Baseball in Puerto Rico

Baseball is the most popular sport in Puerto Rico. In terms of spectators and active participants, it is the premier sport on the island.

The baseball game was introduced to the island in the late 19th century and the first two baseball clubs were founded in 1897, before the American invasion of 1898 known as the Spanish–American War. The sport was initially ridiculed as an effete, unmanly exhibition. However, when local Puerto Rican teams regularly defeated and embarrassed the more "experienced" American teams, the sport began to catch on.

As of 2016, over 100 Major League Baseball players were active in the Puerto Rico Baseball League, in addition to the many hundreds who participated in the past.

Some of the most famous baseball players from Puerto Rico include Hall of Famers Roberto Clemente, Orlando Cepeda, Roberto Alomar, Iván Rodríguez and Edgar Martinez; as well as Jose "Cheo" Cruz; Juan González; Victor Pellot; Yadier Molina; and Bernie Williams.

Early history of baseball in Puerto Rico

The game of baseball was introduced to the island in the late 19th century, by Puerto Ricans and Cubans who had learned the game in the United States. At first the sport was poorly received by the hard-working farmers, tobacco workers and sugarcane cutters of the island, who considered it an effete, unmanly game.

The first two baseball clubs were founded in 1897: the ''Almendares'' Baseball Club owned by Francisco Alamo Armas, and the ''Borinquen'' Baseball Club owned by Santos Filippi.

According to ''El País'' newspaper, the first organized baseball game was played on January 11, 1898 at the old velodrome in Santurce, San Juan. The ''Borinquen'' beat the ''Almendares'' by a score of 3 to 0. The first game to go a complete nine innings was played on January 30, 1898, when the ''Borinquen'' beat the ''Almendares'' again, by a score of 9 to 3.

Later that same year, Puerto Rico became an American territory when the United States defeated Spain in the Spanish–American War. By way of recreation, the American soldiers stationed in Puerto Rico were permitted to organize a baseball club to play against the local Puerto Rican clubs. On November 4, 1900 the ''Almendares'' Baseball Club trounced the American Baseball Club of the Second Regiment of Infantry, by a score of 32 to 18.

In the early 1920s teams from Puerto Rico, such as the San Juan Baseball Club and the Porto Rican Stars, would travel to New York City to play against some of the professional American teams.

Chronology of major events

* On January 11, 1898, the first organized baseball game was played in Puerto Rico between the Borinquen team and the Almendares team. The Borinquen won 3 to 0.
* On November 4, 1900, the ''Almendares'' Baseball Club defeated the U.S. Second Infantry Regiment, by a score of 32 to 18.
* In 1928, Emilio "Millito" Navarro of the Cuban Stars became the first Puerto Rican to play in the Negro leagues.
* In 1940, while pitching for the ''Brujos de Guayama'', Satchel Paige walked off the field and left the stadium, because he saw a ghost standing next to him on the pitcher's mound.
* In 1942, Hiram Bithorn of the Chicago Cubs became the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues.
* In 1947, the Leones de Ponce and a selection of native All-Stars defeated the New York Yankees on consecutive games.
* In 1949, Luis Olmo (''El "Jíbaro" Olmos'') of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the first Puerto Rican to play in a World Series game, and the first one to hit a home run and to get three hits, in the same game.
* In 1951, Puerto Rico won its first and only Baseball World Cup.
* In 1954, Rubén Gómez of the New York Giants became the first Puerto Rican to pitch in a World Series game, and the first one to receive a World Series ring.
* In 1971, Roberto Clemente of the Pittsburgh Pirates became the first Hispanic to reach 3,000 hits, and the first Puerto Rican to be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
* In 1984, Willie Hernández of the Detroit Tigers became the first Puerto Rican to win both the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP Award.
* In 1992, Jose "Cheo" Cruz was honored by the Houston Astros when his #25 was retired by the team.
* In 1995, Leon Day, a Pitcher in the Negro leagues who played for "Los Tiburones de Aguadilla" the "Aguadilla Sharks" was inducted into the Hall of Fame. His love for the island is reflected in the fact that he is the only Hall of Famer to be enshrined with a cap of a team outside the mainland United States; his plaque depicts him as an "Aguadilla Shark."
* In 1999, Orlando "Peruchin" Cepeda became the second Puerto Rican enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
* In 2001, Major League Baseball history was made when Opening Day was in San Juan at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium with a game between the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays.
* In 2003 as well as 2004, the former Montreal Expos played 22 home games each year at Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, before moving to Washington, D.C. and becoming the Washington Nationals.
* In 2011, Roberto Alomar became the third Puerto Rican enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
* In 2013, the Puerto Rico National Baseball Team defeated two-time champions Japan during the 2013 World Baseball Classic semi-finals. They finished as the runner-up in the tournament.
* In 2017, catcher Iván Rodríguez became the fourth Puerto Rican elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
* In 2017, the Puerto Rico National Baseball Team finished as runner-up in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.

Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente

Puerto Rico has a winter baseball league named the Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente, formerly known as ''Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico'' (LBPPR) and Puerto Rico Baseball League, that has operated since the early 20th century. The champion of the Puerto Rico league represents Puerto Rico in the annual Caribbean World Series.

The LBPRC currently has six teams:

:::::::::::::::::::::* Atenienses de Manatí ( Manatí ''Athenians'')
:::::::::::::::::::::* Cangrejeros de Santurce ( Santurce ''Crabbers'')
:::::::::::::::::::::* Criollos de Caguas (Caguas ''Creoles'')
:::::::::::::::::::::* Gigantes de Carolina ( Carolina ''Giants'')
:::::::::::::::::::::* Indios de Mayagüez ( Mayagüez ''Indians'')
:::::::::::::::::::::* Leones de Ponce ( Ponce ''Lions'')

In 2007, the LBPPR recessed for the first time since its creation. In 2008, the organization resumed operations, but with several structural changes. These included reducing the league to only four teams, renaming the league as the "Puerto Rico Baseball League", and establishing a website.

Currently, the league's champion also participates in the Caribbean Series.

In 2008, the LBPPR participated in the first inter-league series with the LBPDR, otherwise known as the ''Liga de Beisbol Profesional de la Republica Dominicana'' (Professional Baseball League of the Dominican Republic).

Inception and early years of the league (1938–1940)

Enrique Huyke, a professor from Mayagüez, originally suggested the establishment of an organized baseball league in Puerto Rico. The idea was adopted by Teofilo Maldonado, president of the Commission on Recreation and Sports. Gabriel Castro helped Huyke with the scouting of organizations, which had to pay $1,000 prior to being admitted. The Guayama Rotary Club collaborated in raising funds for the teams. The ''Liga de Béisbol Semiprofesional de Puerto Rico'' (LBSPR) was founded in 1938, as a semi-professional league.Van Hyning et al., p. 7 The new league consisted of six teams: the Senadores de San Juan ('' San Juan Senators''), Leones de Ponce ('' Ponce Lions''), Indios de Mayagüez ('' Mayagüez Indians''), Criollos de Caguas (''Caguas Creoles''), Brujos de Guayama ('' Guayama Witch Doctors''), and Grises Orientales de Humacao (''Humacao Oriental Grays'').Van Hyning et al., p. 8

Maldonado was named the league's commissioner. The league set deadlines for changes in the rosters, which were allowed only during the first half of the season, and the number of games played has historically varied from 40 to 80 games per season.Van Hyning, p. 10. The All-Star game was scheduled to coincide with the traditional Three Kings Day, January 6, an idea suggested by Angel Colón so that the proceeds could be used to buy toys. This date was used for decades, until the emergence of television forced the league to comply with dates requested by the networks.Van Hyning, p. 222 .The first Puerto Rican players to play in U.S. Major League Baseball, Hiram Bithorn and Luis Olmo, were active in the rosters of San Juan and Caguas. Bithorn became the youngest manager in the league's history, named to the position in 1938 at the age of 22.Van Hyning et al., p. 83 Enrique Huyke served as manager for Mayagüez for less than a month, because the team's owner threatened to remove its entry if he did not take the office. One of the main figures of the league in its early stage was Negro leagues’ veteran, Emilio Navarro.Van Hyning et al., p. 78

In the 1939-40 season, the Cangrejeros de Santurce ('' Santurce Crabbers'') and Tiburones de Aguadilla (''Aguadilla Sharks'') joined the original teams. On January 8, 1939, Humacao and San Juan played an 18-inning game that lasted four hours, establishing a record.Van Hyning et al., p. 220

Between 1938 and 1941, the LBSPR was part of the National Semi-Professional Baseball Congress, with titleholder Guayama facing the champions of the Congress’ United States branch in best-of-seven series in 1939, where they defeated the Duncan Cementers, and again in 1940.Van Hyning et al., p. 9

In 1939-40, Perucho Cepeda won the league's batting championship over Josh Gibson, who managed to win it the following season.Van Hyning et al., p. 74 The ''Criollos de Caguas'' won their first championship in 1940/41, defeating the ''Cangrejeros'' in the final series. Santurce's Luis Cabrera was the last player to win the LBSPR’ Most Valuable Player award.Van Hyning et al., p. 81

In October, 1940, Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige arrived in Puerto Rico, four weeks after the start of the 1939/40 winter season. He joined the ''Brujos de Guayama'' (Guayama Witch Doctors), who also featured shortstop Perucho Cepeda and outfielder Tetelo Vargas. On November 5, Paige pitched a shut out against rival Santurce, which featured player-manager Josh Gibson, by a lopsided score of 23 to 0.

In a December game against Mayagüez, Paige set a league record by striking out 17 batters. He ended the season with a 19–3 record, a 1.93 ERA, and 208 strikeouts in 205 innings. The 19 wins and 208 strikeouts set single-season league records, that have never been broken. Paige helped his team win the league championship playoff series, winning two games against the ''San Juan Senadores.'' Paige went on to win the league's Most Valuable Player award in 1940. The town of Guayama is widely known for its Santería, Palo (religion), and other spiritualist religious practices. In a legendary game in Guayama, Paige walked off the mound, because he saw a ghost standing next to him.

Professional status

On September 14, 1941, Rafael Delgado Márquez proposed that the league recognize a move from semi-professional to professional status by renaming itself to ''Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico'' (LBPPR).

The league used a format of ''vueltas'' (halves), where the winners of each half facing each other for the championship. However, Ponce managed to win four consecutive championships (1941–45), and in three of those seasons (1941/42, 1943/44, 1944/45) they won both halves and were declared champions without participating in a final. Consequently, once the other teams were eliminated from winning the second-half title, their fans tended to lose interest. Some players also dropped out after their teams were eliminated. To deal with this issue, in 1948/49 the league established a new playoff format that included the top four teams.

Drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1941, Hiram Bithorn was the first Puerto Rican to ever play major league baseball. The world took notice in 1943, when Bithorn went 18–12 with an earned run average of 2.60, and completed 19 of his 30 starts. He also led the league in shutouts (seven), setting a record for Puerto Rican pitchers that stands to this day.

Francisco Coímbre was a key member of Ponce's success, winning two batting championships and a Most Valuable Player award. He went three consecutive seasons (1939–42) without striking out. Other players that participated for Ponce included Juan Guilbe and Griffin Tirado.Van Hyning et al., p. 80 In 1943/44 and 1944/45, Ponce pitcher Tomás "Planchardón" Quiñones won back-to-back Most Valuable Player awards.Van Hyning et al., p. 100

World War II affected the league directly, reducing the 1942/43 season's length to 36 games and the number of active teams to four. The league continued with four teams through 1945/46, but they played 48 games from 1943–46. From 1942 to 1944, teams were not allowed to bring in imported players. In the 1944/45 season, Luis "Canena" Márquez debuted in the league and hit .361, setting the record for highest batting average by a rookie.Van Hyning et al., p. 118

The ''Senadores de San Juan'' won their first championship in 1945/46, defeating the Indios in the finals.Van Hyning et al., p. 89 During this season, Joe Buzas

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