1981-1982 Cuban National League

From BR Bullpen

The 1981-1982 season was the twenty-first season of Cuba's national baseball system.

Serie Nacional[edit]

Vegueros wins their second consecutive title in the 21st Serie Nacional. The team was managed by future national team manager Jorge Fuentes.

Lázaro Junco finds himself at the top of the home run leader board for the first time as his 20 dingers are tied with Reynaldo Fernández of Camagüey. The Citricultores slugger would go on the win a record ten home run crowns. Ironically, Orestes Kindelán, the player that will eventually supplant Junco as the all-time home run leader, makes his début with Santiago de Cuba.

Vegueros ace Rogelio García strikes out 144 opponents, the highest total of his career. Camagüey first baseman Felipe Sarduy – who remains the only player still active from the first Serie Nacional – retires following the season, after playing 21 seasons.

The league was marred by a corruption scandal, which saw nearly 20 players suspended.

Aside from García, the Pinareños' main players were Omar Ajete, Luis Giraldo Casanova, Juan Castro, Reinaldo Costa, Giraldo González, Fernando Hernández, Omar Linares, and Lázaro Madera.

Standings[edit]

Bold indicates Serie Nacional champion
Team G W L WPCT GB
Vegueros 51 36 15 0.706 -.-
Citricultores 51 35 16 0.686 1.0
Metropolitanos 51 34 17 0.667 2.0
Forestales 51 33 18 0.647 3.0
Cienfuegos 51 29 22 0.569 7.0
Henequeneros 51 28 23 0.549 8.0
Industriales 51 27 24 0.529 9.0
Granma 51 26 25 0.510 10.0
Guantánamo 51 26 25 0.510 10.0
Villa Clara 51 24 27 0.471 12.0
Camagüey 51 23 28 0.451 13.0
La Habana 51 22 29 0.431 14.0
Ciego de Ávila 51 22 29 0.431 14.0
Sancti Spíritus 51 21 30 0.412 15.0
Santiago de Cuba 51 21 30 0.412 15.0
Isla de la Juventud 51 21 30 0.412 15.0
Holguín 51 17 34 0.333 19.0
Las Tunas 51 14 37 0.275 22.0

All-Star Game[edit]

The seventh Juego de las Estrellas (All-Star Game) was held in Havana. In the game, Oriente defeated Occidentales by a score of 6 to 3. Oriente had 11 hits to Occidentales's 8, while both teams had 1 error. The winning pitcher was Alfonso Ilivanes and the losing pitcher was Rogelio García.

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 Fernando Hernández Vegueros .376 77 hits in 205 at-bats
Runs Scored Fernando Hernández Vegueros 40
Base Hits Fernando Hernández Vegueros 77
Doubles Lázaro Junco
Reynaldo Fernández
Citricultores
Camagüey
16
Triples Pablo Bejerano Granma 8
Home Runs Lázaro Junco
Reynaldo Fernández
Citricultores
Camagüey
17 Leader in less at-bats (190)
199 at-bats
Runs Batted In Lázaro Junco Citricultores 51
Base-on-Balls Pedro Medina Industriales 58
Intentional Base-on-Balls Antonio Muñoz Cienfuegos 11
Hit-by-Pitch Wilfredo Hernández Guantánamo 10
Strikeouts Reinaldo Fernández Camagüey 52
Sacrifice Hit Giraldo González Vegueros 12
Sacrifice Fly Sixto Hernández
Gerardo Simón
Cienfuegos
Guantánamo
4
Stolen Bases Wilfredo Sánchez Citricultores 15

Pitching[edit]

Stat Leader Team Number Notes
Wins José M. Darcourt Metropolitanos 12
Win-Loss Percentage Óscar Martínez La Habana 1.000 6 - 0
Earned Run Average Julio Romero Forestales 1.45 18 ER in 112 IP
Innings Pitched Pablo Martínez Granma 130.0
Games Pitched Isidro Pérez Villa Clara 22
Games Started Félix Núñez Las Tunas 16
Games Relieved Isidro Pérez Villa Clara 22
Complete Games Julio Romero
José M. Darcourt
Pablo Martínez
Forestales
Metropolitanos
Granma
12
Shutouts Carlos Mesa Citricultores 5
Hits Allowed Gilberto Ferrales Las Tunas 121
Strikeouts Rogelio García Vegueros 144
Base-on-Balls Félix Pino Forestales 57
Intentional Base-on-Balls Jorge L. Valdés Henequeneros 8
Hit Batters Alfonso Ilivanes Guantánamo 11

Award Winners[edit]

The Most Valuable Player (Jugadores más Valiosos) was Fernando Hernández, an outfielder with Vegueros. The Most Valuable Pitcher (Lanzadores más Valiosos) was José Modesto Darcourt of Metropolitanos. Jorge Milián of Metropolitanos was the Series' Rookie of the Year (Novatos del Año).

Series Selectivas[edit]

The eighth Series Selectivas was won by Pinar del Río, managed by the Jorge Fuentes.

Standings[edit]

Team G W L WPCT GB
Pinar del Río 57 35 22 0.614 -.-
Matanzas 57 30 27 0.526 5.0
Orientales 57 30 27 0.526 5.0
Las Villas 56 29 27 0.518 5.5
Habana 57 29 28 0.509 6.0
Camagüeyanos 58 18 40 0.310 17.5

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
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