When Bill Mazeroski passed away at 89 on February 21, 2026, it brought back memories when he—at 19—was Pittsburgh’s first prospect to sign a 1955-56 contract with Águilas Cibaeñas (AC), Dominican Winter League, aka LIDOM. Juan Bautista Sánchez Correa was President of the 1955-56 AC, when it became the first Dominican Republic (DR) team to sign an official working agreement (“convenio”) with a big-league team, the Pittsburgh Pirates. Mazeroski’s AC teammates included Earl Weaver.
Bill Mazeroski batting practice, 1955-56 LIDOM. Photo Credit: https://rmyauctions.com/bids/bidplace?itemid=34901
Part I covers some San Juan (SJ) Senators, Santurce Crabbers, and Bayamón Cowboys’ Puerto Rico Winter League (PRWL) working agreements, plus Colombia, Dominican Republic (DR), Mexico, and Venezuela. Part II focuses on convenios between four PRWL teams—Arecibo Wolves, Caguas Criollos, Mayagüez Indios, Ponce Lions, plus four Cuban Winter League teams (Almendares Scorpions, Cienfuegos Elephants, Havana Lions, Marianao Tigers), and big-league clubs. Mention will be made of the Nicaragua and Panamá Winter Leagues.
Colombia Winter League
Brooks Robinson, at 18, reinforced the Willard Blues in Colombia’s 1955-56 Winter League. The Baltimore Orioles sent 11 prospects to Willard, including him. Willie McCovey, 1956-57 Vanytor de Barranquilla, was the second Cooperstown inductee to play in Colombia. Dominican Vladimir Guerrero Sr., 1994-95 Cartagena Tigers, became the third one. Other talented U.S. prospects, Venezuelans, and Dominicans played in Colombia: Jesse Barfield (Willard, 1980-81), Glenn Davis (Torices, 1982-83), Billy Hatcher (Águilas, 1982-83), Mariano Duncan (Indios, 1983-84), Cecil Fielder (Indios, 1984-85), and Magglio Ordóñez (Montería, 1995-96), along with Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd, Howard Johnson, and Harold Reynolds.
LIDOM
AC’s convenio with Pittsburgh lasted until the early 1980s, when Tony Peña emerged as the best Dominican catcher in the majors. The “Who’s Who” list of AC-Pirates players includes Bob Skinner, Joe Gibbon, Steve Blass, Willie Stargell, Dock Ellis, Bob Robertson, Gene Clines, Kent Tekulve, Omar Moreno, Manny Sanguillén, Rennie Stennett, Dick Stuart… Gibbon’s mail between Santiago, DR, and Hickory, Mississippi, was monitored by the Trujillo Regime, 1958-59 AC season.
Escogido Lions set up an NYG/SFG convenio, resulting in three Alou brothers, Juan Marichal, Willie McCovey, Gaylord Perry, Manny Mota, and others wearing the “Red” (Escarlata) uniform. Pete Burnside, Escogido’s 1956-57 NYG prospect, won the LIDOM pitching Triple Crown: 11-6, 109 SO, 1.71 ERA. His Stateside teammates included Steve Bilko and Sparky Anderson.
The Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves sent prospects to Estrellas Orientales (EO) known as the “Green Team,” including Tommie Aaron, Clay Carroll, Ed Charles, Mack Jones, Phil Niekro (1966-67), then-catcher Dale Murphy, and Rick Mahler, both in 1977-78. Rico Carty played as a native for EO. Roger Maris hit two HR in 56 AB for 1957-58 EO, but no convenio was involved with Cleveland. In 1970-71, Charley Lau—Oakland A’s 1970 1B/hitting coach—managed EO. Dave Duncan, starter Rollie Fingers (9-5, 3.05 ERA), and reliever Paul Lindblad (1-2, 2.61 ERA) reinforced 31-29 EO. César “Super Baby” Cedeño was their teammate.
From 1972-73 to mid-1980s, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Licey Tigers—the “Blue Team”—joined forces resulting in Tom Lasorda managing Licey four straight (1972-76) campaigns, and recruiting Dodgers, among them: Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey, Bobby Valentine, Tom Paciorek, Joe Ferguson, Steve Yeager, Charlie Hough, Burt Hooton, Doug Rau, Von Joshua… Mike Scioscia (1979-1981) joined Licey. Orel Hershiser (8-2, 1.51 ERA) for 1983-84 Licey, under skipper Manny Mota, benefited from this convenio. “The chance to experience another culture was special,” noted Hershiser. “I pitched in Venezuela, a country with a good economy, then.” Lasorda praised Licey executive Monchín Pichardo for facilitating the Dodgers-Licey convenio. “I enjoyed managing there,” noted Lasorda. “It was a good set-up and allowed me to evaluate our top prospects.”
Mexico
A Chicago White Sox (CWS) convenio with 1975-76 Hermosillo Orange Growers resulted in prospect Chet Lemon, from Jackson, Mississippi, and Birmingham, Alabama native Jerry Hairston Sr. reinforcing Hermosillo, with White Sox LHP Rich Hinton. They helped Hermosillo win the February 4-9, 1976 Caribbean Series (CS) in Santo Domingo, including Hinton’s 4-0 SHO versus AC on February 7. “I enjoyed winter ball in Mexico,” stated Hairston Sr. “My father [Sam] played winter ball in different countries, and I met my wife [Esperanza] in Hermosillo.” Hermosillo (5-1 W-L) gave Mexico their first of 10 CS titles.
When 19-year-old Rickey Henderson joined the Navojoa Mayos, 1978-79 Mexican Pacific (Winter) League, it was to get experience hitting curves/change-ups, work on his base stealing, noting: “I was in the minors trying to get my way to the big leagues and went to winter ball with guys older than me. It showed me a lot of what it took to get to the big leagues and was good for my career.” Rickey helped Navojoa win their first league title after three decades of frustration, and was the All-Star LF, February 4-9, 1979 CS in San Juan, PR. In 1979-80, he joined PR’s Ponce Lions at the behest of José Pagán, his 1979 Ogden skipper.
Venezuela
The Aragua Tigers began Winter League play on October 15, 1965. Rico Carty reinforced them due to the suspension of the 1965-66 LIDOM season. Aragua contracted player-manager Rod Carew for 1971-72, when they won their first title. Phil Garner’s 1974-75 season with Aragua was a “launching pad” for his big-league career. Oakland didn’t have a convenio with Aragua, but they were not hesitant to allow their top prospects to play winter ball.
Jim “Catfish” Hunter, Ken Harrelson, and Lew Krausse were sent to Caracas by the KC A’s in the mid-1960s. The Dodgers sent Davey Lopes and Joe Ferguson to the 1972-73 Caracas Lions, Venezuelan Winter League champs. In the late 1990s, the Houston Astros had a convenio with Magallanes Navigators, per then-Houston Assistant GM Tim Purpura. “Our Venezuelan connection is very strong. We have many players that we signed from Venezuela and bring to the States. This year [1998-99], Magallanes’ manager will be Alfredo Pedrique, our AAA coach. César Cedeño—who works for us—is a coach, too…winter ball experience, whether it’s in PR, Venezuela, the DR, or the Arizona Fall League or the Hawaii Winter League, is a great opportunity for players to get those extra at-bats, those extra innings, to perfect themselves.”
Sparky Anderson managed Magallanes for a month, 1964-65, but was fired. In 1953-54, the NYG sent third-base coach Herman Franks to manage Magallanes, whose star hurler was Ramón Monzant, a NYG prospect.
Santurce Crabbers
Horace Stoneham, NYG owner, approved a 1954-1960 Giants/Santurce Crabbers convenio, with Franks managing the 1954-56 Crabbers. Willie Mays reinforced 1954-55 Santurce; Orlando Cepeda was signed by the NYG in 1955; Jackie Brandt reinforced 1958-59 Santurce. Crabbers’ owner Pedrín Zorrilla was Stoneham’s friend. Don Zimmer, 1954-55 Crabbers’ shortstop and 1955 CS MVP, called them “The greatest Winter League team ever assembled.” Mays (.395, 12 HR, 33 RBI) won the batting crown. Buster Clarkson (3B) led the loop with 61 RBI, followed by teammate Bob Thurman’s 60. Thurman (RF), Mays (CF), and Roberto Clemente (LF) were the best OF in Caribbean baseball history. George Crowe (1B) hit the long ball. Santurce (47-25) won the February 10-15, 1955 CS (5-1 W-L) with starters Sam Jones, Gómez, and Bill Greason. Pete Burnside, left off the CS roster, traveled to Caracas—appreciated Pedrín for letting him pitch batting practice.
Another Santurce convenio was 1961-62—SLC. Bob Gibson and Craig Anderson reinforced the Crabbers; Cardinals’ coach Vern Benson managed Santurce. In 1962-63, Cleveland Indians’ coach Ray Katt managed Santurce and brought Sam McDowell and Frank Funk to the Crabbers. Katt had caught Rubén Gómez with the 1954 NYG. Ted Davidson pitched for 1964-65 Santurce based on his friendship with Tony Pérez. Dick Hughes reinforced 1966-67 Santurce due to Orlando Cepeda’s suggestion.
Baltimore executive Harry Dalton and Crabbers’ owner Hiram Cuevas set up a 1966-1972 convenio whereby top Orioles’ prospects and stars Paul Blair (1966-69), Jim Palmer (1968-69), and Don Baylor (1970-73) contributed to three titles (1966-67, 1970-71, and 1972-73). Earl Weaver (1966-68) and Frank Robinson (1969-1971, 1972-73) managed Santurce. Some other Orioles-Crabbers were Larry Haney, Dave Leonhard, Davey Johnson, Dave May, Elrod Hendricks, Merv Rettenmund, and Jim Hardin. In 1976-77, Dalton, California Angels executive, approved Paul Hartzell (8-2, 2.92 ERA for Santurce), 1B Tony Solaita, and Mike Overy reinforcing Santurce, but it wasn’t a formal convenio.
Pedrín’s scouting for the Chicago Cubs, late 1970s-early 1980s, resulted in closer Lee Smith pitching for the 1980-81 Crabbers, and Cubs’ coach Cookie Rojas managing Santurce. From the mid-to-late 1990s, the Santurce-Houston convenio resulted in José “Cheo” Cruz (1995-96) and Astros coach Matt Galante (1996-97) managing the Crabbers, and Houston pitching coach Vern Ruhle doing the same for Santurce. Billy Wagner (1996-97) showed Galante that the Astros should pencil him in as their closer. Wagner pitched for six weeks in PR, per the Santurce-Houston convenio.
SJ Senators
SLC coach Johnny Riddle managed 1952-53 SJ, who shared Sixto Escobar Stadium with arch-rival Santurce. LHP Harvey Haddix (6-2, 1.09 ERA) and 3B Ray Jablonski helped SJ (45-27) win the pennant, but Riddle received instructions that Haddix must return to the States by early December 1952—possibly the first time limits were imposed on a PRWL starting pitcher. “I lost five years, including three in World War II and two in Korea,” said Haddix. “PRWL helped me get the feeling back for pro ball. I remember a hitter by the name of [Santurce’s] Willard Brown.”
Harry Craft—skipper in the Yankees system—managed SJ, 1953-55. He noticed Senators’ RHP Bob Turley (8-10, 143 SO, 2.54 ERA) threw hard and recommended that New York acquire Turley. (They did so in a major 17-player trade with Baltimore, finalized on December 1, 1954.) In 1954-55, Elston Howard (.369, 7 HR, 24 RBI), Bob Cerv (.289, 19, 51), and SS Woody Held (8 HR) reinforced SJ as Yankees prospects. They helped the 38-34 Senators hit 84 HR in 72 games, the all-time PRWL team HR mark.
Ralph Houk managed the 1956-57 Senators to a 40-33 record after besting Caguas, 4-1, in a tie-breaker for third place. Houk was being groomed to be a future Yankees manager, resulting in catcher John Blanchard reinforcing SJ. Future NYY closer Luis “Tite” Arroyo (11-9, 3.20 ERA in 152 IP) impressed Houk by requesting to pitch the tie-breaker on one day’s rest. Houk later said, “That man [Arroyo] showed me five years ago that he could pitch, and I’m not taking credit for him being with this [1961 Yankees] ballclub, but this man shows me he wants to pitch and that’s why he’s having success in the big leagues.”
Baltimore and SJ owner Bob Leith Sr. had a 1960-61 convenio resulting in Luman Harris, Orioles’ third-base coach, managing 39-25 SJ. Jerry Adair played short, Ronnie Samford, second, and Jack Fisher (105 IP) and Wes Stock (107 IP) started for the league champs. Leith’s friendship with Phil Rizzuto, who did 1959-60 SJ radio broadcasts, put Leith in touch with Orioles’ President Lee MacPhail. During 1960-61, Harris updated MacPhail by phone, via the Normandie Hotel, across from Sixto Escobar Stadium. One time, MacPhail spoke to Fisher, telling him, “If I have to bring you back from PR, it’s not going to look good on your record.” Leith recalled: “Jack did OK after that. He pitched a hell of a game against [Bob] Gibson in the [1961] Interamerican Series.” (MacPhail was a high school and college classmate of Paula Van Hyning, the author’s mother.)
In 1963-64, the SJ-CWS convenio brought catcher Jerry McNertney, 1B Deacon Jones, 2B Don Buford, and SS Marv Staehle to PR. A year later, Tom McCraw replaced Deacon Jones, while McNertney and Buford returned. Staehle joined arch-rival Santurce, 1964-65. He roomed with McNertney in an apartment converted from a garage. “We had twin beds, a nice eating bar, and a little living room,” said Staehle. “I took four years of Spanish in high school, where our teacher taught us the practical use of it…took us to downtown Chicago, where he made us order off the menu. Nothing would be in English, so I knew what arroz con pollo [rice and chicken] was. It really helped.” Staehle made a big hit when he/Deacon did a Spanish-language interview on a radio program. Buford accompanied SJ teammate Roberto Clemente to the chiropractor at times when Roberto complained about his maladies. CWS sent LHP Tommy John to SJ (1965-66), but the lefty departed early with a 3-0 mark, 1.36 ERA, in 33 IP.
José “Palillo” Santiago, Red Sox starter, encouraged Boston to send Reggie Smith, catcher Russ Gibson, and Gary Waslewski to 1966-67 SJ. He motivated Jim Lonborg to pitch for the 1970-71 Senators after the latter’s injuries. “Jim and Reggie helped us win the 1967 AL pennant,” recalled Palillo. “Dick Williams was to manage 1966-67 SJ, but plans changed after he was named Boston’s 1967 skipper.” (Wilfredo Calviño managed 1966-67 SJ.)
Pittsburgh sent top prospects to SJ, 1970-73, with Roberto Clemente managing them in 1970-71, followed by Bill Virdon, 1971-72. Dave Cash, Al Oliver, Manny Sanguillén, Rennie Stennett, Bob Johnson, Bruce Kison, and Richie Zisk reinforced SJ. Cleveland followed in 1973-74, furnishing Chris Chambliss, Charlie Spikes, and LHP Tom Hilgendorf.
Bayamón Cowboys
After SJ moved to Bayamón (1974-75), the Cowboys connected with Houston. Art Howe played for 1974-78 Bayamón, winning the 1977-78 batting crown (63/160, .394 BA). He was ineligible to play (1979-80) winter ball, with over four big-league seasons and over 250 AB in 1979. Howe knew Bayamón needed a manager. Cowboys’ GM Roberto Inclán realized that Howe wanted to manage, and he managed three Cowboys’ teams: 1979-81 and 1982-83. “Down there [PR], you have no minor-league system to go to,” said Howe. “During the holiday season and Christmas, one can get homesick…have to find ways to keep [U.S. players] around, to motivate them. It’s important to keep the imports and native players in the right frame of mind.”
Houston players/prospects who played for Howe at Bayamón included Dave Bergman, Denny Walling, Dave Smith, and Vern Ruhle. Bayamón uniforms were patterned after the Astros, with similar colors. Howe’s managing experience was made special by befriending Dickie Thon. “I played with Dickie [1977-78] and managed him at Bayamón,” noted Howe. “He was 16 when he worked out with us [1974-75]. I helped get Dickie to Houston. Their front office asked me what I thought of Dickie for Ken Forsch. I knew the Thons—see why he is such a fine man, a champion.”
Tony Gwynn played for Howe, 1982-83, batting .368 (68-for-182). “When I was at Bayamón, I hit against [Santurce’s] Luis Tiant, Ed Figueroa…guys that I watched growing up—had a ball down there. Those were two of the best [1982-84] off-seasons that I have ever had.” Gwynn performed for the 1983-84 Senators when the franchise returned to SJ.
Thanks to Jackie Brandt, Don Buford, Pete Burnside, Miguel Dupouy Gómez, Phil Garner, Joe Gibbon, Rubén Gómez, Tony Gwynn, Harvey Haddix, Jerry Hairston Sr., Rickey Henderson, Orel Hershiser, Art Howe, Tom Lasorda, Bob Leith Sr., Lee MacPhail, Tim Purpura, Luichy Sánchez, Marv Staehle, Bill Virdon, and Don Zimmer. Jorge Colón Delgado did the editing/photo placements.
