Key Moments & Notable Performances
Lead changes - If 1932 had proven something of a two-horse race, 1933 saw four teams take their turn at the top of La Liga standings. Strugglers last season, Tahón began this season strongly, winning their first six and challenging for the lead through early September. Los Metros had taken up the mantle by that point however, although without ever looking like dominating. And, sure enough, by October defending champions Progreso had found their way back to first place.
Strong finish - After a sluggish start, La Cruz, meanwhile, had been easing their way towards the top of the standings. Consistent rather than spectacular, they didn't move into first place until the first week of November, with barely two weeks of the season still to play. From there though, they held their nerve superbly, winning six of their last eight to claim El Campeonato in game one of a final day double-header on the road at Atlético.Consolation prize - Progreso missed out on the chance to win back-to-back Campeonatos, but rightfielder Tony de Pena put together a top-class season to ensure that El Supera honours, at least, stayed in the town. The left-handed hitter's smooth swinging style clocked him up 88 hits - 4th best in La Liga - and a .391 batting average as he led his team to another winning record. That hit total included 12 homeruns and 19 doubles - his 143 total bases were tops on the island - and he accounted for 46 runs driven in.
Two for the price of one - Progreso and La Cruz shared a wild doubleheader in the soldier city in late August. Defending champions Progreso took game one 21-14, as the teams combined for 42 hits. Remarkably the Tabaqueros had only 5 hits go for extra bases - rightfielder Hector del Toro smashed 3 of them, 2 doubles and a homerun, on his way to a Liga-record matching 7 RBI performance. In the evening game, del Toro picked up another homerun and 2 more batted in, but couldn't prevent La Cruz coming out on top of a tamer, closer nightcap, 3-2.
El Invicto - When wily La Cruz ace Miguel Nevarez took the loss on October 29th, it was the first time he'd been on the wrong end of a decision since September 5th 1932 - a span of 37 undefeated starts. Nevarez was in sparkling form all year for the champion La Cruz side, his 13-1 record, including a 3-hit shutout, seeing him awarded the Premio del Presidente.Señor G - Francisco Ramirez wasn't quite as untouchable for Progreso in 1933 as he had been the previous year, but he still tied for the league lead in wins with 14, and set a new single game record with 10 strikeouts in a 9-inning, no decision effort against Los Metros. A loss in his previous start had ended a streak of his own - 16 consecutive victories.
In a pinch - La Cruz outfielder Robert Cornejo made the pinch-hitting role his own in 1933, starting just 5 games, while making 35 appearances off the bench. Cornejo batted .333 in those opportunities, and put an exclamation point on his season in mid-September with a pinch-hit grand slam in a blowout against Atlético.
Hits, hits, hits - The biggest hit streak of 1933 belonged to Los Metros catcher Sergio Barajas. The tough backstop connected successfully in 24 straight contests in the early season, and kept his bat hot all year, eventually finishing with an impressive .399 batting average.
One win, one loss - Los Metros starter Tony Gomez tried to go above and beyond in a rain-induced double-header in October. The starter in a game suspended from September, Gomez pitched the last 3 innings to claim a 4-2 win over Tahón, before returning to the hill to start game two. Sadly he lasted only 3 2/3 innings, dishing up 10 runs and taking the loss.At any level - First baseman Manny Gomez had a record-equalling 7 RBI day for Atlético in October, hitting a grand slam and leading his team to an 8-3 win over Club Orientales. Two weeks earlier, Gomez had tied the same record in the Segunda Liga, driving home 8 as Atlético-B smashed their Tahón counterparts 12-6.
Show no mercy - Tahón came to play in a November contest at Atlético, as they set a new Liga record for runs scored in a 22-4 beatdown of the capital squad. The Leones scored an incredible 14 runs in the top of the fifth - including 11 runs with 2 outs. Centrefielder Jonathan Garza led the charge, going 2-2, with 2 homeruns, 4 walks and 5RBI, while rightfielder Jose Hernandez and shortstop Alex Medina each picked up 5 hits a piece, with Hernandez setting another Liga record by coming round to score 5 times.
Statistically significant - The Liga saw its first .400 hitters in 1933, as both Tahón rightfielder Jose Hernandez and Atlético rightfielder Mario Barajas finished the season with a .401 mark. Hernandez took the batting crown with his 69-172 effort, while Barajas, who played in 16 more games, finished at 89-222. Barajas was one of three hitters to top 1932's hits mark, tying with Los Metros' Lorenzo Lemus and La Cruz's Bob Gonzales. For Progreso, 42-year-old Jose Huerta became La Liga's oldest player as he appeared in 29 games for the defending champions. He batted a respectable .303 (20-66), made just 3 errors in more than 160 innings at third base, and even managed to get cut down trying to steal second base.
Around Escondida - Junior, Independent and Minor Leagues
1933 marked the first season of play for the Liga de Desarollo, a new, independent professional league. Though competition was fierce all year, the Navalesa squad were a class above the rest. They eased to the inaugural title, sealing the top spot with 8 games to spare - and doing so in some style, thanks to a 16-0 whitewash of Zuya.
Although he couldn't lead his Sierra Alta team to a winning record, rightfielder Juan Garcia stormed to the Mejor Bateador title. On the year he put up an impressive .367 batting average, with 8 homeruns and 34 batted in. On the hill, Navalesa ace Angelo Reyes took the Lanzador Superior honours, as he led the Navegantes to the title with a 12-5 record, 111 strikeouts and a league-best 2.45 ERA.
Performance of the season in the Liga D undoubtedly came in August as Zuya starter Orlando Saravia struck out 15 Sierra Alta hitters in a mesmerising performance. His complete game, 6-hit effort led the Elefantes to a 2-1 victory. At the other end of the season, Sierra Alta were also involved in the most exciting team showing, as they scored 7 runs in the bottom of the ninth to overturn a 4-0 lead against Estollo. Second baseman Antonio Davalos put the exclamation mark on the comeback with a 3-run walkoff homrun.
The Torneo Desafío Juventud saw a thrilling finish to its 1933 season as a tie atop the standings after the 28-game regular season needed a three-way playoff to decide the eventual champions. When the dust settled, Adelante had beaten both Meridional and Centrale, riding a win-streak of 11 games to surge from nowhere to take the championship.
A key cog for the Adelante team during their amazing run was 17-year-old pitcher Jordan Flores, and he was rewarded for his fine season by being named the Lanzador Superior. The reliever pitched in 21 games, picking up 8 saves and shutting down opposing hitters with a 3.45 ERA. Taking the Mejor Bateador crown, meanwhile, was La Isla rightfielder Antonio Meza. The 16-year-old batted .490 (50-102) on the year, drilling 7 homeruns and collecting 40 runs batted in.
15-year-old Sergio Tochimani caught the eye of plenty of scouts in his debut Torneo campaign. The República leftfielder put together a 22-game hit streak on his way to hitting .330 and chasing home 37 runs. Also shining in 1933 was Emilio Pedro in his final Torneo season. The 1932 Lanzador Superior was strong again with the ball, going 6-1 in 10 starts for Centrale. But his signature moment of the season came with the bat as he helped himself on the way to a 15-3 win over El Camino by crushing a fifth inning grand slam.
15-year-old Sergio Tochimani caught the eye of plenty of scouts in his debut Torneo campaign. The República leftfielder put together a 22-game hit streak on his way to hitting .330 and chasing home 37 runs. Also shining in 1933 was Emilio Pedro in his final Torneo season. The 1932 Lanzador Superior was strong again with the ball, going 6-1 in 10 starts for Centrale. But his signature moment of the season came with the bat as he helped himself on the way to a 15-3 win over El Camino by crushing a fifth inning grand slam.
The Liga Segunda was won at a canter by the Atlético B squad, who put together an outstanding 17-3 record. Performance of the season came from Club Orientales lefty Alex Acuna, who pitched a sublime 9-strikeout, 2-hit shutout against Progreso in September. Remarkably it was the first of 3 complete game shutouts for Acuna in his 5 starts in 1933.
