Los Tigres del Licey are the leaders in championships in the Caribbean Series, with a total of 10, in 19 presentations, the one that is coming up in Venezuela, the city of Caracas will be their 20th appearance and the first of this decade. A peculiarity of the blues in this event is that the 10 championships have been headed by different managers.
The first victory came in the Puerto Rico 1971 Caribbean Series, a year after making history (1970), as the first representative of the Dominican Republic to participate in the contest.
That first title has a first and last name: Manuel Mota. Why? He was manager and player at the same time, the only one in the history of the Caribbean Series for the Dominican Republic with this duality.
He led Licey to an immaculate 6-0 record and was also Most Valuable Player, posting a .579 batting average and 6 runs scored, leaders in both departments. Mota is undoubtedly one of the most versatile men in Dominican baseball.
After his retirement as a player, he continued to coach in the Major Leagues and has been a Major League Baseball commentator.
The second championship of the Tigers was in Caracas, Venezuela 1973, guided by the immortal from Cooperstown,Tom Lasorda. The American led the Tigers to a 5-1 record to win the title. Lasorda was champion with the indigos in the 1972-1973 and 1973-1974 seasons. He also directed the Lions of the Chosen.
In the Major Leagues, he won two World Series with the Dodgers (1981 and 1988). In 1977, again in Caracas, Venezuela, the Tigres won their third series and second undefeated (6-0).
Buck Rodgers he commanded the Dominican team as leader. In the final series he beat the Águilas Cibaeñas 5-2. Rodgers, 84 years old, was a catcher, coach and manager in the Major Leagues. He won 784 games with the Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos and California Angels.
In 1980, the Tigers won their fourth Caribbean Series, and it was the first title won in the Dominican Republic. Del Crandall, former major league catcher led Licey to a 4-2 record. In the final series, the Tigers beat the Estrellas Orientales 5-1.
Crandall, was a catcher for one of the best left-handed pitchers in the Major Leagues, Warren Spahn. They were together 316 times, the third most for a couple in Cardinals history.He passed away in 2021, at age 91. He suffered from Parkinson’s.
In 1985, Terry Collins He was the leader of the Licey in the Caribbean Series, held in Mazatlán, Mexico. On that occasion, the Dominican Republic had a 5-1 record. Collins, was 34 years old when he won the title, then he was a manager in the Major Leagues with Houston, Anaheim and with the New York Metros, where he was from 2011 to 2017.
In 1991, Licey finished undefeated with 5-0, averaging 10 laps per game in the city of Miami, United States. The blue team was led by John Roserboro. Remembered for being the victim of a hit by Juan Marichal in 1965. For the blow he received 14 stitches. Over time, they ended up being good friends. He was a six-time All-Star and a three-time World Series champion with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Casey Parsons He was the manager of the Licey in the 1993-1994 season. He guided the Tigres against Miguel Diloné delas Águilas Cibaeñas 4-1. In the Caribbean Series, the Tigers won their seventh Caribbean championship with a 5-1 record. Parsons played four seasons in the Major Leagues. He exhausted 54 at-bats and hit two home runs.
dave jauss He was the foreman of the Tigres in the 1999 Puerto Rico Caribbean Series. It was celebrated at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium. El Licey finished 5-2, beating Puerto Rico in a tiebreaker game for the title. Jauss won the manager of the year award in the Dominican league twice. With the Tigers (1998-1999) and Oriental Stars (2012-2013).
Jauss currently works as a consultant to the Nationals and previously coached the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh.
Manny Record, was the champion leader in the 2004 Caribbean Series, held in Santo Domingo. The Tigers won with a 5-1 record. Acta, made history as the first manager of the Dominican Republic in the 2006 World Baseball Classic.
In the Major Leagues he was manager of the Washington Nationals and the Cleveland Indians. He is currently the third base coach for the Seattle Mariners. In Lidom, he was also manager and leader of Tigres, Estrellas and Águilas.
Hector De La Cruz “The Blanket” He was the champion leader of the last Caribbean Series that the Licey won, held in Santiago de los Caballeros in 2008.
On that occasion, Licey participated as a guest, being runner-up in the league, replacing Puerto Rico, which could not participate in the series. De La Cruz has also been the leader of the Stars, Bulls, Lions and Giants, with the latter he was champion as coach. De La Cruz played seven years in the minor leagues with Toronto, before starting as a manager. He played professional baseball in Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.