By The Star Staff
The Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CBPC by its Spanish initials) announced this week the names of the five former players who will be inducted into the Special Class of the Caribbean Series Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
Those elected, by direct vote of an international group of baseball historians, journalists and writers, were Mexican pitcher Francisco Campos, Puerto Rican outfielder Jesús “Motorita” Feliciano, Dominican pitcher Julián Tavárez, Venezuelan outfielder César Tovar and American pitcher Odell Jones.
“I feel pleased with this choice of yours, and for the Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation, it is very proud to have great names such as César Tovar, Jesús Feliciano, Francisco Campos, Julián Tavárez and Odell Jones,” said CBPC Commissioner Dr. Juan Francisco Puello Herrera said. “I saw most of them play, and for me it is an honor to give them this great news. … This exaltation means a lot for the CBPC and for Caribbean baseball.”
At the induction ceremony scheduled for Feb. 8 in Miami, the CBPC commissioner will present three gold buttons to an equal number of people, whose names will be known in the coming days, who have contributed significantly to the progress and prestige of the Caribbean Confederation and the Caribbean Series.
1st selection: Francisco Campos
Known in the baseball world as “Pancho Ponches,” Campos participated in six Caribbean Series and was champion twice, with Tomateros de Culiacán in 2002 and with Venados de Mazatlán in 2005, the year in which he was also named most valuable player.
In the 2005 Mazatlán Caribbean Series he joined the All-Star team as a pitcher after winning two games and leading the way in innings pitched, win-loss average and strikeouts.
2nd selection: Jesús ‘Motorita’ Feliciano
An outfielder recognized for his offensive and defensive qualities, Feliciano participated in six Caribbean Series, five of them consecutively, representing the Gigantes de Carolina and Leones de Ponce once each, and, wearing the uniforms of the Indios de Mayagüez and Criollos de Caguas two times each. He compiled a batting average of .326, with 38 hits in 32 games.
In the 2010 Caribbean Series he was the leader in hits and average, while in 2012 he was co-leader in doubles. In both series, the Puerto Rican player was a member of the All-Star Team as a center fielder.
3rd selection: Julián Tavárez
Tavárez participated in eight Caribbean Series. He represented Águilas Cibaeñas six times and Tigres del Licey twice, becoming champion five times.
With Águilas Cibaeñas he lifted the trophy in 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2007, while with Tigres del Licey he did so in 1994. The winner of five games and with a historical WHIP of 1.13, Tavárez was part of the Caribbean Series All-Star Team in 1994 and 1998.
4th selection: César Leonardo Tovar
Tovar, who died on July 14, 1994, stood out for his ability to combine offense and defense. Among his four appearances in the Caribbean Series, the one in 1970 stands out, when he was a member of the Navegantes del Magallanes team that won the first crown for a Venezuelan team, coinciding with the beginning of the so-called second stage of the Caribbean Series, an event in which he also joined the All-Star Team as a center fielder. He also represented the Tigres de Aragua, Leones del Caracas and Águilas del Zulia.
Tovar, who was also named to the All-Star Team in 1973 as a right fielder, posted a historical average of .305, with 25 hits, 13 runs scored and 14 RBIs in 20 games played.
5th selection: Odell Jones
Jones saw action in five Caribbean Series with teams from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, representing teams such as the Vaqueros de Bayamón, Tiburones de La Guaira, Águilas Cibaeñas and Tigres del Licey, the team with which he captured a championship in 1997.
Jones, who also had a standout career in the Major Leagues, in the 1977 Caribbean Series was the leader in wins and losses, earned run average and strikeouts, while in 1978 he led the way in innings pitched, WHIP and, again, earned run average.
In the Caribbean Series historical lists, the Tulare, California native is first in earned run average and third in WHIP and games started.