Dominican Professional Baseball League

Highest level baseball league in the Dominican Republic

Dominican Professional Baseball LeagueCurrent season, competition or edition:
2024–25 LIDOM season

Sport| Baseball
Founded| 1951
President| Vitelio Mejía Ortiz
No. of teams| 6
Country|  Dominican Republic
Confederation| CPBC
WBSC Americas[1]
Most recent
champion(s)| Leones del Escogido
(2024-25)
Most titles| Tigres del Licey
(24 titles)
Broadcaster(s)| List of broadcasters
Related
competitions| Caribbean Series
Official website| lidom.com

The Dominican Republic Professional Baseball League (Spanish: Liga de Béisbol Profesional de la República Dominicana, or LIDOM) is a professional baseball winter league consisting of six teams spread across the Dominican Republic; it is the highest level of professional baseball played in the Dominican Republic. The league's players include many prospects that go on to play Major League Baseball in the United States while also signing many current MLB veterans. The champion of LIDOM advances to play in the yearly Caribbean Series.

Each team plays a fifty-game round-robin schedule that begins in mid October and runs to the end of December. The top four teams engage in another round-robin schedule with 18 games per team from the end of December to the end of January; the top two teams in those standings then play a best-of-nine series for the national title. The league's champion advances to the Caribbean Series to play against the representatives from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Puerto Rico.[2]

## History

[edit]

See also: Baseball in the Dominican Republic

For his close involvement in the Dominican league's establishment and early development, Pedro Miguel Caratini has been called "the father of Dominican baseball".[3] Four amateur clubs established in the early 1900s still exist today, and form the foundation of Dominican professional baseball: Tigres del Licey in 1907, Estrellas Orientales in 1911, Leones del Escogido in 1921, and Sandino (later renamed Águilas Cibaeñas) in 1937.

The first attempts at an organized professional league came about in the 1920s. Licey, the most successful of the existing amateur teams in Santo Domingo, played a series of 32 games against an all-star team known as "Escogido" ("the chosen ones"); that tournament was won by Escogido, though Caratini (Licey) took the batting title.[4][5] A second tournament held the following year, now with four teams (Escogido, Licey, Santiago and San Pedro de Macorís) was suspended with only 34 games of the 48-game schedule played, after Escogido withdrew in protest of a controversial decision to nullify a victory over Licey.[6] Licey won the 1924 series, contested against Escogido, as they did in 1929. However, professional baseball saw a hiatus after the 1930 San Zenón hurricane destroyed both La Primavera and the Gimnasio Escolar, the two existing venues for baseball in Santo Domingo.[4]

During the years 1930-1963, military dictator General Rafael Trujillo can be credited with furthering the sport of baseball in Dominican Republic. Trujillo encouraged many sugar refineries to create teams of cane cutting laborers to play baseball during the idle months of cultivation. Fostering high levels of competition, the organization structure continued to mature stimulating growth in the intensity and popularity of the game.[7] Another professional tournament was established in 1936, this time with four teams: Licey, Escogido, Santiago, and Estrellas Orientales, which won the 1936 tournament.[4]

In 1937, Licey and Escogido, the two teams in Santo Domingo (now renamed "Ciudad Trujillo"), were merged into the "Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo," a team sponsored by the dictator Trujillo himself.[4] teams of the Dominican Republic signed a large number of players from the Negro leagues of the United States, attracting them with large salaries by Dominicans with money and political power. Among these players were future Hall of Famers James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell, Josh Gibson, and Satchel Paige.[7] Gibson won the batting title (.453) and Paige earned the most wins, as Dragones defeated Aguilas Cibaeñas.[8] However, the lavish contracts exhausted team finances, leading to a decline of Dominican baseball until 1950.[7]

Many of the teams were nearly bankrupted after the 1937 season, and no professional tournament was attempted for the next 14 years. The best Dominican professionals left to play in Cuba, Puerto Rico, or in the American Negro leagues, while popular attention on the island turned to the amateur teams (which, in many cases, were effectively semi-pro teams). However, Dominican victories in the Amateur World Series and other international competitions spurred calls for a return to professional baseball.[9]

## Current teams

[edit]

Águilas

Estrellas

Gigantes

Leones

Tigres

Toros

class=notpageimage|

Dominican Professional Baseball League team locations

Cap insignia  | Team  | City  | Stadium  | Capacity  | Founded

|
|
|
|
|

| Águilas Cibaeñas | Santiago | Estadio Cibao | 18,077  | 1933
| Estrellas Orientales | San Pedro de Macorís | Estadio Tetelo Vargas | 8,000  | 1910
| Gigantes del Cibao | San Francisco de Macorís | Estadio Julián Javier | 12,000  | 1996
| Leones del Escogido | Santo Domingo | Estadio Quisqueya | 14,469  | 1921
| Tigres del Licey | Santo Domingo | Estadio Quisqueya | 14,469  | 1907
| Toros del Este | La Romana | Estadio Francisco Micheli | 10,000  | 1983

### Former teams

[edit]

* Azucareros del Este, 1983–2008, a former name of the current Toros del Este
* Caimanes del Sur (San Cristóbal), during 1983–1989
* Delfines del Atlántico (Puerto Plata), this team was never officially in the league and did not play
* Pollos del Cibao / Pollos Nacionales / Pollos Béisbol Club (San Francisco de Macorís) during 1999–2002, previously Gigantes del Nordeste, currently Gigantes del Cibao

## Championship history

[edit]

### Pre-LIDOM era (1922–37)

[edit]

Season  | Champion  | Manager  | Record  | Runner-up

|
|
|
|

1922  | Leones del Escogido | Luis Alfau | 23–9  | Tigres del Licey
1923  | Season not completed
1924  | Tigres del Licey | Charles Alexander Dore | 17–15  | Leones del Escogido
1929  | Tigres del Licey | Charles Alexander Dore | 11–7  | Leones del Escogido
1936  | Estrellas Orientales | Enrique Mejía | 13–5  | Aguilas Cibaeñas
1937  | Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo | Lázaro Salazar | 18–13  | Aguilas Cibaeñas

### Modern era (1951–present)

[edit]

Season  | Champion  | Manager  | Final
Series  | Runner-up

|
|
|
|

1951  | Tigres del Licey | Félix Delgado | 4–1  | Leones del Escogido
1952  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Rodolfo Fernández | 4–3  | Tigres del Licey
1953  | Tigres del Licey | Oscar Rodríguez | 4–1  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1954  | Estrellas Orientales | Ramón Bragaña | 4–1  | Tigres del Licey
1955–56  | Leones del Escogido | Frank Genovese | 4–3  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1956–57  | Leones del Escogido | Red Davis | 5–2  | Tigres del Licey
1957–58  | Leones del Escogido | Salty Parker | 5–1  | Estrellas Orientales
1958–59  | Tigres del Licey | Joe Schultz | 5–4  | Leones del Escogido
1959–60  | Leones del Escogido | Pete Reiser | 5–1  | Estrellas Orientales
1960–61  | Leones del Escogido | Pepe Lucas | 5–2  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1961–62 season not completed due to the fall of Rafael Trujillo
1962–63 season not held due to political instability
1963–64  | Tigres del Licey | Vernon Benson | 5–3  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1964–65  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Al Widmar | 5–0  | Leones del Escogido
1965–66 season not held due to US occupation of the Dominican Republic
1966–67  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Pete Peterson | 5–3  | Leones del Escogido
1967–68  | Estrellas Orientales | Tony Pacheco | 5–3  | Leones del Escogido
1968–69  | Leones del Escogido | Andy Gilbert | 5–2  | Estrellas Orientales
1969–70  | Tigres del Licey | Manny Mota | 5–1  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1970–71  | Tigres del Licey | Manny Mota | 6–1  | Leones del Escogido
1971–72  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Ozzie Virgil | 5–3  | Tigres del Licey
1972–73  | Tigres del Licey | Tom Lasorda | 5–2  | Estrellas Orientales
1973–74  | Tigres del Licey | Tom Lasorda | 5–2  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1974–75  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Al Widmar | 5–4  | Estrellas Orientales
1975–76  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Tim Murtaugh | 5–3  | Tigres del Licey
1976–77  | Tigres del Licey | Buck Rodgers | 5–2  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1977–78  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Johnny Lipon | 5–2  | Tigres del Licey
1978–79  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Johnny Lipon | 5–0  | Leones del Escogido
1979–80  | Tigres del Licey | Del Crandall | 5–1  | Estrellas Orientales
1980–81  | Leones del Escogido | Felipe Rojas Alou | 5–4  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1981–82  | Leones del Escogido | Felipe Rojas Alou | 5–1  | Estrellas Orientales
1982–83  | Tigres del Licey | Manny Mota | 5–2  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1983–84  | Tigres del Licey | Manny Mota | 4–3  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1984–85  | Tigres del Licey | Terry Collins | 4–1  | Azucareros del Este
1985–86  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Winston Llenas | 4–1  | Tigres del Licey
1986–87  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Winston Llenas | 4–1  | Estrellas Orientales
1987–88  | Leones del Escogido | Phil Regan | 4–3  | Estrellas Orientales
1988–89  | Leones del Escogido | Phil Regan | 4–0  | Tigres del Licey
1989–90  | Leones del Escogido | Felipe Rojas Alou | 4–1  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1990–91  | Tigres del Licey | John Roseboro | 4–1  | Leones del Escogido
1991–92  | Leones del Escogido | Felipe Rojas Alou | 4–0  | Estrellas Orientales
1992–93  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Miguel Diloné | 4–2  | Azucareros del Este
1993–94  | Tigres del Licey | Casey Parsons | 4–1  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1994–95  | Azucareros del Este | Art Howe | 4–2  | Águilas Cibaeñas
1995–96  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Terry Francona | 4–1  | Estrellas Orientales
1996–97  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Mike Quade | 4–0  | Leones del Escogido
1997–98  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Tony Peña | 4–2  | Tigres del Licey
1998–99  | Tigres del Licey | Dave Jauss | 5–4  | Leones del Escogido
1999–00  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Tony Peña | 4–3  | Estrellas Orientales
2000–01  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Félix Fermín | 4–2  | Leones del Escogido
2001–02  | Tigres del Licey | Bob Geren | 4–3  | Águilas Cibaeñas
2002–03  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Félix Fermín | 4–0  | Leones del Escogido
2003–04  | Tigres del Licey | Manny Acta | 4–1  | Gigantes del Cibao
2004–05  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Félix Fermín | 4–3  | Tigres del Licey
2005–06  | Tigres del Licey | Rafael Landestoy | 5–2  | Águilas Cibaeñas
2006–07  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Félix Fermín | 5–1  | Tigres del Licey
2007–08  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Félix Fermín | 5–3  | Tigres del Licey[a]
2008–09  | Tigres del Licey | José Offerman | 5–0  | Gigantes del Cibao
2009–10  | Leones del Escogido | Ken Oberkfell | 5–4  | Gigantes del Cibao
2010–11  | Toros del Este | Dean Treanor | 5–0  | Estrellas Orientales
2011–12  | Leones del Escogido | Ken Oberkfell | 5–4  | Águilas Cibaeñas
2012–13  | Leones del Escogido | Audo Vicente | 5–0  | Águilas Cibaeñas
2013–14  | Tigres del Licey | Jose Offerman | 5–2  | Leones del Escogido
2014–15  | Gigantes del Cibao | Audo Vicente | 5–3  | Estrellas Orientales
2015–16  | Leones del Escogido | Luis Rojas | 5–1  | Tigres del Licey
2016–17  | Tigres del Licey | Audo Vicente  | 5–4  | Águilas Cibaeñas
2017–18  | Águilas Cibaeñas | Lino Rivera | 4–3  | Tigres del Licey
2018–19  | Estrellas Orientales | Fernando Tatís | 5–1  | Toros del Este
2019–20  | Toros del Este | Lino Rivera | 5–3  | Tigres del Licey
2020–21  | Aguilas Cibaeñas | Félix Fermín | 4–3  | Gigantes del Cibao
2021–22  | Gigantes del Cibao | Luis Urueta | 4–1  | Estrellas Orientales
2022–23  | Tigres del Licey | Jose Offerman | 4–1  | Estrellas Orientales
2023–24  | Tigres del Licey | Gilbert Gomez | 4–3  | Estrellas Orientales
2024–25  | Leones del Escogido | Albert Pujols | 4–3  | Tigres del Licey
| Won Caribbean Series

|

Team  | Championships

|

Tigres del Licey | 24 (2)*
Águilas Cibaeñas | 22
Leones del Escogido | 17 (1)*
Estrellas Orientales | 3 (1)*
Toros del Este | 3
Gigantes del Cibao | 2
Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo | 0 (1)*
Caimanes del Sur | 0

*Championships won before LIDOM (1951)

## Statistical leaders

[edit]

*  | Denotes elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame.

|

Bold | Denotes an active player.[b]

### Career leaders

[edit]

Batting leaders[10] | Stat  | Player  | Years  | Total  | Team(s)

|
|
|
|

AVG |  Manuel Mota | 1957–1980 | .333 | Escogido, Licey
HR |  Juan Francisco | 2007–2025 | 85 | Licey, Toros, Gigantes, Águilas
RBI |  Rafael Batista | 1964–1985 | 395 | Estrellas
R |  Luis Polonia | 1984–2010 | 517 | Águilas
H |  Luis Polonia | 1984–2010 | 927 | Águilas
SB |  Miguel Diloné | 1974–1994 | 395 | Águilas
OBP |  Stanley Javier | 1981–2002 | .416 | Águilas
SLG |  Alonzo Perry | 1951–1959 | .490 | Licey, Estrellas
Pitching leaders[10] | Stat  | Player  | Years  | Total  | Team(s)

|
|
|
|

W |  Diomedes Olivo | 1951–1964 | 86 | Licey
ERA |  Juan Marichal | 1957–1974 | 1.87 | Escogido
WHIP |  Juan Marichal | 1957–1974 | 1.04 | Escogido
GS |  Raúl Valdés | 2003–2025 | 161 | Licey, Toros, Estrellas, Gigantes, Escogido, Águilas
SV |  Jairo Asencio | 2010–2025 | 169 | Licey
G |  Ramón de los Santos | 1971–1987 | 364 | Licey, Estrellas, Escogido
CG |  Diomedes Olivo | 1951–1964 | 70 | Licey
IP |  Federico Olivo | 1951–1972 | 1335.2 | Licey, Estrellas
K |  Diomedes Olivo | 1951–1964 | 742 | Licey
Shutouts |  Diomedes Olivo | 1951–1964 | 14 | Licey

### Single-season leaders

[edit]

Batting leaders[10] | Stat  | Player  | Season  | Total  | Team(s)

|
|
|
|

AVG |  Ralph Garr | 1970–71 | .457 | Estrellas
HR |  Víctor Díaz | 2008–09 | 17 | Águilas
RBI |  Alonzo Perry | 1953 | 53 | Licey,
R |  Ralph Garr | 1970–71 | 58 | Estrellas
H |  Ralph Garr | 1970–71 | 105 | Estrellas
SB |  Miguel Diloné | 1976–77 | 44 | Águilas
OBP |  Jeff DaVanon | 2001–02 | .514 | Águilas
SLG |  Andy Barkett | 2000–01 | .736 | Águilas
Pitching leaders[10] | Stat  | Player  | Season  | Total  | Team(s)

|
|
|
|

W |  Terris McDuffie | 1952 | 12 | Águilas
ERA |  Bartolo Colón | 1996–97 | 0.21 | Águilas
Rafael Soriano | 2003–04 | Escogido
WHIP |  Edwin Uceta | 2021–22 | 0.63 | Estrellas
GS |  Danilo Rivas | 1960–61 | 20 | Escogido
SV |  Marcos Mateo | 2014–15 | 21 | Estrellas
G |  Víctor Cruz | 1976–77 | 35 | Licey
Carlos Julio Pérez | 1977–78 | Licey
Charlie Hough | 1970–71 | Escogido
CG |  Terris McDuffie | 1952 | 15 | Águilas
IP |  Fred Waters | 1955–56 | 173.2 | Águilas
K |  Diomedes Olivo | 1960–61 | 160 | Licey
Shutouts |  Norman Rehm | 1957–58 | 14 | Estrellas
Fred Kipp | 1957–58 | Licey

## List of broadcaster

[edit]

| Dominican Republic

CDN Deportes (Águilas)
Coral 39 (Estrellas, Toros)
Digital 15 (Licey, Escogido)
Telemedios Dominicanos Canal 8 (Gigantes)
Teleuniverso Canal 29 (Águilas)
CTT Canal 49 (Gigantes)
Telenord Canal 14 (Gigantes)
Luna TV Canal 25 (Águilas)
Romana TV Canal 42 y 48 (Toros)
Xtremo Channel (Estrellas)
Claro TV+
Altice TV
CableNET Dominicana (Gigantes)
| United States

Televisión Dominicana (Gigantes, Toros, Estrellas)
Telemicro Internacional (Licey)
| Puerto Rico

Televisión Dominicana (Gigantes, Toros, Estrellas)
| Streaming

MLB.tv
YouTube (Licey, Águilas)

## See also

[edit]

* Baseball awards § Dominican Republic
* Dominican Summer League

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Two Dominican teams participated in the 2008 Caribbean Series
2. ^ A player is considered inactive if he has announced his retirement or not played for a full season.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Associated Members of the WBSC". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
2. ^ HISTORIA DE LA SERIE DEL CARIBE Archived February 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Accessed on 2011-01-12.
3. ^ Van Hyning, Thomas E.; Valero, Eduardo (1995). Puerto Rico's Winter League: A History of Major League Baseball's Launching Pad. McFarland. p. 1.
4. ^ a b c d "Early History of Baseball in the Dominican Republic". SABR.org. Society for American Baseball Research. 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
5. ^ "1922: El primer campeonato o campeonato de la reina". Licey.com (in Spanish). Tigres del Liceey. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
6. ^ "1923: Inconcluso". Licey.com (in Spanish). Tigres del Liceey. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
7. ^ a b c Klein, Alan (1989). Baseball as Underdevelopment: The Political-Economy of Sport in the Dominican Republic. Northwestern University.
8. ^ "El Campeonato del 1937". Licey.com (in Spanish). Tigres del Liceey. 1 November 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
9. ^ Yoder, April (2023). Pitching Democracy: Baseball and Politics in the Dominican Republic. University of Texas. pp. 17–19.
10. ^ a b c d "Records". Winterballdata.com. Retrieved 2 February 2025.

## External links

[edit]

* About Dominican Republic Baseball[usurped]

* v
* t
* e

Dominican Professional Baseball League

Liga Dominicana de Béisbol Profesional (LIDOM)

Current teams|

* Águilas Cibaeñas (Santiago)
* Toros del Este (La Romana)
* Estrellas Orientales (San Pedro de Macorís)
* Gigantes del Cibao (San Francisco de Macorís)
* Leones del Escogido (Santo Domingo)
* Tigres del Licey (Santo Domingo)

Related|

* Dragones de Ciudad Trujillo
* 2024–25 season

* v
* t
* e

Top-level baseball leagues

* World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
* Caribbean Series
* European Cup
* World Series

Americas|

* Argentina
* Canada & United States
* AL
* NL
* Brazil
* Colombia
* Cuba
* Curaçao
* Dominican Republic
* Mexico
* Nicaragua
* Panama
* Puerto Rico
* Venezuela

Asia|

* China
* Iran
* Japan
* Central
* Pacific
* Malaysia
* Philippines
* South Korea
* Taiwan
* United Arab Emirates

Europe|

* Austria
* Croatia
* Czechia
* Estonia & Lithuania
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Greece
* Hungary
* Ireland
* Italy & San Marino
* Latvia
* Lithuania
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Spain
* Sweden
* Turkey
* United Kingdom

Oceania|

* Australia & New Zealand
* Palau

* v
* t
* e

Professional baseball leagues

Americas

Major|

* Major League Baseball
* American League
* National League

Minor|

| Triple-A|

* International League
* Pacific Coast League

|

Double-A|

* Eastern League
* Southern League
* Texas League

High-A|

* Midwest League
* Northwest League
* South Atlantic League

Single-A|

* California League
* Carolina League
* Florida State League

Rookie|

* Arizona Complex League
* Dominican Summer League
* Florida Complex League

Independent|

| MLB Partner Leagues|

* American Association
* Atlantic League
* Frontier League
* Pioneer League
* MLB Draft League

|

Non-partnered leagues|

* Cuban National Series
* Curaçao AA League
* Empire League
* Mexican League
* Liga Norte de México
* Pecos League
* United Shore League
* Venezuelan Major League
* Women's Pro Baseball League

Off-season|

| MLB-affiliated|

* Arizona Fall League
* Dominican Professional Baseball League
* Mexican Pacific League
* Puerto Rico Baseball League
* Venezuelan Professional Baseball League
* Liga Paralela

|

Independent|

* Argentine Baseball League
* Colombian Professional Baseball League
* Cuban Elite League
* Curaçao Professional Baseball League
* Nicaraguan Professional Baseball League
* Panamanian Professional Baseball League
* Veracruz Winter League

Defunct|

| MLB-recognized|

* American Association
* Federal League
* Negro league baseball
* Players' League
* Union Association

|

Other major|

* All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
* Continental League
* Cuban League
* National Association
* United States Baseball League

Minor|

* List of defunct minor leagues

Asia

China|

* China National Baseball League

Israel|

| Defunct major|

* Israel Baseball League

|

Japan|

| Major|

* Nippon Professional Baseball
* Central League
* Pacific League

|

Minor|

* Eastern League
* Western League

Off-season|

* Miyazaki Phoenix League

Independent|

* Baseball Challenge League
* Shikoku Island League Plus

Women's|

* Japan Women's Baseball League

South Korea|

| Major|

* KBO League

|

Minor|

* KBO Futures League

Taiwan|

| Major|

* Chinese Professional Baseball League

|

Minor|

* Chinese Professional Baseball League

Defunct major|

* Taiwan Major League

United Arab Emirates|

* Baseball United

Europe

Italy and San Marino|

* Italian Baseball League

Netherlands|

| Major|

* Honkbal Hoofdklasse

|

Minor|

* Honkbal Overgangsklasse

Rookie|

* Honkbal Rookie League

Oceania

Australia|

| MLB-affiliated:|

Australian Baseball League

|

Inter-league

* Asia Professional Baseball Championship
* Asia Winter Baseball League
* Baseball Champions League Americas
* Caribbean Series
* Serie de las Américas
* Latin American Series
* Triple-A National Championship Game

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template