| Founded | 1946 |
|---|---|
| Abolished | 1965 |
| Region | North America (1946—50) South America Caribbean |
| Number of teams | 4 |
| Related competitions | Caribbean Series |
| Last champions |  Cinco Estrellas(1st title) |
| Most successful club(s) |  Buffalo All-Stars(2 titles) |
The Interamerican Series (Spanish: Serie Interamericana) was an international club baseball tournament that brought together independent and winter league teams in North America and the Caribbean. Held from 1946 to 1950 and from 1961 to 1965, it was the precursor to the modern Caribbean Series.
The Interamerican Series was the initiative of Venezuelan businessman Jesús Corao.[1] It came in the wake of Venezuela hosting the 1944 and 1945 Amateur World Series, the Serie Monumental that saw American Negro league all-stars play Venezuelan clubs,[2] and the ensuing professionalization of the sport in the country, in the form of the Venezuelan League.[3]
The inaugural series included Venezuelan champions Cerveceria Caracas, Industriales de Monterrey of the Mexican League,[3] the Havana Cubans of the Florida International League (alternatively, the "All-Cubans"),[4][3] and the Brooklyn Bushwicks, an independent semi-pro team managed by John Antonelli, with former and future Major League stars like Tony Cuccinello, Whitey Ford, and Hank Borowy.[5][3] The 1946 tournament was notable for being the place where major league scout Joe Cambria signed Chico Carrasquel, then playing for Caracas.[6] In 1947, the Bushwicks were replaced by the Buffalo All-Stars, a team of International League players managed by Buffalo Bisons manager Paul Richards.[7][8][9] The series was suspended after 1950, as focus shifted to the Caribbean Series.
The series was resurrected in 1961 as a result of the Cuban Revolution; MLB Commissioner Ford Frick ruled that American major leaguers were barred from playing in Havana, where the 1961 Caribbean Series had been scheduled.[10] Instead, the new Serie Interamericana would replace the slot filled by the now-dissolved Cuban League with the champion of Panamanian League, with the host nation also sending an extra team. The first edition was held in Caracas, but then shifted to San Juan and Panama City. In 1964, the champion of the Nicaraguan League became the fourth team, after Venezuela opted to instead play a series against the Dominican Republic.[11]
The series struggled economically, due to the absence of Cuba as well as of the Dominican Republic, which itself was wracked in political turmoil and had been sanctioned by the Organization of American States since 1960.[11] Despite this, the Dominican Republic organized a tournament in 1965, inviting Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Major league stars like Roberto Clemente and Felipe Alou participated, but the series ended prematurely.[11] The trophy was not formally awarded, though it is still owned by the Dominican team, Águilas Cibaeñas.[12]
No-hitters (2)
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International club baseball competitions
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