1963, año mágico de los Pericos de Puebla
México, D.F. (Tomás Morales) 11 de mayo.- Fue 1963 un año mágico para los Pericos de Puebla que con el cubano Tony Castaño de manager conquistaron su primer y único campeonato hasta el momento en la Liga Mexicana, siendo en esa temporada cuando Ronie Camacho impuso marca de 39 jonrones, Moi Camacho conectó 29 cuadrangulares y Miguel Sotelo fue el gran pitcher con 24 victorias. Después de batallar toda la campaña contra los Diablos Rojos, los Pericos terminaron en primer lugar con récord de 80-52 y con nueve juegos sobre los Rojos.
Miguel Sotelo, una vez considerado prospecto de Ligas Mayores por los Piratas de Pittsburgh, no sólo fue el máximo ganador de la liga sino el número uno en ponches con 208 y Ronnie Camacho, con sus 39 voladas de barda, fue igualmente el primero en carreras empujadas con 108. Ronnie rompió la marca que tenía el muy buen bateador cubano Aldo Salvent con 36 cuadrangulares en un año.
Tony Castaño, que como jugador estuvo ocho años en la Liga Mexicana bateando .284, fue el último manager que tuvieron los famosos "Sugar Kings" de La Habana antes que en 1960 se vieran obligados a emigrar a Jersey City al llegar el comunismo de Fidel Castro que prohibió los deportes profesionales. Castaño logró escaparse de Cuba en 1962 y los Diablos Rojos lo ayudaron al ponerlo de coach de la sucursal de Fresnillo. En 1963 se los pidió Pericos de Puebla y comenzó una larga estancia en la Angelópolis donde fue el manager más querido en la historia del club.
Castaño también fue el manager que estuvo con un equipo cubano en Series del Caribe, ganando los dos últimos torneos con los Elefantes de Cienfuegos. Manejó siete de sus 11 años en Liga Mexicana al Pericos, siendo también timonel del Poza Rica, Yucatán y Águila de Veracruz. En 1976 estaba todavía como timonel en Puebla cuando en los entrenamientos una nueva directiva del club decidió reemplazarlo por algún timonel más joven. Entonces tenía 65 años y dejó un récord en la Liga Mexicana como manager de 659 triunfos y 482 derrotas, promedio de .531.
Los Pericos tuvieron en ese año a Rudy Sandoval de catcher ayudado por Lupe Cancino, Ronnie en primera base, Moi Camacho en segunda, el acrobático Jorge Fitch en el short y el consistente "Zacatillo" Guerrero en tercera. Un infield fantástico simplemente.
En el jardín aparecían el cubano Cuco Toledo en el izquierdo, "Cañitas" Moreno en el central y el boricua Oscar Rodríguez en el derecho. En el orden al bat, Fitch estaba como primero, "Zacatillo" segundo, Ronnie en tercero, Oscar Rodríguez de cuarto, Moi Camacho de quinto, Toledo en sexto, "Cañitas" de séptimo, Rudy Sandoval de octavo y el lanzador que entonces si trataban de batear en la Liga Mexicana.
FOTO: El manager Tony Castaño y el artillero Ronie Camacho, dos piezas fundamentales con Pericos.
El jueves primero de agosto en Monterrey, Miguel Sotelo llegó a las 20 victorias al vencer a los Sultanes 5-2, derrotando a un Panchillo Ramírez que había sido el último en ganar 20 en la temporada de 1956 con los Diablos Rojos. De esa manera Sotelo entró al club selecto de los pitchers que han llegado a 20 triunfos en un año.
El último pitcher que ha ganado 20 juegos en una temporada de Liga Mexicana lo fue el zurdo Julio Purata en la campaña de 1992 con los Petroleros de Minatitlán.
En aquel 1963 los Pericos usaban el estadio olímpico Ignacio Zaragoza que fue adaptado para Beisbol y tenía una gran capacidad de 30,000 espectadores.
Después de Sotelo, los máximos ganadores entre los pitchers con aquel Pericos campeón lo fueron el cubano Julio "Jiquí" Moreno, gran veterano que se reinventó como pitcher después de una lesión que le quitó la gran velocidad que llegó a tener, con un excelente 15-5, y el boricua Florentino Rivera con 15-11. Mauro Ruiz y Juan Suby aportaron ocho triunfos cada uno y el cubano Toni Diaz, siete.
El mejor bateador lo fue Oscar Rodríguez con .342, Cuco Toledo en .337, "Cañitas" Moreno en .330, Rudy Sandoval con .322, Jorge Fitch en .316, "Zacatillo" Guerrero con .305, Pedro Cardenal con .333, Moi Camacho en .299, Ronnie con .289. Moi Camacho también tuvo una super campaña con 29 jonrones, 10 menos que Ronnie. Fue la cifra más alta de cuadrangulares en una campaña de los 185 que bateó Moi en Liga Mexicana. Por algo los llamaron "los Camacho de la destrucción."
Sería este el único campeonato logrado por Tony Castaño en el Beisbol profesional mexicano, siendo luego director técnico de la Selección de Nicaragua y terminando sus felices días en Miami, Florida, donde compró una gran casa moderna después de haber salido sin uno peso casi de la nueva Cuba donde le quitaron una tienda de comestibles que tenía.
En ese año de 1963 finamente destronaron a Al Pinkston del Águila de Veracruz que llevaba cuatro títulos de bateo seguidos. Aunque terminó empatado en el primer lugar con .368 de average con Vinicio García de los Sultanes de Monterrey, el cuarto número despuésdel punto favoreció al segunda base veracruzano.
MiLB podcast discusses Anthony, Caglianone at Triple-A
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
These are the greatest Minor League promos happening in June
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
New playoff format coming to 2025 Dominican Summer League
Minor League Baseball announced the 2025 Dominican Summer League (DSL) season will begin June 2 with Opening Day festivities taking place at the Boston Red Sox Academy in Guerra. The 2025 campaign will also see the introduction of the DSL Cup, a new playoff format that will see 16 DSL
Debating best Minor League home caps on podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
The Omaha Storm Chasers' 'Take Meow-t' cat night included a Litter Box Sundae
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Boston's Triple-A affiliate throws birthday bash for Roman Anthony
With all the hype that has surrounded Roman Anthony over the past two seasons, it’s easy to forget how young he really is. MLB's No. 1 prospect played 70 games at the highest level of the Minors before he could order a beer. But he can now. Roman Anthony turned
Friendly foes, 2024 first-rounders Moore and Caglianone trade first Triple-A homers
For years, Christian Moore and Jac Caglianone laced up their cleats against one another in the SEC. A rivalry that spanned Florida, Tennessee and other landmarks across the South moved to Salt Lake City this week as the Royals and Angels' top prospects got simultaneous Triple-A promotions. So it was
Phillies' Moore, Fausnaught join MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Red Sox prospect rips double THROUGH Fenway-esque scoreboard
Red Sox No. 4 prospect Franklin Arias, an infielder for High-A Greenville, REALLY didn’t want to let visiting Asheville score any runs in the top of the eighth inning on Friday night. With runners on first and second base in the bottom of the fourth, Arias showed he apparently held
April's hottest hitting prospects -- one for each organization
The Minor League season is a month old and several of the game's best hitting prospects are off to fast starts. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony is tearing up Triple-A (just like he did at the end of last year), Padres shortstop Leo De Vries is leading the High-A Midwest
Check out the best -- and wackiest -- Minor League promos happening in May
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Orioles' Honeycutt joins The Show Before the Show
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
MiLB podcast coming LIVE to a Somerset this June
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
New ballparks highlight 2025 MiLB road trip stops
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from the Baseball Traveler newsletter, presented by Circle K, is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Minor League Baseball partners with TruGreen
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- TruGreen, the nation's leading lawn care treatment provider, is proud to announce a groundbreaking partnership with Minor League Baseball that includes activations across all 120 clubs, a makeover of the home dugout in each market, sponsorship of select MiLB team grounds crews, and a new initiative called
Podcast explains why the Syracuse Mets are looking for Jim Morrison
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Dash im-prom-tu promo and Mets' Suero joins the podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Minor League Baseball partners with Circle K
Minor League Baseball announced a new national partnership with Circle K, which will see the convenience store giant become the “Official Convenience Store of Minor League Baseball.” During the 2025 season, the Circle K brand will be integrated into the MiLB in-stadium experience through in-game video board assets at most
These 15 moments led to season No. 15 of Minor League road trips
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
MiLB podcast crew makes Opening Day predictions
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Everything you need to know for Triple-A Opening Day
First, there was big league Opening Day. Now it's Triple-A's turn to take the spotlight. The Minor League season opens Friday when the Triple-A International League and Pacific Coast League seasons get underway for the first of MiLB’s two Opening Days. And right out of the gates, several of baseball's
Top prospects to watch at Triple-A -- one for each organization
It’s Triple-A’s turn up to bat on Friday. The regular season begins for the Minor Leagues’ highest level one day after the action starts on the Major League side. Fun fact: it’ll be the earliest start to a Minor League season since 1951 (March 27). Double-A, High-A and Single-A will
Here's where every Top 100 prospect is expected to start the season
The 2025 Opening Day prospect roster announcements began last week when the Cubs informed Matt Shaw (MLB No. 19) he was making the trip overseas to compete in the Tokyo Series. Roki Sasaki (No. 1) also received the good news, but his assignment was much less of a surprise. Now
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two