1965-1966 Cuban National League
From BR Bullpen
The 1965-1966 season was the fifth season of Cuba's national baseball system.
Contents |
[edit] Serie Nacional
Industriales, managed by Ramón Carneado, won their fourth consecutive title in the fifth Serie Nacional. The season saw the expansion of the league by two teams, Henequeneros and Centrales, gave each of Cuba's provincias a team (from west to east):
- Pinar del Río: Occidentales
- La Habana: Industriales
- Matanzas: Henequeneros
- Las Villas: Centrales
- Camagüey: Granjeros
- Oriente: Orientales
The schedule was also nearly doubled to 65 games from 39. Industriales were narrow winners of the league championship as Orientales and newcomer Henequeneros were both within three games of the champions.
In January, Aquino Abreu, a crafty right hander for the last-place Centrales throws back-to-back no-hitters in consecutive starts. His first no-hitter came against Occidentals on the 16th, a 10 – 0 decision and a 7 – 0 win versus Industriales on 25. Abreu, in the process, throws a record 19 consecutive hitless innings.
[edit] Standings
- Bold indicates Serie Nacional champion
| Team | G | W | L | WPCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Industriales | 65 | 40 | 25 | 0.615 | -.- |
| Orientales | 65 | 38 | 27 | 0.585 | 2.0 |
| Henequeneros | 65 | 37 | 28 | 0.569 | 3.0 |
| Occidentales | 64 | 29 | 35 | 0.453 | 10.5 |
| Granjeros | 64 | 26 | 38 | 0.406 | 13.5 |
| Centrales | 63 | 23 | 40 | 0.365 | 16.0 |
[edit] All-Star Game
The fourth Juego de las Estrellas (All-Star Game) was held in Havana. In the game, Occidentales defeated Oriente by a score of 3 to 1. Occidentales had 8 hits to Oriente's 6, while both teams had 2 errors. The winning pitcher was Berto Betancourt and the losing pitcher was Aquino Abreu.
[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 Lino Betancourt a first baseman with Henequeneros. The Most Valuable Pitcher (Lanzadores más Valiosos) was Alfredo Street of Industriales.
[edit] Sources
- (March 17, 2004). "Cronología: 1966 (Spanish)". Radiococo. Radiococo. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- (March 22, 2004). "Tabla de Posiciones de la V serie 1966 (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
