Leones del Caracas

From BR Bullpen

Leones del Caracas
Caracas Lions
Leones del Caracas Logo
League: Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional
Founding: May 10, 1942
First Season: 1952
City: Caracas, Distrito Capital
Stadium: Estadio Universitario de Caracas
League Titles: 18
  1952/1953, 1956/1957, 1961/1962, 1963/1964, 1966/1967, 1967/1968, 1972/1973, 1977/1978, 1979/1980, 1980/1981, 1981/1982, 1986/1987, 1987/1988, 1989/1990, 1994/1995, 2005/2006, 2009/2010, 2022/2023
Serie del Caribe Titles: 2
  1982, 2006
Former Names: Cervecería Caracas (1946-1951)
Future Names:
President: Luis Ávila
General Manager: Juán Vicente Zerpa
Manager:

The Leones del Caracas ("Caracas Lions") are a Venezuelan winter league team that plays in the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional. The team was founded as Cervecería Caracas (Caracas Brewery) in 1942 and are the most successful team in the country.

Cervecería was one of the league's most successful franchises in the league's early years winning three pennants and losing four finals. Two of its wins came against the Navegantes del Magallanes. In 1952, Cerveza Caracas sold its team to Pablo Morales and Oscar Prieto Ortiz and Estadio Universitario de Caracas was built. The Leones still use the ballpark, which they share with the Tiburones de La Guaira. As Caracas and Magallanes ended up 1st or 2nd for five consecutive seasons from 1947/1948 through 1952/1953, they became permanently linked to each other in a rivalry known as Los Eternos Rivales (The Eternal Rivals).

Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Manager Playoffs
1952-53 32-25 Martín Dihigo Champions
1953-54 33-44 Lum Harris
1954-55 28-22 José Antonio Casanova Runner-up
1955-56 24-29 José Antonio Casanova
1956-57 26-26 Clay Bryant Champions
1957-58 20-20 Alfonso Carrasquel
1958-59 24-22 Reinaldo Cordeiro
1959-60 16-13 Reinaldo Cordeiro / Charlie Thompson Season cancelled
1960-61 20-31 Charlie Thompson / Antonio Brinez
1961-62 31-21 Regino Otero Champions
Inter-American Series 2nd place
1962-63 27-18 Regino Otero Runner-up
1963-64 26-24 Regino Otero Champions
1964-65 31-19 Regino Otero Runner-up
1965-66 34-27 Regino Otero Semi-final
1966-67 32-29 Regino Otero Champions
1967-68 37-23 Regino Otero Champions
1968-69 39-21 Regino Otero
1969-70 28-32 Pompeyo Davalillo
1970-71 35-25 Pompeyo Davalillo Semi-final
1971-72 31-31 Pompeyo Davalillo Semi-final
1972-73 37-33 Ozzie Virgil Sr. Champions
1973-74 32-28 Tony Pacheco Season cancelled
1974-75 30-30 Tony Pacheco Semi-final
1975-76 No team Merged with Tiburones de La Guaira
1976-77 32-34 Pat Corrales
1977-78 40-30 Felipe Alou Champions
1978-79 31-39 Felipe Alou
1979-80 46-23 Felipe Alou Champions
1980-81 33-27 Jim Leyland / Alfonso Carrasquel Champions
1981-82 33-33 Alfonso Carrasquel Champions
1982-83 38-27 Alfonso Carrasquel Runner-up
1983-84 25-40 Alfonso Carrasquel / Gonzalo Márquez
1984-85 25-39 Buck Rodgers / Pompeyo Davalillo
1985-86 33-32 John Boles Runner-up
1986-87 33-31 Bill Plummer Champions
1987-88 33-27 Bill Robinson Champions
1988-89 39-21 Bill Plummer
1989-90 32-28 Phil Regan Champions
1990-91 30-30 Phil Regan Runner-up
1991-92 26-34 Phil Regan
1992-93 37-23 Phil Regan
1993-94 38-22 Phil Regan Runner-up
1994-95 33-27 Phil Regan / Pompeyo Davalillo Champions
1995-96 32-28 Pompeyo Davalillo
1996-97 32-28 Phil Regan Runner-up
1997-98 35-29 Phil Regan Runner-up
1998-99 34-28 Jim Pankovits Runner-up
1999-00 20-42 John Stearns / Manny Acta
2000-01 26-36 Manny Acta
2001-02 24-37 John Tamargo / Carlos Subero
2002-03 23-16 Tim Tolman Playoffs cancelled
2003-04 33-29 Omar Malavé
2004-05 39-22 Omar Malavé Runner-up
2005-06 35-27 Omar Malavé / Carlos Subero Champions
2006-07 29-33 Carlos Subero / Carlos Hernández
2007-08 29-34 Carlos Hernández
2008-09 42-21 Frank Kremblas Runner-up
2009-10 41-22 Dave Hudgens Champions
2010-11 35-28 Dave Hudgens
2011-12 28-35 Tim Teufel / Rick Sweet
2012-13 35-28 Rick Sweet / Frank Kremblas
2013-14 34-29 Dave Hudgens
2014-15 29-35 Dave Hudgens / Pedro López
2015-16 35-30 Alfredo Pedrique
2016-17 27-36 Alfredo Pedrique
2017-18 35-28 Mike Rojas
2018-19 34-29 Mike Rojas Runner-up
2019-20 20-22 Harry Guanchez / Víctor Gárate 1st round
2020-21 15-25 Víctor Gárate
2021-22 26-23 José Alguacil
2022-23 36-19 José Alguacil Champions

Caribbean Series Appearances[edit]

Retired Numbers[edit]

Notable Players[edit]

External Links[edit]