The Olmecas de Tabasco (English: Tabasco Olmecs) are a

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Modern professiona ...

team in the Mexican League based in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. Their home

ballpark A ballpark, or baseball park, is a type of sports venue where baseball is played. The playing field is divided into the infield, an area whose dimensions are rigidly defined, and the outfield, where dimensions can vary widely from place to pla ...

is the

Estadio Centenario 27 de Febrero The Parque de Béisbol Centenario del 27 de Febrero is a stadium in Villahermosa, Mexico. It is primarily used for baseball and serves as the home stadium for the Olmecas de Tabasco The Olmecas de Tabasco (English: Tabasco Olmecs) are a professi ...

. The Olmecas won their only Mexican League championship in 1993 under

manager Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activitie ...

Juan Navarrete The membership of Mexican Professional Baseball Hall of Fame includes 199 individuals through 2014. The first members were inducted in 1939, followed by selections in 1964, and since 1971 by elections in most of the following years. Members are ...

. The Olmecas have long been known for their pitching, especially Emigdio Lopez, Tabasco Cecilio Ruiz, Juan Jesus Alvarez, Jesus "Chito" Rios, Ricardo Osuna, and Gaudencio Aguirre. Other well-known players who have played for the Olmecas include

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the ( home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the cat ...

Elisha Garzón,

first baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...

Jay Gainer Johnathan Keith Gainer (born October 8, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman who appeared in 23 games for the Colorado Rockies in its 1993 season. He is an alumnus of the University of South Alabama. Career A member o ...

, second baseman Joel Serna,

third baseman A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball or softball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. In the scoring system u ...

Manuel Ramirez, and

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists wh ...

Heber Gomez.

Rusty Tillman Russell Arthur Tillman (February 27, 1946 – March 14, 2021) was an American football player who played linebacker in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1970 to 1977. Tillman was nicknamed “The King” for his spe ...

, Oscar Zambrano, Rosario Zambrano, Arturo Bernal, and Tabasco Carlos Sievers have all been stars in the outfield in Villahermosa. The Olmecas began playing in the Mexican League in 1975 and have had many nicknames over the years: Cardenales de Tabasco (1975), the

Plataneros de Tabasco The Plataneros de Tabasco was a Mexican Southeast League (1964-1966, 1969-1970) and Mexican League (1977-1985) baseball team based in Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a countr ...

(1977–85), and the Ganaderos de Tabasco (1985–89). They became the Olmecas in 1990. In 1998, they played as the Ganaderos for two seasons before returning to the Olmecas name for the 2000 season.

History

The Cardenales, the first team representing Villahermosa in the Mexican League, began play in 1975. Plagued with economic problems, they sat out the 1976 season before returning to the league in 1977. When the club returned to play in 1977, they were renamed the Plataneros (the Banana Planters), a name they kept until 1985. The Plataneros found their first success in 1979, when they qualified for the playoffs under manager

Raúl Cano Raul A. Cano (born December 23, 1945) is a Mexican former professional baseball manager and pitcher. Born in Guaymas, Sonora, he batted and threw right handed. Though he never played in or managed in the Major Leagues, Cano spent a long career ...

. The team included Arturo Bernal, Rommel Canada, Joel Orquendo, and Nike Nagy. As the 1980s began, the Plataneros signed stars Luis Tiant and Jesus Sommers but did not find success on the field. In 1984, Julian Manzur, the club president, decided to sell the team. Humberto Tapia purchased the club and changed their name to the Ganaderos for 1985. In 1987, they signed Steve Howe, who was attempting a return to the major leagues after a drug suspension. He had great success and was signed by the Texas Rangers after 13 games. Mike Cole stole 100 bases in the 1989 season and there was hope of a playoff appearance, but poor road trips against Campeche and Yucatán to end the season left them out of the postseason picture. In 1993 Juan Navarrete took over as manager and the club signed many foreign players including Rafael de Lima,

Alexis Infante Fermín Alexis Infante Carpio (born December 4, 1961) is a former Venezuelan professional baseball utility infielder. Listed at 5' 10", 175 lb., he batted and threw right handed. Born in Barquisimeto, Lara, Infante played for the Toronto Blu ...

, and Todd Brown. The Olmecas ended a 14-year playoff drought and won the Mexican League title. Don Diego Rosillo was named Executive of the Year and Ricardo Osuna won Pitcher of the Year.

Roster

References

External links

* {{Mexican League Baseball teams established in 1975 Mexican League teams 1975 establishments in Mexico Sports teams in Tabasco