1974-1975 Cuban National League
From BR Bullpen
The 1974-1975 season was the fourteenth season of Cuba's national baseball system.
Contents |
[edit] Serie Nacional
The 14th Serie Nacional was won by Agricultores, who were managed by Orlando Leroux. The Havana-based teams championship coincides with a halving of the length of the Serie Nacional season from 78 games to 39 games. This change was made to allow for the playing of the 54-game Special Series, and first Series Selectivas in the spring and summer.
The champions are led by pitcher Walfrido Ruiz, who wins nine games to lead the league and loses none, and whose 0.62 ERA is a league leader as well. He is also named MVP and best pitcher. Santiago "Changa" Mederos records his 1000th strikeout on March 8 at Estadio Latinoamericano – his opposing pitcher on that day was Ruiz.
Fermín Laffita of Cafetaleros set a new record for batting average, breaking Erwin Walters's record from the league's first season. He hits .396 over the season with 55 hits in 139 at-bats.
Juan Pérez Pérez throws a 2 – 0 no-hitter on January 19 for Ganaderos against Citricultores at Estadio Cándido González. It is Pérez's third consecutive season with a no-hitter.
José Antonio Huelga, Cuba's star pitcher in the 1970 World Cup, is killed in a July 4th automobile accident. Huelga was still in the midst of his seventh season at the time of his death. His career line includes a 73-32 win-loss record, 1.50 ERA, and 722 strikeouts.
[edit] Standings
- Bold indicates Serie Nacional champion
| Team | G | W | L | WPCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agricultores | 39 | 24 | 15 | 0.615 | -.- |
| Vegueros | 39 | 23 | 16 | 0.590 | 1.0 |
| Constructores | 39 | 23 | 16 | 0.590 | 1.0 |
| Granjeros | 39 | 22 | 17 | 0.564 | 2.0 |
| Citricultores | 39 | 22 | 17 | 0.564 | 2.0 |
| Metropolitanos | 38 | 21 | 17 | 0.553 | 2.5 |
| Cafetaleros | 39 | 21 | 18 | 0.538 | 3.0 |
| Ganaderos | 38 | 20 | 18 | 0.526 | 3.5 |
| Serranos | 39 | 18 | 21 | 0.462 | 6.0 |
| Mineros | 39 | 18 | 21 | 0.462 | 6.0 |
| Azucareros | 39 | 17 | 22 | 0.436 | 7.0 |
| Forestales | 39 | 17 | 22 | 0.436 | 7.0 |
| Henequeneros | 39 | 13 | 26 | 0.333 | 11.0 |
| Arroceros | 39 | 13 | 26 | 0.333 | 11.0 |
[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 Walfrido Ruiz a pitcher with Agricultores. The Most Valuable Pitcher (Lanzadores más Valiosos) was Walfrido Ruiz of Agricultores. Eduardo Terry of Citricultores was the Series' Rookie of the Year (Novatos del Año).
[edit] Special Series
The Special Series was won by Vegueros who defeated Constructores in the best-of-three championship series. Vegueros (Special Series)|Vegueros was managed by the José Pineda.
[edit] Standings
| Team | G | W | L | WPCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vegueros | 54 | 32 | 22 | 0.593 | -.- |
| Constructores | 54 | 32 | 22 | 0.593 | 0.0 |
| Serranos | 54 | 31 | 23 | 0.574 | 1.0 |
| Minero | 52 | 26 | 26 | 0.500 | 5.0 |
| Granjeros | 53 | 26 | 27 | 0.491 | 5.5 |
| Henequeneros | 53 | 20 | 33 | 0.377 | 11.5 |
| Azucareros | 54 | 20 | 34 | 0.370 | 12.0 |
[edit] Leaders
[edit] Batting
- Batting Average: .348 - Rogelio Montes de Oca, Constructores
- Base Hits: 73 - Rogelio Montes de Oca, Constructores
- Runs Scored: 47 - José Sierra, Constructores
- Doubles: 17 - Romilio Romero, Serranos
- Triples: 11 - José Sierra, Constructores
- Home Runs: 11 - Jorge Francis, Serranos
- Runs Batted In: 46 - Jorge Francis, Serranos
- Stolen Bases: 24 - José Sierra, Constructores
[edit] Pitching
- Wins: 8 - José Brizuela, Serranos; Manuel Alvarez, Granjeros
- Strikeouts: 84 - Manuel Alvarez, Granjeros
- Earned Run Average: 1.08 - Gilberto Rodríguez, Constructores
[edit] Series Selectivas
The first Series Selectivas was won by Oriente, managed by the José Carrillo.
[edit] Standings
| Team | G | W | L | WPCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oriente | 54 | 33 | 21 | 0.611 | -.- |
| Camagüeyanos | 54 | 32 | 22 | 0.593 | 1.0 |
| Habana | 54 | 32 | 22 | 0.593 | 1.0 |
| Pinar del Río | 54 | 30 | 24 | 0.556 | 3.0 |
| Las Villas | 54 | 26 | 28 | 0.481 | 7.0 |
| Matanzas | 54 | 19 | 35 | 0.352 | 14.0 |
| Industriales | 54 | 17 | 37 | 0.315 | 16.0 |
[edit] Leaders
[edit] Batting
- Batting Average: .358 - Alfonso Urquiola, Pinar del Río
- Base Hits: 66 - Fernando Sánchez, Matanzas; Eusebio Cruz, Camagüeyanos
- Runs Scored: 44 - Armando Capiró, Habana
- Doubles: 15 - Eusebio Cruz, Camagüeyanos
- Triples: 6 - Agustín Arias, Oriente
- Home Runs: 12 - Armando Capiró, Habana; Antonio Muñoz, Las Villas
- Runs Batted In: 42 - Fernando Sánchez, Matanzas
- Stolen Bases: 14 - Félix Isasi, Matanzas
[edit] Pitching
- Win-Loss Percentage: 1.000 (5 - 0) - Eduardo Terry, Matanzas
- Games Pitched: 20 - Ramón Villabrille, Habana
- Complete Games: 10 - Santiago Mederos, Habana
- Wins: 10 - Omar Carrero, Camagüeyanos
- Innings Pitched: 119.2 - Santiago Mederos, Habana
- Strikeouts: 85 - Julio Romero, Pinar del Río
- Earned Run Average: 1.04 - Gregorio Pérez, Oriente
[edit] Sources
- (March 17, 2004). "Cronología: 1975 (Spanish)". Radiococo. Radiococo. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- (March 22, 2004). "Tabla de Posiciones de la XIV serie 1975 (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
