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Guadalajara finished 98-64 for the best record in the Mexican League. The Hellhounds won the South Division for their first playoff berth since 1971 and first division title since 1957. Leon finished second at 92-70 and easily took the wild card for their third playoff berth in four years. Last year’s league champ Ecatepec struggled for a 73-89 record. In the North Division, Torreon topped the field at 97-65. For the Tomahawks, that is their second-ever playoff berth, joining the 1967 campaign. Juarez, who had won the division the prior three seasons, was third at 84-78.

Taking MVP was Merida 3B Kenedy Ortiz. The 26-year old Colombian was the WARlord (12.7) and leader in runs (120), walks (91), total bases (361), OBP (.440), slugging (.658), OPS (1.098), and wRC+ (232), adding a .348 average, 44 home runs, and 106 RBI. Guadalajara’s Mario Benitez won Pitcher of the Year for the fifth time with the 34-year old leading in ERA (2.06), wins (23-6), WHIP (0.80), and WAR (6.9), adding 289 strikeouts over 262.1 innings. It would be his final Pitcher of the Year as he’d pitch only two more games.

Torreon swept Leon in the wild card round, sending them to their second-ever Mexican League Championship Series. They wouldn’t get their first league title yet as Guadalajara won the series in a seven-game classic. The home team won all seven games in the series. For the Hellhounds, it is their fourth league title and first since the 1920s. They’re now 4-10 all time in the MLCS.



The Caribbean League’s best mark in 1976 belonged to Nicaragua at 97-65 atop the Continental Division. It is the first playoff appearance for the Navigators since 1952. Costa Rica at 95-67 was close behind and beat Honduras by three games for the wild card, ending a four-year playoff drought for the Rays. Guatemala, last year’s division winner, fell to 80-82. Santo Domingo won the Island Division at 92-70 for back-to-back playoff berths. Defending CABA Champion Havana was tied for second with Puerto Rico at 81-81.

Panama’s Hugo Vegas was the Caribbean League MVP. The 27-year old Costa Rican third baseman led in home runs for the fourth straight year and this time tied Timmy Ramirez’ single-season CABA record with 65 homers. Vegas also was the leader in runs (110), RBI (147), total bases (408), slugging (.716), OPS (1.097), wRC+ (193), and WAR (10.6). Costa Rica’s Miguel Sanchez won Pitcher of the Year with the lead in innings (277.1), wins (18-12), and quality starts (26), adding a 2.82 ERA, 227 strikeouts, and 6.4 WAR.

Santo Domingo swept Costa Rica in the wild card round and carried that momentum into the Caribbean League Championship Series. The Dolphins swept Nicaragua for their first title since the early 1960s three-peat. SD now has eight Caribbean League titles.



In the 66^th Central American Baseball Association Championship, Guadalajara defeated Santo Domingo 4-2. It is their third CABA title but their first in 55 years with the others all the way back in 1920-21. Hellhounds 1B Hector Vanegas won both finals MVP and MLCS MVP. The 33-year old Mexican in 13 playoff games had 18 hits, 10 runs, 4 home runs, and 14 RBI. Santo Domingo’s Eddy Morales set two CABA postseason records that still stand as of 2037 with 24 singles and 13 stolen bases.



Other notes: Santo Domingo’s Augustin Desir threw CABA’s 22^nd Perfect Game, striking out 17 against Trinidad on July 15. This set the CABA record for most strikeouts in a perfect game. Mario Benitez and Elvys Melo both got to 3500 strikeouts, making it 19 CABA pitchers to have reached the mark. Both also crossed 200 wins. Wesley Dubar and Moise Chapa both earned their 2500^th hit.