|
CABA formation
The first decade of Major League Baseball was a critical and financial success across the United States and Canada. The financial piece especially caught the attention of powerful people in Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America. The game had been introduced to these areas by American influence in the region and really started to grow in popularity in the early 20th century. Scattered professional teams popped up but without much direction or organization.
That would slowly change the formation of what was known in the English speaking world as the Central American Baseball Association (CABA). Beginning official play in 1911, CABA was made up of two distinct leagues. The Mexican League was made up initially of 12 Mexican teams split into a North and South division. The Caribbean League had 12 teams split into the Island division (with teams in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica), and the Continental division (teams from Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Costa Rica).
In the initial setup, the postseason would have the division champions meet in a best-of-seven league championship, followed by a best-of-seven CABA championship with Mexico’s best against the Caribbean’s best. The Caribbean League would use the designated hitter while the Mexican League would not.
The player draft would keep players local to their region, although CABA teams and free agents were free to mingle. Initially as well, CABA and MLB teams could trade and purchase players amongst each other, but that would be kyboshed after a short time.
|