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The 1993 Bolivar League had the same three division winners and the same wild card from the prior season. Defending BL champ Ciudad Guayana, who were the weakest division winner the last year, had the top seed in 1993 at 98-64. The Giants earned a third straight Venezuela Division and their sixth title in seven years. The Colombia-Ecuador Division was an intense three-team race. Bogota took first at 95-67 for a third successive playoff berth. Medellin and Quito tied for the wild card at 93-69. The Mutiny won in a one-game playoff to take repeat wild cards. Although the Thunderbirds missed the playoffs, it was an impressive turnaround for them after winning only 69 games the prior year. Lima earned a sixth consecutive playoff berth by winning the Peru-Bolivia Division at 85-77.

Caracas designated hitter Milton Becker won his first Bolivar League MVP. The 23-year old Venezuelan lefty led the league in runs (134), home runs (65), RBI (127), total bases (417), slugging (.695), OPS (1.087), wRC+ (204), and WAR (9.8). Guayaquil’s Henrique Ademar was Pitcher of the Year. In his second season with the Golds, the 29-year old Brazilian led in ERA (2.06), WHIP (0.89), and quality starts (29). Ademar added 219 strikeouts over 262 innings with a 16-9 record and 5.9 WAR. Also of note, Ciudad Guayana’s Aaron Negrete won his third Reliever of the Year award.

In a rematch of last year’s Bolivar League Championship Series, Medellin went on the road and upset defending champ Ciudad Guayana 3-1 in the Divisional Series. Lima would earn a road sweep over Bogota, giving the Lobos their third BLCS appearance in four years. Lima would earn a third pennant in four years, topping Medellin 4-2. It was the fifth BL pennant for the Lobos (1935, 68, 90, 91, 93).



The best overall record in 1993 for Beisbol Sudamerica was 104-58 Santiago. The Saints secured a third South Central Division title in four years. In the North Division, Recife took first at 100-62 to end a three-year playoff drought. Salvador was second at 94-68, which was enough for the wild card. Belo Horizonte dropped to 87-75, which ended their three-year playoff streak. The Southeast Division saw Sao Paulo on top at 98-64. The Padres picked up a seventh playoff berth in eight years. Rosario, the defending Copa Sudamerica champ, struggled to only 74 wins.

Leading Santiago was Southern Cone League MVP Kip Flores. The Paraguayan second baseman won back-to-back MVPs and the fourth of his career. Flores led the league in runs (111), and WAR (10.2), while adding 31 home runs and a .334 average. Pitcher of the Year was Salvador’s Michel Shigemitsu. The 28-year old righty led in ERA (1.60), innings (281.2), WHIP (0.74), quality starts (31), and shutouts (6). Shigemitsu added 291 strikeouts, 8.6 WAR, and a 17-8 record.

The Saints survived in a five-game classic against Salvador in the Divisional Series. This gave Santiago their first Southern Cone Championship appearance since 1973. Sao Paulo bested Recife 3-1 for their third finals berth in eight years. The Padres pounded the Saints 4-1 to earn their record 14th LCS pennant. Since 1976, Sao Paulo has taken the league pennant six times.



The 63rd Copa Sudamerica was a rematch of the 1990 final, which saw Sao Paulo best Lima 4-2. 1993 had a similar result as the Padres topped the Lobos 4-1. Sao Paulo now has six cups, tied with Buenos Aires for the most. 1B Barbaro Andrade was finals MVP with the 33-year old Brazilian getting 18 hits, 11 runs, 8 home runs, and 17 RBI in 14 starts.



Other notes: Ruben Garcia was the 24th pitcher to reach 4000 career strikeouts. MVP Kip Flores won his ninth Silver Slugger at second base. 3B Dyjan Rondo won his eighth.