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Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 2,649
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1963 in BSA
After failing to make the playoffs in its first 32 seasons, Quito finally finished on top of the Bolivar League South Division. The Thunderbolts were a league-best 103-59, edging out defending division champ Guayaquil at 101-61 and Lima at 95-67. This leaves Montevideo as the only Beisbol Sudamerica team without a single playoff appearance, an unfortunate streak that continued until 1981 for the Venom. Meanwhile in the North Division, the Caracas dynasty continued as the four-time defending Bolivar League champ and defending Copa Sudamerica winner finished first at 97-65.
Leading the charge for Quito was league MVP Javier Herrera. The 25-year old Ecuadoran first baseman led the league in runs (113), hits (217), doubles (44), triples (20), walks (76), stolen bases (101), batting average (.372), OBP (.445), slugging (.609), OPS (1.054), wRC+ (191), and WAR (9.4). Lima’s Roberto Gonzalez was Pitcher of the Year and the sixth in BSA to have a Triple Crown season. The 27-year old Peruvian righty had a 25-5 record, 1.37 ERA, and 324 strikeouts, also leading with 0.82 WHIP, 30 quality starts, a 10.1 K/BB, FIP- of 46, and 12.1 WAR. He was the first BSA pitcher to have a 12+ WAR season since the 1940s.
Buenos Aires finished with the Southern Cone League’s best record at 100-62, snapping a 14-year playoff drought. The Atlantics finished seven games better than second place Santiago, while Cordoba went from 106 wins the prior year to only 71. Brasilia snapped their own 11-year postseason skid by winning the Brazil Division at 98-64. Defending league champ Salvador took second at 94-68. Sao Paulo, the dynasty only two seasons earlier, hit rock bottom at 60-102.
League MVP went to Buenos Aires 1B Marco Angeles. The 31-year old Argentine led in home runs (41), slugging (.594), OPS (.984), and wRC+ (202), adding 8.4 WAR, 104 RBI, and 183 hits. It was the last season of his nine-year run with the Atlantics, as he left for America and signed with Oklahoma City in the offseason. Argel Souza became only the second BSA pitcher to win Pitcher of the Year five times, joining the legendary Mohamed Ramos. The 33-year old had joined Salvador in March after being traded by longtime home Sao Paulo in a rebuilding effort. Souza was the WARlord at 8.1 and the wins leader with a 23-7 record, adding a 2.28 ERA and 301 strikeouts in 265 innings. This was the last good year for Souza, as an elbow strain led to a steep fall off a cliff, retiring after posting a -2.0 WAR season in 1965. Also of note for the Storm was Gustavo Telhados, winning his third straight Reliever of the Year. He posted 45 saves, a 0.77 ERA, and 5.1 WAR.
In the Bolivar League Championship Series, Quito denied the five-peat bid from Caracas, winning their first league title in six games. In the Southern Cone Championship, Buenos Aires defeated Brasilia 4-2, giving the Atlantics their sixth league title and first since the 1940s dynasty. Copa Sudamerica went all seven games with Buenos Aires stopping Quito short of their first title. RF William Duran was the series MVP with the 28-year old getting 18 hits, 4 runs 6 doubles, and 9 RBI over 13 playoff games. The Atlantics are now four time winners of the Cup, joining the 1941, 42, and 45 campaigns. It is also the first title for an Argentine team since Cordoba in 1956.
Other notes: Ralph Jung became the seventh BSA pitcher to 250 career wins and also became the 16th to 4000 strikeouts. Miseal Sanchez became the 12th hitter to 2500 hits. Sebastiao Navarijo became the 10th member of the 500 home run club and sixth to 1500 career RBI. Ishmael Perla became a ten-time Silver Slugger winner in LF.
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