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Two-time defending Bolivar League champion Quito earned a third straight South Division title in 1965. The Thunderbolts finished 102-60, having to fight off strong challenges from La Paz (98-64), Callao (94-68), and Lima (93-69). Quito had an impressive 411 runs allowed, 88 fewer than the second place Pump Jacks. In the North Division, the Caracas streak ended at six seasons. Medellin finished first at 101-61 for their first division title since 1954, beginning what would be their own seven-year division title streak. The Colts finished second at 89-73.


The MVP went to Callao LF Max Condori. The 25-year old Peruvian lefty was the leader in runs (119), triple slash (.355/.402/.650), OPS (1.052), wRC+ (215), and WAR (10.4), adding 37 home runs and 109 RBI. Quito’s Doni Alves won Pitcher of the Year after being largely a mid-tier guy prior. The 28-year old Brazilian righty led the league in WHIP at 0.85, adding a 2.00 ERA over 252.1 innings, 262 strikeouts, and 19-5 record, and 8.0 WAR.



The Southern Cone League saw Fortaleza and Santiago both repeat as division champs. The Saints had the best overall record at 99-63, finishing 11 games ahead of Cordoba. The Fozes took the Brazil Division at 92-70, edging Brasilia by two games. Fortaleza had the fewest runs allowed in the league (497), while Santiago had the most scored (683). The Saints tally was especially impressive with no either Southern Cone team topping 600 runs scored in 1965.

League MVP went to veteran Fortaleza first baseman Bellerofono Pao. The 31-year old was the leader in hits (201), average (.338)), and WAR (9.4), adding 31 home runs and 92 RBI. Pao also earned his fourth consecutive Gold Glove. Santiago’s Aitor Guillen was Pitcher of the Year in his third season. The Argentine righty was the ERA leader (1.87) and leader in quality starts (28), and FIP- (63), adding 7.2 WAR over 226.1 innings and 262 strikeouts. Also of note, Salvador’s Gustavo Telhados became the Southern Cone League’s first four-time winner of Reliever of the Year. It was his fourth straight sub-one ERA season, posting a 0.99 ERA with 37 saves, 91 innings, 175 strikeouts, and 5.2 WAR.

Quito made it a Bolivar League title three-peat, the fourth franchise to do so in Beisbol Sudamerica’s 35-year history. The Thunderbolts beat Medellin in six games in the BLCS. In the Southern Cone Championship rematch, Fortaleza got revenge on Santiago. Like the prior year, the series was 4-1, but this time to the Foxes. It is their third league title, joining the 1932 and 1940 campaigns.



After dropping Copa Sudamerica the prior two seasons, Quito seemed on their way in 1965 by winning the first three games over Fortaleza. The Foxes rallied with three straight wins to force a decisive game seven. The Thunderbolts avoided the collapse, winning game seven and taking the Cup for the first time in franchise history. Copa Sudamerica MVP was veteran 3B Mario Ortega, who won the Gold Glove that year but struggled to a .209 batting average. In 13 playoff games, he had 11 hits, 2 runs, 3 doubles, and 7 RBI.



Other notes: Ishmael Perla stole 113 bases, one of only six seasons in BSA with 110+. He has three, including the single-season record of 122 from 1954. After his final BSA season in 1966, Perla finished with the all-time career steals record of 1519. He also won his 12^th Silver Slugger in 1965 in left field. Jerrold Perez won his eighth at second base.

There were two perfect games thrown in 1965. The first was Demetrio Antunes of Belo Horizonte, striking out 11 against Cordoba on April 16. Then September 6, Arnau Bernal of Buenos Aires fanned eight in his effort over Asuncion.