Leones de Ponce

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(Redirected from Ponce Lions)

PonceLeones.jpg

Team History[edit]

The Leones de Ponce (Ponce Lions) were a founding member of the Puerto Rico Baseball League in 1938. They won 11 league titles and the 1972 Caribbean Series. However, after the 2013-14 season they were replaced by the Senadores de San Juan. The team name is traced to a publicity photo where the owner is pictured with a whip, looking like a lion tamer.

Past players have included Pancho Coimbre, Jorge Tirado, Luis Arroyo, Hilton Smith, Rich Gossage, Raymond Brown, Frank Robinson, José Santiago, Steve Carlton, Nelson Briles, Tommy Cruz, Carlos May, Adrian Garrett, José Vidro, Iván Cruz, José Cruz, Sr., Jose Cruz Jr., Sandy Alomar, Sr., Roberto Alomar, José Hernández, Emilio Navarro, Héctor Cruz and Rickey Henderson.

The team's name is a play on that of Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon.

Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Manager Post Season
1938-39 20-20
1939-40 33-23
1940-41 19-23
1941-42 30-13 George Scales Champions
1942-43 19-16 George Scales Champions
1943-44 37-7 George Scales Champions
1944-45 28-11 George Scales Champions
1945-46 21-20
1946-47 38-22 George Scales Champions
1947-48 24-36
1948-49 47-33 George Scales
1949-50 45-35
1950-51 43-35 Rogers Hornsby
1951-52 34-36 Benny Huffman
1952-53 36-36
1953-54 39-41
1954-55 26-46
1955-56 28-44
1956-57 18-54
1957-58 30-34
1958-59 26-38
1959-60 17-45
1960-61 29-35 Cal Ermer
1961-62 28-52
1962-63 26-44
1963-64 36-34 Johnny Lipon
1964-65 28-42
1965-66 38-33 Luis Arroyo Runner-up
1966-67 46-25 Luis Arroyo Runner-up
1967-68 34-36 Luis Arroyo
1968-69 43-25 Rocky Bridges Champions
1969-70 44-25 Jim Fregosi Champions
1970-71 34-33 Frank Verdi
1971-72 37-32 Frank Verdi Champions
1972-73 38-33 Frank Verdi Runner-up
1973-74 42-28 Pat Corrales Runner-up
1974-75 40-30 Pat Corrales
1975-76 26-34 Harvey Kuenn
1976-77 38-22 Cal Ermer
1977-78 20-40
1978-79 33-27 Jose Pagan
1979-80 27-33
1980-81 24-36
1981-82 28-32 Ed Nottle Champions
1982-83 34-27 Steve Boros Runner-up
1983-84 32-29 Jim Napier Runner-up
1984-85 25-35
1985-86 24-29
1986-87 34-19 Orlando Gomez Runner-up
1987-88 27-27
1988-89 25-34 Duffy Dyer
1989-90 31-19 Sandy Alomar Sr.
1990-91 23-37
1991-92 27-23 Orlando Gomez
1992-93 22-26
1993-94 14-34
1994-95 26-28 Sandy Alomar Sr.
1995-96 25-26
1996-97 17-33
1997-98 30-32 Orlando Gomez / Carlos Lezcano
1998-99 29-18 Carlos Lezcano Runner-up
1999-00 26-24 Carlos Lezcano
2000-01 16-34 Pete Mackanin / Jose Cruz Sr.
2001-02 31-22 Jose Cruz Sr.
2002-03 24-26 Jose Cruz Sr.
2003-04 28-21 Jose Cruz Sr. Champions
2004-05 21-19 Jose Cruz Sr.
2005-06 21-22 Jose Cruz Sr. Runner-up
2006-07 21-24 Jose Cruz Sr. Runner Up
2007-08 League suspended
2008-09 27-15 Eduardo Perez Champions
2009-10 15-27 Eduardo Perez
2010-11 29-19 Pat Listach Runner-up
2011-12 21-20 Pat Listach
2012-13 17-23 Hector Ortiz
2013-14 21-19 Carmelo Martinez

Caribbean Series Appearances[edit]