Cananea Reyes

From BR Bullpen

(Redirected from Benjamín Reyes)

Benjamín C. Reyes Chávez

  • Bats Right, Throws Right

BR minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Cananea Reyes was a legendary Mexican League manager who guided his clubs to six championships. He began his career in a player in the lower Mexican minor leagues, hitting .316 for the San Luis Potosi Indians in the 1963 Mexican Center League, .278 for Campeche Pirates the next year in the Mexican Southeast League and .344 in limited time for Campeche in 1965. That earned him a shot with the Mexican League's Jalisco Charros. Playing third base and the outfield, Reyes hit .264/~.335/.352 with 20 steals in '65 and .226/~.292/.288 in 1966. After a .137/~.268/.200 line in 1967, Reyes returned to the lower minors.

In 1968 Benjamín found himself with the Fresnillo Mineros (.372) and Minatitlan Petroleros (.133) then in '69 was the player-manager of the San Luis Potosi Charros. He hit .290 in limited time and San Luis Potosi won the Mexican Center League pennant. Moving to the Puerto Mexico Charros in 1970 as a pitcher, he went 0-3 with a 5.32 ERA.

Even though Guillermo Garibay had guided Jalisco to a successful season in 1971, he was replaced as manager by Reyes. Under Reyes, Jalisco won their first Liga pennant that year. He wrapped up his playing career in 1973 with a .234/~.306/.312 batting line in the LMB.

By 1974, "Cananea" was with the Mexico City Red Devils and he led them to titles in 1974, 1976, 1985, 1987 and 1988. That left him one shy of Lázaro Salazar for the most LMB titles, but with twice as many flags as anyone else. Reyes also led the Hermosillo Naranjeros to the Caribbean Series title in 1976. He served as a Seattle Mariners coach in 1981 and some sources claim he was briefly an interim manager of the team when Maury Wills was suspended. In 23 years of managing between 1968 and 1991, his teams were 1717-1295

A year after he died in 1991 at the young age of 54, he was enshrined in the Salon de la Fama, Mexican baseball's Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was also inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame, having managed the champions in the 1976 Caribbean Series and 1986 Caribbean Series.

Minor League Wins by a Manager

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Playoffs
1968 Fresnillo Mineros Mexican Center League 55-70 6th none
1969 San Luis Potosi Charros Mexican Center League 81-45 1st League Champs
1970 San Luis Potosi Charros Mexican Center League 66-60 3rd none
1971 Charros de Jalisco Mexican League 82-65 3rd League Champs
1972 Charros de Jalisco Mexican League -- -- replaced by Ossie Alvarez
1973 Indios de Ciudad Juarez Mexican League 55-78 13th
1974 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 75-61 5th League Champs
1975 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 80-57 3rd Lost in 2nd round
1976 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 75-63 5th League Champs
1977 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 94-57 2nd Lost League Finals
1978 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 70-76 9th Lost in 1st round
1979 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 74-64 7th
1980 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 52-40 5th Season ended by player strike
1982 Azules de Coatzacoalcos Mexican League 73-54 3rd Lost in 2nd round
1983 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 74-37 1st
1984 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 75-41 1st Lost in 1st round
1985 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League -- -- replaced by Roberto Castellon
1986 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 68-60 8th Lost in 1st round
1987 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 75-49 1st League Champs
1988 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 82-45 1st League Champs
1989 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 68-63 7th Lost in 1st round
1990 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League 72-54 3rd Lost in 1st round
1991 Diablos Rojos del Mexico Mexican League -- -- replaced by Ramon Montoya


Salon de la Fama site for Reyes

Sources include various Baseball Guides, Pat Doyle's Professional Baseball Player Database and The Mexican League: Comprehensive Player Statistics by Pedro Treto Cisneros