1971-1972 Cuban National League

From BR Bullpen

The 1971-1972 season was the eleventh season of Cuba's national baseball system.

Serie Nacional[edit]

The 11th Serie Nacional was won by Azucareros - the team's second consecutive title - following a tie-breaking playoff against the Mineros. After both teams were tied atop the league at 52 – 14; the teams proceeded to play in a best-of-three playoff. The Azucareros won the series, two games to one, in part due to the excellent pitching of José Antonio Huelga. The Azucareros won the title despite a managerial change from Pedro Pérez Delgado to Servio Borges. Borges had managed them to a title three years earlier.

Pitching for third-place Industriales, Ihosvany Gallego allows a scant three earned runs in 72.1 innings pitched for a 0.37 ERA – the lowest in league history. He is also named the league's best pitcher. Gallego's teammate, slugger Agustín Marquetti, recaptures his home run and runs batted in crowns with 11 and 53 respectively – and is named most valuable player. Roberto Valdés of the Mineros club wins 12 games with no losses, a record that has not been topped. During the course of the season, the Mineros put together a 27-game winning streak, while Matanzas lost 25 in a row.

Standings[edit]

Bold indicates Serie Nacional champion
Team G W L WPCT GB
Azucareros 66 52 14 0.788 -.-
Mineros 66 52 14 0.788 -.-
Industriales 66 51 15 0.773 1.0
Granjeros 66 49 17 0.742 3.0
Henequeneros 66 40 26 0.606 12.0
La Habana 66 32 34 0.485 20.0
Vegueros 66 29 37 0.439 23.0
Oriente 66 24 42 0.364 28.0
Camagüey 66 19 47 0.288 33.0
Las Villas 66 18 48 0.273 34.0
Pinar del Río 66 17 49 0.258 35.0
Matanzas 66 13 53 0.197 39.0

Playoffs[edit]

After Azucareros and Mineros ended the regular season in a tie, a best-of-three series was played to crown a champion. Azucareros won the series, 2 - 1.

Leaders[edit]

Bold indicates either wooden bat record or aluminum bat record (1976-1977 to 1998-1999), Italics indicate Serie Nacional record

Batting[edit]

Stat Leader Team Number Notes
Batting Average Elpidio Mancebo Mineros .327 69 hits in 211 at-bats
Runs Scored Antonio Muñoz Azucareros 51
Base Hits Wilfredo Sánchez Henequeneros 90
Doubles Felipe Sarduy Granjeros 16
Triples Pablo Espinosa Oriente 5
Home Runs Agustín Marquetti Industriales 11
Runs Batted In Agustín Marquetti Industriales 53
Base-on-Balls Antonio Muñoz Azucareros 55
Intentional Base-on-Balls Antonio Muñoz Azucareros 18
Hit-by-Pitch Jeremías González Pinar del Río 10
Strikeouts Jeremías González Pinar del Río 47
Sacrifice Hit Alfredo García Henequeneros 9
Sacrifice Fly Arturo Linares La Habana 8
Stolen Bases Antonio Jiménez La Habana 28

Pitching[edit]

Stat Leader Team Number Notes
Wins Orlando Figueredo Mineros 14
Win-Loss Percentage Roberto Valdés
Pedro González
Mineros
Granjeros
1.000 12 - 0
7 - 0
Earned Run Average Ihosvany Gallego Industriales 0.37 3 ER in 72.1 IP
Innings Pitched Mario Fernández Oriente 151.1
Games Pitched Domingo Pérez Vegueros 29
Games Started Orlando Figueredo Mineros 18
Games Relieved Domingo Pérez Vegueros 26
Complete Games Mario Fernández Oriente 13
Shutouts Braudilio Vinent Mineros 6
Hits Allowed Mario Fernández Oriente 116
Strikeouts Braudilio Vinent Mineros 127
Base-on-Balls Juan Riscal Camagüey 56
Intentional Base-on-Balls José M. Sánchez Pinar del Río 13
Hit Batters José Sánchez Camagüey 9

Award Winners[edit]

The Most Valuable Player (Jugadores más Valiosos) was Agustín Marquetti a first baseman with Industriales. The Most Valuable Pitcher (Lanzadores más Valiosos) was Ihosvany Gallegos of Industriales. Pedro Jova of Azucareros was the Series' Rookie of the Year (Novatos del Año).

All-Star Series[edit]

The fourth All-Star Series featured two teams playing a 15-game series. Orientales, managed by Servio Borges, defeated Occidentales, 9 to 6.

Leaders[edit]

Batting[edit]

Pitching[edit]

Sources[edit]

Cuban National League Seasons
1962 1962-1963 1963-1964 1964-1965 1965-1966 1966-1967 1967-1968 1968-1969
1969-1970 1970-1971 1971-1972 1972-1973 1973-1974 1974-1975 1975-1976 1976-1977 1977-1978 1978-1979
1979-1980 1980-1981 1981-1982 1982-1983 1983-1984 1984-1985 1985-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 1988-1989
1989-1990 1990-1991 1991-1992 1992-1993 1993-1994 1994-1995 1995-1996 1996-1997 1997-1998 1998-1999
1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003 2003-2004 2004-2005 2005-2006 2006-2007 2007-2008 2008-2009
2009-2010 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 2015-2016 2016-2017 2017-2018 2018-2019
2019-2020 2020-2021 2021-2022 2022-2023