1977 Caribbean Series

The twentieth edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1977. It was held from February 4 through February 9 with the champions teams from the Dominican Republic, Tigres del Licey; Mexico, Venados de Mazatlán; Puerto Rico, Criollos de Caguas and Venezuela, Navegantes del Magallanes. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice, and the games were played at UCV Stadium in Caracas, Venezuela.

Summary

The Dominican team was represented by the Tigres del Licey and finished with a perfect record of 6–0. Managed by Buck Rodgers, the team received strong support from Series MVP Rico Carty, who led the hitters in runs (8) and RBI (10), while setting a new Series record with five home runs. Starters Ed Halicki and Odell Jones both earned two wins apiece, and Stan Wall led a bullpen that included Pedro Borbón, Rob Dressler and Ike Hampton. Other players included C Freddie Velázquez, IFs Bob Beall, Mario Guerrero, Ted Martínez and Rennie Stennett, as well as OFs Jesús Alou, Jim Dwyer, Rafael Landestoy, Manny Mota and Sam Mejías.

The Navegantes del Magallanes of Venezuela were managed by Don Leppert and finished second with a 3–3 record. LF Félix Rodríguez won the batting title (.522) and led the team in RBI (6), while receiving help from RF Mitchell Page (.381, two HRs, five RBI), DH Dave Parker (.346, one HR, three RBI) and 1B Cito Gaston (.300, four RBI). Other than SP Paul Reuschel (2–0, 0.50 ERA, two complete games) and RP Manny Sarmiento (1-0, 3.00 ERA), the pitching staff had an undistinguished performance. Also in the roster were Chris Batton (P), Bo Díaz (C), Jamie Easterly (P), Wayne Granger (P), Gus Gil (IF), Remy Hermoso (DH), Mike Kekich (P), Ken Macha (3B), Oswaldo Olivares (OF), Jimmy Sexton (SS), and Manny Trillo (2B).

Managed by Alfredo Ortiz, the Venados de Mazatlán represented Mexico and went 2–4 to end in third place. The most significant contribution came from LHP George Brunet, who was credited with the two victories of Mexico, a team that batted a paltry .218, including homers by 1B Héctor Espino and OF Jeffrey Leonard, while committing a Series-leading 14 errors. Other members of the roster were Mike Dimmel (OF), Rex Hudson (P), Max León (P), Bobby Treviño (DH) and Ron Washington (SS), among others.

The Criollos de Caguas of Puerto Rico finished last with a 1–5 record. Managed by Doc Edwards, the team batted a collective .253 average with five home runs and was outscored by their opponents 33–19, even though the roster was filled with Ps Mike Cuellar, Joe Henderson, Willie Hernández, Eduardo Rodríguez, Mike Krukow, Dennis Martínez and Ed Whitson; IFs Kurt Bevacqua, Julio González, Félix Millán and Eddie Murray; OFs José Cruz, Sixto Lezcano and Jerry Morales; C John Wockenfuss, and utilities Iván de Jesús, José Morales and Tony Scott.


Final standings
ClubWLW/L %GB  Managers
Dominican Republic60  1.000   Buck Rodgers
Venezuela33    .5003.0  Don Leppert
Mexico24    .3334.0  Alfredo Ortiz
Puerto Rico15    .1675.0  Doc Edwards


Individual leaders
Player/ClubStatistic
Félix Rodríguez / VENBatting average.522
Félix Rodríguez / VENHits  12
Four tiedDoubles    2
Three tiedTriples    1
Rico Carty / DOMHome runs    5
Rico Carty / DOMRuns    8
Rico Carty / DOMRBI  10
Five tiedStolen bases    1
George Brunet / MEX
Ed Halicki / DOM
Odell Jones / DOM
Rick Reuschel / VEN
Wins    2
Rick Reuschel / VENStrikeouts    8
Rick Reuschel / VENERA0.50
Fernando López / MEXSaves    2
Rick Reuschel / VENInnings pitched18.0
Awards
Rico Carty / DOMMost Valuable Player
Buck Rodgers / DOMManager


All-Star Team
Name/ClubPosition
John Wockenfuss / PURcatcher
Cito Gaston / VENfirst baseman
Félix Millán / PURsecond baseman
Ted Martínez / DOMthird baseman
Mario Guerrero / DOMshortstop
Félix Rodríguez / VENleft fielder
Albino Diaz / MEXcenter fielder
Rico Carty / DOMright fielder
Rico Carty / DOMdesignated hitter
Ed Halicki / DOMRH pitcher
Stan Wall / DOMLH pitcher
Buck Rodgers / DOMmanager


Game 1, February 4

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico100000001281
Dominican Republic30120000x661
WP: Ed Halicki (1-0)   LP: Eduardo Rodríguez (0-1)
Home runs:
PUR: None
DOM: Rico Carty (1), Manny Mota (1)

Game 2, February 4

Team123456789RHE
Mexico000000000032
Venezuela10110010x492
WP: Paul Reuschel (1-0)   LP: Max León (0-1)
Home runs:
MEX: None
VEN: Mitchell Page (1)
Notes: Reuschel pitched a complete game shutout.

Game 3, February 5

Team123456789RHE
Mexico000000000  0  72
Dominican Republic43000030x10162
WP: Odell Jones (1-0)   LP: Rex Hudson (0-1)
Home runs:
MEX: None
DOM: Rico Carty (2)

Game 4, February 5

Team12345678910RHE
Puerto Rico01001141019142
Venezuela20221000108162
WP: Joe Henderson (1-0)   LP: Wayne Granger (0-1)
Home runs:
PUR: José Cruz (1), Kurt Bevacqua (1)
VEN: Dave Parker (1)

Game 5, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Puerto Rico00000100o182
Mexico00100001x251
WP: George Brunet (1-0)   LP: Ed Whitson (0-1)   Sv: Fernando López (1)
Home runs:
PUR: Jerry Morales (1)
MEX: None

Game 6, February 6

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic200100000351
Venezuela000000000051
WP: Pedro Borbón (1-0)   LP: Chris Batton (0-1)   Sv: Stan Wall (1)
Home runs:
DOM: Rico Carty (3)
VEN: None
Notes: Borbón (5 H, 5 K, 1 W, 6.1 IP) and Wall (0 H, 5 K, 0 W, 2.2 IP) pitched a combined shutout.

Game 7, February 7

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic200000100370
Puerto Rico011000000270
WP: Rob Dressler (1-0)   LP: Mike Krukow (0-1)   Sv: Stan Wall (2)
Home runs:
DOM: Rico Carty (4)
PUR: None

Game 8, February 7

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela2030210109103
Mexico0112010005123
WP: Manny Sarmiento (1-0)   LP: René Chávez (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
MEX: Jeffrey Leonard (1)

Game 9, February 8

Team123456789RHE
Dominican Republic01645001118233
Mexico000000202  4135
WP: Ed Halicki (2-0)   LP: Fernando López (0-1)
Home runs:
DOM: Bob Beall (1)
MEX: Héctor Espino (1)

Game 10, February 8

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0305001009133
Puerto Rico0000001001  44
WP: Paul Reuschel (2-0)   LP: Eduardo Rodríguez (0-2)
Home runs:
VEN: Mitchell Page (2)
PUR: Sixto Lezcano (1)
Notes: Reuschel pitched his second complete game.

Game 11, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Mexico000001400581
Puerto Rico001003000441
WP: George Brunet (2-0)   LP: Dennis Martínez (0-1)   Sv: Fernando López (2)
Home runs:
MEX: None
PUR: Sixto Lezcano (2)

Game 12, February 9

Team123456789RHE
Venezuela0000000011  71
Dominican Republic02000102x5111
WP: Odell Jones (2-0)   LP: Mike Kekich (0-1)
Home runs:
VEN: None
DOM: Rico Carty (5), Jesús Alou (1)
Notes: With his fifth home run, Carty surpassed the record of four homers in the Series set by Willard Brown
in the 1953 edition.

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, 18781961. 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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