1962-1963 Cuban National League
From BR Bullpen
The 1962-1963 season was the second season of Cuba's national baseball system.
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[edit] Serie Nacional
The second Serie Nacional was won by Industriales, formerly Habana, who were managed by Ramón Carneado. The team defeated Orientales in a best-of-three playoff after both teams ended the season tied at 16 – 14. The newly rechristened team took on a similar identity to the professional league's Almendares club, having uniforms of the same royal blue color.
The league had a great deal of parity as third place Occidentales were one game back at 15 - 15 while last place Azucareros had a 13 - 17 record. Cuban national team manager Gilberto Torres assumed the helm of Occidentales after the ousting of Fermín Guerra.
Pacing the league in base-hits is Occidentales' Fidel Linares, with 36. Linares will be the father of two of Cuba's star players in the 1980s and 1990s, Omar and Juan Carlos Linares.
The first test of the Serie Nacional as a selection aid for the national team was at the fourth Pan American Games staged in late-April and early-May in São Paulo, Brazil. The team comprised, primarily of Serie Nacional players, won the tournament with a 7 and 1 record; the team's single lost was a 5 – 2 decision against México.
[edit] Standings
- Bold indicates Serie Nacional champion
| Team | G | W | L | WPCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industriales | 30 | 16 | 14 | 0.533 | -.- |
| Orientales | 30 | 16 | 14 | 0.533 | -.- |
| Occidentales | 30 | 15 | 15 | 0.500 | 1.0 |
| Azucareros | 30 | 13 | 17 | 0.433 | 3.0 |
[edit] Playoffs
After Industriales and Orientales ended the regular season in a tie, a best-of-three series was played to crown a champion. Industriales won the series, 2 - 1.
[edit] All-Star Game
The first Juego de las Estrellas (All-Star Game) was held in Havana. In the game, Oriente defeated Occidentales by a score of 5 to 0. Oriente had 9 hits to Occidentales's 5, while the errors were 3 to 1 in favor of Oriente. The winning pitcher was Florentino Alfonso and the losing pitcher was Juan Medina.
[edit] Leaders
- Bold indicates either wooden bat record or aluminum bat record (1976-1977 to 1998-1999), Italics indicate Serie Nacional record
[edit] Batting
[edit] Pitching
[edit] Award Winners
The Most Valuable Player (Jugadores más Valiosos) was Modesto Verdura a pitcher with Azucareros. The Most Valuable Pitcher (Lanzadores más Valiosos) was Modesto Verdura of Azucareros.
[edit] Sources
- (March 17, 2004). "Cronología: 1963 (Spanish)". Radiococo. Radiococo. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- (March 22, 2004). "Tabla de Posiciones de la II serie 1963 (Spanish)". Radiococo. Radiococo. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- (November 18, 2005). "Guía Digital 2005-06". Guía Oficial de Béisbol 2005 (Digital). Instituto Nacional de Deportes, Educación Física y Recreación. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- Peter C. Bjarkman. A History of Cuban Baseball, 1864–2006. : McFarland, 2007. ISBN 0786428295
