1978-1979 Cuban National League
From BR Bullpen
The 1978-1979 season was the eighteenth season of Cuba's national baseball system.
Contents |
[edit] Serie Nacional
Sancti Spíritus won its only title in the 18th Serie Nacional. The team, managed by Cándido Andrade, was followed closely by Villa Clara (2.5 games out) and Vegueros (3.5 games out).
Wilfredo Sánchez of Citricultores wins his fourth batting title, in the closest race in serie history. His .3774 average barely beats that of Agustín Arias. Pedro José Rodríguez wins his third home run title with another 19 homer season, and leads the league with 53 runs batted in as well. Villa Clara's Nivaldo Pérez wins nine games with no losses and has a 0.86 ERA to capture best pitching honors. Camagüey hurler Gaspar Legón leads the league with 12 victories.
Cuba's second multi-pitcher no-hitter occurs on February 18 at Granma's Estadio Mártires de Barbados. In the home team's 14 – 0 blowout of Ciego de Ávila, Juan R. Gómez, Pablo Castro, and José Brizuela throw nine no-hit innings with Gómez recording the win.
[edit] Standings
- Bold indicates Serie Nacional champion
| Team | G | W | L | T | WPCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sancti Spíritus | 51 | 39 | 12 | 0 | 0.765 | -.- |
| Villa Clara | 51 | 36 | 14 | 1 | 0.720 | 2.5 |
| Vegueros | 50 | 35 | 14 | 1 | 0.714 | 3.0 |
| Cienfuegos | 51 | 31 | 20 | 0 | 0.608 | 8.0 |
| Forestales | 50 | 30 | 20 | 0 | 0.600 | 8.5 |
| Camagüey | 50 | 28 | 21 | 1 | 0.571 | 10.0 |
| Granma | 49 | 27 | 21 | 1 | 0.563 | 10.5 |
| Citricultores | 51 | 28 | 23 | 0 | 0.549 | 11.0 |
| Ciego de Ávila | 51 | 26 | 25 | 0 | 0.510 | 13.0 |
| Metropolitanos | 51 | 25 | 25 | 1 | 0.500 | 13.5 |
| Santiago de Cuba | 51 | 23 | 28 | 0 | 0.451 | 16.0 |
| Industriales | 49 | 22 | 27 | 0 | 0.449 | 16.0 |
| Henequeneros | 51 | 22 | 29 | 0 | 0.431 | 17.0 |
| Guantánamo | 50 | 21 | 29 | 0 | 0.420 | 17.5 |
| Holguín | 51 | 19 | 32 | 0 | 0.373 | 20.0 |
| Las Tunas | 51 | 15 | 35 | 1 | 0.300 | 23.5 |
| La Habana | 50 | 14 | 36 | 0 | 0.280 | 24.5 |
| Isla de la Juventud | 50 | 10 | 40 | 0 | 0.200 | 28.5 |
[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 Wilfredo Sánchez a outfielder with Citricultores. The Most Valuable Pitcher (Lanzadores más Valiosos) was Nivaldo Pérez of Villa Clara. Alejo O´Reilly of Villa Clara was the Series' Rookie of the Year (Novatos del Año).
[edit] All-Star Series
The seventh All-Star Series featured two teams playing a 2-game series. Selección, managed by Servio Borges, defeated Oriente, 2 to 0.
[edit] Leaders
[edit] Batting
- Batting Average: .500 - Rodolfo Puente, Selección
- Base Hits: 4 - Rodolfo Puente, Selección
- Runs Scored: 2 - Rodolfo Puente, Selección; Armando Capiró, Selección
- Triples: 1 - Agustín Marquetti, Selección; Jorge Francis, Oriente
- Home Runs: 1 - Antonio Muñoz, Selección; Fidel García, Oriente; Elpidio Mancebo, Oriente
- Runs Batted In: 2 - Antonio Muñoz, Selección; Armando Capiró, Selección; Elpidio Mancebo, Oriente; Pedro José Rodríguez, Selección
- Stolen Bases: 1 - Jesús Guerra, Selección; Fermín Laffita, Oriente
[edit] Pitching
- Innings Pitched: 8.1 - Jesús Guerra, Selección
- Strikeouts: 8 - Santiago Mederos, Selección
- Earned Run Average: 0.00 - Mario Fernández, Oriente
[edit] Series Selectivas
The fifth Series Selectivas was won by Pinar del Río, managed by the José Pineda.
[edit] Standings
| Team | G | W | L | WPCT | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinar del Río | 60 | 40 | 20 | 0.667 | -.- |
| Orientales | 59 | 33 | 26 | 0.559 | 6.5 |
| Habana | 60 | 31 | 29 | 0.517 | 9.0 |
| Matanzas | 60 | 27 | 33 | 0.450 | 13.0 |
| Camagüeyanos | 60 | 25 | 35 | 0.417 | 15.0 |
| Las Villas | 59 | 23 | 36 | 0.390 | 16.5 |
[edit] Leaders
[edit] Batting
- Batting Average: .368 - Sixto Hernández, Las Villas
- Base Hits: 81 - Wilfredo Sánchez, Matanzas
- Runs Scored: 52 - Antonio Muñoz, Las Villas
- Doubles: 13 - Felipe Sarduy, Camagüeyanos; Reinaldo Fernández, Camagüeyanos
- Triples: 9 - Luis Crespo, Pinar del Río
- Home Runs: 25 - Antonio Muñoz, Las Villas
- Runs Batted In: 67 - Antonio Muñoz, Las Villas
- Stolen Bases: 12 - Alfonso Urquiola, Pinar del Río
[edit] Pitching
- Win-Loss Percentage: 1.000 (7 - 0) - Lázaro de la Torre, Habana
- Games Pitched: 21 - Lázaro de la Torre, Habana
- Complete Games: 15 - Braudilio Vinent, Orientales
- Wins: 11 - Rafael Rodríguez, Matanzas
- Innings Pitched: 137.0 - Braudilio Vinent, Orientales
- Strikeouts: 105 - Braudilio Vinent, Orientales
- Earned Run Average: 1.97 - Juan Oliva, Pinar del Río
[edit] Sources
- (March 17, 2004). "Cronología: 1979 (Spanish)". Radiococo. Radiococo. Retrieved October 29, 2006.
- (March 22, 2004). "Tabla de Posiciones de la XVIII serie 1979 (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
