1971-1972 Cuban National League
From BR Bullpen
The 1971-1972 season was the eleventh season of Cuba's national baseball system.
Contents |
[edit] Serie Nacional
The 11th Serie Nacional was won by Azucareros - the team's second consecutive title - following a tie-breaking playoff against the Mineros. After both teams were tied atop the league at 52 – 14; the teams proceeded to play in a best-of-three playoff. The Azucareros won the series, two games to one, in part due to the excellent pitching of José Antonio Huelga. The Azucareros won the title despite a managerial change from Pedro Pérez Delgado to Servio Borges. Borges had managed them to a title three years earlier.
Pitching for third-place Industriales, Ihosvany Gallego allows a scant three earned runs in 72.1 innings pitched for a 0.37 ERA – the lowest in league history. He is also named the league's best pitcher. Gallego's teammate, slugger Agustín Marquetti, recaptures his home run and runs batted in crowns with 11 and 53 respectively – and is named most valuable player. Roberto Valdés of the Mineros club goes wins 12 games with no losses, a record that has not been topped. During the course of the season, the Mineros put together a 27-game winning streak, while Matanzas lost 25 in a row.
[edit] Standings
- Bold indicates Serie Nacional champion
| Team | G | W | L | WPCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azucareros | 66 | 52 | 14 | 0.788 | -.- |
| Mineros | 66 | 52 | 14 | 0.788 | -.- |
| Industriales | 66 | 51 | 15 | 0.773 | 1.0 |
| Granjeros | 66 | 49 | 17 | 0.742 | 3.0 |
| Henequeneros | 66 | 40 | 26 | 0.606 | 12.0 |
| La Habana | 66 | 32 | 34 | 0.485 | 20.0 |
| Vegueros | 66 | 29 | 37 | 0.439 | 23.0 |
| Oriente | 66 | 24 | 42 | 0.364 | 28.0 |
| Camagüey | 66 | 19 | 47 | 0.288 | 33.0 |
| Las Villas | 66 | 18 | 48 | 0.273 | 34.0 |
| Pinar del Río | 66 | 17 | 49 | 0.258 | 35.0 |
| Matanzas | 66 | 13 | 53 | 0.197 | 39.0 |
[edit] Playoffs
After Azucareros and Mineros ended the regular season in a tie, a best-of-three series was played to crown a champion. Azucareros won the series, 2 - 1.
[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 Agustín Marquetti a first baseman with Industriales. The Most Valuable Pitcher (Lanzadores más Valiosos) was Ihosvany Gallegos of Industriales. Pedro Jova of Azucareros was the Series' Rookie of the Year (Novatos del Año).
[edit] All-Star Series
The fourth All-Star Series featured two teams playing a 15-game series. Orientales, managed by Servio Borges, defeated Occidentales, 9 to 6.
[edit] Leaders
[edit] Batting
- Batting Average: .378 - Agustín Arias, Orientales
- Base Hits: 18 - Pedro Jova, Orientales
- Runs Scored: 7 - Agustín Arias, Orientales; Pedro Jova, Orientales; Germán Aguila, Occidentales
- Doubles: 4 - Arturo Linares, Occidentales
- Triples: 3 - Pedro Jova, Orientales
- Runs Batted In: 9 - Félix Isasi, Occidentales
- Stolen Bases: 5 - Wilfredo Sánchez, Occidentales
[edit] Pitching
- Complete Games: 2 - Rodovaldo Esquivel, Occidentales
- Wins: 3 - Rodovaldo Esquivel, Occidentales
- Innings Pitched: 26.2 - Rodovaldo Esquivel, Occidentales
- Strikeouts: 16 - Braudilio Vinent, Orientales; Bernardo González, Occidentales
- Base-on-Balls: 10 - Rodovaldo Esquivel, Occidentales
- Earned Run Average: 0.68 - Rodovaldo Esquivel, Occidentales
[edit] Sources
- (March 17, 2004). "Cronología: 1972 (Spanish)". Radiococo. Radiococo. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- (March 22, 2004). "Tabla de Posiciones de la XI serie 1972 (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
