the players playing fields legends contact us games & contests fans favorites women in baseball baseball trades search our site historic teams all stars world argue w/ the ump home login / register american heroes who was i?

Venezuela Béisbol


Béisbol is the national sport in Venezuela, with its origin dating as far back as 1895. Baseball’s popularity in Venezuela sky-rocketed in the 1940s, after Venezuela won the Amateur Baseball World Championship over Cuba in La Havana, Cuba in 1941. This led to the development of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in 1946.

Currently, the Venezuelan Winter League plays a 62-game schedule with 8 teams from October to December. The winner advances to the Caribbean Series against other Latin teams, which Venezuela has won six times, mostly recently in 2006. In that Series, they went a perfect 6-0 in round-robin competition. Baltimore Orioles catcher Ramon Hernandez was the Series MVP, hitting .542, with 3 HRs, and 8 RBIs. Play the video below to see Venezuela’s Los Leones’ stirring Ninth Inning comeback over the Dominican Republic in the clinching game of the 2006 Caribbean Series.

In 1997, Major League Baseball started the Venezuelan Summer League as an alternative to its minor league system in the United States. Venezuelan players signed by MLB teams typically play in the Summer League for a year or two before the best are promoted to start professional ball in the States.

By the end of the 2006 season, almost 200 Venezuelan born players had made it to the major leagues in the United States, starting with pitcher Alex Carrasquel who made his debut with the Washington Senators on April 23, 1939. Other Venezuelan stars include Dave Concepcion, Tony Armas, Ozzie Guillen, and Andres “the Big Cat” Galarraga. The major leagues are currently populated with a host of Venezuelan stars, such as Wilson Alvarez, Omar Vizquel, Bobby Abreu, Freddy Garcia, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Zambrano, and Miguel Cabrera. Luis Aparacio, born April 29, 1934 in Maracaibo, is the only Venezuelan born player in the Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Hall in 1984, after accumulating 9 Gold Glove Awards and 10 All-Star berths as a shortstop with the White Sox, Orioles, and Red Sox in 18 seasons.

Links
Official Site of Venezuelan Winter League
Official Site of Venezuelan Summer League

Available for Sale
Baseball in the Barrios, Henry Horenstein
2006 World Baseball Classic Venezuela Pin


Players Born in Venezuela

Name Birthdate Birthplace First Game
Bobby Abreu 3/11/1974 Aragua 9/1/1996
Edgardo Alfonzo 11/8/1973 Santa Teresa 4/26/1995
Eliezer Alfonzo 2/7/1979 Puerto la Cruz 6/3/2006
Clemente Alvarez 5/18/1968 Anzoategui 9/19/2000
Tony Alvarez 5/10/1979 Caracas 9/4/2002
Wilson Alvarez 3/24/1970 Maracaibo 7/24/1989
Luis Aparicio 4/29/1934 Maracaibo 4/17/1956
Luis Aponte 6/14/1953 ElTigre 9/4/1980
Marcos Armas 8/5/1969 Puerto Piritu 5/25/1993
Tony Armas 7/2/1953 Anzoategui 9/6/1976
Tony Armas 4/29/1978 Puerto Piritu 8/16/1999
Oscar Azocar 2/21/1965 Soro 7/17/1990
Josh Barfield 12/17/1982 Barquisimeto 4/3/2006
Yorman Bazardo 7/11/1984 Maracay 5/26/2005
William Bergolla 2/4/1983 Carabobo 5/9/2005
Rafael Betancourt 4/29/1975 Cumana 7/13/2003
Andres Blanco 4/11/1984 Carabobo 4/17/2004
Damaso Blanco 11/12/1941 Curiepe 5/26/1972
Henry Blanco 8/29/1971 Caracas 7/25/1997
Ossie Blanco 9/8/1945 Caracas 5/26/1970
Angel Bravo 8/4/1942 Maracaibo 6/6/1969
Alex Cabrera 12/24/1971 Caripito 6/26/2000
Miguel Cabrera 4/18/1983 Maracay 6/20/2003
Edgar Caceres 6/6/1964 Barquisimeto 6/8/1995
Miguel Cairo 5/4/1974 Anaco 4/17/1996
Alberto Callaspo 4/19/1983 Maracay 8/6/2006
Willie Canate 12/11/1971 Maracaibo 4/16/1993
Giovanni Carrara 3/4/1968 Edo Anzoategui 7/29/1995
Alex Carrasquel 7/24/1912 Caracas 4/23/1939
Chico Carrasquel 1/23/1928 Caracas 4/18/1950
Amalio Carreno 4/11/1964 Chacachacare 7/7/1991
Marcos Carvajal 8/19/1984 Bolivar 4/6/2005
Pedro Castellano 3/11/1970 Lara 5/30/1993
Jose Castillo 3/19/1981 Las Mercedes 4/7/2004
Juan Castillo 6/23/1970 Caracas 7/26/1994
Tony Castillo 3/1/1963 Quibor 8/14/1988
Ramon A. Castro 10/23/1979 Valencia 6/21/2004
Roger Cedeno 8/16/1974 Valencia 6/20/1995
Ronny Cedeno 2/2/1983 Carabobo 4/23/2005
Gustavo Chacin 12/4/1980 Maracaibo 9/20/2004
Elio Chacon 10/26/1936 Caracas 4/20/1960
Endy Chavez 2/7/1978 Valencia 5/29/2001
Nestor Chavez 7/6/1947 Chacao 9/9/1967
Raul Chavez 3/18/1973 Valencia 8/30/1996
Alvin Colina 12/26/1981 Puerto Cabello 9/18/2006
Cris Colon 1/3/1969 LaGuaira 9/18/1992
Dave Concepcion 6/17/1948 Aragua 4/6/1970
Darwin Cubillan 11/15/1972 Bobure 5/20/2000
Omar Daal 3/1/1972 Maracaibo 4/24/1993
Vic Davalillo 7/31/1936 Cabimas 4/9/1963
Yo-Yo Davalillo 6/30/1931 Caracas 8/1/1953
Alex Delgado 1/11/1971 Palmerejo 4/4/1996
Bo Diaz 3/23/1953 Cua 9/6/1977
Eddy Diaz 9/29/1971 Barquisimeto 4/17/1997
Melvin Dorta 1/15/1982 Valencia 7/21/2006
Felix Escalona 3/12/1979 Puerto Cabello 4/4/2002
Alex Escobar 9/6/1978 Valencia 5/8/2001
Angel Escobar 5/12/1965 LaSabana 5/17/1988
Jose Escobar 10/30/1960 Las Flores 4/13/1991
Kelvim Escobar 4/11/1976 LaGuaira 6/29/1997
Alvaro Espinoza 2/19/1962 Valencia 9/14/1984
Horacio Estrada 10/19/1975 San Joaquin 5/4/1999
Alejandro Freire 8/23/1974 Caracas 8/9/2005
Andres Galarraga 6/18/1961 Caracas 8/23/1985
Rich Garces 5/18/1971 Maracay 9/18/1990
Carlos Garcia 10/15/1967 Tachira 9/20/1990
Freddy Garcia 6/10/1975 Caracas 4/7/1999
Miguel Garcia 4/3/1967 Caracas 4/30/1987
Ramon Garcia 12/9/1969 Guanare 5/31/1991
Rosman Garcia 1/3/1979 Maracay 4/19/2003
Gus Gil 4/19/1939 Caracas 4/11/1967
Hector Gimenez 9/28/1982 San Felipe 9/25/2006
Alex Gonzalez 2/15/1977 Cagua 8/25/1998
Enrique Gonzalez 7/14/1982 Bolivar 5/28/2006
Geremi Gonzalez 1/8/1975 Maracaibo 5/27/1997
German Gonzalez 3/7/1962 Rio Caribe 8/5/1988
Luis A. Gonzalez 6/26/1979 Maracay 4/6/2004
Wiki Gonzalez 5/17/1974 Aragua 8/14/1999
Beiker Graterol 11/9/1974 Edo Lara 4/9/1999
Giomar Guevara 10/23/1972 Miranda 9/19/1997
Carlos Guillen 9/30/1975 Maracay 9/6/1998
Ozzie Guillen 1/20/1964 Ocumare Del Tuy 4/9/1985
Cesar Gutierrez 1/26/1943 Coro 4/16/1967
Franklin Gutierrez 2/21/1983 Caricuao 8/31/2005
Angel Guzman 12/14/1981 Caracas 4/26/2006
Oscar Henriquez 1/28/1974 LaGuaira 9/7/1997
Ubaldo Heredia 5/4/1956 Ciudad Bolivar 5/12/1987
Remy Hermoso 10/1/1946 Carabobo 9/14/1967
Carlos Hernandez 4/22/1980 Guacara 8/18/2001
Carlos Hernandez 12/12/1975 Caracas 5/26/1999
Carlos Hernandez 5/24/1967 San Felix 4/20/1990
Enzo Hernandez 2/12/1949 Valle De Guanape 4/17/1971
Felix Hernandez 4/8/1986 Valencia 8/4/2005
Leo Hernandez 11/6/1959 Santa Lucia 9/19/1982
Ramon Hernandez 5/20/1976 Caracas 6/29/1999
Toby Hernandez 11/30/1958 Calabozo 6/22/1984
Alex Herrera 11/5/1976 Maracaibo 9/13/2002
Jose Herrera 4/8/1942 San Lorenzo 6/3/1967
Richard Hidalgo 6/28/1975 Caracas 9/1/1997
Edwin Hurtado 2/1/1970 Barquisimeto 5/22/1995
Alexis Infante 12/4/1961 Barquisimeto 9/27/1987
Omar Infante 12/26/1981 Puerto la Cruz 9/7/2002
Cesar Izturis 2/10/1980 Lara 6/23/2001
Maicer Izturis 9/12/1980 Barquisimeto 8/27/2004
Cesar Jimenez 11/12/1984 Cunana 9/11/2006
Jorge Julio 3/3/1979 Caracas 4/26/2001
Luis Leal 3/21/1957 Barquisimeto 5/25/1980
Wilfredo Ledezma 1/21/1981 Guarico 4/2/2003
Danilo Leon 4/3/1967 LaConcepcion 6/6/1992
Felipe Lira 4/26/1972 Santa Teresa 4/27/1995
Jose Lopez 11/24/1983 Anzoategui 7/31/2004
Urbano Lugo 8/12/1962 Punto Fijo 4/28/1985
Fernando Lunar 5/25/1977 Cantanura 5/8/2000
Alejandro Machado 4/26/1982 Caracas 9/2/2005
Andy Machado 1/25/1981 Caracas 9/27/2003
Julio Machado 12/1/1965 Santa Cruz del Zulia 9/7/1989
Robert Machado 6/3/1973 Puerto Cabello 7/24/1996
Jose Malave 5/31/1971 Cumana 5/23/1996
Carlos Maldonado 1/3/1979 Maracaibo 9/8/2006
Fred Manrique 11/5/1961 Edo Bolivar 8/23/1981
Gonzalo Marquez 3/31/1946 Carupano 8/11/1972
Carlos Martinez 8/11/1965 LaGuaira 9/2/1988
Victor Martinez 12/23/1978 Ciudad Bolivar 9/10/2002
Willie Martinez 1/4/1978 Barquisimeto 6/14/2000
Carlos Mendez 6/18/1974 Caracas 5/22/2003
Donaldo Mendez 6/7/1978 Barquisimeto 4/5/2001
Carlos Mendoza 11/4/1974 Bolivar 9/3/1997
Miguel Montero 7/9/1983 Caracas 9/6/2006
Ramon Monzant 1/4/1933 Maracaibo 7/2/1954
Melvin Mora 2/2/1972 Aguas Negras 5/30/1999
Juan Moreno 2/28/1975 Maiquetia 5/17/2001
Orber Moreno 4/27/1977 Caracas 5/25/1999
Edward Mujica 5/10/1984 Valencia 6/21/2006
Dioner Navarro 2/9/1984 Caracas 9/7/2004
Oswaldo Navarro 10/2/1984 Villa De Cura 9/9/2006
Fernando Nieve 7/15/1982 Puerto Cabello 4/4/2006
Jose Nieves 6/16/1975 Guacara 8/7/1998
Ray Olmedo 5/31/1981 Maracay 5/25/2003
Luis Ordaz 8/12/1975 Maracaibo 9/3/1997
Magglio Ordonez 1/28/1974 Caracas 8/29/1997
Alex Pacheco 7/19/1973 Caracas 4/17/1996
Johnny Paredes 9/2/1962 Maracaibo 4/29/1988
Al Pedrique 8/11/1960 Valencia 4/14/1987
Oswaldo Peraza 10/19/1962 Puerto Cabello 4/4/1988
Eddie Perez 5/4/1968 Ciudad Ojeda 9/10/1995
Miguel Perez 9/25/1983 Caracas 9/7/2005
Robert Perez 6/4/1969 Bolivar 7/20/1994
Tomas Perez 12/29/1973 Barquisimeto 5/3/1995
Roberto Petagine 6/7/1971 Nueva Esparta 4/4/1994
Yusmeiro Petit 11/22/1984 Maracaibo 5/14/2006
Renyel Pinto 7/8/1982 Miranda 5/18/2006
Gus Polidor 10/26/1961 Caracas 9/7/1985
Martin Prado 10/27/1983 Maracay 4/23/2006
Alex Prieto 6/19/1976 Caracas 7/26/2003
Carlos Pulido 8/5/1971 Caracas 4/9/1994
Ruben Quevedo 1/5/1979 Valencia Carabobo 4/14/2000
Carlos Quintana 8/26/1965 Estado Miranda 9/16/1988
Humberto Quintero 8/8/1979 Maracaibo 9/3/2003
Guillermo Quiroz 11/29/1981 Maracaibo 9/4/2004
Alex Ramirez 10/3/1974 Caracas 9/19/1998
Chucho Ramos 4/12/1918 Maturin 5/7/1944
Edgar Ramos 3/6/1975 Cumana 5/21/1997
Rene Reyes 2/21/1978 Margarita 7/22/2003
Juan Rincon 1/23/1979 Maracaibo 6/7/2001
Luis Rivas 8/30/1979 LaGuaira 9/16/2000
Juan Rivera 7/3/1978 Guarenas 9/4/2001
Francisco Rodriguez 1/7/1982 Caracas 9/18/2002
Liu Rodriguez 11/5/1976 Caracas 6/9/1999
Luis Rodriguez 6/27/1980 San Carlos 5/21/2005
Roberto Rodriguez 11/29/1941 Caracas 5/13/1967
Wilfredo Rodriguez 3/20/1979 Bolivar 9/21/2001
Angel Salazar 11/4/1961 Anaco 8/10/1983
Luis Salazar 5/19/1956 Barcelona 8/15/1980
Oscar Salazar 6/27/1978 Maracay 4/10/2002
Anibal Sanchez 2/27/1984 Maracay 6/25/2006
Luis Sanchez 8/24/1953 Cariaco 4/10/1981
Danny Sandoval 4/7/1979 Lara 7/17/2005
Johan Santana 3/13/1979 Tovar 4/3/2000
Manny Sarmiento 2/2/1956 Cagua 7/30/1976
Marco Scutaro 10/30/1975 Yaracuy 7/21/2002
Carlos Silva 4/23/1979 Bolivar 4/1/2002
Luis Sojo 1/3/1965 Caracas 7/14/1990
Les Straker 10/10/1959 Ciudad Bolivar 4/11/1987
Pablo Torrealba 4/28/1948 Barquisimeto 4/9/1975
Steve Torrealba 2/24/1978 Barquisimeto 10/6/2001
Yorvit Torrealba 7/19/1978 Caracas 9/5/2001
Dilson Torres 5/31/1970 Sur Edo Aragua 4/29/1995
Cesar Tovar 7/3/1940 Caracas 4/12/1965
Manny Trillo 12/25/1950 Caripito 6/28/1973
Luis Ugueto 2/15/1979 Caracas 4/3/2002
Ugueth Urbina 2/15/1974 Caracas 5/9/1995
Lino Urdaneta 11/20/1979 Caracas 9/9/2004
Carlos Valderrama 11/30/1977 Bachaquero 6/21/2003
Jorge Velandia 1/12/1975 Caracas 6/20/1997
Eduardo Villacis 8/29/1979 Caracas 5/1/2004
Omar Vizquel 4/24/1967 Caracas 4/3/1989
Carlos Zambrano 6/1/1981 Puerto Cabello 8/20/2001
Eduardo Zambrano 2/1/1966 Maracaibo 9/19/1993
Victor Zambrano 8/6/1975 Los Teques 6/21/2001



 copyright © 1999 - 2013 baseballhistorian.com.
 visit www.basketballhistorian.com  ||  visit www.footballhistorian.com  ||  visit www.boxinghistorian.com