Tiburones de La Guaira
Encyclopedia
The Tiburones de La Guaira (La Guaira Sharks) are a baseball
team in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
. Based in the city of La Guaira
, the Tiburones have won seven national championships since their founding in 1962
.
Casanova, who was also first manager of the team, did not have enough financial resources to go through an entire season. He talked to his friend, Dr. Jesus Morales Valariano, who suggested an alliance with an important group of personalities and traders such as: Manuel Malpica, Jose Antonio Diaz, Mario Gomez y Pablo Diaz. In that moment Tiburones de la Guara was born, taking the field for first time ever in the 1962-63 season. It was Morales' idea to take the team to the city of La Guaira, in order to take advantage of a city with no team yet numerous baseball fans.
In their first season, Tiburones finished with a 23-19 record, missing the finals disputed between Caracas and Valencia. La Guaira would have to wait two seasons (1965) to win the first league championship, in a 5 game confrontation against Leones del Caracas.
The team was managed by Casanova until that year, and had remarkable players such as MLB Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio
, Angel Bravo
, Jose Herrera and Elio Chacon
as top Venezuelan figures. Casanova's contract expired in 1965 and the board of directors decided to finish the work relationship buying all his stock. Jose Sanchez was a player for De la Guaira where he was a great second baseman and hitter he went on to play in the U.S. where he played for the Houston Astros.
After clinching the first league title, Casanova retired, and Pedro Padron Panza (who was among the original founders) bought all the stock to become the single owner. Padron worked hard to settle an important base of players which was later known as "La Guerrilla", because -no matter the score of a game- they were a never-surrender group of players who gave 100% on the field. Amongst that group you can find notable names such as Ozzie Guillen
, Carlos Cafe Martinez
, Gus Polidor
, Norman Carrasco, Raul Perez Tovar, Luis Salazar
and Luis Mercedes Sanchez Terminator
among others.
Padron suffered a long illness starting in the early 90s,which affected the level of his beloved team as well. He died in 1999 (age 78) leaving the control of the team to his son, Pedro Padron Brinez, also known as "Peruchito". However, "Peruchito" and his son (Padron's grandson) died in the 1999 floodings in La Guaira.
Marked by the death of 3 generations -past, present and future- of the team, Tiburones de la Guaira tried to repeat the glorious performances of the 70s and 80s in the 2000-2001 season under manager -and former player- Luis Salazar, almost clinching a playoff spot. Since then, Tiburones has become a competitive force again in the Venezuelan Winter League, missing the final series by taking a loss in an extra game in the 2008-2009 season against Tigres de Aragua.
Despite not having won a championship in more than 20 years, the team has the most loyal fan base of the whole circuit. Tiburones' fans usually give an espectacular atmosphere to every single game they attend, taking gigant flags to the stadium and producing lots of chants. The atmosphere is incremented exponentially when La Guaira plays hard rivals Leones del Caracas.
Henry Bonilla Al Bumbry
Bruce Bochy
Bryan Clark
Lou Collier
Tony Curry
Chad Curtis
Brian Gordon
Rollie Fingers
J. C. Hartman
Mike Hedlund
Clint Hurdle
James Hurst
Chris Jones Pat Kelly Darold Knowles
Odell Jones
Marcelino López
Greg Norton Lou Pote
Bill Pulsipher
Stephen Randolph
Jim Rooker
Olmedo Sáenz
Alex Sánchez Scott Service
Randall Simon
Darryl Strawberry
Derrel Thomas
Luis Tiant
Eddie Watt
Jim Weaver
Albert Williams
Travis Wilson
Walter Young
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 in the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional is the highest level baseball league in Venezuela.-Brief history:Baseball exploded in Venezuela in 1941, following the world championship in Havana....
. Based in the city of La Guaira
La Guaira
La Guaira is the capital city of the Venezuelan state of Vargas and the country's chief port. It was founded in 1577 as an outlet for Caracas, to the southeast. The town and the port were badly damaged during the December 1999 floods and mudslides that affected much of the region...
, the Tiburones have won seven national championships since their founding in 1962
1962 in baseball
The 1962 season is perhaps most notable for the dismal 40–120 record of the New York Mets, the third-worst winning percentage and the record for most games lost since 1900.-Major League Baseball:...
.
History
In 1962 the Pampero team, which was started in 1955, was sold for the symbolic price of one Bolívar by his owner Alejandro Hernández to Jose Antonio Casanova, who was considered the greatest Venezuelan manager at the time. The new team changed its name to Tiburones de la Guaira.Casanova, who was also first manager of the team, did not have enough financial resources to go through an entire season. He talked to his friend, Dr. Jesus Morales Valariano, who suggested an alliance with an important group of personalities and traders such as: Manuel Malpica, Jose Antonio Diaz, Mario Gomez y Pablo Diaz. In that moment Tiburones de la Guara was born, taking the field for first time ever in the 1962-63 season. It was Morales' idea to take the team to the city of La Guaira, in order to take advantage of a city with no team yet numerous baseball fans.
In their first season, Tiburones finished with a 23-19 record, missing the finals disputed between Caracas and Valencia. La Guaira would have to wait two seasons (1965) to win the first league championship, in a 5 game confrontation against Leones del Caracas.
The team was managed by Casanova until that year, and had remarkable players such as MLB Hall of Famer Luis Aparicio
Luis Aparicio
Luis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel is a former shortstop in professional baseball. His career in Major League Baseball spanned three decades, from through . Aparicio played for the Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Angel Bravo
Angel Bravo
Ángel Alfonso Bravo Urdaneta , better known as Ángel Bravo, is a former Major League Baseball center fielder. He was signed by the Chicago White Sox as an amateur free agent before the 1963 season, and played for the White Sox , Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres...
, Jose Herrera and Elio Chacon
Elio Chacón
Elio Chacón Rodríguez was a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop who played in the National League from 1960 to 1962. He was the seventh baseball player from Venezuela to play in the majors....
as top Venezuelan figures. Casanova's contract expired in 1965 and the board of directors decided to finish the work relationship buying all his stock. Jose Sanchez was a player for De la Guaira where he was a great second baseman and hitter he went on to play in the U.S. where he played for the Houston Astros.
After clinching the first league title, Casanova retired, and Pedro Padron Panza (who was among the original founders) bought all the stock to become the single owner. Padron worked hard to settle an important base of players which was later known as "La Guerrilla", because -no matter the score of a game- they were a never-surrender group of players who gave 100% on the field. Amongst that group you can find notable names such as Ozzie Guillen
Ozzie Guillén
Oswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
, Carlos Cafe Martinez
Carlos Martínez (baseball infielder)
Carlos Alberto Escobar Martínez was a Venezuelan first baseman and third baseman in Major League Baseball. From through 1995, he played for the Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians and California Angels...
, Gus Polidor
Gus Polidor
Gustavo Adolfo Polidor González [poh-lee-DOR], , was a shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels , Milwaukee Brewers and Florida Marlins . He was born in Caracas, Venezuela.His best year was 1987 with the Angels, when he hit for a .263 batting average, with 2 homers...
, Norman Carrasco, Raul Perez Tovar, Luis Salazar
Luis Salazar
Luis Ernesto Salazar Garcia is a former third baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball, a right-handed batter who played from 1980 to 1992....
and Luis Mercedes Sanchez Terminator
Luis Sánchez
This article is about a baseball player; for other people with the same name, see Luis Sanchez Luis Mercedes Escobar Sánchez , nicknamed "Escoba" , was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the California Angels. He also played in Japan for the Yomiuri Giants...
among others.
Padron suffered a long illness starting in the early 90s,which affected the level of his beloved team as well. He died in 1999 (age 78) leaving the control of the team to his son, Pedro Padron Brinez, also known as "Peruchito". However, "Peruchito" and his son (Padron's grandson) died in the 1999 floodings in La Guaira.
Marked by the death of 3 generations -past, present and future- of the team, Tiburones de la Guaira tried to repeat the glorious performances of the 70s and 80s in the 2000-2001 season under manager -and former player- Luis Salazar, almost clinching a playoff spot. Since then, Tiburones has become a competitive force again in the Venezuelan Winter League, missing the final series by taking a loss in an extra game in the 2008-2009 season against Tigres de Aragua.
Despite not having won a championship in more than 20 years, the team has the most loyal fan base of the whole circuit. Tiburones' fans usually give an espectacular atmosphere to every single game they attend, taking gigant flags to the stadium and producing lots of chants. The atmosphere is incremented exponentially when La Guaira plays hard rivals Leones del Caracas.
Retired numbers
- 11 Luis AparicioLuis AparicioLuis Ernesto Aparicio Montiel is a former shortstop in professional baseball. His career in Major League Baseball spanned three decades, from through . Aparicio played for the Chicago White Sox , Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
- 13 Ozzie GuillenOzzie GuillénOswaldo José "Ozzie" Guillén Barrios is a Venezuelan-American former Major League Baseball player and current manager of the Miami Marlins. He managed the Chicago White Sox from 2004 to 2011 before asking for his release at the end of the 2011 season....
- 14 Gustavo Polidor
- 15 Robert MarcanoBobby MarcanoRoberto "Bobby" Marcano was a Venezuelan professional baseball player who made a name for himself playing in Nippon Professional Baseball and for Tiburones de La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League....
- 40 Carlos MartínezCarlos Martínez (baseball infielder)Carlos Alberto Escobar Martínez was a Venezuelan first baseman and third baseman in Major League Baseball. From through 1995, he played for the Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians and California Angels...
- 41 Aurelio MonteagudoAurelio MonteagudoAurelio Faustino Monteagudo Cintra , nicknamed "Monty", was a right-handed screwball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball. He was the son of former big-leaguer René Monteagudo.-Career:Monteagudo was born in Caibarién, Villa Clara Province, Cuba...
Notable Active Players
- 9 Gregor BlancoGregor BlancoGregor M. Blanco is a Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.-Career:...
- 12 Oscar SalazarOscar Salazar (baseball)Oscar Enrique Salazar is a Major League Baseball infielder.-Biography:Signed by Oakland as an amateur free agent in 1994, Salazar was selected off waivers by the Detroit Tigers in 2002, making his debut in that season.In one season as a backup with the Tigers, Salazar batted .190 with one home run...
- 16 Edwin BellorínEdwin BellorínEdwin Daniel Bellorín Morales is an American Association of Independent Professional Baseball catcher for the Wichita Wingnuts organization-Career:...
- 20 Anthony OrtegaAnthony OrtegaAnthony Yoel Ortega Martínez is a pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Professional career:Ortega made his major league debut on April 25, against the Seattle Mariners...
- 21 Dioner NavarroDioner NavarroDioner Favian Navarro Vivas is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher, who is a free agent.-New York Yankees:In 2000, Navarro was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent...
- 45 Max RamírezMax RamírezMaximiliano R. Ramírez is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.-Atlanta Braves:...
- 50 Enrique GonzálezEnrique GonzálezEnrique César González is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher.-Playing career:González made his first start against the Cincinnati Reds on May 28, 2006, pitching six innings for the Arizona Diamondbacks and giving up only one run...
- 57 Francisco Rodríguez
- -- Alex CabreraAlex CabreraAlex Cabrera is a Venezuelan first baseman and right-handed batter who played in Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball...
- -- Luis Rodríguez
- -- Maicer IzturisMaicer IzturisMaicer Eduardo Izturis is a Major League Baseball third baseman, second baseman, and shortstop for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed...
Notable All-Time Foreign Players
Mike ArmstrongMike Armstrong
Michael Dennis Armstrong played Major League Baseball from 1980 to 1987, mainly as a relief pitcher. Armstrong batted and threw right-handed. He played college baseball for the University of Miami....
Henry Bonilla Al Bumbry
Al Bumbry
Alonza Benjamin Bumbry is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres from 1972 through 1985.-Playing career:...
Bruce Bochy
Bruce Bochy
Bruce Douglas Bochy is the manager of the San Francisco Giants. Prior to joining the Giants, Bochy had been the manager of the San Diego Padres for twelve seasons. Bochy is the only former Padres player to serve as the team's manager. He has participated in all five postseason appearances in...
Bryan Clark
Bryan Clark (baseball)
Bryan Donald Clark is a former left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher who played from to , and again in with the Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox. He attended Fresno Community College...
Lou Collier
Lou Collier
Louis Keith Collier is a former utility player who played in Major League Baseball from through . Collier batted and threw right-handed...
Tony Curry
Tony Curry
George Anthony Curry was a Bahamian professional baseball player, an outfielder who appeared in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians ....
Chad Curtis
Chad Curtis
Chad Curtis is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from -, notably for the New York Yankees...
Brian Gordon
Brian Gordon (baseball)
Brian Ernest Gordon is an American professional baseball pitcher for SK Wyverns of the Korean Baseball Organization. He has previously played for the Texas Rangers and New York Yankees of Major League Baseball....
Rollie Fingers
Rollie Fingers
Roland Glen Fingers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During his 18-year baseball career, he pitched for the Oakland Athletics , San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers . He became only the second reliever to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992...
J. C. Hartman
J. C. Hartman
J C Hartman is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He played parts of two seasons, and , for the Houston Colt .45s. Hartman also played for the Kansas City Monarchs in , when they were a barnstorming team.-Sources:...
Mike Hedlund
Mike Hedlund
Michael David Hedlund is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for six seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians in 1965 and 1968 and the Kansas City Royals from 1969 to 1972.-External links:...
Clint Hurdle
Clint Hurdle
Clinton Merrick Hurdle is a former Major League Baseball outfielder whose 10-year career was spent with the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals. After retiring from playing baseball, Hurdle became a manager...
James Hurst
James Hurst (baseball)
James Lavon Hurst is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in with the Texas Rangers.-External links:...
Chris Jones Pat Kelly Darold Knowles
Darold Knowles
Darold Duane Knowles is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher, and the current pitching coach of the Florida State League's Dunedin Blue Jays...
Odell Jones
Odell Jones
Odell Jones was a pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Seattle Mariners , Texas Rangers , Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers in Major League Baseball....
Marcelino López
Marcelino López
Marcelino Pons López was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He was a member of the 1970 World Series Champion Baltimore Orioles.-Early years:...
Greg Norton Lou Pote
Lou Pote
Louis William Pote and living in Sherwood Park Alberta is an American professional baseball player who last played for the Edmonton Capitals of the North American League. A pitcher, Pote played for in Major League Baseball for the Anaheim Angels from 1999 to 2002 and the Cleveland Indians in 2004...
Bill Pulsipher
Bill Pulsipher
William Thomas Pulsipher is a professional baseball pitcher. Pulsipher, a left-handed pitcher, has played in Major League Baseball for the New York Mets, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, and St. Louis Cardinals over six seasons from to . He currently plays for the Somerset...
Stephen Randolph
Stephen Randolph
Stephen LeCharles Randolph is an American left-handed pitcher formerly in Major League Baseball but now for the Yokohama BayStars of NPB....
Jim Rooker
Jim Rooker
James Phillip Rooker is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and broadcaster.A left-hander, Rooker pitched for the Detroit Tigers , Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates ....
Olmedo Sáenz
Olmedo Sáenz
Olmedo Sáenz Sánchez is a former Major League Baseball player. Though primarily a pinch hitter, he occasionally played first base or third base.-Chicago White Sox:...
Alex Sánchez Scott Service
Scott Service
Scott David Service is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues between and . He also pitched one season in Japan for the Chunichi Dragons in .-External links:...
Randall Simon
Randall Simon
Randall Carlito Simon is a professional baseball first baseman. He has played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball and one in Nippon Professional Baseball between 1997 and 2006. Simon's debut season came with the Atlanta Braves in 1997, for whom he played until 1999...
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...
Derrel Thomas
Derrel Thomas
Derrel Osborn Thomas is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as a second baseman, center fielder, and shortstop from 1971-85...
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...
Eddie Watt
Eddie Watt
Eddie Dean Watt is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. The 5'10", 197 lb. right-hander was signed by the Baltimore Orioles as an amateur free agent on September 5, 1961...
Jim Weaver
Jim Weaver (left-handed pitcher)
James Brian Weaver is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played parts of two seasons, and , for the California Angels.-Sources:...
Albert Williams
Albert Williams (baseball)
Albert Hamilton Williams DeSouza is an Afro-Nicaraguan former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball, from until , all for the Minnesota Twins....
Travis Wilson
Travis Wilson (softballer)
Travis David Wilson is a current member of the Black Socks, New Zealand's national softball. He first played for the Black Socks in 1994 and was an integral part of their World Championship winning team in Midland, Michigan in 1996.Following this tournament Wilson was scouted by the Atlanta Braves...
Walter Young