Liga Occidental

The Liga Occidental was a Venezuelan league based in the Zulia region of the country. The league's main rivals were Pastora and Gavilanes whose rivalry dated to the 1930s. The league's other teams included Cabimas, Centauros, Espadón, Cardenales de Lara, Orange, Rapiños, and Victoria. The league's main stadium was Estadio Alejandro Borges. When the league was reformed in 1954-1955, it was recognized by Organized Baseball as an official winter league; that was a response to the Venezuelan League shrinking to being Caracas-only that winter to save travel expenses. They sent an entry to the 1958 Caribbean Series, the only time a Venezuelan team from outside the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional made it to the Caribbean Series. In 1963 the league folded with only the Cardenales making the jump to the Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional.