[FuzzyRussianHat]

It was a three-team race for the Mexican League’s North Division in 1991. Defending CABA champion Monterrey narrowly took first at 97-65 for their fourth consecutive playoff berth. Torreon secured back-to-back wild cards at 96-66, one behind the Matadors but one ahead of Tijuana. The only team above .500 in the South Division was 90-72 Leon. This gave the Lions their first playoff spot in five years and was their first division title since 1979. Last year’s division winner and league runner-up Guadalajara fell to 76-86.

Tijuana’s Dion Juarez won Mexican League MVP with impressive power. In his second full season, the 25-year old Mexican right fielder led the ML in runs (124), home runs (62), RBI (132), total bases (420), slugging (.687), OPS (1.046), OPS (1.046), wRC+ (214), and WAR (10.1). Torreon’s Matias Flores was Pitcher of the Year with the 24-year old lefty leading with a 1.80 ERA. He had an 18-4 record over 225 innings with 348 strikeouts and 8.9 WAR.

Leon swept Torreon in the wild card round, but they were no match for Monterrey. The Matadors swept the Lions in the Mexican League Championship Series to earn repeat pennants. This was Monterrey’s 12^th Mexican League title, tying them with Mexico City for the most.



CABA’s best record went to Santo Domingo at 106-56 to earn a third consecutive Caribbean League Island Division title. Haiti was a distant second in the division at 90-72, but this earned them the wild card by three games over Bahamas and four over Trinidad. This was the Herons’ first playoff appearance since 1980. Honduras dominated the Continental Division at 95-67 for their third playoff berth in four years. Nicaragua, who won the CL pennant the prior two seasons, dropped to third in the division at 79-83.

Santo Domingo CF Hugh Boerboom was Caribbean League MVP. The 28-year old Aruban led the league in runs (117), home runs (56), total bases (365), and slugging (.629). He added 121 RBI and 6.3 WAR. Haiti’s Marvin Ramos won Pitcher of the Year honors in his third season. The 24-year old Dominican righty won the ERA title (2.52) and led in quality starts (27), innings (274.2), and WAR (6.5). Ramos added a 19-8 record and 260 strikeouts.

Honduras and Haiti went the distance in the wild card round with the Horsemen surviving and advancing. This gave Honduras repeat appearances in the Caribbean League Championship Series berth, while Santo Domingo was making their second in three years. These were the two most successful franchises in CL history facing off again, as both had won 12 pennants. They hadn’t faced off in the finale since their four battles in five years from 1958-62. In the CLCS, the Horsemen upset the Dolphins 4-2 for their first pennant since 1963.



This was the third time that Monterrey and Honduras faced off in the CABA championship, with the Horsemen winning both the 1958 and 1963 encounters. In the 81^st Central American Baseball Association Championship, Monterrey secured back-to-back titles by besting Honduras 4-2. CF Marco Castillo was the finals MVP, getting 5 hits, 4 runs, 2 home runs, and 3 RBI over 10 playoff starts. The Matadors won their fifth CABA crown (1937, 55, 57, 90, 91).



Other notes: Honduras’ Victor Alvares threw CABA’s 30^th perfect game, striking out nine on September 12 against Haiti. Yohnny Galez won his seventh Silver Slugger and his fourth as a designated hitter.