–2012:
- Broncos de Tecuala (Tecuala, Nayarit)
- Cachorros de Acaponeta (Acaponeta, Nayarit)
- Coqueros de Tuxpan (Tuxpan, Nayarit)
- Diablos Rojos Universitarios de Tepic (Tepic, Nayarit)
- Pureros de Compostela (Compostela, Nayarit)
- Tabaqueros de Santiago (Santiago Ixcuintla, Nayarit)
LIV - Liga Invernal Veracruzana
LIV plays a winter season with ten teams from October to January.
Teams 2011–2012:
Zona Centro
- Cafeteros de Córdoba (Córdoba, Veracruz)
- Chicataneros de Huatusco (Huatusco, Veracruz)
- Chileros de Xalapa (Xalapa, Veracruz)
- Gallos de Santa Rosa (Ciudad Mendoza, Veracruz)
- Indios Limoneros de Cuitláhuac (Cuitláhuac, Veracruz)
Zona Sur
- Atléticos de Medellín (Medellín de Bravo, Veracruz)
- Brujos de los Tuxtlas (San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz)
- Marlines de Boca del Río (Veracruz, Veracruz)
- Rojos de Veracruz (Veracruz, Veracruz)
- Vaqueros de Cosamaloapan (Cosamaloapan, Veracruz)
LTBI - Liga Tabasqueña de Béisbol Instruccional
The Liga Tabasqueña de Béisbol Instruccional (LTBI) has a season from September to November.
Teams 2009:
- Atletic's de Tabasco (Tabasco, Tabasco)
- Piñeros de Huimanguillo (Huimanguillo, Tabasco)
- Cañeros de Cárdenas (Cárdenas, Tabasco)
- Juveniles de Villahermosa (Villahermosa, Tabasco)
- Cafeteros de Tacotalpa (Tacotalpa, Tabasco)
- Tigres de Cunduacán (Cunduacán, Tabasco)
Campeonato Estatal de Beisbol Chihuahua
Teams 2009:
- Mazorqueros de Camargo (Camargo, Chihuahua)
- Rojos de Jiménez (Ciudad Jiménez, Chihuahua)
- Dorados de Chihuahua (Chihuahua, Chihuahua)
- Soles de Ojinaga (Ojinaga, Chihuahua)
- Mineros de Parral (Parral, Chihuahua)
- Manzaneros de Cuauhtémoc (Ciudad Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua)
- Faraones de Nuevo Casas Grandes (Nuevo Casas Grandes, Chihuahua)
- Indios de Juárez (Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua)
- Algodoneros de Delicias (Delicias, Chihuahua)
- Venados de Madera (Madera, Chihuahua)
GBL - Golden Baseball League
This independent international professional league played on the west coast of Canada , the United States and Mexico from May to August . In 2009 the Tijuana Potros were supposed to switch from LMB to the Golden Baseball League (GBL), but participation was postponed to 2010 at short notice due to planning uncertainties caused by the H1N1 influenza epidemic.
This season they then took on as Tijuana Cimarrones and played their home games at the Estadio de Beisbol Calimax, after financial difficulties the home games were held at the Ray Kroc Baseball Complex in Yuma , Arizona , and in 2011 the team joined the GBL, which has since merged the United League Baseball and the Northern League no longer arose in the North American League .
Mexican professional players in the MLB
Since Baldomero Almada moved to Boston in 1933, more than 100 players in the Mexican professional league have moved to the American professional league MLB. There are currently around 100 Mexican players playing in Major League Baseball (MLB) and its affiliate clubs (rookie league to triple A).
Active MLB players from Mexico, 2009 (current club, debut year, and place of birth):
- Alfredo Aceves - New York Yankees - 2008 (San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora)
- Alfredo Amézaga - Florida Marlins - 2002 (Ciudad Obregón, Sonora)
- Luis Ayala - Florida Marlins - 2003 (Los Mochis, Sinaloa)
- Jorge Campillo - Atlanta Braves - 2005 (Tijuana, Baja California)
- Jorge Cantú - Florida Marlins - 2004 (Reynosa, Tamaulipas)
- Juan Castro - Los Angeles Dodgers - 1995 (Los Mochis, Sinaloa)
- David Cortés - San Francisco Giants - 1999 (Mexicali, Baja California)
- Humberto Cota - Cincinnati Reds - 2001 (San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora)
- Luis Cruz - Pittsburgh Pirates - 2008 (Navojoa, Sonora)
- Jorge de la Rosa - Colorado Rockies - 2004 (Monterrey, Nuevo León)
- Elmer Dessens - New York Mets - 1996 (Hermosillo, Sonora)
- Germán Durán - Houston Astros - 2008 (Zacatecas)
- Erubiel Durazo - Free Agent - 1999 (Hermosillo, Sonora)
- Marco Estrada - Washington Nationals - 2008 (Sonora)
- Yovani Gallardo - Milwaukee Brewers - 2007 (Michoacán, DF)
- Jaime García - St. Louis Cardinals - 2008 (Reynosa, Tamaulipas)
- Karim García - Lotte Giants - Korea - 1995 (Ciudad Obregón, Sonora)
- Édgar González - Oakland Athletics - 2003 (Monterrey, Nuevo León)
- Esteban Loaiza - Chicago White Sox - 1995 (Tijuana, Baja California)
- Rodrigo López - Philadelphia Phillies - 2000 (Tlalnepantla de Baz, Estado de México)
- Luis Mendoza - Texas Rangers - 2007 (Minatitlán, Veracruz)
- Miguel Ojeda - Free Agent - 2003 (Guaymas, Sonora)
- Antonio Osuna - Free Agent - 1995 (Guasave, Sinaloa)
- Óliver Pérez - New York Mets - 2002 (Culiacán, Sinaloa)
- Dennys Reyes - St. Louis Cardinals - 1997 (Higuera de Zaragoza, Sinaloa)
- Ricardo Rincón - New York Mets - 1997 (Cuitláhuac, Veracruz)
- Oscar Robles - Philadelphia Phillies - 2005 (Tijuana, Baja California)
- Freddy Sandoval - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - 2008 (Tijuana, Baja California)
- Joakim Soria - Kansas City Royals - 2007 (Monclova, Coahuila de Zaragoza)
- Óscar Villarreal - Kansas City Royals - 2003 (San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León)
Former MLB players from Mexico (last club, active years and place of birth):
- Mel Almada - Brooklyn Dodgers - 1933-1939 (Huatabampo, Sonora)
- Bobby Ávila - Milwaukee Braves - 1949–1959 (Veracruz, Veracruz)
- Rigo Beltrán - Montreal Expos - 1997-2004 (Tijuana, Baja California)
- Vinny Castilla - Colorado Rockies - 1991-2006 (Oaxaca, Oaxaca)
- Aurelio López - Houston Astros - 1974–1987 (Tecamachalco, Puebla)
- Jorge Orta - Kansas City Royals - 1972–1987 (Mazatlan, Sinaloa)
- Vicente Palacios - San Diego Padres - 1987-2000 (Manlio Fabio Altamirano, Veracruz)
- Armando Reynoso - Colorado Rockies - 1991-2002 (San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí)
- Vicente Romo - Los Angeles Dodgers - 1968–1982 (Santa Rosalia, Baja California Sur)
- Aurelio Rodríguez - Baltimore Orioles - 1967-1983 (Cananea, Sonora)
- Héctor Torres - Toronto Blue Jays - 1968–1977 (Monterrey, Nuevo León)
- Alex Treviño - Cincinnati Reds - 1978–1990 (Monterrey, Nuevo León)
- Fernando Valenzuela - St. Louis Cardinals - 1980–1997 (Navojoa, Sonora)
National team
The Mexican national team represents Mexico in international tournaments. It is currently in 10th place in the world rankings (as of October 2012).
International tournaments
Little League World Series
1957 and 1958 won the Monterrey club with its youth team, 11-13 years, the Little League Baseball World Series .
World Baseball Classic
In 2006 and 2009, Team Mexico and its professional players took part in the World Baseball Classic tournament. In 2006, it narrowly missed making it into the top four and finished the tournament in 6th place, ahead of the USA. In 2009, due to defeats against Cuba and the eventual finalist South Korea, it again failed to make it into the semi-finals and ended the tournament in 8th place.
World baseball cup
The official baseball world championship is organized by the International Baseball Association IBAF and has usually been held every two years since 1938.
Mexico's most successful tournament participations were as follows:
2nd place (silver) (1943, 1944, 1961, 1965)
3rd place (bronze) (1941)
In 2009 the 2009 World Baseball Championship took place in Europe. Mexico played in Pool A in Prague and were group winners against Australia, Taiwan and the Czech Republic. The Mexican team was made up of top-class players from the Mexican professional league LMB and was one of the World Cup favorites. In the 2nd round, however, the team did not get beyond a negative balance of 2–5 games, including some narrow defeats against Canada, USA, Japan and Taiwan, and missed qualifying for the 3rd round. At the end of the World Cup, Mexico finished 11th.
Series del Caribe
The Serie del Caribe is held annually as a tournament. The host country and venue changes annually between the participating clubs. These are the respective champions of the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (since 1970) (Mexico), the Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Invernal ( Dominican Republic ), the Puerto Rico Baseball League ( Puerto Rico ) and the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional ( Venezuela ).
Hermosillo has hosted the tournament five times since 1974 with the Estadio De Beisbol Héctor Espinoseit . Another venue in Mexico was Mazatlán , which won the 2005 tournament at their home Estadio Teodoro Mariscal . So far, five Mexican champions from the Liga Mexicana del Pacífico have won the tournament: Naranjeros de Hermosillo (1976); Águilas de Mexicali (1986); Tomateros de Culiacán (1996 and 2002) and the Venados de Mazatlán (2005).
In February 2010, Serie del Caribe was held at the Estadio Nueva Esparta in Porlamar . The representative from Mexico was decided in the LMP final series between the Naranjeros de Hermosillo and the Venados de Mazatlán. After 3-3 after 6 playoff games, Hermosillo was able to prevail in the decisive 7th game with 1-0 against Mazatlán and get the 15th championship title in the club's history.
Baseball stadiums in Mexico
Stadiums with a maximum of 27,000 spectators
- Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey 27,000 (Monterrey, Nuevo León - LMB )
- Foro Sol 26.500 (Ciudad de México, DF - LMB )
- Estadio Casas Geo 19,500 (Mexicali, Baja California - LMP )
- Estadio de Beisbol Calimax 18,500 (Tijuana, Baja California - GBL )
- Estadio Kukulcán 16,000 (Mérida, Yucatán - LMB )
- Estadio Francisco I. Madero 16,000 (Saltillo, Coahuila de Zaragoza - LMB )
- Estadio General Angel Flores 16,000 (Culiacan, Sinaloa - LMP )
Stadiums with a maximum of 15,000 spectators
- Estadio De Beisbol Héctor Espino 15,000 (Hermosillo, Sonora - LMP )
- Estadio Monumental Chihuahua 14,500 (Chihuahua, Chihuahua - LMB )
- Estadio UD Acapulco 13,000 (Acapulco de Juárez, Guerrero)
- Estadio Hermanos Serdán 12.100 (Puebla, Puebla - LMB )
- Estadio Revolución 12,000 (Torreón, Coahuila de Zaragoza - LMB )
- Estadio Nuevo Laredo 12,000 (Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas - LMB )
- Estadio Teodoro Mariscal 12,000 (Mazatlán, Sinaloa - LMP )
- Estadio De Béisbol Beisborama 12,000 (Córdoba, Veracruz - LIV )
- Estadio Estadio MC Echeverria 12,000 (Navojoa, Sonora)
- Estadio Carta Blanca 12,000 (Ciudad Juárez, México Norte - LEC )
- Estadio Manuel Ciclón Echeverría 11,500 (Navojoa, Sonora - LMP )
- Estadio Monclova 11,000 (Monclova, Coahuila de Zaragoza - LMB )
- Estadio Emilio Ibarra Almada 11,000 (Los Mochis, Sinaloa - LMP )
- Parque Centenario 27 de Febrero 10,500 (Villahermosa, Tabasco - LMB )
Stadiums with a maximum of 10,000 seats
- Estadio Tomás Oroz Gaytán 10,000 (Ciudad Obregón, Sonora - LMP )
- Estadio Benito Juárez 10,000 (Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca)
- Estadio Adolfo López Mateos 10,000 (Reynosa, Tamaulipas - LMB )
- Estadio Alberto Romo Chávez 10,000 (Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes - formerly LMB )
- Estadio Beto Ávila 9,500 (Cancun, Quintana Roo - LMB )
- Estadio Estadio Arturo Nahl 9,000 (La Paz, Baja California Sur)
- Estadio Francisco Carranza Limón 8,000 (Guasave, Sinaloa - LMP )
- Estadio Corona 8,000 (Ciudad Juárez, México Norte - LEC )
- Estadio Universitario Beto Avila 7,800 (Veracruz, Veracruz - LMB )
- Parque 18 de marzo de 1938 7,500 (Minatitlán, Veracruz - LMB )
- Estadio Lic.Eduardo Vasconcelos 7.200 (Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca - LMB )
- Estadio 20 de Noviembre 6.500 (San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potos - formerly LMB )
- Estadio Nelson Barrera Romellón 6,000 (Campeche, Campeche - LMB )
- Estadio Toluca 80 6,000 (Toluca de Lerdo, México)
- Gimnasio Olimpico 5,500 (Ciudad de México, DF)
Stadiums with a maximum of 5,000 spectators
- Estadio Jamie Canales Lira 5,000 (Ciudad Juárez, México Norte - LNS )
- Estadio Gimnasio de la UAGJ 5,000 (Ciudad Juárez, México Norte)
- Estadio Manuel Cecena 5,000 (Tecate, Baja California - LNM )
- Estadio Campo Antonio Palacios 4,000 (Ensenada, Baja California - LNM )
- Parque de Beisbol Domingo Santana 3,000 (León, Guanajuato - formerly LMB )
- Estadio José Aguilar y Maya 3,000 (Guanajuato, Guanajuato)
- Estadio Centro Universitario Victoria 3.000 (Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas)
- Estadio Martires de 1906 3,000 (Cananea, Sonora - formerly AML )
- Parque Aurelio Ballados 2,500 (San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz - LIV )
Individual evidence
- ^ A b Mexican League History at baseball-reference.com . Retrieved November 13, 2010.
- ↑ IBAF World Rankings . Retrieved October 30, 2012.
- ↑ La Serie del Caribe del 2010 se celebrará en Isla Margarita en Venezuela
Web links
- Federación Mexicana de Béisbol
- Liga Mexicana de Béisbol (LMB)
- Liga Mexicana del Pacífico (LMP)
- Golden Baseball League (GBL)
- Liga Norte de México (LNM)
- Liga de Béisbol del Noroeste de México (LBN)
- Liga Invernal Veracruzana (LIV)
- Liga Tabasqueña de Béisbol Instruccional (LBTI)
- Salón de la Fama del Béisbol Profesional Mexicano
- Major League Baseball: Historia del Béisbol Mexicano - Español