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The power in the Mexican League was concentrated in the North Division. Defending ML champ Juarez took first at 98-64, extending their playoff streak to five years. The Jesters set a new league record offensively with 1701 hits, which still stands as the top mark as of 2037. Still, they only won the division by one game over Hermosillo at 97-65. The Hyenas ended a 16-year playoff drought dating back to 1989.

For the second wild card, Mexicali (93-69) just beat out Monterrey (92-70), and Torreon (89-73). The Maroons ended their own 21 year playoff drought and brought an end to the Matadors’ historic streak. Monterrey had made the playoffs a CABA-record 18 consecutive seasons, although they had been a wild card and one-and-done in six straight years. Still, this was a changing of the guard after the Matadors had dominated throughout the 1990s.

Another massive change was Ecatepec falling to 80-82, ending their South Division title streak at ten years. The Explosion had been the ML’s powerhouse in the 2000s with six straight titles from 1999-04. Winning the division was Merida, whose playoff drought dated back to 1982. The Mean Green hadn’t been a division champion since 1977.

Mexicali’s Iwan Valen became a three-time Mexican League MVP. The 29-year old lefty from Curacao won his eighth Gold Glove in center field and led in WAR (11.5), total bases (407), slugging (.679), and OPS (209). Valen also had 48 home runs and 126 RBI with a .331 average. He finally ended a playoff drought for the Maroons, but they knew they couldn’t keep their superstar. Valen would sign one of the richest deals in baseball history in the offseason, heading to MLB’s Cincinnati Reds at seven years and $95,900,000.

Pitcher of the Year was Hermosillo’s Simon Leal. The 29-year old Mexican led in wins (20-9), and strikeouts (312). He added a 2.50 ERA over 244.1 innings and 6.9 WAR. The Hyenas were able to keep him locked up, inking a seven-year, $66,500,000 extension in May 2007.

Juarez survived 3-2 over Mexicali in the first round, while Hermosillo outlasted Merida 3-2. The Hyenas hadn’t gotten to the Mexican League Championship Series since their 1989 title. They took the Jesters to the limit, but Juarez repeated as ML champs after a seven game war. Juarez was now 11-time Mexican League champs.



Haiti again was the top seed in the Caribbean League, taking the Island Division at 106-56. The Herons grew their playoff streak to a decade with nine division titles in that run. Over in the Continental Division, Honduras took first at 98-64 to grow their own playoff streak to nine years. It was also the 15^th playoff berth since 1990 for the Horsemen.

Defending CABA champ Salvador was second at 95-67, taking the first wild card. The Stallions’ playoff streak was at four with and they saw a 12^th berth in 13 years. There was a big gap to the second wild card with Santo Domingo and Nicaragua tying at 84-78. Havana was right behind at 83-79, as was Santiago (81-81), Costa Rica (80-82), and Guatemala (80-82). The Dolphins beat the Navigators in the tiebreaker game, ending an eight-year playoff drought for SD.

Salvador LF Darion Gaudi won Caribbean League MVP with historic power, tying CABA’s single-season home run record of 72 set by Yohnny Galaz in 1988. No one would top this mark in CABA until 2034. Gaudi also had 159 RBI, the third-most in a season. The 25-year old Jamaican switch hitter also led in total bases (461), and slugging (.752) while adding a .336 average and 8.2 WAR. Gaudi would earn a six-year, $48,900,000 extension before the 2008 season largely from this season. Knee issues ultimately kept Gaudi from excelling beyond this one remarkable season.

Salvador also had the Pitcher of the Year in second-year lefty Mateo Ramirez. The 23-year old Dominican led in strikeouts (340), innings (265.1), WHIP (0.99), quality starts (21), and WAR (9.1). Ramirez also had a 2.61 ERA and 19-7 record. Also of note, Haiti’s Alejandro Valadez became CABA’s first five-time Reliever of the Year winner, earning them consecutively. He would leave for a relatively unremarkable MLB run the next year.

Division champs won in round one 3-1 with Haiti over Santo Domingo and Honduras over Salvador. Despite the playoff streaks for both, it was only the third time in that run that the Herons and Horsemen met in the Caribbean League Championship Series. Haiti cruised to a sweep to reclaim the throne for the first time since the 2000-02 three-peat. The Herons became seven-time CL champs.



In the 96^th Central American Baseball Association Championship, Juarez seemed on their way to a sweep initially. The Jesters won the first three games, but Haiti made the stunning comeback to win the series 4-3. The only other time in CABA Championship history to see a 3-0 rally was the very first final in 1991 with Merida over Havana.



The Herons became four-time CABA champs and won their third title of the 2000s. (1938, 2001, 2002, 2006). Finals MVP was 1B Ivan Moran with the 26-year old Honduran making 14 starts with 25 hits, 9 runs, 3 doubles, 6 home runs, and 14 RBI.

Other notes: Mexicali’s Ernesto Rincon had 246 hits, the second most in a CABA season to date. Only Prometheo Garcia’s 252 from 1949 were better. Havana had 294 doubles as a team, the second-most in CL history to that point. Honduras’ Jose Cardenas had a 32-game hit streak and Trinidad’s Augusto Jaen had a 31-game one.

Hugh Boerboom became the fifth to reach 2000 career RBI. He would retire after 2006 with 2008 RBI, fifth on the all-time chart. Boerboom would also finish at 866 home runs, easily holding the top spot there until Noah Breton passed him in the late 2020s. As of 2037, Boerboom is still second in CABA homers and seventh in RBI.

Maikel Loya became the 13^th member of the 600 home run club and the 13^th to reach 1500 runs scored. Loya played three more years, getting to 689 dingers and 1796 runs. SS Rafino Piloto won his tenth Gold Glove. David Davila won his 11^th Silver Slugger at shortstop. Davila also became the 43^rd player to cross 2500 career hits.