Pinar del Río Vegueros
Encyclopedia
Pinar del Río is a baseball team in the Cuban National Series
. Based in the western city of Pinar del Río
, the Vegueros are historically one of the more successful teams in the Cuban National Series, winning championships in 1997
,1998
.
, two teams competed in the province of Pinar del Río
: Forestales (also known as Pinar del Río during some seasons) and Vegueros. Vegueros was a bona fide powerhouse, winning the championship in 1978
, 1981
, 1982
, 1985
, 1987
and 1988
. A 1992–1993 contraction of the league, in which eight teams were eliminated, caused Vegueros and Forestales to be combined into a single team.
with a 48–42 record, but despite finishing in second place in Group A, did not qualify for the playoffs.
Cuban National Series
The Cuban National Series is the primary domestic amateur baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the Series is a part of the Cuban national baseball system.-League structure:...
. Based in the western city of Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río is a city in Cuba. It is the capital of Pinar del Río Province.Inhabitants of the area are called Pinareños.Neighborhoods in the city include La Conchita, La Coloma, Briones Montoto and Las Ovas.-History:...
, the Vegueros are historically one of the more successful teams in the Cuban National Series, winning championships in 1997
1996-97 Cuban National Series
Pinar del Río dominated the 1996-97 Cuban National Series, posting the league's best regular season record. In the playoffs, the Vegueros, led by Omar Linares, went undefeated, sweeping both best-of-seven series.-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:...
,1998
1997-98 Cuban National Series
Pinar del Río won its second straight Cuban National Series. Perennial cellar-dwellers Guantánamo and Ciego de Ávila made the playoffs, where they were promptly swept in three games.-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Playoffs:-References:...
.
History
Prior to the 1992-93 Cuban National Series1992-93 Cuban National Series
The 32nd Cuban National Series saw a slight contraction of the league. The successful Vegueros team, from Pinar del Río Province combined with its pinareño rival, Forestales, into a new team called Pinar del Río...
, two teams competed in the province of Pinar del Río
Pinar del Río Province
Pinar del Río is one of the provinces of Cuba. It is at the western end of the island of Cuba.-Geography:The Pinar del Río province is Cuba's westernmost province and contains one of Cuba's three main mountain ranges, the Cordillera de Guaniguanico, divided into the easterly Sierra del Rosario and...
: Forestales (also known as Pinar del Río during some seasons) and Vegueros. Vegueros was a bona fide powerhouse, winning the championship in 1978
1977-78 Cuban National Series
The 1977-78 Cuban National Series was a watershed in that it coincided with Cuba's administrative restructuring of 1977, which created fourteen provinces...
, 1981
1980-81 Cuban National Series
The 20th Cuban National Series was 51 games long, and Vegueros, from Pinar del Río Province, won its second title, outdistancing Villa Clara and Citricultores.-Standings:-References:...
, 1982
1981-82 Cuban National Series
Vegueros, from Pinar del Río Province, won its second straight Cuban National Series title, nipping Citricultores, from Matanzas Province, for the second straight year....
, 1985
1984-85 Cuban National Series
The 24th Cuban National Series saw Pinar del Río's Vegueros walk away with the title, outdistancing Camagüey by seven games. The Vegueros roster included such luminaries as Luis Giraldo Casanova, Omar Ajete and Omar Linares.-First division:-Second division:...
, 1987
1986-87 Cuban National Series
The 26th Cuban National Series was won by Vegueros. The team, from Pinar del Río Province, won the western zone during the regular season, and was then able to win the four-team-round-robin-playoffs, which had been instituted the previous season.-Western zone:...
and 1988
1987-88 Cuban National Series
Vegueros, from Pinar del Río Province, repeated as champions in the playoffs of the 27th Cuban National Series. La Habana and Santiago de Cuba possessed stellar regular seasons in which they won 80% of their games. However, Vegueros, with an all-star lineup including Luis Giraldo Casanova and Omar...
. A 1992–1993 contraction of the league, in which eight teams were eliminated, caused Vegueros and Forestales to be combined into a single team.
Past and present stars
- Pitchers: Omar AjeteOmar AjeteOmar Ajete Iglesias is a former baseball player, who starred for the Cuban National Series' Pinar del Río Vegueros and the Cuban national team....
, Jesús Bosmenier, Faustino Corrales, Reinaldo Costa, Rogelio García, Jesús Guerra, Pedro Luis LazoPedro Luis LazoPedro Luis Lazo Iglesias is a top pitcher in Cuban baseball. He is used predominantly as a reliever in international competition, although he is a starter in the Cuban National Series, where he plays for Pinar del Río...
, Juan Carlos Oliva, Félix Pino, Julio Romero, Emilio Salgado - Infielders: Giraldo González, Félix Iglesias, Carmelo Pedroso, Alfonso Urquiola
- Catchers: Juan Castro
- Outfielders: Luis Giraldo Casanova, Lázaro Madera
Emigrants
Several Pinar del Río players have left Cuba for the North American Major Leagues.- José ContrerasJosé ContrerasJosé Ariel Contreras Camejo is a right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently with the Philadelphia Phillies...
(pitcher) - Alay SolerAlay SolerAlain "Alay" Soler is a former baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets in .Soler attended high school at Espa Armani Arenado and played baseball for four years...
(pitcher) - Juan MirandaJuan MirandaJuan Miguel Miranda is a Cuban Major League Baseball first baseman.-Cuba:The 5-foot-11 Miranda batted .303 with 27 homers for Pinar Del Rio in Cuba's Serie Nacional from to . Miranda was on the Cuban national team.He defected to the Dominican Republic in early 2004, on his seventh attempt...
(infielder) - Danys BáezDanys BáezDanys Báez González is a Cuban professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Báez has previously played for the Cleveland Indians , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Los Angeles Dodgers , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles , and Philadelphia Phillies .-Cleveland Indians:Báez was signed by the Cleveland...
(pitcher) - Alexei RamírezAlexei RamírezAlexei Fernando Ramírez is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Chicago White Sox...
(outfielder) - Yosvany Madera (catcher)
2005–06 season
Under manager Juan "Charles" Díaz, the Vegueros finished the 45th National Series2005-06 Cuban National Series
The 45th season of the Cuban National Series ended with another title for Industriales. Though the Lions failed to win their division, they won close-fought series throughout the playoffs and won their 11th championship.-West:-East:-Playoffs:...
with a 48–42 record, but despite finishing in second place in Group A, did not qualify for the playoffs.
Roster
- Catchers: Yosvani Peraza, Lázaro Arturo Castro, William Otaño, Edwar Hernández
- Infielders: Jorge Padrón, Ariel Díaz, Rafael Valdés, Onel Olivera, David Castillo, Donal Duarte, Osniel Madera, Pedro Pablo Fraga
- Outfielders: Alexei RamírezAlexei RamírezAlexei Fernando Ramírez is a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop for the Chicago White Sox...
, Tomás Valido, Raidel Hernández, William Saavedra, Reidel Álvarez - Pitchers: Pedro Luis LazoPedro Luis LazoPedro Luis Lazo Iglesias is a top pitcher in Cuban baseball. He is used predominantly as a reliever in international competition, although he is a starter in the Cuban National Series, where he plays for Pinar del Río...
, Yunieski MayaYunieski MayaYuniesky Maya Mendizula is a right-handed pitcher for the Washington Nationals, and formerly of the Cuban national baseball team and Pinar del Río of the Cuban National Series...
, Vladimir Baños, Orestes González, Armando Martínez, Raidel Miranda, José Rosell Melendiz, Wendy Borges, Irandy Castro, Reinier Casanova, José Carlos Garriga, Rogelio García, Michel Martínez Pozo