Santurce Crabbers (baseball)
Encyclopedia
The Cangrejeros de Santurce were a professional baseball
team based in Santurce
, the largest barrio
of San Juan
, Puerto Rico
. The franchise joined the Puerto Rico Baseball League since it was the semi-professional Liga de Béisbol Semi-Profesional de Puerto Rico. Having played for over 70 years, the Cangrejeros are one of the most successful franchises in the archipelago, winning twelve national titles and five Caribbean Series. With over 2000 victories, the Cangrejeros have won the largest amount of games in the history of Puerto Rican professional baseball. The 1954-55 Cangrejeros, nicknamed Escuadrón del Pánico (lit. "Panic Squad"), was the team's most notable roster, with a lineup that included hall of famers Roberto Clemente
and Willie Mays
. This version of the Santurce won the National and Caribbean championships by sweeping their respective series.
The Cangrejeros most recently its home games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium
, in the municipality of San Juan. For several years they shared this field with the Senadores de San Juan
(also known temporally as the San Juan Metros). A sports rivalry has always existed between both teams, leading to the creation of the "City Championship", which was a season-long series that gave the team with the most wins the aforementioned title. During the 2003-04 season they also shared the stadium with the Montreal Expos
before they were relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Nationals
. Previous home fields include the Sixto Escobar Stadium
near Old San Juan, as well as the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium
in Bayamón. The team’s official radio station in the metropolitan area was WUNO Noti-Uno Metro
, on the 630 AM frequency.
and Dick Seay to fill these spaces. Seay served as player-manager in the early part of this season, leaving the office to Gibson once he arrived until he abandoned the team to play in Venezuela before the season was over. The Cangrejeros made their debut on October 1, 1939, trading victories with Aguadilla in a double-header.
Another double-header was played against San Juan in October, with both teams trading victories as well. The rivalry between the Cangrejeros and Senadores became known as the "City Championship", a term coined by Zorilla as an publicity stunt, with San Juan winning the first banner of this match-up. However, the team suffered an 23-0 loss to Guayama in November, which marked the worst defeat by any Santurce-based team in 60 years. Consequently, the Cangrejeros were called a "soft ball team" by the media, a pattern that continued throughout its early years. The Cangrejeros finished the season's first half in the sixth place, tying Aguadilla fourth during the second half. The team concluded its first season by defeating San Juan in two consecutive games, forcing the Senadores to play more games to secure the pennant. The team's home stadium was renamed Estadio Sixto Escobar
after Sixto Escobar
, Puerto Rico's first boxing champion. After an average first season, Cabrera soon became the Cangrejero's franchise player, conserving this status throughout the 1940s. In 1940-41, the Cangrejeros improved their performance. With the loss of Gibson, the team had signed Efraín Merced, Georgie Calderón, Raymond Brown and obtained Pedro Jaime Reyes in a trade for Concepción. The team had a weak start, trading victories in a double-header against San Juan before finishing last during the first half of the season, drastically improving to win the second half and earn a spot in the championship series. This was the first time that the Cangrejeros won the "City Championship" banner, winning all games against San Juan during the second half. The team finished this half with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses, gaining victories over the Grises de Humacao, Caguas, Mayaguez and Guayama. In the championship series, the Cangrejeros were matched against the Criollos de Caguas, losing in seven games. Cabrera won the LBSPR's Most Valuable Player Award. In 1941-42, the Cangrejeros lost several close games, being unable to match Ponce, the team that won both halves led by Francisco Coimbre
. Gibson rejoined the team, hitting .480 to win the MVP award. The Marín Rum Company became the team's first sponsor, which earned the team a nickname, "Santurce-Marín" during the early 1940s.
won the league's batting title in 1943-44. In 1945-46, the team had its worst season up to that point, finishing last in the league. However, Víctor Cruz became the team's third straight Rookie of the Year. Gibson did not a hit a single homerun throughout the season, experiencing an emotional breakdown that convinced Zorilla to send him back to Pittsburg. Vargas was the team's best hitter, while his former teammate in Guayama's amateur circuit, Perucho Cepeda, joined the Cangrejeros. In 1946-47, Santurce was managed by Clarence Palm, finishing fourth in the league's standing. Willard Brown
joined the team during that season, winning the batting title. Guigo Otero took over the office of vice-president. The Cangrejeros finished in the third place in 1947-48, despite signing Satchel Paige
and Rubén Gómez and Brown winning the league's triple-crown. The team tied Mayagüez for the first half's lead, but the Indios were declared winners due to the leading the individual series. In 1948-49, the LBPPR established a new format, where the top three teams from an 80-game season would advance to the playoffs. The Cangrejeros tied Ponce in the second place, eliminating them in the semifinals. However, they lost the finals series against Mayagüez. The team recorded the best assistance in the league with 4,337 followers per game for a total of 173,466. In 1949-50, the Cangrejeros once again tied with Ponce in the second position, being eliminated in the semifinals against the Indios. Brown won its second triple crown. The team was sponsored by TEK Deluxe Toothbrushes. For the 1950-51 season, Zorilla signed George Scales
to manage the team and contracted new imports. The team won its first pennant after José Lucas hit a home run that became known as El Pepelucazo. The Cangrejeros went on to win the "City Championship", subsequently defeating the Senadores in all of their semifinal games. The team defeated the Criollos in a seven-game series, winning Santurce's first LBPPR championship and advancing to the newly-created Caribbean Series. In their first international competition, the Cangrejeros were reinforced with Olmo who had returned to Caguas, Roberto Vargas
and José Santiago among others, winning the first Caribbean title for Puerto Rico. Olmo was selected the series' MVP.
In 1951-52, Santurce finished third, winning 16 and losing 4 to finish the regular season. In the semifinals they defeated Caguas in all of the semifinal games, losing the finals to San Juan. Gómez was selected the league's MVP. In 1952-53, the Cangrejeros employed Buster Clarkson
as the player-manager. This season marked Roberto Clemente
's debut in the league after being signed by Zorilla. The team advanced to the playoffs, where they eliminated the Leones in three games. The finals were against the Senadores, with Santurce winning its second championship in a six-game series. The Cangrejeros went on to win their second Caribbean Series title, with a final record of 5-1. In the 1953-54 season, the Cangrejeros finished last in the standing, but Clemente and Gómez recorded solid performances. The following season, Zorilla and Otero asked permission to the New York Giants
and managed to secure a contract for MLB National League
MVP Willie Mays
, who played centerfield and went on to win the league's MVP and batting title. Other imports included Clarkson, Bob Thurman
and George Crowe
. After the first month of the season, the team was in the fourth place of the league's standing with a negative record, before winning straight games against the Senadores and Criollos. Despite this change, the team made two releases to contract three reinforcement players, but lost one due to a MLB rule that prohibited the participation of five players from the same team in the winter leagues. On this year's All-Star game, Clemente hit two home runs to give the North team, composed of players from Santurce and San Juan, a victory over the South team. On October 31, 1954, Gómez pitched the league's first shutout, he finished with a record of 13-4 and won the "City Championship" and Caribbean Series title for Santurce. After sweeping their series, the team did not sign any reinforcement prior to the Caribbean Series, being the first time that a team had done so. Five players were included in the event's All-Star lineup, Don Zimmer
carried the MVP and the Cangrejeros received a special trophy for winning three Caribbean championships. This version of the Cangrejeros was nicknamed El Escuadrón del Pánico by local newspapers. The team was received by a multitude and they were invited to La Fortaleza
. The Cangrejeros signed seven new players for the 1955-56 season, including Orlando Cepeda
, José Pagán
and Juan Pizarro
. They led the league throughout the regular season, winning that phase's title and advanced to the playoffs. Cepeda hit his first home run on October 30, 1955, in a 16-inning loss against the Leones. Despite this success, the team struggled to attract fans, a problem that affected the league for some years with the emergence of television. The other team to advance to the final series was the Criollos, who went on to win after falling behind 1-2.
In 1956-57, Zorilla sold the team to Ramón Cuevas. Clemente was traded to Caguas along Pizarro and Ronnie Samford. Gómez was the team's only MLB pitcher during this season. Santurce went on to win the league's pennant, winning ten straight games to close the regular season. In the final series, the Cangrejeros lost to Mayaguez 1-4. On 1957-58, the team won its fourth consecutive pennant recovering from a slow first-half start. The team was forced to adjust its schedule to comply with the growing popularity of horse races, product of El Comandante
hippodrome opening that year. Cepeda lead the league in RBIs and was tied with Victor Pellot
in home runs. The Cangrejeros lost the final to Caguas, in a series where Clemente and Pizarro dominated their former teammates. In the 1958-59 season, Zorilla returned to serve as the team's general manager and the team stopped airing their games to deal with attendance issues. San Juan and Santurce competed for the pennant throughout the season, but the Senadores ultimately won it leaving the Cangrejeros in the second place. The team went on to defeat Mayagüez in a seven-game semifinal. The other team to advance was Caguas, who gained a quick two-game lead in the final series. The Cangrejeros recovered, winning four straight games, being led by Gómez, Cepeda and Julio Navarro
. Pellot, Nino Escalera
and Luis Arroyo
reinforced the Cangrejeros for the Caribbean series. The team finished in the third place with a .500 win percentage.
that resulted in the participation of that team's prospects for Santurce, when Ray Murray
was fired from the manager office after shifting Cepeda to the left field and recording a losing record. Olmo became the team's new manager and the team recovered Pizarro in a trade with Caguas. The Asociación de Jugadores de Puerto Rico (lit. "Puerto Rico Players Association") was formed, with Gómez and Santiago representing the Cangrejeros. Santurce advanced to the semifinals, where the defeated Caguas twice before losing the remaining three games. The Cangrejeros finished last during the first half of the 1960-61 season and were the runner-up of the second, but this result eliminated them under a short-lived league format where only the winners of one the halves advanced to the finals. During the 1961-62 season, the team shared its home stadium, Estadio Sixto Escobar, with the Senadores, eventually moving to Hiram Bithorn Stadium
. The Cangrejeros advanced to the playoffs, defeating Caguas in a seven-game semifinal. Santurce won the finals series sweeping the Indios. Cepeda broke a record by hitting 19 home runs throughout the season, while Pizarro did so by recording seven straight strikeouts against Ponce as part of his fifth consecutive year leading the LBPPR in strikeouts. The team went on to become the only LBPPR team to win the Interamerican Series, which were held in their home field. In the 1962-63 season, the Cangrejeros lost Cepeda, but reinforced its roster with prospects from the Cleveland Indians
. The team advanced to the playoffs, but lost its semifinal to the Criollos. However, Pizarro was signed as the Indios' reinforcement for the Interamerican Series, pitching the only no-hitter in the event's history, which included ten strikeouts. Santurce's José Géigel was the LBPPR's Rookie of the Year. Cepeda returned to play during the 1963-64 season and was joined by José Tartabull
. The Cangrejeros finished in the fourth place of the pennant race, but won the "City Championship".
In the 1964-65 season, the team signed Marv Staehle, to reinforce a team that included Geigel, Martín Beltrán and Félix Maldonado
. Cepeda only participated in a small amount of games before being inactivated due to injury. Santurce won the pennant and advanced to the playoffs, where the defeated San Juan in the semifinals and went on to win the final series against the Indios. On January 9, 1965, the team was involved in an uncommon historic event, when Mayagüez's first baseman, Fred Hopke, did not receive the ball once, going throughout the game without recording an assist or out at first base. Staehle was the league's MVP, while Pizarro was the team's dominant pitcher. Olmo returned to the manager office in 1965-66, but the team struggled during the initial half, losing ten straight games to open the season, being unable to recover, finishing last in the standing. This was Olmo's final participation with the Cangrejeros. In the 1966-67 season, the team developed a working agreement with the Baltimore Orioles
, which was product of Earl Weaver
being signed to serve as manager. Santurce finished second in the regular season, losing a tie-breaker for the first place. In the semifinals, they defeated Arecibo in straight games to advance. The Cangrejeros won the championship against regular-reason champion, Leones de Ponce. The pitching staff, which included Pizzaro and Gómez, was responsible for this success, averaging a combined 1.93 ERA during the first two halves. Tony Pérez
was selected the league's MVP, playing third base in a line up that included Cepeda, Gilberto Torres and Dave May
. In 1967-68, Santurce won the regular season championship. After eliminating Ponce in the semifinals, the team lost the final series to Caguas. Cepeda's offense was instrumental in the team's success, particularly during the semifinal series. In the 1968-69 season, the Cangrejeros were managed by Frank Robinson
. The team won the regular season title by earning their best record up to that year, but lost their semifinal series against the Senadores. Its pitcher, Jim Palmer
, threw the first no-hitter in franchise history.
In 1969-70, the team advanced to the semifinals, where the defeated the Indios following a solid performance by Fred Beene
. However, for the third straight year, the team failed to win a series championship against Ponce. Despite this, the race for the "City Championship" was intense, being highlighted by a no-hitter and a fan incident involving Miguel Cuéllar. On December 20, 1969, the team participated in a rare game in St. Thomas, which also involved Arecibo. Pérez went on to reinforce Ponce in the Caribbean Series, the first held in a decade. In 1970-71, the Cangrejeros signed Reggie Jackson
. The team advanced to the playoffs, winning their semifinal against the Senadores. In the finals series, Santurce defeated Caguas to win its eight championship. The team's performance in the series was not enough to compete for the title. Gómez served as the Cangrejeros' manager during the following season. The team advanced to the playoffs, finishing third during the regular season. However, despite having Cepeda and the league's batting champion, Don Baylor
, they failed to win their semifinal against the Leones. The team's pitcher, Roger Moret
, was the league's best starter that year, with a record of 14-1. Robinson returned to the manager office in 1972-73. Pizarro and Moret were joined by several prospects from the Los Angeles Dodgers
in the lineup. Santurced finished first in a regular season that was interrupted by Clemente's death in an airplane accident. In the semifinals, they defeated the Lobos 4-1. The Cangrejeros won its ninth title against the Leones, winning fout of six games. The team finished second in the Caribbean Series. In 1973-74, Santurce signed Gil Flores
, who served as a reserve player. The Cangrejeros maintained the fourth place of the standings troughout the season, while experiencing defensive lapses in its infield defense. Arturo Miranda, Luis Alcaraz
and Manuel Ruiz were employed to compensate in the infield. However, the team was eliminated during the regular season in a sudden death game against Arecibo.
In 1974-75, Cepeda played his last season before retiring from the sport. Both Gómez and Pizarro returned as veterans with more than 20 seasons of experience. The team's performance was inconsistent, while its import players did not record good numbers, which led to a fifth place finish, being eliminated during the regular season. Two different managers would fill the role for the next three years. The league reduced the season to sixty games in 1975-76. Moret and Gilberto Rondón served as the team's main players, while Gómez and Pizarro played another year. Juan Beníquez
and Sandy Alomar, Sr.
complimented them. Santurce was able to clinch the final playoff berth, defeating the Leones in a series. The Cangrejeros advanced to the semifinals, losing a seven-game series against the Criollos. Pizarro played his final season with the team on 1976-77, while Gómez was signed to the Vaqueros. He, Moret, Rondón, Ramón Hernández and Esteban Texidor were the team's main figures. The Cangrejeros finished in the fourth place of the regular season standing. The team lost its semifinal to Caguas in six games. Despite having a lineup that included Alomar, Ismael Oquendo, Ruiz, Beníquez and Puchy Delgado
among others, Santurce failed to qualify to the post-season in 1977-78. This was Elrod Hendricks
final season with the Cangrejeros. Hiram Cuevas, who was the team's general manager, ran the team on a trust established by Poto Paniagua years before. Robinson was contracted again to manage the team in 1978-79. The team finished third during the regular season, losing its semifinal to Mayagüez.
, Bob Molinaro
, Oquendo and Moret, the team won the pennant. The Cangrejeros defeated Arecibo in their semifinal, but lost the championship to Bayamón. Cookie Rojas
was assigned to the manager position on 1980-81, signing Iván DeJesús
, Fernando González and Willie Aikens
. Cepeda, Gómez and Pizarro now served as coaches for the team. However, Santurce was unable to classify, finishing fifth. On April 9, 1981, Zorilla died and the following season was held in his honor. Gómez managed part of the 1981-82 season, before resigning the office for Jack Aker
. Carlos Lezcano
, Ed Figueroa
, Guillermo Montañez and Jerry Morales
were signed to the roster. After advancing to the post season, the Cangrejeros lost the semifinals to Ponce. In 1982-83, the Cangrejeros played their home games in Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
, in the municipality of Bayamón. Figueroa, Pérez, Luis Tiant
, Reggie Patterson
, José Álvarez and Hernández were among the players in the roster. The team won the regular season pennant. Arecibo defeated the Cangrejeros in their semifinal. Ray Miller would serve as Santurce's manager in 1983-84. The team signed John Shelby
and Jerry Willard
, who won the LBPPR's MVP. Santurce finished third, but went on to lost the semifinals to Ponce. In 1984-85, the Cangrejeros signed Sandy Alomar, Jr.
and Rubén Sierra
, receiving large amounts of game time despite their youth. Frank Verdi
was the team's manager. Santurce finished third during the regular season. The Cangrejeros won its semifinal over Caguas. The San Juan Metros won the final series in seven games. Willard won the batting championship and Sierra was the Rookie of the Year.
Featuring a young roster, Santurce finished third and advanced to the newly-established Round Robin in the 1985-86 season. The team got to a slow start during this phase, and was eliminated when Mayagüez and San Juan clinched the first two places to advance to the finals. In 1986-87, the team developed a three-year professional agreement with the Dodgers, which provided them with several prospects and staff members, including manager Kevin Kennedy
. Despite this, the team finished fifth during the regular season and did not advance to the Round Robin. The Cangrejeros won the 1987-88 pennant. Alomar, Sierra and DeJesús were joined by the returning Willard, Mike Hartley
, Orlando Sánchez
, Bill Krueger
and Mike Pérez
. After a solid performance in the Round Robin, the team advanced to the finals along the Indios. The team lost the final series in seven games. In the final season of their contract with the Dodgers, the Cangrejeros experienced severe offensive lapses, finishing last in the league's standing. Alomar, Jr. did not play during this season and left for Ponce afterwards. Ed Romero
and Dwight Smith were the only players to be selected for the All-Star Game. The 1989-90 season was shortened by ten games due to Hurricane Hugo
, which affected Puerto Rico's metropolitan area severely. Ray Miller was brought in as manager, but was unable to gain consistency in the team's performance. Santurced finished fifth during the regular season, being eliminated from the Round Robin. Sierra did not play during this season, while DeJesús recorded a solid performance. The 1990-91 team included Beníquez, DeJesús, Sánchez, Mark Lemke
, Junior Ortíz
, Jaime Navarro
, Candy Sierra
and Luis Aquino
among others. The manager office was held by Mike Cubbage
and Mako Oliveras
during the latter part of the season. After a slow star caused by several injured players, Santurce played better under Oliveras an qualified to the Round Robin. After finishing second, the team defeated Mayagüez in the final, 5-3 in a best-of-nine series. The Cangrejeros participated in the Caribbean Series, but were only able to win once in the preliminary round. During the next season, the team was reinforced with some players from the Atlanta Braves
and Steve Wendell. DeJesús, now 38 years old, retired from the league. The Cangrejeros finished fourth during the regular season. However, they were unable to advance in the Round Robin, losing four consecutive games.
In 1992-93, Bayamón lost its franchise and Santurce received the rights for Juan González and Francisco Oliveras
. The combined offensive of new arrivals, González, Dickie Thon
and Héctor Villanueva
carried the team throughout the season. The team's bullpen also recorded the league's lowest ERA, with 1.63 led by Oliveras, Greg Harris, José Lebrón and Scott Bailes
. Santurce advanced to the Round Robin, where they finished second after defeating Mayagüez in an elimination game. The team went on to win the championship, winning the final series against San Juan 5-1. The Cangrejeros carried most of the LBPPR's awards, Oliveras was Manager of the Year and Lebrón was pitcher of the Year, while González won the league's MVP and led it in home runs. Santurce went on to win their first Caribbean Series in four decades, relying on their pitching staff and Thon's offense, while Villanueva was named the event's MVP. In 1993-94, the Cangrejeros with a roster that included González, Sierra and Leo Gómez
, finished fourth during the regular season. After finishing the Round Robin with a record of 8-4, the team advanced to the final series, losing to San Juan 5-2. For 1994-95, the Cangrejeros lost the rights of González and Oliveras to Caguas, which now held Bayamón's former franchise. The team experienced offensive lapses throughout the season, finishing fifth. This performance led to the firing of three reinforcement players, Troy O'Leary
, Carl Everett
and Gerald Williams, the entire outfield was changed, while only Sierra was producing. Thon retired after limited participation.
In 1995-96, the LBPPR suspended the Round Robin and returned to its former format. José Cruz
was brought in as manager, which brought in an loose agreement between the team and the Houston Astros
, which loaned some of their prospects. José Cruz, Jr.
made his debut during this season. Rey Ordóñez
, Darryl Strawberry
, Melvin Nieves
, Eduardo Pérez
and Orlando Merced
formed part of the roster. Santurce finished third during the regular season. However, the Cangrejeros lost their semifinal to Arecibo. The 1996-97 team included several figures from the Astros, including Matt Galante
and prospects Dennis Colón, James Mounton, Chris Holt and Brian Hunter
among others. Santurce advanced to the postseason, but lost all of their semifinal games against San Juan. The following year, the Cangrejeros were unable to advance, finishing last during the regular season. In a year that the presence of Astros' personnel was already diminishing, Sierra still had solid offensive, while Scott Elarton
pitched a no-hitter for the team. In January 1999, the final "City Championship" of the decade was played, since San Juan's franchise was moved to Carolina. Santurce advanced to the playoffs, but were swept by Mayagüez in their semifinal.
, who decided to moved the team to Manatí
, with the approval of the mayor of San Juan, causing controversy among fans of the Cangrejeros. In response, the mayor changed the name of the Senadores de San Juan to Cangrejeros de Santurce for the 2004-05 season. However, the following season, the new Cangrejeros moved and the team changed its name to the Lobos de Arecibo
, leaving the capital city without a baseball team for the first time in the league's history.
On May 2008, it was announced that the team would resume play for the 2008-09 season, and that the Atenienses de Manatí
would be moved back to Santurce, and again become the Cangrejeros. As part of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico's restructuration program, Major League Baseball offered to work with its publicity. On July 15, 2008, personnel from the league and Major League Baseball participated in a reunion, where details about the league's merchandising were discussed. The team was still owned by Valentín. Participating in the now-renamed Puerto Rico Baseball League, the Santurce made the playoffs in their first season back after a four-year absence, but were eliminated in the first round. In November 2009, a dispense suggested by Valentín was accepted by the league's board of directors, and the team recessed for the following season. This was due to the franchise's difficulty to secure a home stadium due to the opposition of San Juan's municipal government. In August 2010, the league announced the return of the Cangrejeros, as well as the Senadores, to Hiram Bithorn Stadium. However, the following month, the municipality of San Juan once again opposed the participation of the two teams in the venue. League officials immediately held a reunion with municipal government personnel, pursuing a solution. They are not listed on the 2010-11 LBPPR schedule.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team based in Santurce
Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
, the largest barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
of San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. The franchise joined the Puerto Rico Baseball League since it was the semi-professional Liga de Béisbol Semi-Profesional de Puerto Rico. Having played for over 70 years, the Cangrejeros are one of the most successful franchises in the archipelago, winning twelve national titles and five Caribbean Series. With over 2000 victories, the Cangrejeros have won the largest amount of games in the history of Puerto Rican professional baseball. The 1954-55 Cangrejeros, nicknamed Escuadrón del Pánico (lit. "Panic Squad"), was the team's most notable roster, with a lineup that included hall of famers Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
and Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
. This version of the Santurce won the National and Caribbean championships by sweeping their respective series.
The Cangrejeros most recently its home games at Hiram Bithorn Stadium
Hiram Bithorn Stadium
Hiram Bithorn Stadium is a baseball park in San Juan, Puerto Rico, operated by the municipal government of the city of San Juan. Its name honors the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues, Hiram Bithorn, who first played with the Chicago Cubs in 1942...
, in the municipality of San Juan. For several years they shared this field with the Senadores de San Juan
Senadores de San Juan
The ' are a professional baseball team based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. They are currently members of the Puerto Rico Baseball League....
(also known temporally as the San Juan Metros). A sports rivalry has always existed between both teams, leading to the creation of the "City Championship", which was a season-long series that gave the team with the most wins the aforementioned title. During the 2003-04 season they also shared the stadium with the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
before they were relocated to Washington, D.C. and became the Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. Previous home fields include the Sixto Escobar Stadium
Estadio Sixto Escobar
Estadio Sixto Escobar is a multi-purpose stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is currently used mostly for soccer matches.The stadium was opened on November 12, 1935. The Cincinnati Reds conducted spring training at the stadium in 1936. The Miami Marlins were transferred to San Juan for the 1961...
near Old San Juan, as well as the Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium
Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
The Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium is a 12,500 seat stadium at Route 2 and Route 5, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The stadium has easy access with one metro station on premises.-Early life:...
in Bayamón. The team’s official radio station in the metropolitan area was WUNO Noti-Uno Metro
WUNO
WUNO is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico, it serves the Puerto Rico area. The station is currently owned by Arso Radio Corporation and features programing from CNN Radio....
, on the 630 AM frequency.
Creation and early years
Pedrín Zorilla, an amateur baseball player and then executive in Shell Oil's branch in Puerto Rico, took the initiative to establish a baseball team at Santurce in the 1930s. A franchise was soon created and headquarters were located at Parada 20, Heriberto Ramírez de Arellano was responsible for its title, naming it after the Cangrejo Arriba and Cangrejo Abajo sectors of Condado and Loíza Street, where some players lived. Zorilla led a board composed of Ramírez de Arellano, Rafael Muñiz, Mike Pasarell, Héctor Nevares, Toño Palerm among others, which oversaw fund raising and operation. Panchicu Toste established contact with several local business, which promoted the team and managed ticket sales. The franchise received some opposition from the staff of the Senadores de San Juan, the municipality's main team at the moment. The first uniform of the Cangrejeros were bought blank, the numbers and names of the players were sewed for free by the mother of former general manager and sports writer Carlos Pieve, who was a baseball fanatic. Following these efforts, the Cangrejeros joined the Liga de Béisbol Semi-Profesional de Puerto Rico for the 1939-40 season, one year after its foundation and sharing Estadio del Escambrón with the Senadores de San Juan. The team's lineup included Agustín Daviu, the first Puerto Rican to play organized baseball in the United States and Luis Raúl Cabrera, both from Ponce. The rest of the local starters were Oscar Mangual, Ramón Concepción, Guillermo Angulo and Fellito Concepción. The league's rules allowed the inclusion of three foreign reinforcements, Zorilla contracted Billy Byrd. Josh GibsonJosh Gibson
Joshua Gibson was an American catcher in baseball's Negro leagues. He played for the Homestead Grays from 1930 to 1931, moved to the Pittsburgh Crawfords from 1932 to 1936, and returned to the Grays from 1937 to 1939 and 1942 to 1946...
and Dick Seay to fill these spaces. Seay served as player-manager in the early part of this season, leaving the office to Gibson once he arrived until he abandoned the team to play in Venezuela before the season was over. The Cangrejeros made their debut on October 1, 1939, trading victories with Aguadilla in a double-header.
Another double-header was played against San Juan in October, with both teams trading victories as well. The rivalry between the Cangrejeros and Senadores became known as the "City Championship", a term coined by Zorilla as an publicity stunt, with San Juan winning the first banner of this match-up. However, the team suffered an 23-0 loss to Guayama in November, which marked the worst defeat by any Santurce-based team in 60 years. Consequently, the Cangrejeros were called a "soft ball team" by the media, a pattern that continued throughout its early years. The Cangrejeros finished the season's first half in the sixth place, tying Aguadilla fourth during the second half. The team concluded its first season by defeating San Juan in two consecutive games, forcing the Senadores to play more games to secure the pennant. The team's home stadium was renamed Estadio Sixto Escobar
Estadio Sixto Escobar
Estadio Sixto Escobar is a multi-purpose stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is currently used mostly for soccer matches.The stadium was opened on November 12, 1935. The Cincinnati Reds conducted spring training at the stadium in 1936. The Miami Marlins were transferred to San Juan for the 1961...
after Sixto Escobar
Sixto Escobar
Sixto Escobar was a Puerto Rican professional boxer. Competing in the bantamweight division, he became Puerto Rico's first world champion....
, Puerto Rico's first boxing champion. After an average first season, Cabrera soon became the Cangrejero's franchise player, conserving this status throughout the 1940s. In 1940-41, the Cangrejeros improved their performance. With the loss of Gibson, the team had signed Efraín Merced, Georgie Calderón, Raymond Brown and obtained Pedro Jaime Reyes in a trade for Concepción. The team had a weak start, trading victories in a double-header against San Juan before finishing last during the first half of the season, drastically improving to win the second half and earn a spot in the championship series. This was the first time that the Cangrejeros won the "City Championship" banner, winning all games against San Juan during the second half. The team finished this half with a record of 11 wins and 3 losses, gaining victories over the Grises de Humacao, Caguas, Mayaguez and Guayama. In the championship series, the Cangrejeros were matched against the Criollos de Caguas, losing in seven games. Cabrera won the LBSPR's Most Valuable Player Award. In 1941-42, the Cangrejeros lost several close games, being unable to match Ponce, the team that won both halves led by Francisco Coimbre
Francisco Coimbre
Francisco "Pancho" Coimbre Atiles , more commonly known as Pancho Coimbre, was a Puerto Rican professional baseball player. He was born in the municipality of Coamo and moved to Ponce early in his life. It was in Ponce where he would begin to actively participate in sports, both in sprinting and...
. Gibson rejoined the team, hitting .480 to win the MVP award. The Marín Rum Company became the team's first sponsor, which earned the team a nickname, "Santurce-Marín" during the early 1940s.
World War II and first Caribbean Series title
During the second world war, several players were drafted. The league cut the amount of teams by half and no foreign reinforcements played for three years. In 1942-43, Caguas lost its franchise and Santurce signed some of its players, including Luis Olmo, Sammy Céspedes and Manolo García. The Cangrejeros won the first half and advanced to the finals, but lost the series to the Leones de Ponce. In this season, Olmo was named Co-MVP along Coimbre. Ponce went on to win the following two championships with the Cangrejeros finishing in the second place, Félix Andrade and Alfonso Gerard won Rookie of the Year awards for Santurce, while Tetelo VargasTetelo Vargas
Juan Esteban Vargas , better known as Tetelo Vargas, was an internationally known baseball player from the Dominican Republic.-Baseball career:...
won the league's batting title in 1943-44. In 1945-46, the team had its worst season up to that point, finishing last in the league. However, Víctor Cruz became the team's third straight Rookie of the Year. Gibson did not a hit a single homerun throughout the season, experiencing an emotional breakdown that convinced Zorilla to send him back to Pittsburg. Vargas was the team's best hitter, while his former teammate in Guayama's amateur circuit, Perucho Cepeda, joined the Cangrejeros. In 1946-47, Santurce was managed by Clarence Palm, finishing fourth in the league's standing. Willard Brown
Willard Brown
Willard Jessie Brown , nicknamed "Home Run" Brown, was an American outfielder in the Negro Leagues, Major League Baseball, and inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame.- Negro league :...
joined the team during that season, winning the batting title. Guigo Otero took over the office of vice-president. The Cangrejeros finished in the third place in 1947-48, despite signing Satchel Paige
Satchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
and Rubén Gómez and Brown winning the league's triple-crown. The team tied Mayagüez for the first half's lead, but the Indios were declared winners due to the leading the individual series. In 1948-49, the LBPPR established a new format, where the top three teams from an 80-game season would advance to the playoffs. The Cangrejeros tied Ponce in the second place, eliminating them in the semifinals. However, they lost the finals series against Mayagüez. The team recorded the best assistance in the league with 4,337 followers per game for a total of 173,466. In 1949-50, the Cangrejeros once again tied with Ponce in the second position, being eliminated in the semifinals against the Indios. Brown won its second triple crown. The team was sponsored by TEK Deluxe Toothbrushes. For the 1950-51 season, Zorilla signed George Scales
George Scales
George Walter Scales , nicknamed "Tubby", was an American second baseman and manager in Negro league baseball, most notably with the New York Lincoln Giants and Baltimore Elite Giants. Born in Talladega, Alabama, he batted .321 over a 25-year career during which he played several positions...
to manage the team and contracted new imports. The team won its first pennant after José Lucas hit a home run that became known as El Pepelucazo. The Cangrejeros went on to win the "City Championship", subsequently defeating the Senadores in all of their semifinal games. The team defeated the Criollos in a seven-game series, winning Santurce's first LBPPR championship and advancing to the newly-created Caribbean Series. In their first international competition, the Cangrejeros were reinforced with Olmo who had returned to Caguas, Roberto Vargas
Roberto Vargas
Roberto Enrique Vargas Vélez is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball pitcher. He debuted in Major League Baseball in , pitching in 25 games with the Milwaukee Braves. He recorded no wins or loses while striking out 13 with a 8.76 ERA...
and José Santiago among others, winning the first Caribbean title for Puerto Rico. Olmo was selected the series' MVP.
In 1951-52, Santurce finished third, winning 16 and losing 4 to finish the regular season. In the semifinals they defeated Caguas in all of the semifinal games, losing the finals to San Juan. Gómez was selected the league's MVP. In 1952-53, the Cangrejeros employed Buster Clarkson
Buster Clarkson
James Buster Clarkson , better known as Buster or Bus Clarkson, was a baseball player who played briefly in the major leagues and had a long career in the Negro leagues, the minor leagues, and the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League...
as the player-manager. This season marked Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Clemente Walker was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. Clemente played his entire 18-year baseball career with the Pittsburgh Pirates . He was awarded the National League's Most Valuable Player Award in...
's debut in the league after being signed by Zorilla. The team advanced to the playoffs, where they eliminated the Leones in three games. The finals were against the Senadores, with Santurce winning its second championship in a six-game series. The Cangrejeros went on to win their second Caribbean Series title, with a final record of 5-1. In the 1953-54 season, the Cangrejeros finished last in the standing, but Clemente and Gómez recorded solid performances. The following season, Zorilla and Otero asked permission to the New York Giants
History of the New York Giants (NL)
The history of the New York Giants, before the franchise moved to San Francisco, lasted from 1883 to 1957. It featured five of the franchise's six World Series wins and 17 of its 21 National League pennants...
and managed to secure a contract for MLB National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
MVP Willie Mays
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays, Jr. is a retired American professional baseball player who played the majority of his major league career with the New York and San Francisco Giants before finishing with the New York Mets. Nicknamed The Say Hey Kid, Mays was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979, his...
, who played centerfield and went on to win the league's MVP and batting title. Other imports included Clarkson, Bob Thurman
Bob Thurman
Robert Burns Thurman was a professional baseball pitcher, outfielder and pinch-hitter. He played in the Negro Leagues, the Puerto Rican winter league , and for a few years at the end of his career, in Major League Baseball with the Cincinnati Reds...
and George Crowe
George Crowe
George Daniel Crowe was a Major League first baseman. He attended Franklin High School in Franklin, Indiana, graduated from Indiana Central College, now the University of Indianapolis, in 1943 and played baseball and basketball. He was the first Indiana "Mr. Basketball"...
. After the first month of the season, the team was in the fourth place of the league's standing with a negative record, before winning straight games against the Senadores and Criollos. Despite this change, the team made two releases to contract three reinforcement players, but lost one due to a MLB rule that prohibited the participation of five players from the same team in the winter leagues. On this year's All-Star game, Clemente hit two home runs to give the North team, composed of players from Santurce and San Juan, a victory over the South team. On October 31, 1954, Gómez pitched the league's first shutout, he finished with a record of 13-4 and won the "City Championship" and Caribbean Series title for Santurce. After sweeping their series, the team did not sign any reinforcement prior to the Caribbean Series, being the first time that a team had done so. Five players were included in the event's All-Star lineup, Don Zimmer
Don Zimmer
Donald William "Popeye" Zimmer is a former infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball, currently serving as a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization...
carried the MVP and the Cangrejeros received a special trophy for winning three Caribbean championships. This version of the Cangrejeros was nicknamed El Escuadrón del Pánico by local newspapers. The team was received by a multitude and they were invited to La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza
La Fortaleza is the current official residence of the Governor of Puerto Rico. It was built between 1533 and 1540 to defend the harbor of San Juan. The structure is also known as Palacio de Santa Catalina . It is the oldest executive mansion in the New World...
. The Cangrejeros signed seven new players for the 1955-56 season, including Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Cepeda
Orlando Manuel Cepeda Pennes is a former Puerto Rican Major League Baseball first baseman.Cepeda was born to a poor family. His father, Pedro Cepeda, was a baseball player in Puerto Rico, which influenced his interest in the sport from a young age. His first contact with professional baseball was...
, José Pagán
José Pagán
José Antonio Pagán Rodríguez was a Puerto Rican Major League Baseball player.-Baseball career:Pagán made his major league debut with the San Francisco Giants on August 8, . He played for the Giants until 1965, then was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. In he played his final career games with...
and Juan Pizarro
Juan Pizarro
Juan Ramon Pizarro Cordova is a former major league baseball pitcher.-Milwaukee Braves:Juan Pizarro signed with the Milwaukee Braves as an amateur free agent in 1956. After going 27-6 with a 2.06 earned run average in the minors, he made his major league debut on May 4, 1957 against the Pittsburgh...
. They led the league throughout the regular season, winning that phase's title and advanced to the playoffs. Cepeda hit his first home run on October 30, 1955, in a 16-inning loss against the Leones. Despite this success, the team struggled to attract fans, a problem that affected the league for some years with the emergence of television. The other team to advance to the final series was the Criollos, who went on to win after falling behind 1-2.
In 1956-57, Zorilla sold the team to Ramón Cuevas. Clemente was traded to Caguas along Pizarro and Ronnie Samford. Gómez was the team's only MLB pitcher during this season. Santurce went on to win the league's pennant, winning ten straight games to close the regular season. In the final series, the Cangrejeros lost to Mayaguez 1-4. On 1957-58, the team won its fourth consecutive pennant recovering from a slow first-half start. The team was forced to adjust its schedule to comply with the growing popularity of horse races, product of El Comandante
El Nuevo Comandante
El Nuevo Comandante , renamed Hipodromo Camarero after a change of ownership in 2006, is a horse racing building located in Canóvanas, Puerto Rico, to the east of San Juan and Carolina...
hippodrome opening that year. Cepeda lead the league in RBIs and was tied with Victor Pellot
Victor Pellot
Victor Pellot a.k.a. "Vic Power" was the second black Puerto Rican to play in Major League Baseball and the first Puerto Rican to play in the American League...
in home runs. The Cangrejeros lost the final to Caguas, in a series where Clemente and Pizarro dominated their former teammates. In the 1958-59 season, Zorilla returned to serve as the team's general manager and the team stopped airing their games to deal with attendance issues. San Juan and Santurce competed for the pennant throughout the season, but the Senadores ultimately won it leaving the Cangrejeros in the second place. The team went on to defeat Mayagüez in a seven-game semifinal. The other team to advance was Caguas, who gained a quick two-game lead in the final series. The Cangrejeros recovered, winning four straight games, being led by Gómez, Cepeda and Julio Navarro
Julio Navarro
Julio Navarro Ventura is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He played for the Los Angeles Angels , Detroit Tigers , and Atlanta Braves ....
. Pellot, Nino Escalera
Nino Escalera
Saturnino Escalera is a former outfielder and first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Redlegs in the 1954 season....
and Luis Arroyo
Luis Arroyo
Luis Enrique "Tite" Arroyo, , is a former major league baseball pitcher.-Baseball career:Luis Arroyo, from Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, made his Major League Baseball debut on April 20, 1955. A stocky left-hander, he spent one season primarily as a starter with the St. Louis Cardinals...
reinforced the Cangrejeros for the Caribbean series. The team finished in the third place with a .500 win percentage.
Emergence of Cepeda; Gómez's latter career
The 1959-60 season marked the end of a business deal with the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
that resulted in the participation of that team's prospects for Santurce, when Ray Murray
Ray Murray
Raymond Lee Murray was a Major League Baseball catcher who played for six seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians during their championship 1948 season and from 1950 to 1951. He also played for the Philadelphia Athletics from 1951 to 1953 and the Baltimore Orioles in 1954.As a baseball player...
was fired from the manager office after shifting Cepeda to the left field and recording a losing record. Olmo became the team's new manager and the team recovered Pizarro in a trade with Caguas. The Asociación de Jugadores de Puerto Rico (lit. "Puerto Rico Players Association") was formed, with Gómez and Santiago representing the Cangrejeros. Santurce advanced to the semifinals, where the defeated Caguas twice before losing the remaining three games. The Cangrejeros finished last during the first half of the 1960-61 season and were the runner-up of the second, but this result eliminated them under a short-lived league format where only the winners of one the halves advanced to the finals. During the 1961-62 season, the team shared its home stadium, Estadio Sixto Escobar, with the Senadores, eventually moving to Hiram Bithorn Stadium
Hiram Bithorn Stadium
Hiram Bithorn Stadium is a baseball park in San Juan, Puerto Rico, operated by the municipal government of the city of San Juan. Its name honors the first Puerto Rican to play in the major leagues, Hiram Bithorn, who first played with the Chicago Cubs in 1942...
. The Cangrejeros advanced to the playoffs, defeating Caguas in a seven-game semifinal. Santurce won the finals series sweeping the Indios. Cepeda broke a record by hitting 19 home runs throughout the season, while Pizarro did so by recording seven straight strikeouts against Ponce as part of his fifth consecutive year leading the LBPPR in strikeouts. The team went on to become the only LBPPR team to win the Interamerican Series, which were held in their home field. In the 1962-63 season, the Cangrejeros lost Cepeda, but reinforced its roster with prospects from the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. The team advanced to the playoffs, but lost its semifinal to the Criollos. However, Pizarro was signed as the Indios' reinforcement for the Interamerican Series, pitching the only no-hitter in the event's history, which included ten strikeouts. Santurce's José Géigel was the LBPPR's Rookie of the Year. Cepeda returned to play during the 1963-64 season and was joined by José Tartabull
José Tartabull
José Milages Tartabull Guzmán is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder; his Major League career lasted nine years, from 1962 to 1970...
. The Cangrejeros finished in the fourth place of the pennant race, but won the "City Championship".
In the 1964-65 season, the team signed Marv Staehle, to reinforce a team that included Geigel, Martín Beltrán and Félix Maldonado
Felix Maldonado
Felix Juan Maldonado was a scout and player development official for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
. Cepeda only participated in a small amount of games before being inactivated due to injury. Santurce won the pennant and advanced to the playoffs, where the defeated San Juan in the semifinals and went on to win the final series against the Indios. On January 9, 1965, the team was involved in an uncommon historic event, when Mayagüez's first baseman, Fred Hopke, did not receive the ball once, going throughout the game without recording an assist or out at first base. Staehle was the league's MVP, while Pizarro was the team's dominant pitcher. Olmo returned to the manager office in 1965-66, but the team struggled during the initial half, losing ten straight games to open the season, being unable to recover, finishing last in the standing. This was Olmo's final participation with the Cangrejeros. In the 1966-67 season, the team developed a working agreement with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
, which was product of Earl Weaver
Earl Weaver
Earl Sidney Weaver is a former Major League Baseball manager. He spent his entire 17-year managerial career with the Baltimore Orioles . Weaver was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1996.-Playing career:After playing for Beaumont High School in St...
being signed to serve as manager. Santurce finished second in the regular season, losing a tie-breaker for the first place. In the semifinals, they defeated Arecibo in straight games to advance. The Cangrejeros won the championship against regular-reason champion, Leones de Ponce. The pitching staff, which included Pizzaro and Gómez, was responsible for this success, averaging a combined 1.93 ERA during the first two halves. Tony Pérez
Tony Pérez
Atanasio Pérez Rigal , more commonly known as Tony Pérez, is a former Major League Baseball player. He was also known by the nickname "Big Dog," "Big Doggie," and "Doggie."...
was selected the league's MVP, playing third base in a line up that included Cepeda, Gilberto Torres and Dave May
Dave May
David LaFrance May is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from to . May is one of two Delawareans to make the All-Star Game. He was first drafted by the San Francisco Giants, but appeared in his first Major League game with the Baltimore Orioles...
. In 1967-68, Santurce won the regular season championship. After eliminating Ponce in the semifinals, the team lost the final series to Caguas. Cepeda's offense was instrumental in the team's success, particularly during the semifinal series. In the 1968-69 season, the Cangrejeros were managed by Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson
Frank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
. The team won the regular season title by earning their best record up to that year, but lost their semifinal series against the Senadores. Its pitcher, Jim Palmer
Jim Palmer
James Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...
, threw the first no-hitter in franchise history.
In 1969-70, the team advanced to the semifinals, where the defeated the Indios following a solid performance by Fred Beene
Fred Beene
Freddy Ray Beene is a retired American professional baseball player. Beene was a right-handed pitcher who played in the Major Leagues between to . He was listed at tall and ....
. However, for the third straight year, the team failed to win a series championship against Ponce. Despite this, the race for the "City Championship" was intense, being highlighted by a no-hitter and a fan incident involving Miguel Cuéllar. On December 20, 1969, the team participated in a rare game in St. Thomas, which also involved Arecibo. Pérez went on to reinforce Ponce in the Caribbean Series, the first held in a decade. In 1970-71, the Cangrejeros signed Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson
Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson , nicknamed "Mr. October" for his clutch hitting in the postseason with the New York Yankees, is a former American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played from 1967-1987 for four different teams. Jackson currently serves as...
. The team advanced to the playoffs, winning their semifinal against the Senadores. In the finals series, Santurce defeated Caguas to win its eight championship. The team's performance in the series was not enough to compete for the title. Gómez served as the Cangrejeros' manager during the following season. The team advanced to the playoffs, finishing third during the regular season. However, despite having Cepeda and the league's batting champion, Don Baylor
Don Baylor
Donald Edward Baylor is a Major League Baseball coach currently the hitting coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a former player and manager. During his 19-year playing career, he was a power hitter who played as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter...
, they failed to win their semifinal against the Leones. The team's pitcher, Roger Moret
Roger Moret
Rogelio "Roger" Moret is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Boston Red Sox , Atlanta Braves and Texas Rangers . In 168 games , he posted a career won-lost record of 47-27 and an earned run average of 3.66...
, was the league's best starter that year, with a record of 14-1. Robinson returned to the manager office in 1972-73. Pizarro and Moret were joined by several prospects from the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the lineup. Santurced finished first in a regular season that was interrupted by Clemente's death in an airplane accident. In the semifinals, they defeated the Lobos 4-1. The Cangrejeros won its ninth title against the Leones, winning fout of six games. The team finished second in the Caribbean Series. In 1973-74, Santurce signed Gil Flores
Gil Flores
Gilberto Garcia Flores is a retired professional baseball player who played three seasons for the California Angels and New York Mets of Major League Baseball.-External links:...
, who served as a reserve player. The Cangrejeros maintained the fourth place of the standings troughout the season, while experiencing defensive lapses in its infield defense. Arturo Miranda, Luis Alcaraz
Luis Alcaraz
Ángel Luis Alcaraz Acosta was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. Alcaraz was signed as a free agent by the Milwaukee Braves on January 1, 1959 and then traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers before the season...
and Manuel Ruiz were employed to compensate in the infield. However, the team was eliminated during the regular season in a sudden death game against Arecibo.
In 1974-75, Cepeda played his last season before retiring from the sport. Both Gómez and Pizarro returned as veterans with more than 20 seasons of experience. The team's performance was inconsistent, while its import players did not record good numbers, which led to a fifth place finish, being eliminated during the regular season. Two different managers would fill the role for the next three years. The league reduced the season to sixty games in 1975-76. Moret and Gilberto Rondón served as the team's main players, while Gómez and Pizarro played another year. Juan Beníquez
Juan Beníquez
Juan José Beníquez Torres is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , Texas Rangers , New York Yankees , Seattle Mariners , California Angels , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Royals and Toronto Blue Jays...
and Sandy Alomar, Sr.
Sandy Alomar, Sr.
Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Sr., or in the Spanish naming system Santos Alomar Conde is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves , New York Mets , Chicago White Sox , California Angels , New York Yankees , and Texas Rangers . Alomar was a...
complimented them. Santurce was able to clinch the final playoff berth, defeating the Leones in a series. The Cangrejeros advanced to the semifinals, losing a seven-game series against the Criollos. Pizarro played his final season with the team on 1976-77, while Gómez was signed to the Vaqueros. He, Moret, Rondón, Ramón Hernández and Esteban Texidor were the team's main figures. The Cangrejeros finished in the fourth place of the regular season standing. The team lost its semifinal to Caguas in six games. Despite having a lineup that included Alomar, Ismael Oquendo, Ruiz, Beníquez and Puchy Delgado
Puchy Delgado
Luis Felipe "Puchy" Delgado Robles is a retired professional baseball player who spent seven seasons in professional baseball, including part of a season in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners. He played 13 games in his one-year major league career, and had hits in 22 at-bats, with...
among others, Santurce failed to qualify to the post-season in 1977-78. This was Elrod Hendricks
Elrod Hendricks
Elrod Jerome "Ellie" Hendricks was a catcher and coach in Major League Baseball. Hendricks played during a 12-year career that lasted from through for the Baltimore Orioles , Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees...
final season with the Cangrejeros. Hiram Cuevas, who was the team's general manager, ran the team on a trust established by Poto Paniagua years before. Robinson was contracted again to manage the team in 1978-79. The team finished third during the regular season, losing its semifinal to Mayagüez.
1980-2000: Influx of MLB players
The following season, a Executive Vice president position was created just to allow participation to Zorilla, who also received a recognition for assembling the 1955 lineup and a new logo was debuted. Robinson returned for his final season as Santurce's manager. With a lineup of Beníquez, Pérez, Rondón, Lenny RandleLenny Randle
Leonard Shenoff Randle is a former Major League Baseball player. He was the first-round pick of the Washington Senators in the secondary phase of the June 1970 Major League Baseball Draft, tenth overall.-Early years:...
, Bob Molinaro
Bob Molinaro
Robert Joseph Molinaro is a former professional baseball outfielder in the minor and major leagues in a career that lasted 18 years. His baseball career began in 1968, and lasted till 1985...
, Oquendo and Moret, the team won the pennant. The Cangrejeros defeated Arecibo in their semifinal, but lost the championship to Bayamón. Cookie Rojas
Cookie Rojas
Octavio Victor Rojas Rivas , better known as Cookie Rojas, is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and outfielder who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals. After retiring as a player he went on to both coach and manage in the...
was assigned to the manager position on 1980-81, signing Iván DeJesús
Ivan DeJesus
Iván Alvarez DeJesús is a former Major League Baseball player from 1974 to 1988 for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and Detroit Tigers. DeJesús was regarded as a good fielding but light hitting shortstop...
, Fernando González and Willie Aikens
Willie Aikens
Willie Mays Aikens is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. He had established himself as one of the top sluggers in the game before drugs derailed his career. In , Aikens was sentenced to twenty years in prison on four counts of crack cocaine distribution and one count of use of a firearm...
. Cepeda, Gómez and Pizarro now served as coaches for the team. However, Santurce was unable to classify, finishing fifth. On April 9, 1981, Zorilla died and the following season was held in his honor. Gómez managed part of the 1981-82 season, before resigning the office for Jack Aker
Jack Aker
Jackie Delane Aker is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. Aker was used exclusively in relief. He appeared in 495 games, none as a starter, and was one of the American League's best closers of his era. He is of Potawatomi Indian ancestry...
. Carlos Lezcano
Carlos Lezcano
Carlos Manuel Lezcano , is a former professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from to for the Chicago Cubs. He is currently the manager of the Lake Elsinore Storm, a minor league affiliate of the San Diego Padres.He was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico.-External links:...
, Ed Figueroa
Ed Figueroa
Eduardo Figueroa Padilla , is a former Major League Baseball player. He holds the distinction of being the only pitcher from Puerto Rico to win twenty games in a season.-USMC:...
, Guillermo Montañez and Jerry Morales
Jerry Morales
Julio Ruben "Jerry" Morales Torres is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played from -.-Career:Morales was originally signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent at the age of 17 in 1966...
were signed to the roster. After advancing to the post season, the Cangrejeros lost the semifinals to Ponce. In 1982-83, the Cangrejeros played their home games in Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium
The Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium is a 12,500 seat stadium at Route 2 and Route 5, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. The stadium has easy access with one metro station on premises.-Early life:...
, in the municipality of Bayamón. Figueroa, Pérez, Luis Tiant
Luis Tiant
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega , born November 23, 1940 in Marianao, Cuba, , is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , New York Yankees , Pittsburgh Pirates and California Angels...
, Reggie Patterson
Reggie Patterson
Reginald Allen Patterson , is a retired professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from to for the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.He was born in Birmingham, Alabama.-External links:...
, José Álvarez and Hernández were among the players in the roster. The team won the regular season pennant. Arecibo defeated the Cangrejeros in their semifinal. Ray Miller would serve as Santurce's manager in 1983-84. The team signed John Shelby
John Shelby
John T. Shelby is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1981–1991. His nickname was "T-Bone" for his slight frame...
and Jerry Willard
Jerry Willard
Gerald Duane Willard was a Major League Baseball catcher.Signed by the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1979, Willard would make his Major League Baseball debut with the Cleveland Indians on April 11, 1984, and appeared in his final game on May 19, 1994.Willard's career was spent...
, who won the LBPPR's MVP. Santurce finished third, but went on to lost the semifinals to Ponce. In 1984-85, the Cangrejeros signed Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Sandy Alomar, Jr.
Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Jr., or in the Spanish-language naming system Santos Alomar Velázquez , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the San Diego Padres , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets...
and Rubén Sierra
Rubén Sierra
Rubén Angel Sierra García is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Sierra also goes by the nicknames El Caballo and El Indio....
, receiving large amounts of game time despite their youth. Frank Verdi
Frank Verdi
Frank Michael Verdi was a Major League Baseball player in 1953 for the New York Yankees and a longtime manager at the minor league level. As a player, he batted and threw right-handed, stood 5'10½" tall and weighed 170 pounds...
was the team's manager. Santurce finished third during the regular season. The Cangrejeros won its semifinal over Caguas. The San Juan Metros won the final series in seven games. Willard won the batting championship and Sierra was the Rookie of the Year.
Featuring a young roster, Santurce finished third and advanced to the newly-established Round Robin in the 1985-86 season. The team got to a slow start during this phase, and was eliminated when Mayagüez and San Juan clinched the first two places to advance to the finals. In 1986-87, the team developed a three-year professional agreement with the Dodgers, which provided them with several prospects and staff members, including manager Kevin Kennedy
Kevin Kennedy (baseball)
Kevin Curtis Kennedy is a former manager in American Major League Baseball and a former television host for Fox Sports' baseball coverage. He was given the nickname "The Skipper" by Fox Sports due to his prior managerial career...
. Despite this, the team finished fifth during the regular season and did not advance to the Round Robin. The Cangrejeros won the 1987-88 pennant. Alomar, Sierra and DeJesús were joined by the returning Willard, Mike Hartley
Mike Hartley
Michael Edward Hartley is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He is an alumnus of East Carolina University.Signed as an amateur free agent by the St...
, Orlando Sánchez
Orlando Sánchez
Orlando Sánchez Márquez is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, from through , for the St. Louis Cardinals , Kansas City Royals and Baltimore Orioles...
, Bill Krueger
Bill Krueger
William Culp Krueger , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from -. Krueger would play for the Oakland A's, Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Montreal Expos, Detroit Tigers, and San Diego Padres.-Early career:After graduating from McMinnville...
and Mike Pérez
Mike Perez (baseball)
Michael Irvin Pérez "Mike" Ortega is a former American professional baseball player who was a pitcher in the Major Leagues for eight seasons in the 1990s. Perez played college baseball for the University of Florida and Troy State University, and thereafter, he played professionally for the St...
. After a solid performance in the Round Robin, the team advanced to the finals along the Indios. The team lost the final series in seven games. In the final season of their contract with the Dodgers, the Cangrejeros experienced severe offensive lapses, finishing last in the league's standing. Alomar, Jr. did not play during this season and left for Ponce afterwards. Ed Romero
Ed Romero
Edgardo Ralph Romero Rivera is a former infielder for the Milwaukee Brewers , Boston Red Sox , Atlanta Braves and Detroit Tigers...
and Dwight Smith were the only players to be selected for the All-Star Game. The 1989-90 season was shortened by ten games due to Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo
Hurricane Hugo was a classical, destructive and rare Cape Verde-type hurricane which struck the Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe, Montserrat, St. Croix, Puerto Rico and the USA mainland in South Carolina as a Category 4 hurricane during September of the 1989 Atlantic hurricane season...
, which affected Puerto Rico's metropolitan area severely. Ray Miller was brought in as manager, but was unable to gain consistency in the team's performance. Santurced finished fifth during the regular season, being eliminated from the Round Robin. Sierra did not play during this season, while DeJesús recorded a solid performance. The 1990-91 team included Beníquez, DeJesús, Sánchez, Mark Lemke
Mark Lemke
Mark Alan Lemke is a former Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "The Lemmer", he was a popular second baseman for the Atlanta Braves from to .-Biography:...
, Junior Ortíz
Junior Ortiz
Adalberto "Junior" Ortiz Colón , is a former Major League Baseball catcher. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in the majors from 1982-94. He was a member of the 1991 World Champion Minnesota Twins....
, Jaime Navarro
Jaime Navarro
Jaime Navarro Cintrón is a former Puerto Rican baseball player. Navarro was a 6 foot, four inch tall right-handed pitcher in the major leagues from to , playing for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians...
, Candy Sierra
Candy Sierra
Ulises "Candy" Sierra Pizarro was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher.Signed by the San Diego Padres as an amateur free agent in 1983, Sierra would make his Major League Baseball debut with the San Diego Padres on April 6, 1988, and appear in his final game on June 10, .-External links:...
and Luis Aquino
Luis Aquino
Luis Antonio Aquino [ah-KEE-noh] is a former middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Toronto Blue Jays , Kansas City Royals , Florida Marlins , Montreal Expos and San Francisco Giants...
among others. The manager office was held by Mike Cubbage
Mike Cubbage
Michael Lee Cubbage in Charlottesville, VA was an American baseball player who played Major League Baseball from 1974 until the close of the 1981 season...
and Mako Oliveras
Mako Oliveras
Max "Mako" Oliveras was a Minor League Baseball player and also was a minor league manager with the Binghamton Mets. Oliveras played seven seasons in the minor leagues. He was also a coach in the Major Leagues for the Chicago Cubs.In May , he took over as skipper of the independent Miami Marlins...
during the latter part of the season. After a slow star caused by several injured players, Santurce played better under Oliveras an qualified to the Round Robin. After finishing second, the team defeated Mayagüez in the final, 5-3 in a best-of-nine series. The Cangrejeros participated in the Caribbean Series, but were only able to win once in the preliminary round. During the next season, the team was reinforced with some players from the Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
and Steve Wendell. DeJesús, now 38 years old, retired from the league. The Cangrejeros finished fourth during the regular season. However, they were unable to advance in the Round Robin, losing four consecutive games.
In 1992-93, Bayamón lost its franchise and Santurce received the rights for Juan González and Francisco Oliveras
Francisco Oliveras
Francisco Javier Oliveras Noa is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Minnesota Twins and San Francisco Giants from -.-External links:...
. The combined offensive of new arrivals, González, Dickie Thon
Dickie Thon
Richard William "Dickie" Thon is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball.- Early life :Thon was raised in Puerto Rico after spending only the first two weeks of his life in Indiana where his father had just completed a bachelor's degree at the University of Notre Dame.- Professional career :He...
and Héctor Villanueva
Héctor Villanueva
Héctor Villanueva Balasquide , is a former professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1990-1993....
carried the team throughout the season. The team's bullpen also recorded the league's lowest ERA, with 1.63 led by Oliveras, Greg Harris, José Lebrón and Scott Bailes
Scott Bailes
Scott Alan Bailes , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who pitched for three teams during a 13-year Major League career. At some point during his youth, he moved to Missouri, and participated in Little League, Pony League, and American Legion teams...
. Santurce advanced to the Round Robin, where they finished second after defeating Mayagüez in an elimination game. The team went on to win the championship, winning the final series against San Juan 5-1. The Cangrejeros carried most of the LBPPR's awards, Oliveras was Manager of the Year and Lebrón was pitcher of the Year, while González won the league's MVP and led it in home runs. Santurce went on to win their first Caribbean Series in four decades, relying on their pitching staff and Thon's offense, while Villanueva was named the event's MVP. In 1993-94, the Cangrejeros with a roster that included González, Sierra and Leo Gómez
Leo Gomez
Leonardo Gómez Vélez , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a 3rd baseman from 1990–1996. He currently manages the Aberdeen IronBirds of the New York-Penn League.-Minor leagues:Gómez was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in 1985 as an amateur...
, finished fourth during the regular season. After finishing the Round Robin with a record of 8-4, the team advanced to the final series, losing to San Juan 5-2. For 1994-95, the Cangrejeros lost the rights of González and Oliveras to Caguas, which now held Bayamón's former franchise. The team experienced offensive lapses throughout the season, finishing fifth. This performance led to the firing of three reinforcement players, Troy O'Leary
Troy O'Leary
Troy Franklin O'Leary is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played with the Milwaukee Brewers , Boston Red Sox , Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs and also in the Australian Baseball League for the Daikyo Dolphins...
, Carl Everett
Carl Everett
Carl Edward Everett III is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently an outfielder for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League. A switch hitter, he played with the Chicago White Sox on their 2005 World Series winning team...
and Gerald Williams, the entire outfield was changed, while only Sierra was producing. Thon retired after limited participation.
In 1995-96, the LBPPR suspended the Round Robin and returned to its former format. José Cruz
José Cruz
José Cruz Dilan is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is also the former first base coach for the Houston Astros. During his 19-year baseball career, he played from 1970-1988 for three different teams, playing primarily for the Astros...
was brought in as manager, which brought in an loose agreement between the team and the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
, which loaned some of their prospects. José Cruz, Jr.
José Cruz, Jr.
José Luis Cruz, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Over his nine year playing career, Cruz played for eight different teams. Standing 6'0" tall and weighing 210 pounds, Cruz was a right-handed switch hitter...
made his debut during this season. Rey Ordóñez
Rey Ordóñez
Reynaldo Ordóñez Pereira is a former professional baseball shortstop. He played all or part of nine seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and Chicago Cubs....
, Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Strawberry
Darryl Eugene Strawberry is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder who is well-known both for his play on the field and for his controversial behavior off it...
, Melvin Nieves
Melvin Nieves
Melvin Nieves Ramos is a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or part of seven seasons in Major League Baseball from 1992 until 1998, and two seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball in 1999-2000...
, Eduardo Pérez
Eduardo Perez
Eduardo Atanasio Pérez, a Cuban-American is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball player. He is currently the hitting coach of the Miami Marlins. He batted and threw right-handed and joined the league in after playing college baseball under head coach Mike Martin for the...
and Orlando Merced
Orlando Merced
Orlando Luis Merced Villanueva is a former Major League Baseball first Baseman and outfielder. He played all or part of thirteen seasons in the majors for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Toronto Blue Jays , Minnesota Twins , Boston Red Sox , Chicago Cubs , Montreal Expos , and Houston Astros...
formed part of the roster. Santurce finished third during the regular season. However, the Cangrejeros lost their semifinal to Arecibo. The 1996-97 team included several figures from the Astros, including Matt Galante
Matt Galante
Matthew Joseph Galante is a former Minor League Baseball infielder and Major League Baseball manager. He was born on March 22, 1944 in Brooklyn, New York. Matt attended St...
and prospects Dennis Colón, James Mounton, Chris Holt and Brian Hunter
Brian Hunter (outfielder)
Brian Lee Hunter is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. At 6'3" and around 180 lbs, he was known for stealing over 70 bases in 1997.-Minor league career:Hunter was born on March 5, 1971 in Portland, Oregon...
among others. Santurce advanced to the postseason, but lost all of their semifinal games against San Juan. The following year, the Cangrejeros were unable to advance, finishing last during the regular season. In a year that the presence of Astros' personnel was already diminishing, Sierra still had solid offensive, while Scott Elarton
Scott Elarton
Vincent Scott Elarton is a right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent...
pitched a no-hitter for the team. In January 1999, the final "City Championship" of the decade was played, since San Juan's franchise was moved to Carolina. Santurce advanced to the playoffs, but were swept by Mayagüez in their semifinal.
Franchise instability (2000–present)
The Cangrejeros opened the decade by winning their twelfth LBPPR championship. The team went on to win the Caribbean Series that were held in Santo Domingo undefeated. This was the Cangrejeros' fifth Caribbean championship and the only title that a team from Puerto Rico won during that decade. In 2004, after a big decline in attendance in recent years, the Cangrejeros were sold to José ValentínJosé Valentín
José Antonio Valentín is a former Major League Baseball infielder, who played with the Milwaukee Brewers , Chicago White Sox , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets .-Early years:...
, who decided to moved the team to Manatí
Atenienses de Manatí
The Atenienses de Manatí were a professional baseball team based in Manatí, Puerto Rico. The Atenienses were owned by José Valentín but they have now been relocated to San Juan as the Cangrejeros de Santurce. The team moved to Manatí for the 2004-05 season from San Juan, where they had been the...
, with the approval of the mayor of San Juan, causing controversy among fans of the Cangrejeros. In response, the mayor changed the name of the Senadores de San Juan to Cangrejeros de Santurce for the 2004-05 season. However, the following season, the new Cangrejeros moved and the team changed its name to the Lobos de Arecibo
Lobos de Arecibo
Lobos de Arecibo are a professional baseball team in the Puerto Rican Professional Baseball League, based in Arecibo. The Lobos won the 1983 national baseball championship and the 1983 Caribbean World Series, the only time the franchise won both titles....
, leaving the capital city without a baseball team for the first time in the league's history.
On May 2008, it was announced that the team would resume play for the 2008-09 season, and that the Atenienses de Manatí
Atenienses de Manatí
The Atenienses de Manatí were a professional baseball team based in Manatí, Puerto Rico. The Atenienses were owned by José Valentín but they have now been relocated to San Juan as the Cangrejeros de Santurce. The team moved to Manatí for the 2004-05 season from San Juan, where they had been the...
would be moved back to Santurce, and again become the Cangrejeros. As part of the Liga de Béisbol Profesional de Puerto Rico's restructuration program, Major League Baseball offered to work with its publicity. On July 15, 2008, personnel from the league and Major League Baseball participated in a reunion, where details about the league's merchandising were discussed. The team was still owned by Valentín. Participating in the now-renamed Puerto Rico Baseball League, the Santurce made the playoffs in their first season back after a four-year absence, but were eliminated in the first round. In November 2009, a dispense suggested by Valentín was accepted by the league's board of directors, and the team recessed for the following season. This was due to the franchise's difficulty to secure a home stadium due to the opposition of San Juan's municipal government. In August 2010, the league announced the return of the Cangrejeros, as well as the Senadores, to Hiram Bithorn Stadium. However, the following month, the municipality of San Juan once again opposed the participation of the two teams in the venue. League officials immediately held a reunion with municipal government personnel, pursuing a solution. They are not listed on the 2010-11 LBPPR schedule.
See also
- Puerto Rico national baseball teamPuerto Rico national baseball teamThe Puerto Rico National Baseball Team is a team that is selected by the Puerto Rican Baseball Federation to compete in major international events in representation of Puerto Rico...
- List of Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
- List of baseball players who have played in the Caribbean Series
- History of baseball outside the United StatesHistory of baseball outside the United StatesRecorded instances of baseball played outside North America came in 1874, when a party comprising members of the Boston and Philadelphia clubs toured England both playing cricket and demonstrating baseball...