Mexican Central League

The Mexican Central League was a Minor League Baseball circuit that operated for 19 seasons, from 1960 through 1978, with several clubs based across Mexico.

For the similarly named minor league that operated from 1956 to 1957, see Mexican Center League.

Mexican Central League

Sport	Baseball
Founded	1960
Ceased	1978
Country	Mexico
Classification	Class D (1960) Class C (1961–62) Class A (1963–78)

History

The Mexican Central League was formed in 1960 at the Class D level.[1]^:508 It was placed in Class C in 1961,[1]^:512 where it remained through the 1962 season.[1]^:515 Upon the reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 1963, it was reclassified as Class A.[1]^:522 In 1979, the circuit was absorbed into the expanded Mexican Baseball League (Liga Mexicana de Beisbol). This expansion elevated the Mexican Central League teams to Triple-A, with the newly expanded Mexican Baseball League featuring a 20-team circuit with four divisions.

Cities represented/Teams

• Acámbaro, Guanajuato

  Acámbaro (1975–1976)

• Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes

  Tigres de Aguascalientes (1960–1963; 1965; 1969–1974)

  Broncos de Aguascalientes (1966–1967)

• Arandas, Jalisco

  Arandas (1977)

  Jalisco (1977)

• Celaya, Guanajuato

  Cajeteros de Celaya (1960–1961; 1975)

• Cerro Azul, Veracruz

  Cerro Azul (1978)

• Ciudad Madero, Tamaulipas

  Bravos de Ciudad Madero (1968–1970)

• Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas

  Broncos de Ciudad Mante (1969–1970)

  Cañeros de Ciudad Mante (1971)

  Azucareros de Ciudad Mante (1973–1974)

  Ciudad Mante (1977)

• Ciudad Miguel Alemán, Tamaulipas

  Miguel Alemán (1978)

• Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí

  Ciudad Valles (1974, 1978)

• Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas

  Henequeneros de Ciudad Victoria (1971; 1973-1974)

  Ciudad Victoria (1976 –1978)

• Cortazar, Guanajuato

  Cortazar (1975)

• Durango, Durango

  Alacranes de Durango (1965–1967; 1973–1974)

  Algodoneros de Durango (1972)

• Ebano, San Luis Potosí

  Rojos de Ebano (1971–1974)

  Ebano (1977)

• Fresnillo, Zacatecas

  Rojos de Fresnillo (1962)

  Charros de Fresnillo (1964)

  Mineros de Fresnillo (1965–1968; 1976–1978)

• Guadalajara, Jalisco

  Charros de Guadalajara (1977–1978)

• Guanajuato, Guanajuato

  Tuzos de Guanajuato (1960–1967; 1975–1976; 1978)

• Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas

  Díaz Ordaz (1978)

• La Barca, Jalisco

  La Barca (1978)

• Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco

  Lagos de Moreno Caporales (1975–1977)

• León, Guanajuato

  Diablos Rojos de León (1960)

  Aguilas de León (1961)

  Diablos Verdes de León (1962–1963; 1965-1966)

  Broncos de León (1964)

  Bravos de León (1967; 1971; 1975)

  Aguiluchos de León (1968–1970)

• Matamoros, Tamaulipas

  Matamoros (1978)

• Monterrey, Nuevo León

  Indios de Monterrey (1970–1971)

  Sultanes de Monterrey (1972)

• Morelia, Michoacán

  Tigres de Morelia (1966)

• Naranjos, Veracruz

  Naranjos (1972–1973)

• Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas

  Tecolotes de Nuevo Laredo (1968)

• Parras de la Fuente, Coahuila

  Saraperos de Parras (1974)

• Salamanca, Guanajuato

  Petroleros de Salamanca (1960–1962; 1975)

  Tigres de Salamanca (1964–1965)

• Saltillo, Coahuila

  Sultanes de Saltillo (1964)

  Saraperos de Saltillo (1967–1969)

• San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí

  Tuneros de San Luis Potosí (1960–1962)

  Indios de San Luis Potosí (1963)

  Rojos de San Luis Potosí (1963–1966)

  Charros de San Luis Potosí (1969–1970)

  Tuneros de San Luis Potosí (1971)

• San Pedro, Coahuila

  Algodoneros de San Pedro (1974)

• Silao, Guanajuato

  Catarinos de Silao (1978)

• Tampico, Tamaulipas

  Piratas de Tampico (1967–1969)

  Algodoneros de Tampico (1970)

• Tamuín, San Luis Potosí

  Tamuin Cafeteritos (1973)

• Teocaltiche, Jalisco

  Teocaltiche (1977–1978)

• Torreón, Coahuila

  Algodoneros de Torreón (1968)

• Uriangato, Guanajuato

  Uriangato (1975)

• Zacatecas, Zacatecas

  Pericos de Zacatecas (1965–1967)

  Petroleros de Zacatecas (1968–1970)

  Tuzos de Zacatecas (1971–1973; 1976–1978)

Notable players

• 21 Héctor Espino – Began his career in 1960 with the Tuneros de San Luis Potosí
• 34 Fernando Valenzuela – Began his career in 1978 with the Tuzos de Guanajuato

See also

• Baseball awards#Mexico

References

1. Johnson, Lloyd; Wolff, Miles (2007). Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (third ed.). Baseball America. ISBN 9781932391176.