Mexican League

For other uses, see Mexican League (disambiguation).
Liga Mexicana de Béisbol
Sport Baseball
Founded 1925
No. of teams 16
Country Mexico
Continent North America
Most recent champion(s) Diablos Rojos del México (16th title)
Most titles Diablos Rojos del México (16 titles)
TV partner(s) TVC Deportes
ESPN
Official website www.lmb.com.mx

The Mexican League (Spanish: Liga Mexicana de Béisbol) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico. It is a Class Triple-A league in organized Minor League Baseball, one grade below Major League Baseball (MLB).[1] Unlike the other two Triple-A circuits, the International League and the Pacific Coast League, Mexican League teams are not affiliated with Major League teams. The current champions are the Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico City Red Devils).

The Mexican League has three minor leagues of its own, the Liga Norte de Mexico, Liga de Beisbol del Noroeste de Mexico, and the Mexican Academy League (a summer and a winter league). An additional baseball circuit, the Mexican Pacific League, is unrelated.[2]

History

The Mexican League was founded in 1925 by sportswriter Alejandro Aguilar Reyes and former baseball player Ernesto Carmona.[3] The league included six teams (74 Regimiento, México, Agrario, Nacional, Guanajuato and Águila). Since then, the league has expanded to sixteen teams, divided equally into a north and a south zone, the champions of which meet to contest a best-of-seven game playoff series. The season begins in mid-March with the playoffs running through mid-August.

1949: Landmark ruling of Gardella v. Chandler

Judges, under the doctrine of stare decisis, use the case Federal Baseball Club of Baltimore v. National League of Professional Baseball Clubs to maintain that the baseball leagues and commissioner are not violating anti-trust laws because they are not doing anything different from what was done when the previous holding was handed down. Included in the previous ruling was the fact that the baseball leagues at the time of the ruling could transmit information about their games via telegraph wires; radio and television are merely extensions of the type of coverage provided by the older medium. Further, because the leagues are only negotiating as agents for their member clubs, their actions in negotiating the television and radio broadcasts are essentially no different from their actions with telegraphs. Therefore the previous decision can be maintained. Judges also have asserted that this the previous decision has not ever been objected to by Congress, in that no corrective legislation which would have overturned the ruling has ever been enacted, so it must also be of the opinion of Congress that baseball does not fall under the rules of the Sherman Antitrust Act. (Of course, some judges have found differently, but final rulings have always overall held in favor of Organized Baseball.)

The ruling went untested until the Mexican League was formed. Players who went to play in the Mexican League were blacklisted from Major League Baseball. One such player, Danny Gardella, was blacklisted because he had violated his contract and gone to play professional baseball in Mexico.

During 1948, Gardella brought a claim against Commissioner of Baseball Happy Chandler, the National League and American League, as well as their presidents (Ford Frick and Will Harridge, respectively). Gardella charged that they were engaged in interstate commerce because the defendants had made contracts with radio broadcasting and television companies that sent narratives or moving pictures of the games across state lines. MLB then settled with Gardella and offered all Mexican League jumpers amnesty— protecting the ambiguity of the antitrust protection.

During 1949, Gardella won a major appeal against baseball's reserve clause in the federal courts. This successful appeal is recognized as the first major step towards baseball free agency, even though it was decades in the making.

Expansion

During 1979, the Mexican Central League was absorbed into the expanded Liga Mexicana de Beisbol (Mexican Baseball League). The newly expanded league now featured a 20-team circuit with four divisions. However, after a series of team bankruptcies, the Mexican League was reduced to 14 teams in two divisions.

Current teams

Zone Team Location Stadium Capacity
North Rieleros de Aguascalientes (Aguascalientes Railroaders) Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes Parque Alberto Romo Chávez 9,000
Vaqueros Laguna (Laguna Cowboys) Torreón, Coahuila Estadio Revolución 12,000
Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico City Red Devils) Mexico D.F. Parque Fray Nano 5,200
Acereros de Monclova (Monclova Steelers) Monclova, Coahuila Estadio De Béisbol Monclova 9,000
Sultanes de Monterrey (Monterrey Sultans) Monterrey, Nuevo León Estadio de Beisbol Monterrey 27,000
Toros de Tijuana (Tijuana Bulls) Tijuana, Baja California Estadio Gasmart 18,500
Broncos de Reynosa (Reynosa Broncos) Reynosa, Tamaulipas Estadio Adolfo López Mateos 7,000
Saraperos de Saltillo (Saltillo Sarape Makers) Saltillo, Coahuila Estadio de Beisbol Francisco I. Madero 16,000
South Piratas de Campeche (Campeche Pirates) Campeche, Campeche Estadio Nelson Barrera 6,000
Delfines de Ciudad del Carmen (Ciudad del Carmen Dolphins) Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche Estadio Resurgimiento 5,000
Pericos de Puebla (Puebla Parrots) Puebla, Puebla Estadio Hermanos Serdán 7,500
Guerreros de Oaxaca (Oaxaca Warriors) Oaxaca, Oaxaca Eduardo Vasconcelos Stadium 7,200
Tigres de Quintana Roo (Quintana Roo Tigers) Cancún, Quintana Roo Estadio de Béisbol Beto Ávila 9,000
Olmecas de Tabasco (Tabasco Olmecs) Villahermosa, Tabasco Estadio Centenario 27 de Febrero 10,500
Rojos del Águila de Veracruz (Veracruz Red Eagles) Veracruz, Veracruz Estadio Universitario Beto Avila 7,782
Leones de Yucatán (Yucatan Lions) Mérida, Yucatán Estadio de Béisbol Kukulkán 13,600

Team locations

The following are the locations of the Mexican League teams. Red markers indicate teams in the South Division, while green markers indicate teams in the North Division.

Defunct teams

Champions

The 2008 Mexican League championship trophy won by the Diablos Rojos del México
SeasonChampionSeriesRunner Up
192574 Regimiento de San Luis3–1Club México
1926Ocampo de Jalapa*Carmona de México
1927Gendarmería de México*Club México
1928Policía del DF2–0Bravo Izquierdo de Puebla
1929Chiclet's Adams de México2–1Delta de México
1930Tigres de Comintra*Obras Públicas de México
1931Obras Públicas de México*Comunicaciones de México
1932Tráfico de México*Club Pachuca
1933Tigres de Comintra3–2Club Pachuca
1934Monte de Piedad de México*Tuneros de San Luis
1935Agrario de México*Tigres de Comintra
1936Agrario de México*Lomas de México
1937Aguila de Veracruz3–0Agrario de México
1938Aguila de Veracruz*Agrario de México
1939Cafeteros de Córdoba*Aguila de Veracruz
1940Azules de Veracruz México*Diablos Rojos del México
1941Azules de Veracruz México*Diablos Rojos del México
1942Algodoneros del Unión Laguna*Industriales de Monterrey
1943Industriales de Monterrey*Algodoneros del Unión Laguna
1944Azules de Veracruz México*Industriales de Monterrey
1945Alijadores de Tampico*Tecolotes de Nvo. Laredo
1946Alijadores de Tampico*Diablos Rojos del México
1947Industriales de Monterrey*Diablos Rojos del México
1948Sultanes de Monterrey*Pericos de Puebla
1949Sultanes de Monterrey4–0Algodoneros del Unión Laguna
1950Algodoneros del Unión Laguna4–2Charros de Jalisco
1951Azules de Veracruz México4–1Tuneros de San Luis
1952Aguila de Veracruz*Algodoneros del Unión Laguna
1953Tecolotes de Nvo. Laredo*Sultanes de Monterrey
1954Tecolotes de Nvo. Laredo*Leones de Yucatán
1955Tigres del México2–0Tecolotes de Nvo. Laredo
1956Diablos Rojos del México*Tigres Capitalinos
1957Leones de Yucatán*Diablos Rojos del México
1958Tecolotes de Nvo. Laredo*Diablos Rojos del México
1959Petroleros de Poza Rica*Tecolotes de Nvo. Laredo
1960Tigres del México*Aguila de Veracruz
1961Aguila de Veracruz*Pericos de Puebla
1962Sultanes Monterrey*Aguila de Veracruz
1963Pericos de Puebla*Diablos Rojos del México
1964Diablos Rojos del México*Pericos de Puebla
1965Tigres del México*Pericos de Puebla
1966Tigres del México4–2Diablos Rojos del México
1967Charros de Jalisco*Broncos de Reynosa
1968Diablos Rojos del México*Aguila de Veracruz
1969Broncos de Reynosa*Sultanes de Monterrey
1970Aguila de Veracruz4–2Diablos Rojos del México
1971Charros de Jalisco4–3Saraperos de Saltillo
1972Cafeteros de Córdoba4–2Alacranes de Durango
1973Diablos Rojos del México4–3Saraperos de Saltillo
1974Diablos Rojos del México4–0Algodoneros de Gomez Palacio
1975Alijadores de Tampico4–1Cafeteros de Córdoba
1976Diablos Rojos del México4–2Algodoneros del Unión Laguna
1977Tecolotes de Nvo. Laredo4–1Diablos Rojos del México
1978Rieleros de Aguascalientes4–2Algodoneros del Unión Laguna
1979Ángeles de Puebla4–3Indios de Ciudad Juárez
1980Saraperos de Saltillo*Indios de Ciudad Juárez
1981Diablos Rojos del México4–3Broncos de Reynosa
1982Indios de Ciudad Juárez4–0Tigres Capitalinos
1983Piratas de Campeche4–3Indios de Ciudad Juarez
1984Leones de Yucatán4–2Indios de Ciudad Juárez
1985Diablos Rojos del México4–1Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos
1986Ángeles Negros de Puebla4–1Sultanes de Monterrey
1987Diablos Rojos del México4–1Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos
1988Diablos Rojos del México4–1Saraperos de Saltillo
1989Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos4–2Leones de Yucatán
1990Bravos de León4–1Algodoneros del Unión Laguna
1991Sultanes de Monterrey4–3Diablos Rojos del México
1992Tigres del México4–2Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos
1993Olmecas de Tabasco4–1Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos
1994Diablos Rojos del México4–3Sultanes de Monterrey
1995Sultanes de Monterrey4–0Diablos Rojos del México
1996Sultanes de Monterrey4–1Diablos Rojos del México
1997Tigres del México4–1Diablos Rojos del México
1998Guerreros de Oaxaca4–0Acereros de Monclova
1999Diablos Rojos del México4–2Tigres Capitalinos
2000Tigres del México4–1Diablos Rojos del México
2001Tigres del México4–2Diablos Rojos del México
2002Diablos Rojos del México4–3Tigres de la Angelopolis
2003Diablos Rojos del México4–1Tigres de la Angelopolis
2004Piratas de Campeche4–1Saraperos de Saltillo
2005Tigres del Puebla4–2Saraperos de Saltillo
2006Leones de Yucatán4–1Sultanes de Monterrey
2007Sultanes de Monterrey4–3Leones de Yucatán
2008Diablos Rojos del México4–1Sultanes de Monterrey
2009Saraperos de Saltillo4–2Tigres de Quintana Roo
2010Saraperos de Saltillo4–1Pericos de Puebla
2011Tigres de Quintana Roo4–0Diablos Rojos del México
2012Rojos del Águila de Veracruz4–3Rieleros de Aguascalientes
2013Tigres de Quintana Roo4–1Sultanes de Monterrey
2014Diablos Rojos del México4–0Pericos de Puebla

Champions and runner-ups (current teams)

Team Titles Runner Up Years Won Years Runner Up
Diablos 16 17 1956, 1964, 1968, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2008, 2014 1940, 1941, 1946, 1947, 1957, 1958, 1963, 1966, 1970, 1977, 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2011
Tigres 11 6 1955, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1992, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005, 2011, 2013 1956, 1982, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2009
Sultanes 9 9 1943, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1962, 1991, 1995, 1996, 2007 1942, 1944, 1953, 1969, 1986, 1994, 2006, 2008, 2013
Rojos del Águila 6 4 1937, 1938, 1952, 1961, 1970, 2012 1939, 1960, 1962, 1968
Pericos 4 5 1925,[4] 1963, 1979,[5] 1986[6] 1948, 1961, 1964, 1965, 2010, 2014
Saraperos 3 6 1980, 2009, 2010 1971, 1972, 1973, 1988, 2004, 2005
Leones 3 3 1957, 1984, 2006 1954, 1989, 2007
Piratas 2 0 1983, 2004 -
Broncos 1 2 1969 1967, 1981
Olmecas 1 0 1993 -
Guerreros 1 0 1998 -
Rieleros 1 1 1978 2012
Acereros 0 1 - 1998

Championships by franchise (all-time)

Team Titles
Diablos 16
Tigres 11
Sultanes 9
Rojos del Águila 6
Tecolotes 5
Azules 4
Pericos 4
Alijadores 3
Leones 3
Saraperos 3
Agrario 2
Algodoneros 2
Cafeteros 2
Charros 2
Piratas 2
Tigres (Comintra) 2
Bravos 1
Broncos 1
Chiclet's Adams 1
Gendarmería 1
Guerreros 1
Indios 1
Monte de Piedad 1
Obras Públicas 1
Ocampo 1
Olmecas 1
Petroleros (Poza Rica) 1
Policía 1
Rieleros 1
Tráfico 1

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Scoreboard". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  2. ↑ "LMP.mx". Mexican Pacific League. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  3. ↑ Virtue, John (October 10, 2007). South of the Color Barrier: How Jorge Pasquel and the Mexican League Pushed Baseball Toward Racial Integration. McFarland. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7864-3293-6. Retrieved December 27, 2014.
  4. ↑ Won Title As 74 Regimiento (First champion in the league's History)
  5. ↑ Won Title As Angeles De Puebla
  6. ↑ Won Title As Angeles Negros De Puebla