Cuban National Series
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2023 Cuban National Series
SportBaseball
Founded1961 (63 years ago)
No. of teams16 (since 2012–13)
CountryCuba
Most recent
champion(s)
Las Tunas
(2023)
Most titlesIndustriales (12)
TV partner(s)Tele Rebelde (Cuba)
Cubamax TV (USA, since 2019–20 season)
Streaming partner(s)YouTube (worldwide via Game Time platform of the WBSC YouTube channel, since 2020–21)
Promotion toCuban Elite League
Official websitewww.beisbolcubano.cu

The Cuban National Series (Spanish: Serie Nacional de Béisbol, SNB) is the primary domestic baseball competition in Cuba. Formed after the dissolution of the Cuban League in the wake of the Cuban Revolution, the National Series is a part of the Cuban baseball league system. Between 1961 and 2021, it was the top-level winter league in Cuba; it now operates as a summer league, with the top six National Series teams qualifying for the Cuban Elite League.

History

The Cuban National Series was instituted in replacement of the Cuban League, which had operated since 1878, as in March 1961 the Cuban government abolished professional baseball. The Cuban League typically consisted of four teams; the Cuban National Series has played with more than four teams since its 1965–66 season, peaking at 18 teams from the late 1970s into the early 1990s.

The Cuban National Series operated as a winter league for most of its history, generally playing a regular season stretching from early August until late January. As of 2023, the regular season spans late March to early July. An all-star game is held yearly at midseason. In Havana, most of the top tier players take the field for Industriales, traditionally the strongest team in the league. Other typically strong teams include those from Santiago de Cuba Province, Pinar del Río Province and Villa Clara Province.

In March 1982, the league was marred by a gambling-related corruption scandal, which saw at least 17 players and coaches suspended and arrested.[1]

As of early 2019, baseball players in Cuba received $40 per month.[2]

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in no 2021–22 season being played.

The league serves as the first stage in the selection of players for the Cuba national baseball team for participation in international competitions and for both the World Baseball Classic and baseball at the Summer Olympics, when contested. Traditionally, the national team, known as Preseleccion, is selected from the Cuban National Series and practices in Havana. Sometimes more than one team can be asked to supply players for international duty as part of the national team, from Cuban National Series teams and recently from the Cuban Elite League.

From 2016 to 2019, the league champion advanced directly to the Caribbean Series as the Cuban delegate. Representation in the Caribbean Series was transferred to the Cuban Elite League, which plays a winter schedule, following its 2022–23 premiere season.

League structure

1961–1977

From 1961–62, the inaugural season, through 1976–77, league size increased from just four charter teams to 14 teams, while the length of schedule grew from 27 to 99 games, but then reduced to 39. Champions were decided based on end-of-season standings with no postseason, comparable to the National League and American League of Major League Baseball before 1969. In the event of a tie at the end of the season, a best-of-three tiebreaker series was played.

SeasonLeague sizeGamesNotes
1961–62427Charter teams: Azucareros, Habana, Occidentales, Oriente
1962–63430Habana renamed as Industriales
1963–64436Oriente renamed as Orientales
1964–65439Azucareros replaced by Granjeros
1965–66665New teams: Centrales, Henequeneros
1966–67665Henequeneros replaced by Las Villas
1967–681299Orientales renamed as Oriente
Left league: Occidentales, Centrales
New teams: Azucareros, Camagüey, Habana, Henequeneros, Matanzas, Mineros, Vegueros, Pinar del Río
1968–691299 
1969–701266 
1970–711266 
1971–721266 
1972–731478New teams: Constructores, Serranos
1973–741478 
1974–751439Left league: Camagüey, Habana, Industriales, Las Villas, Matanzas, Oriente, Pinar del Río
New teams: Agricultores, Arroceros, Cafetaleros, Citricultores, Forestales, Ganaderos, Metropolitanos
1975–761439 
1976–771439 

Source:[3]

1977–1992

The 1977–78 season followed the nation's administrative restructuring of the provinces of Cuba, announced in December 1976,[4] resulting in changes to multiple teams within the league. Through the 1991–92 season, the league had 18 teams, as 11 provinces fielded a single team each, three provinces fielded two teams each, and the special administrative area of Isla de la Juventud (originally named Isla de Pinos) fielded a team. Also, aluminum bats similar to those used in American college baseball debuted, and use of the designated hitter was initiated.

In 1983–84, the league divided into divisions for the first time, with the league split into an upper-half "first division" and lower-half "second division" at the mid-point of the regular season. Division champions were based on end-of-season standings with no postseason. This format was only used for two seasons. In 1985–86, the league created Eastern and Western divisions, each with nine teams, and had the top two teams of each division advance to postseason play. The postseason first consisted of a round-robin tournament, with each team playing the other three teams twice each—this was used through the 1988–89 season. In 1989–90 (only), the two division winners faced off in a best-of-seven series to determine a league champion, while the two division runners-up met in a best-of-five series to determine third place. In 1990–91, the postseason format was changed to a bracket tournament, with two semifinal series (each best-of-three) followed by a final series (best-of-seven). In 1991–92, the semifinals were changed to best-of-five.

SeasonLeague sizeGamesNotes
1977–781851No postseason
1978–791851
1979–801851
1980–811851
1981–821851
1982–831851
1983–841875Split into two divisions at midseason; no postseason
1984–851875
1985–861848Two divisions; four-team round-robin postseason
1986–871848
1987–881848
1988–891848
1989–901848Two divisions; division winners meet in title series
1990–911848Two divisions; four-team bracket tournament
1991–921848

1992–2021

In 1992–93, league size reduced from 18 to 16 teams, as Pinar del Río Province and Matanzas Province, each of which had been fielding two teams each, began fielding a single team each. The 16 teams were divided into four groups (divisions) with the top team from each group advancing to postseason play. The postseason consisted of best-of-seven semifinal series followed by a best-of-seven final series.

In 1997–98, the postseason was expanded to eight teams, as division winners plus the next four teams with the best winning percentage advanced to the postseason. A quarterfinal stage was added, contested as best-of-five series.

In 2008–2009, the league was reorganized into two eight-team divisions, East and West, with the top four teams from each division qualifying for the postseason, and all playoff series contested as best-of-seven.

In 2011–2012, there were 17 competing teams, as the then-La Habana Province was split into Artemisa Province and Mayabeque Province. Thus, the West division had nine teams, including the two new clubs. The league returned to 16 teams beginning with the 2012–13 season when the Metropolitanos (long seen as a farm club of the powerhouse Industriales) were disbanded after nearly four decades of play.

In 2012–13, the zone qualification format was dropped in favor of a phase qualification system. All teams played 45 games in a "classification phase". The top eight ranked teams from this phase moved on to the "qualification phase" to determine playoff participants. In 2016–17, the number of teams in the qualification phase was dropped to six. In 2020–21, the phase format was removed from the league, and the league determined qualifiers based on a single table of standings, with the top teams at the end of the regular season advancing to the postseason, thereby ending divisional play.

To accommodate the 2013 World Baseball Classic, contested in March, the league took a six-week break after the all-star game of February 3. The league played a shortened 45-game season, with all 16 teams competing in a single table format (doing away with the regular two division format). The bottom eight seeded teams then played amongst themselves in the consolation round, while the top eight did the same for the championship. In 2014, the consolation round format for the midseason was officially adopted, effectively making it a de facto wild card game with the winners having a chance to make it to the postseason.

2022–present

After no games were played for a year following the end of the 2020–21 season in January 2021, play resumed with a 75-game schedule, all contested within a single calendar year for the first time, as the 2022 season spanned January to June. The change to a summer league schedule was made official, and starting with the 2023 season, the league runs from March to July with a schedule of 75 games per team in the regular season, followed by three playoff rounds culminating in a championship. The Cuban Elite League was initiated to maintain active competition during the winter months.

Current teams

Team Nickname Abbr. Location Founded Stadium Capacity Ref.
ArtemisaCazadores (Hunters)ARTArtemisa2011Estadio 26 de Julio6,000[5]
CamagüeyToros (Bulls)CMGCamagüey1977Estadio Cándido González14,000[6]
Ciego de ÁvilaTigres (Tigers)CAVCiego de Ávila1977José Ramón Cepero Stadium13,000[7]
CienfuegosElefantes (Elephants)CFGCienfuegos1977Cinco de Septiembre Stadium15,600[8]
GranmaAlazanes (Sorrels)GRABayamo1977Mártires de Barbados Stadium10,000[9]
GuantánamoIndios (Indians)GTMGuantánamo1977Nguyen Van Troi Stadium14,000[10]
HolguínCachorros (Dogs)HOLHolguín1977Calixto García Íñiguez Stadium30,000[11]
IndustrialesLeones (Lions)INDHavana1961Estadio Latinoamericano55,000[12]
Isla de la JuventudPiratas (Pirates)IJVNueva Gerona1977Estadio Cristóbal Labra5,000[13]
Las TunasLeñadores (Lumberjacks)LTULas Tunas1977Estadio Julio Antonio Mella13,000[14]
MatanzasCocodrilos (Crocodiles)MTZMatanzas1992Victoria de Girón Stadium22,000[15]
MayabequeHuracanes (Hurricanes)MAYSan José de las Lajas2011Estadio Nelson Fernández8,000[16]
Pinar del RíoVegueros (Growers)PRIPinar del Río1992Estadio Capitán San Luis8,000[17]
Sancti SpíritusGallos (Roosters)SSPSancti Spíritus1977José Antonio Huelga Stadium13,000[18]
Santiago de CubaAvispas (Wasps)SCUSantiago de Cuba1977Estadio Guillermón Moncada25,000[19]
Villa ClaraAzucareros (Sugar makers)VCLSanta Clara1961Estadio Augusto César Sandino18,000[20]

Source:[21]

National Series champions

Before the 1985–86 season, champions were decided by final regular-season standings. The 1962–63 and 1971–72 seasons saw two teams finish tied for first, so three-game tie-breaker series were played to determine a champion.

A postseason was first played in January 1986, contested by four teams. Initially staged as a round-robin tournament, it changed to a bracket tournament in January 1990. In January 1998, the postseason was expanded to eight teams.

Instances where a team has won the championship more than once are numbered in parentheses. In seasons that spanned two calendar years, the "Year" column is when the season ended.

SeriesYearWinning teamManager
11962OccidentalesFermín Guerra
21963IndustrialesRamón Carneado
31964Industriales (2)Ramón Carneado
41965Industriales (3)Ramón Carneado
51966Industriales (4)Ramón Carneado
61967OrientalesRoberto Ledo
71968HabanaJuan Gómez
81969Villa ClaraServio Borges
91970HenequenerosMiguel A. Domínguez
101971Villa Clara (2)Servio Borges
111972Villa Clara (3)Pedro P. Delgado
121973Industriales (5)Pedro Chávez
131974Habana (2)Jorge Trigoura
141975AgricultoresOrlando Leroux
151976GanaderosCarlos Gómez
161977CitricultoresJuan Bregio
171978VeguerosJosé M. Pineda
181979Sancti SpíritusCándido Andrade
191980Santiago de CubaManuel Miyar
201981Vegueros (2)José M. Pineda
211982Vegueros (3)Jorge Fuentes
221983Villa Clara (4)Eduardo Martín
231984Citricultores (2)Tomás Soto
241985Vegueros (4)Jorge Fuentes
251986Industriales (6)Pedro Chávez
261987Vegueros (5)Jorge Fuentes
271988Vegueros (6)Jorge Fuentes
281989Santiago de Cuba (2)Higinio Vélez
291990Henequeneros (2)Gerardo Junco
301991Henequeneros (3)Gerardo Junco
311992Industriales (7)Jorge Trigoura
321993Villa Clara (5)Pedro Jova
331994Villa Clara (6)Pedro Jova
341995Villa Clara (7)Pedro Jova
351996Industriales (8)Pedro Medina
361997Pinar del RíoJorge Fuentes
371998Pinar del Río (2)Alfonso Urquiola
381999Santiago de Cuba (3)Higinio Vélez
392000Santiago de Cuba (4)Higinio Vélez
402001Santiago de Cuba (5)Higinio Vélez
412002HolguínHéctor Hernández
422003Industriales (9)Rey Vicente Anglada
432004Industriales (10)Rey Vicente Anglada
442005Santiago de Cuba (6)Antonio Pacheco
452006Industriales (11)Rey Vicente Anglada
462007Santiago de Cuba (7)Antonio Pacheco
472008Santiago de Cuba (8)Antonio Pacheco
482009La HabanaEsteban Lombillo
492010Industriales (12)Germán Mesa
502011Pinar del Río (3)Alfonso Urquiola
512012Ciego de ÁvilaRoger Machado
522013Villa Clara (8)Ramón Moré
532014Pinar del Río (4)Alfonso Urquiola
542015Ciego de Ávila (2)Roger Machado
552016Ciego de Ávila (3)Roger Machado
562017GranmaCarlos Martí
572018Granma (2)Carlos Martí
582019Las TunasPablo Civil
592020MatanzasArmando Ferrer Ruiz
602021Granma (3)Carlos Martí
612022Granma (4)
622023Las Tunas (2)

See also

References

  1. Anderson, Dave (March 28, 1982). "Cuba Faces Own Baseball Scandal". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The New York Times. p. 3F. Retrieved September 2, 2023 via newspapers.com.
  2. Augustin, Ed (January 2, 2019). "Can Cuban baseball still be great when many of its stars have left?". The Telegraph. Macon, Georgia. The New York Times. p. B9. Retrieved August 28, 2023 via newspapers.com.
  3. "Las 40 primeras Series Nacionales". Granma (in Spanish). Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved 2014-12-27.
  4. Goodsell, James Nelson (December 12, 1976). "Cuba's citizens to have a say". The Columbian. Vancouver, Washington. The Christian Science Monitor. p. 47. Retrieved September 2, 2023 via newspapers.com.
  5. "Artemisa". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  6. "Camagüey". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  7. "Ciego de Ávila". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  8. "Cienfuegos". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  9. "Granma". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  10. "Guantánamo". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  11. "Holguín". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  12. "Industriales". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  13. "Isla de la Juventud". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  14. "Las Tunas". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  15. "Matanzas". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  16. "Mayabeque". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  17. "Pinar del Río". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  18. "Sancti Spíritus". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  19. "Sancti Spíritus". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  20. "Villa Clara". Cuban National Series Official Website (in Spanish). Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  21. Reglamento (LXII Serie Nacional) (PDF) (in Spanish). La Comisión Nacional de Béisbol. 2023. pp. 3–4. Retrieved August 31, 2023 via beisbolcubano.cu.

Further reading

  • Connor, Joe, Welcome to Cuba. ESPN.com, January 17, 2006. Retrieved December 16, 2009.
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