Just by looking at the roster that Yucatan Lions of 1957 presented for a memorable season, the loads of emotions arrive. Surely that’s what it felt like when the beasts, led by Óscar “Barriguilla” Rodríguezthey played in the emblematic Parque Carta Clara, which was one of the jewels of Mexican sports venues in the middle of the last century. Packed to bursting, with guayaberas and white dresses among their thousands of fans.
He Yucatan Diary He was there from the first days of the Lions’ existence. Centennial watchman of Yucatecan journalism, today he opens the trunk of memories in his extraordinary Archive, from the Megateca, to present unpublished images, the special chronicle, the statistics and the names of those who made the first coronation in professional sports possible. It was only the beginning.
The roster, taken from the Encyclopedia of Mexican Baseball that he edited Pedro Treto Cisnerosshows one by one baseball players who were brilliant figures: Eldrick “León” Kellman, Orlando Leroux, Olmedo Suárez, Luis “Cameleón” García, Ramiro “Cuquito” Vázquez, Pepe Bache, “Cuco” Toledo, “Cañitas” Moreno, among others, added to three immortal Yucatecans: Zacarías Auais, Wílliam Berzunza and Jesús “Chucho” Rejón.
Julián Ladera was the League’s strikeout champion and had 17 victories, and the “Barriguilla” pitching staff also included José “Joe” Nakamura, Rodolfo “Mulo” Alvarado, Adriano Wong, Julio “Jiqui” Moreno, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez. Reading them is exciting.
In that distant 1957, the Mexican League, today a twenty-headed monster, had only six teams and the champion was the one that won the most games in the long schedule of 122 games, mostly traveling by bus.
The Lions, against all odds, achieved an epic record of 68 wins, 52 losses and two draws, with a percentage of .567. They outscored the Devils, 66-54-2 and .550. And the crown was tied on the last day of the season. The Lions played the series that brought down the curtain in Veracruz and the only way to find out the information was to follow it on the radio or read it in the newspapers the next day.
El Diario headlined, in capital letters, “YUCATAN, CHAMPION OF THE MEXICAN LEAGUE,” posting on the way down, “Despite a last-minute scare, he obtained the most coveted victory over Águila: 6×5.”
We transcribe three paragraphs from the review published on September 2 of that glorious 1957, dated in Veracruz, because it is worth it for those who have never read it to do so and be moved:
“YUCATAN IS CHAMPION!
Yes, we write it in capital letters and we fill our mouths to proclaim to the four winds that the Lions were crowned sovereigns of the Mexican League this afternoon by defeating the Águila with the tight margin of 6×5. A legitimate triumph for the Province. Even in Veracruz, whose team served as a bridge for the peninsular team to reach the coveted goal, joy reigned this afternoon over Yucatán’s victory.
This is the time for celebration. Let us forget the disappointments and bad moments of the past campaign and on this special occasion let us joyfully join in the triumph of the Lions to dedicate, both to the members of the team and to their mentor, Oscar Rodríguez, our phrases of praise and congratulations. And to Barriguilla in particular, because, in the midst of successes and unfortunate plays, he knew how to guide his team along the difficult path that leads to the pinnacle of baseball glory: THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
This afternoon, despite a major last-minute scare, the Lions obtained the most desired victory of the season. Well, it was not a matter of waiting for, as happened, the Devils to suffer a failure in the capital to be automatically eliminated from the fight. No, out of pride, out of class, Yucatán had to win the championship with a victory, to show that they won the battle and not that the devil stopped winning.”
The first great feat of Yucatecan sport. Of many pages that have been written and that the Diario has recounted.
This was published in Yucatan Diary in 1957
Chronicle published by Diario de Yucatán on its sports page, which portrays the feat achieved on Sunday, September 1, 1957, when they won the crown of the Mexican Baseball League, the first title in the history of the beasts and also the first great feat of Yucatecan professional sports, which would later spread to other disciplines:
The Lions of 1957: First great feat of Yucatecan professional sports
Veracruz, September 1 (Special).- YUCATAN IS CHAMPION! Yes, we write it in capital letters and we fill our mouths to proclaim to the four winds that the Lions were crowned sovereigns of the Mexican League this afternoon by defeating the Águila with the tight margin of 6×5. A legitimate triumph for the Province. Even in Veracruz, whose team served as a bridge for the peninsular team to reach the coveted goal, joy reigned this afternoon over Yucatán’s victory.
This is the time for celebration. Let us forget the disappointments and bad moments of the past campaign and on this special occasion let us joyfully join in the triumph of the Lions to dedicate, both to the members of the team and to their mentor, Oscar Rodríguez, our phrases of praise and congratulations. And to Barriguilla in particular, because, in the midst of successes and unfortunate plays, he knew how to guide his team along the difficult path that leads to the pinnacle of glory.
baseball: THE CHAMPIONSHIP.
This afternoon, despite a major last-minute scare, the Lions obtained the most desired victory of the season. Well, it was not a matter of waiting for, as happened, the Devils to suffer a failure in the capital to be automatically eliminated from the fight. No, out of pride, out of class, Yucatán had to win the championship with a victory, to show that they won the battle and not that the devil stopped winning.
Once again, Yucatán needed several pitchers to achieve success. Mike Rodríguez, Julián Ladera, Joe Nakamura and Pedro Montané paraded through the peninsular box and the four united their efforts to triumph.
As we already said, the champion filaments suffered a big scare in the ninth inning. The scoreboard favored the Lions 6 x 4 and Julián Ladera was on the mound when the last inning began. Huevito Álvarez and Juan Vistuer left for hits, and Ariosa, as a pinch-hitter, got a pass to load the bases. A new last-minute disaster was already in sight.
To stop the catastrophe, Barriguilla went to Nakamura. The Cuban dominated Angel Castro in a ground ball into his hands to force Huevito into a jom. The bases continued to be full of jarochos.
Collins followed with a ground ball to first, but when the double play failed, Vistuer scored on the play and the score moved 6 x 5.
It was the point guard’s turn to Bimbo Villegas, Nakamura’s executioner on several occasions, so Oscar Rodríguez faced Bimbo, whom he dominated to play the third aut, and finish the game.
The Eagle opened the scoring in the first inning. Already with two cars. Galata walked, Castro singled and Collins doubled to drive in the first run of the game.
The Lions tied and went ahead in the second. Kellman singled and Leroux doubled. Camaleón and Bache were eliminated, but Auáis hit a flai for third that looked like a foul. The wind returned the ball to the field and it fell into the infield. Then Mike Rodríguez received the base to force a wheelie run and Cañitas Moreno hit a hit to drive in two runs for the Lions.
Yucatán scored one more in the third. Leroux reached first due to an error by René García, who made a great save on Orlando’s hit, but threw poorly. Chameleon pushed Leroux with a double.
The Yucatecans’ last two runs fell in the fourth. Auais opened with a single, Mike Rodríguez scored a foul with two strikes, Cañitas de Galata scored Auais, and Moreno later stepped on the rubber when Toledo hit.
After those last two scores, Williams, who pitched the entire game for Veracruz, did not allow the Lions any more liberties and shut them out for the rest of the game. But the damage was already done.
The Jarochos made the dropper work in the fourth, sixth, eighth and ninth innings.
Castro reached first in the fourth on an error, advanced on hits by Collins and Villegas and scored on a fly ball by René García. Cañitas Moreno prevented the evil from getting worse by making a great catch on Williams’ tremendous blow.
In the sixth, a triple by René García with Castro on the way, led to Veracruz’s third run. In this touch, Williams once again connected a terrifying line on which Cuco Toledo made a sensational connection. The hit was labeled a home run and could well have been the Eagles’ victory. Cuco was awarded one of the biggest ovations of the season.
The Jarochos pressed again in the eighth. Collins hit, Villegas received a pass and René García pushed Collins with a double. But Laderas pulled his pants and dominated the following
hitters.
Yucatán’s best hitters were Zacarías Auáis and Orlando Leroux, who hit a pair of singles each four times.