1986 Caribbean Series

The XXVIII edition of the Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe) was played in 1986. It was held from February 4 through February 9 with the baseball champion teams of the Dominican Republic, Águilas Cibaeñas; Mexico, Águilas de Mexicali; Puerto Rico, Indios de Mayagüez, and Venezuela, Tiburones de la Guaira. The format consisted of 12 games, each team facing the other teams twice. The games were played at Estadio Luis Aparicio El Grande in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

Ten years after their first Caribbean Series title, the Mexican club won again under the guide of veteran Cananea Reyes. Mexicali made history by winning three of four games in its last at-bat, two of them against the Dominican Republic.

Mexico was shut out twice in its first three games, but after four contests all four teams were tied at 2–2 for the first time in Series history. Mexicali finished strong and defeated the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico to win the title, after host Venezuela was stopped by the Dominicans in the final contest of the tournament. Venezuela had crushed Mexico, 11–0, in their first confrontation, but the Mexicans took revenge in their second matchup with a 14–0 thumping. The other three victories of Mexicali were by one run difference.

Pitchers Jim Leopold and Jaime Orozco took two victories apiece, while the offensive support came from C Francisco Estrada, SS Houston Jiménez and CF John Kruk. The inspired Mexican club also included DH Nelson Barrera, 1B Lorenzo Bundy, RF Roy Johnson, 2B Juan Navarrete, and Ps Salomé Barojas and Sid Monge, among others. In addition, Cananea Reyes joined Cuban skipper Nap Reyes as the only managers to win two Series titles.

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