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After a second place finish last year, Barquisimeto took the Bolivar League North Division title for the third time in four years. The Black Cats had the league’s best record at 98-64, fending off a strong division with the five best records in the league. Medellin and Valencia were both six back at 92-70 with last year’s division winner Bogota at 91-71 and Maracaibo at 88-74. In a weaker South Division, La Paz took the top spot at 85-77, three ahead of Cali. Defending BL champ Quito dropped to a lackluster 70-92. For the Pump Jacks, it is their fifth division title in seven years.

Bogota DH Bastian Martin won his third straight Bolivar League MVP. This would be his final season with the Bats, as the 29-year old Uruguayan slugger would leave for MLB’s Hartford in the offseason. Martin was the leader in WAR (8.5), OBP (.431), and wRC+ (183), adding a .347 average, 40 home runs, and 102 RBI. Ciudad Guayana’s Francisco Almanza won the Pitcher of the Year as the 26-year old lefty led in wins (24-9), ERA (2.20), inning (294.2), and complete games (24). He added 344 strikeouts and 9.8 WAR, allowing him to be perennial award winner Lazaro Rodriguez despite Rodriguez’ 10.8 WAR and 429 strikeouts. Also of note, Barquisimeto’s Gilberto Sanchez won his third Reliever of the Year.



Recife became the first of the 1974 expansion teams to earn a playoff spot. The Retrievers won the Brazil Division at 101-61, beating defending Copa Sudamerica champion Salvador (99-63) by two games. No one stood out in the South Division with Buenos Aires getting their seventh playoff berth in eight years. The Atlantics tied with Santiago at 83-79, but BA won the one-game playoff to advance. Montevideo (82-80) and Concepcion (80-82) were both right in the hunt as well.

Belo Horizonte was a non-factor at .500, but their ace Benjamim Alegre won both the Southern Cone League MVP and Pitcher of the Year. It was the second PotY for the 26-year old Brazilian, who became the eighth Beisbol Sudamerica pitcher to earn the Triple Crown and the first since 1975. Alegre had a 24-4 record, 1.62 ERA, and 382 strikeouts. He pitched 272 innings and led in WHIP (0.81), shutouts (10), FIP- (46), and WAR (11.5), while also batting .293 in the nine hole. Alegre had his second career no-hitter in 1982, fanning 15 on July 14 against Rosario.

The Bolivar League Championship Series saw a Barquisimeto sweep of La Paz, giving the Black Cats their second title in three years. It is only their third BL pennant, having also won in 1958. The Southern Cone Championship went all seven games with Buenos Aires upsetting Recife, also giving the Atlantics their second title in three years. It is the ninth pennant for Buenos Aires.



In the 52^nd Copa Sudamerica, it was a rematch of two years earlier when Buenos Aires bested Barquisimeto in six. The series again went six, but the roles were reversed as the Black Cats won the cup for the first time in franchise history. SS Enrique Tafoya was the finals MVP with the 32-year old Venezuelan getting 19 hits, 8 runs, and 8 RBI in 10 playoff starts.



Other notes: Celso Galo became the fourth BSA batter to 3000 career hits. He’d play two more seasons and end with 3182, retiring third all-time. Alfonso Revela became the seventh to 600 home runs. Lazaro Rodriguez became the 12^th to 4500 strikeouts. He also had two standout games with a 21-strikeout effort in April against Caracas and a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts against Lima in June. 3B Leonardo Valdez won his 10^th Gold Glove and 1B Vicente Anaya won his eighth. Finals MVP Enrique Tafoya won his eighth Silver Slugger, although this was his first at shortstop and not second base.