The Caracas Base Ball Club C.A. , better known by its commercial name as the Leones del Caracas , is a professional baseball team of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League (LVPB). The owner and sole shareholder of the sports club is Ricardo Cisneros, president of Ateneas Sports Holding.
96-528: Its name comes from the official name of the city of Caracas —Santiago de León de Caracas—which Diego de Losada assigned to it when it was founded in 1567. Consequently, a lion appears as a symbol on the representative coat of arms of the city of Caracas. Los Leones del Caracas is a very popular team in Venezuela, and is the team with the most titles (21), and has runners-up (17), played finals (34), played post-seasons (3&). Second highest win percentage in
192-551: A strong earthquake devastated the city of Caracas. In December 1970, Díaz was signed by Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent . He spent seven seasons playing in the Red Sox minor league system . While playing for the Pawtucket Red Sox in 1977, he posted a .263 batting average , with 14 doubles , 7 home runs , and 54 runs batted in (RBI). This earned Díaz his big league call-up on September 6, 1977 , versus
288-552: A subtropical highland climate ( Cfb ) due to its elevated location within the Venezuelan Coastal Range (Maritime Andes) . Caracas precipitation varies between 900 and 1,300 millimeters (35 and 51 inches) (annual), in the city proper to 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) in some parts of the Mountain range. While Caracas is within the tropics, due to its altitude temperatures are cooler compared to other locations with
384-420: A .272 average with 10 home runs and 56 runs batted in. Although he committed 13 errors, he finished fourth among catchers in assists with 80 and, fourth in baserunners caught stealing with 55. On June 27, 1986, Díaz was part of an unusual occurrence when San Francisco Giants second baseman, Robby Thompson , became the first player in major league history to be caught stealing four times in one game. Thompson
480-595: A .412 batting average and 2 home runs, earning him the Series’ Most Valuable Player award. Díaz was part of an extremely unlikely event spanning thirteen years. On January 6, 1973, he caught for minor league pitcher Urbano Lugo, who threw a no-hitter as the Leones del Caracas defeated the Tiburones de La Guaira , 6–0. Thirteen years later, on January 24, 1986, Díaz was the catcher for another no-hitter in
576-406: A 3-1 score. The Leones ended the series with a record of 5 wins and 1 defeat. The Venezuelan team, with Alfonso Carrasquel at the helm, gained the championship title with a 5-1 record. Leones was led by catcher and Series MVP Baudilio Díaz (.412 BA, two home runs, five RBI, .500 OBP, .765 SLG), CF Tony Armas (.375, six RBI) and LF Luis Salazar (six runs, four stolen bases). The pitching staff
672-621: A catcher. Reds' manager Pete Rose continued to play Díaz almost every day in the 1988 season. Díaz was the Reds catcher on June 6, 1988 , when pitcher Tom Browning almost threw a no-hitter against the San Diego Padres . Browning held the Padres hitless through eight innings before Tony Gwynn hit a single with one out in the ninth inning (however, Browning would go on to throw a perfect game two months later on September 16 against
768-430: A fiery offensive combo along with slugger Tony Armas . During his time in the league, Díaz batted .281, with 265 runs scored, 290 runs batted in, 79 doubles, 7 triples, and 57 home runs, in 537 games played. In 1979, he set a Venezuelan League single-season record for home runs with 20, a record that was broken by Alex Cabrera , who hit 21 in 2013–2014 season. Díaz was the leading hitter in the 1982 Caribbean Series with
864-470: A golden shell with the red cross of Santiago; and its seal is a crown with five golden points". In the same act, the king declared Caracas as "The Most Noble and Very Loyal City of Santiago de León de Caracas". The anthem of the city is the Marcha a Caracas , written by the composer Tiero Pezzuti de Matteis with the lyrics by José Enrique Sarabia and approved in 1984. Caracas is contained entirely within
960-482: A good environment for both agricultural and arable farming, which contributed to the system of commerce but meant that the town's population was initially sparse, as it was only large enough to support a few farms. In 1577, Caracas became the capital of the Spanish Empire 's Venezuela Province under the province's new governor, Juan de Pimentel (1576–1583). In the 1580s, Caraqueños started selling food to
1056-466: A home-run, but he was robbed of it by John Lowenstein with a spectacular, beyond the wall catch. In 1984 , Díaz went on the disabled list twice due to knee problems and played in only 27 games. After the season ended, he underwent two knee surgeries to restore his mobility. Díaz broke his right wrist at the beginning of the 1985 season and was on the disabled list for a month and a half. During his absence, his replacement, Ozzie Virgil hit above
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#17328021369451152-582: A quarter of its population migrated in 1814, and the Venezuelan War of Independence continued until 24 June 1821, when Simón Bolívar defeated royalists in the Battle of Carabobo . Urban reforms only took place towards the end of the 19th century, under Antonio Guzmán Blanco : some landmarks were built, but the city remained distinctly colonial until the 1930s. Caracas grew in size, population, and economic importance during Venezuela's oil boom in
1248-636: A rectangular shape. The basin is formed by the Caracas Valley, which is relatively high, narrow and long, surrounded by the high and steep Cordillera de la Costa, which runs parallel to the Litoral. Among the characteristics of the hydrographic network associated with the city of Caracas is the high degree of contamination present in the lower parts of the Guaire River due to its tributaries having been used for sewage collection since 1874, during
1344-613: A state-run organization, is the largest company in Venezuela, and negotiates all the international agreements for the distribution and export of petroleum. When it existed, the airline Viasa had its headquarters in the Torre Viasa. Several international companies and embassies are located in El Rosal and Las Mercedes , in the Caracas area. The city also serves as a hub for communication and transportation infrastructure between
1440-575: A sudden nightly drop in temperature, until reaching 8 °C (46 °F). This peculiar weather is known by the natives of Caracas as the Pacheco . In addition, nightly temperatures at any time of the year are much (7 to 11 °C) lower than daytime highs and usually do not remain above 24 °C (75 °F) , resulting in very pleasant evening temperatures. Hailstorms appear in Caracas, although only on rare occasions. Electrical storms are much more frequent, especially between June and October, due to
1536-549: A third of its land, in poorly-planned slums that are generally dangerous to live in and access. Caracas has exceeded the administrative limits of its perimeter due to accelerated population growth, so that its most suitable demographic study territory is the Metropolitan District or AMC. According to 2011 calculations by the National Institute of Statistics, the metropolitan city had a population for
1632-410: A typical tropical savanna climate. The annual average temperature is approximately 23.4 °C (74 °F), with the average of the coldest month (January) 21.7 °C (71 °F) and the average of the warmest month (May) 24.5 °C (76 °F), which gives a small annual thermal amplitude of 2.8 °C (5.0 °F). In the months of December and January abundant fog may appear, in addition to
1728-541: A valley of the Venezuelan Central Range , and is separated from the Caribbean coast by a roughly 15-kilometer (9 mi) expanse of El Ávila National Park . The valley is relatively small and quite irregular, and the altitude varies from between 870 and 1,043 meters (2,854 and 3,422 ft) above sea level ; the historic center lies at about 900 meters (3,000 feet) above sea level. This, along with
1824-450: Is a public university founded in 1721: it is the oldest university in Venezuela. The university campus was designed by architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. The Simón Bolívar University ( Universidad Simón Bolívar , USB) is a public institution in Caracas that focuses on science and technology. Baudilio D%C3%ADaz Baudilio José Díaz Seijas (March 23, 1953 – November 23, 1990)
1920-471: Is based upon a fixed currency-exchange-rate of 2003 and might not be completely realistic, due to the elevated inflation rates of the last several years. In 2013, the World Economic Forum evaluated countries in terms of how successful they were in advertising campaigns to attract foreign visitors. Out of the 140 countries evaluated, Venezuela came last. A major factor that has contributed to
2016-478: Is called ranchos, built improvised, without any official planning, with deficiencies and inadequate materials, marking a difference between those who live in the valley proper, 45% of the population in 25% of the urban area lives in these settlements. The city center, developed around a small historic center, represents less than a quarter of the total area of the city, which has spread along the valley and has also been connected in recent years with satellite cities in
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#17328021369452112-554: Is considered a masterpiece of urban planning and was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO in 2000. Caracas played in this stadium until the 2022/2023 season. For the 2023/2024 season the club moved to the brand new Monumental Stadium of Caracas Simón Bolívar . On February 9, 1982, the Leones earned Venezuela's third Caribbean World Series and the franchise's first, by defeating Dominican Republics's Leones del Escogido with
2208-641: Is the capital and largest city of Venezuela , and the center of the Metropolitan Region of Caracas (or Greater Caracas). Caracas is located along the Guaire River in the northern part of the country, within the Caracas Valley of the Venezuelan coastal mountain range (Cordillera de la Costa). The valley is close to the Caribbean Sea , separated from the coast by a steep 2,200-meter-high (7,200 ft) mountain range, Cerro El Ávila ; to
2304-609: Is the largest private company in Venezuela. Caracas is also Venezuela's cultural capital, with many restaurants, theaters, museums, and shopping centers. Caracas has some of the tallest skyscrapers in Latin America, such as the Parque Central Towers . The Museum of Contemporary Art of Caracas is one of the most important in South America. Before the city was founded in 1567, the valley of Caracas
2400-594: The 1987 All-Star Game . He was named Player of the Month for the month of July during which he produced a .351 batting average with 5 home runs and 23 runs batted in, including a game on July 7 when he had 6 runs batted in. His heavy workload continued as he played in 140 games, ending the season with a respectable .270 average with 15 home runs and 82 runs batted in. Díaz also led National League catchers in baserunners caught stealing and finished third in fielding percentage , committing only 7 errors in 137 games played as
2496-568: The Blue Jays , at Toronto . He entered the game as a late-inning defensive replacement for Hall of Famer Carlton Fisk . Díaz appeared in only two games for the Red Sox, being struck out by Dennis Martínez in his only at-bat, which occurred that September 17. On March 30, 1978 , Díaz was traded along with Ted Cox , Mike Paxton and Rick Wise to the Cleveland Indians for Dennis Eckersley and Fred Kendall . He played as
2592-798: The Brígido Iriarte Stadium , home to Atlético Venezuela, with a capacity of 12,000 spectators. In basketball, the Cocodrilos de Caracas play their games in the Gimnasio José Beracasa in the El Paraíso neighborhood. Caracas is the seat of the National Institute of Sports and of the Venezuelan Olympic Committee . The city hosted the 1983 Pan American Games . The Central University of Venezuela ( Universidad Central de Venezuela , UCV)
2688-616: The Caracas Museum of Contemporary Art ; and the Teresa Carreño Cultural Complex were built, as well as the Caracas Metro and a developed downtown area. Urban development was rapid, leading to the growth of slums on the hillsides surrounding the new city. Much of the city development also fell into disrepair come the end of the 20th century, with the 1980s oil glut and political instability like
2784-607: The Caracazo , meaning maintenance can not be sustained. The economic and social problems persist throughout the capital and country, characterized as the Crisis in Venezuela . By 2017, Caracas was the most violent city in the world. The coat of arms was adopted in 1591. Simón de Bolívar, an ancestor of Venezuelan liberator Simón Bolívar, had been named the first procurator general of the Venezuelan province in 1589. He served as
2880-764: The Cincinnati Reds in 1987. Diaz began his career with the Boston Red Sox . He was the first Venezuelan to play regularly as a catcher in Major League Baseball. In 2006, Díaz was posthumously inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame . Díaz was born in Cúa , Miranda , Venezuela . At the age of 14, he played on a national champion Little League team that missed a trip to the 1967 Little League World Series , when
2976-627: The Dutch Empire , which Caraqueños later proved sympathetic to; by the 1670s, Caracas had a trading route through Curaçao . In 1728, the Guipuzcoan Company of Caracas was founded by the king, and the cacao business grew in importance. Caracas was made one of the three provinces of Nueva Granada , corresponding to Venezuela, in 1739. Over the next three decades the Viceroyalty was variously split, with Caracas province becoming
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3072-570: The Iraq War , and in 2012 there were 13,080 murders in Venezuela, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime . By 2019, Caracas was the city with the sixth highest homicide rate in the world outside of a warzone , with a rate of around 76 murders per 100,000 people. In 2023 it was the nineteenth , with a rate of around 52 murders per 100,000 people. Most murders and other violent crimes go unsolved, with estimates of
3168-527: The Leones earned Venezuela's first Caribbean World Series title in 16 years, by defeating the Tigres del Licey of the Dominican Republic with a 5-4 score in the last game; this left the Leones with a record of six wins and no defeats at the 2006 Caribbean Series , ahead of Licey's four wins and two defeats record. With the victory, the Leones won Venezuela's sixth Caribbean Series title, and
3264-656: The Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1983 National League Championship Series , the Phillies lost the 1983 World Series against the Baltimore Orioles in five games. In the only World Series appearance of his career, Díaz was the leading hitter for the Phillies with a .333 batting average. During Game One of the Series (the only game of the Series that the Phillies won, by a 2–1 score), Díaz almost hit
3360-747: The Navegantes del Magallanes for the first time on December 27 of that year, winning this now historic game by a 3–0 score. In its first stage, the team won two championship titles before moving to the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League in January 1946. Since its inception, the Caracas team was characterized by having only Venezuelan players on their roster. The club changed its policy in 1950, after signing catcher Lester Fusselman and outfielder Maurice Mozzali , two St. Louis Cardinals prospects. In 1952,
3456-536: The .300 mark, relegating Díaz to the backup catcher's role upon his return. On August 8, 1985, the Phillies traded Díaz to the Cincinnati Reds. Díaz immediately became the Reds' starting catcher. He had been hitting for a .211 average at the time of the trade but, hit .261 in 51 games for the Reds, ending the 1985 season with a .245 average overall along with 5 home runs and 31 runs batted in. Díaz remained healthy in 1986 , appearing in 134 games and posted
3552-469: The 1540s, the colony had been de facto controlled by Spaniards. Moving eastward from Coro, groups of Spanish settlers founded inland towns including Barquisimeto and Valencia before reaching the Caracas valley. On 25 July 1567, Captain Diego de Losada laid the foundations of the city of Santiago de León de Caracas . De Losada had been commissioned to capture the valley, and was successful by splitting
3648-530: The 1960s, President Rómulo Betancourt followed the same policy as the Marcos Pérez Jiménez government: promoting immigration, especially from Latin America and from other parts of the world. These policies were maintained until the late 1980s, with a notable influx of Argentines, Uruguayans, Chileans, Cubans, Peruvians, Ecuadorians, Chinese, and Arabs. Towards the beginning of the 1980s, immigration
3744-589: The 1983 season to win the National League Eastern Division title. Díaz contributed by hitting .360 in the final week of the season, including a game on September 28 against the Chicago Cubs in which he had 5 hits in 5 at-bats including 2 home runs. Although he led National League catchers in errors, he led the league in range factor and finished second in putouts , assists and in baserunners caught stealing . After defeating
3840-465: The 2011 census of 2,923,959 inhabitants. The Metropolitan District represents less than 1% of the national territory and is home to one-fifteenth of the total population of the country. In percentage numbers, 9.2% of the nation's total population lives in the five capital municipalities, out of the 335 municipalities that comprise the country. The region is called Greater Caracas or Metropolitan Region of Caracas (RMC) satellite cities or adjacent bedrooms:
3936-514: The 2015-16 season, they became the club with the highest average home attendance in the league, with an average of 10,845. The next season, the average attendance was 6,539. The Estadio Universitario is a multi-use stadium located in Caracas, Venezuela. The stadium holds 22,690 people and was built in 1952. This stadium forms part of the Central University of Venezuela campus and was designed by architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva . It
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4032-584: The Altos Mirandinos, the Central Coast of La Guaira, Guarenas, Guatire and the Valles del Tuy. This agglomeration had an estimated population of 4.3 million inhabitants in 2011. In the 20th century, an exodus of the peasantry to the capital and other cities intensified, motivated by a search for improvements in their quality of life. This led to depopulation of the rural areas of the country and
4128-867: The Capital District is a government system constituted by an executive body exercised by a Head of Government, and the legislative function will be in charge of the National Assembly. Before the creation of the Metropolitan District, the Federal District (current Capital District) had a governor appointed by the President of the Republic, while the Caracas municipalities of the State of Miranda governed with their respective mayors in isolation, without any coordinating entity. In April 2009,
4224-667: The Dodgers). Eventually, the heavy workload began to catch up with Díaz. In mid-June, a shoulder injury put him on the disabled list and then in September, Díaz had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, which ended his season. He shared catching duties with Jeff Reed in 1989 but, in July Díaz had to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for a second time, which ended his season. Díaz decided to retire, having played in his final major league game on July 9, 1989, at
4320-613: The Hotel Alba Caracas. The cost for the general maintenance of the north and south towers of the hotel is approximately 231.5 million Venezuelan bolivars. Although the Venezuelan Ministry of Tourism has taken the initiative to recognize the importance of the tourism industry, the Venezuelan government has not placed the tourism industry as an economic priority. In 2013, the budget for the Ministry of Tourism
4416-666: The Indians' backup catcher, working behind Gary Alexander in 1978. He lost his job to Ron Hassey the following season, and played most of the year in the minor leagues with the Tacoma Tugs in the Pacific Coast League , before returning to play for the Indians in September 1979 . In 1980 , he hit for a .227 average in 76 games but, provided solid defense, committing only 4 errors in 356 total chances , while serving as backup catcher behind Hassey. After Hassey
4512-487: The LVBP in regular season: (D-D 2187-2100 51%), post-season: (D-D 206-178 55.0%), finals (D-D 97-78 55.4%). The team's colors are dark blue and gold and the crest features a lion, a symbol of the city of Caracas since 1591. Cervecería Caracas was founded in 1942, after Cervecería Princesa , an early team, was bought and transformed into Caracas. At first, the team played its home games at the old Estadio Cerveza Caracas, which
4608-573: The Leones del Caracas team during the 1964–1965 season to improve his batting. By 2001, the descendants of Morales and Prieto sold their shares to the Grupo Cisneros , giving it majority control of the team. Through 2024, the Caracas team has won 21 championship titles (3 as Cervecería Caracas and 18 as Leones del Caracas), more than any other team in Venezuelan Professional Baseball League history. In
4704-627: The Metropolitan District of Caracas would be created and that some of the powers of the Libertador , Chacao , Baruta , Sucre , and El Hatillo municipalities would be delegated to the Alcaldía Mayor , physically located in the large Libertador municipality, in the center of the city. The Metropolitan District of Caracas was suppressed on 20 December 2017 by the Constituent National Assembly of Venezuela . In
4800-602: The Middle East, Germany, China, and other Latin American countries. The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra is based in Caracas. Originally a youth orchestra, it is connected with the Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar (FMSB), known colloquially as El Sistema , Venezuela's social action music programme. The Guardian wrote that the orchestra represented "a message of social inclusion and
4896-448: The National Assembly reformed the Capital District Law, legalizing the constitution of a Head of Government or Governor for the Libertador municipality designated by the National Executive. Using as an argument what is established in article 156 of the constitution: Article 156. It is the competence of the National Public Power: 10. The organization and regime of the Capital District and federal dependencies. The city of Caracas occupies
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#17328021369454992-418: The Spanish soldiers in Cartagena , who often docked in the coastal city when collecting products from the empire in South America. Wheat was growing increasingly expensive in the Iberian Peninsula , and the Spanish profited from buying it from Caracas farmers. This cemented the city in the empire's trade circuit. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the coast of Venezuela was frequently raided by pirates. With
5088-407: The Venezuela province. Luis de Unzaga created the Captaincy General of Venezuela in the summer of 1777, with Caracas as the capital. Venezuela then attempted to become independent, first with the 1797 Gual and España conspiracy , based in Caracas, and then the successful 1811 Venezuelan Declaration of Independence . Caracas then came under worse luck: in 1812, an earthquake destroyed Caracas ,
5184-427: The age of 36. In a 13-year major league career, Díaz played in 993 games , accumulating 834 hits in 3,274 at bats for a .255 career batting average along with 87 home runs, 452 runs batted in and a .297 on-base percentage . A two-time All-Star, he finished his career with a .986 fielding percentage. Díaz played exclusively for the Leones del Caracas team in the Venezuelan Winter League (1972–1990), forming
5280-409: The average age of the team being over thirty. The moniker was a whimsical reference to the Whiz Kids Phillies team that won the National League pennant in 1950 . In a game against the New York Mets on April 13, 1983 , Díaz performed a feat that has only been accomplished by 11 other players in the history of Major League Baseball. The Phillies were trailing by a score of 9–6 and with two outs in
5376-429: The case of the Libertador Municipality of Caracas, the only member of the Capital District, the executive authority rests with the Head of Government of the Capital District, a position designated by the President of the Republic. According to Article 3 of the Capital District Law, the legislative function is exercised directly by the Republic through the National Assembly of Venezuela. Article 3. The special regime of
5472-400: The city being in a closed valley and the orographic action of Cerro El Ávila. The hydrographic network of the city of Caracas is made up of the Guaire river basin which is a sub-basin of the Tuy river. This basin crosses the valley where the city is located from West to East (Las Adjuntas – Petare ). It covers about 655 square kilometers, about 45 km. long and about 15 km. wide, has
5568-406: The city has a large number of both European Venezuelans and Asian Venezuelans who descend from the massive influx of various immigrants Venezuela received from all across Eurasia during the 20th century; in particular are descendants of Spaniards, Portuguese, Italians, Serbs , Chinese, Colombians, Germans, Syrians and Lebanese people. In 2020, the poorest 55% of the Caracas population lived on about
5664-428: The city of Caracas, as well as the municipal mayors in each of the municipalities comprising it. The Metropolitan District of Caracas was organized in a system of municipal government at two levels: the metropolitan or district and the municipalities. Caracas is Venezuela's cultural capital , with many restaurants, theaters, museums, and shopping centers. The city is home to many immigrants from Spain, Italy, Portugal,
5760-427: The city. The city is occasionally subject to earthquakes – notably in 1641 and 1967. Geologically, Caracas was formed in the Late Cretaceous period, with much of the rest of the Caribbean, and sits on what is mostly metamorphic rock . Deformation of the land in this period formed the region. Under the Köppen climate classification , Caracas has a tropical savanna climate ( Aw ), but also exhibits traits of
5856-442: The coastal mountains of the Central Range as a barrier, Caracas was relatively immune to such attacks, compared to other Caribbean coastal settlements, but in 1595 the Preston–Somers expedition landed and around 200 English Privateers , including George Somers and Amyas Preston , crossed the mountains through a little-used pass while the town's defenders were guarding the more frequently used one. Encountering little resistance,
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#17328021369455952-432: The communities of Charallave and Cúa de los Valles del Tuy with the subway transportation of the capital city. Some areas of the city have a grid layout, either inherited from the colony or developed during the urban projects of the 20th century. Other areas, built on the mountain slopes, do not follow this pattern, but adapt to the irregularities of the terrain. These elevated areas enjoy a temperate temperature throughout
6048-493: The country, such as Valencia, which in the same period of time multiplied its population almost 25 times. Between the 1940s and 1950s, after the Second World War, a growing wave of European immigrants began, mostly Spanish, Portuguese and Italians and in other magnitudes, communities of Germans (Colonia Tovar), French, English, Serbs and Jews were established. New developments in Caracas were populated mainly by these European immigrants, such as La Florida and Altamira . During
6144-501: The demographic saturation of the centers. This saturation caused the expansion of marginal areas on the outskirts of the city; however, the lowest unemployment rates in the entire country correspond precisely to the metropolitan area of Caracas. In 1936, the total population of Venezuela had been equal to the estimated population of Greater Caracas for the year 2000: almost 4 million inhabitants. From 1936 to 1990, Caracas multiplied its population, although far less than any other major city in
6240-398: The early 20th century. In the 1950s, the metropolitan area of Gran Caracas was developed, and the city began an intensive modernization program, funding public buildings, which continued throughout the 1960s and early 1970s. Cultural landmarks, like the University City of Caracas , designed by modernist architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva and declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000;
6336-437: The entirety of the Libertador municipality of the Capital District and part of the state of Miranda, specifically the municipalities of Baruta, Chacao, El Hatillo and Sucre, which until 2011 formed the Metropolitan District of Caracas, which enjoyed legal personality and autonomy within the limits of the Constitution and the law. Until that year, the Metropolitan Mayor was the first civil, political and administrative authority of
6432-428: The first of the Spanish colonies to become part of the slave trade . The city was successful and operated on cacao and slave trade until the 1650s, when an alhorra blight, the Mexican Inquisition of many of their Portuguese traders, and increased cacao production in Guayaquil greatly affected the market. This and the destructive 1641 earthquake put the city into decline, and they likely began illegally trading with
6528-447: The franchise was bought by the publicist and sport commentator Pablo Morales and christened Leones del Caracas as a new franchise. Since then, the team plays its home games at the Estadio Universitario in Caracas. Later, businessman Oscar Prieto Ortiz joined Morales as a legal partner. Pete Rose was benched after a slump late in the 1964 MLB season, finishing with a .269 average, but continued to play winter ball in Venezuela with
6624-851: The franchise's second after the 1982 Caribbean Series . This also marked the first time a Venezuelan team sweeps the Caribbean Series, a feat previously accomplished only by teams from Cuba ( Almendares in 1949, Habana in 1952, and Cienfuegos in 1960), from Puerto Rico ( Cangrejeros de Santurce in 1953 and 2000, and Senadores de San Juan in 1995) and from the Dominican Republic ( Tigres del Licey in 1971, 1977 and 1991, and Águilas Cibaeñas in 1998). * Retired by VPBL Pitchers [1] updated on 11 May 2021 Catchers Infielders Outfielders Manager Coaches (Coaching staff for 2021-22 season) Caracas Caracas ( / k ə ˈ r æ k ə s , - ˈ r ɑː k -/ kə- RA(H)K -əs , Spanish: [kaˈɾakas] ), officially Santiago de León de Caracas ( CCS ),
6720-460: The government of Antonio Guzmán Blanco, until today. The level of contamination is such that it does not allow the maintenance of the life of the species that once populated the basin, and it has become extinct or has been restricted to the highest areas of the basin, mainly within the boundaries of the national park. Avila. Awareness for the recovery of the basin has recently begun, however, much remains to be done before results can be observed. Among
6816-457: The invaders sacked and set fire to the town after a failed ransom negotiation. The city managed to rebuild, using wheat profits and "a lot of sacrifice". In the 1620s, farmers in Caracas discovered that Cacao beans could be sold, first selling them to native people of Mexico and quickly growing across the Caribbean . The city became important in the Viceroyalty of New Spain , as well as moving from largely native slave labor to African slaves,
6912-418: The lack of foreign visitors has been poor transport for tourists. Venezuela has limited railway systems and airlines. High crime rates and the negative attitude of the Venezuelan population towards tourism also contributed to the poor evaluation. In an attempt to attract more foreign visitors, the Venezuelan Ministry of Tourism invested in multiple hotel infrastructures. The largest hotel investment has been in
7008-455: The league's only twenty-game winner of the season. Carlton also led the league in strikeouts and shutouts and, was named the 1982 National League Cy Young Award winner. In a 1982 computer ranking of major league players that used offensive and defensive statistics, Díaz was ranked second among National League catchers behind only Gary Carter . Díaz was a member of the 1983 Phillies team that became known as The Wheeze Kids , due to
7104-425: The main rivers and streams that make up the basin are in its northern slope: San Pedro River, Macarao River, Quebrada Caroata, Catuche River, Anauco River, Chacaito River, Tocome River, Caurimare River; on its southern slope we find that among the main tributaries are: El Valle river, Quebrada Baruta and Quebrada La Guairita. In the upper part of the basin there are two reservoirs with the purpose of supplying water to
7200-558: The manifest power of music to bring communities together". Professional sports teams in the city include the football clubs Caracas Fútbol Club , Deportivo Petare , Atlético Venezuela , SD Centro Italo Venezolano , Estrella Roja FC and Deportivo La Guaira . Deportivo Petare has reached the semi-finals of international tournaments, such as the Copa Libertadores , while the Caracas Fútbol Club has reached
7296-488: The metropolitan area and the rest of the country. Important industries in Caracas include chemicals, textiles, leather, food , iron, and wood products. There are also rubber and cement factories. Its nominal GDP is US$ 70 billion and the GDP (PPP) per capita is US$ 24,000. A 2009 United Nations survey reported that the cost of living in Caracas was 89% of that of the survey's baseline city, New York. However, this statistic
7392-423: The natives into different groups to work with, then fighting and defeating each of them. The town was the closest to the coast of these new settlements, and the colonists retained a native workforce, which allowed a trade network to develop between Caracas, the interior, and Margarita; the towns further inland produced ample cotton products and beeswax, and Margarita was a rich source of pearls. The Caracas valley had
7488-404: The ninth inning , when Díaz hit a grand slam home run off Neil Allen to win the game for the Phillies by a score of 10–9. On September 23, Díaz was the Phillies catcher when Steve Carlton won the 300th game of his career. With the Phillies leading the game by a score of 3–2 in the fifth inning, Díaz sealed the victory with a two-run single . The Phillies won 12 out of the final 14 games of
7584-501: The number of unresolved crimes as high as 98%. The U.S. Department of State and British Foreign and Commonwealth Office have issued travel warnings for Venezuela due to high rates of crime. Businesses that are located in Caracas include service companies, banks, and malls, among others. It has a largely service-based economy, apart from some industrial activity in its metropolitan area. The Caracas Stock Exchange and Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) are headquartered here. PDVSA,
7680-532: The quarterfinals. Baseball team Leones del Caracas plays at the Monumental Stadium with a capacity of 40,000 spectators, while the Tiburones de La Guaira plays at University Stadium , with a capacity of nearly 26,000 spectators. The football stadiums in the city include the Olympic Stadium , home to Caracas Fútbol Club and Deportivo La Guaira, with a capacity of 30,000 spectators, and
7776-725: The rapid population growth, has profoundly influenced the urban development of the city. The most elevated point of the Capital District, wherein the city is located, is the Pico El Ávila , which rises to 2,159 meters (7,083 feet). The main body of water in Caracas is the Guaire River , which flows across the city and empties into the Tuy River , which is also fed by the El Valle and San Pedro rivers, in addition to numerous streams which descend from El Ávila. The La Mariposa and Camatagua [ es ] reservoirs provide water to
7872-474: The region led by Terepaima and Guaicaipuro . Fajardo's 1560 settlement was known as Hato de San Francisco, and another attempt in 1561 by Juan Rodríguez de Suárez was called Villa de San Francisco, and was also destroyed by the same native people. The eventual settlers of Caracas came from Coro , the German capital of their Klein-Venedig colony around the present-day coastal Colombia–Venezuela border ; from
7968-531: The representative of Venezuela to the Spanish Crown, and vice versa. In 1591, de Bolívar introduced a petition to King Philip II for a coat of arms, which he granted by Royal Cedula on 4 September that year in San Lorenzo. The coat of arms represents the city's name with the red Santiago (St. James') cross . It originally depicted "a brown bear rampant on a field of silver, holding between its paws
8064-720: The south there are more hills and mountains. The Metropolitan Region of Caracas has an estimated population of almost 5 million inhabitants. The historic center of the city is the Cathedral , located on Bolívar Square , though some consider the center to be Plaza Venezuela , located in the Los Caobos area. Businesses in the city include service companies, banks, and malls. Caracas has a largely service-based economy, apart from some industrial activity in its metropolitan area. The Caracas Stock Exchange and Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) are headquartered in Caracas. Empresas Polar
8160-579: The states of Miranda and La Guaira, creating a major metropolitan area known as Gran Caracas. The city's rapid population growth has resulted in increasing traffic congestion . To this end, the subway transportation system (Metro de Caracas) has been progressively expanded and is currently linked to the Los Teques Metro and, in the future, to the Guarenas-Guatire Metro system. The "Ezequiel Zamora" Central Railway System also links
8256-562: The western part of the city; These are the Macarao Dam and the La Mariposa Reservoir. Caracas shares commonalities with many Latin American cities: densely populated and with limited space because it is surrounded by mountains. Because of this, the city has grown vertically. A very striking aspect is the number of people living in substandard housing built on the mountain slopes surrounding the city. This type of housing
8352-444: The year. According to the population census of 2011 the Caracas proper (Distrito Capital) is over 1.9 million inhabitants, while that of the Metropolitan District of Caracas is estimated at 2.9 million as of 2011 . The majority of the population is mixed-race , typically with varying degrees of European , Indigenous , African and occasional Asian ancestry. There is a noteworthy Afro-Venezuelan community. Additionally,
8448-624: Was a Venezuelan professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1977 to 1989, most prominently with the Cleveland Indians where he rose to prominence as an American League (AL) All-Star player in 1981 and, later with the Philadelphia Phillies where he was a member of the 1983 National League pennant winning team. He earned his second All-Star game berth with
8544-507: Was injured early in the strike-shortened 1981 season, Cleveland manager Dave Garcia began using Díaz in a platoon role alongside the left-hand hitting Hassey. By June, he was hitting for a .356 batting average with 4 home runs and 25 runs batted in to earn a place as a reserve player for the American League team in the 1981 All-Star Game . He ended the season with a .313 batting average in 63 games. In November 1981, Díaz
8640-512: Was led by Luis Leal , who posted a 2-0 record with a 2.08 ERA and 10 strikeouts and a in 13.0 innings of work. Behind him were Bud Black (1-0, 1.29), Dennis Burtt (1-0, one save, seven SO in 10⅔ innings) and Tom Dixon (nine scoreless innings in Game 7). Venezuela also featured 2B Steve Sax , SS Ron Gardenhire , 1B Danny Garcia , 3B Leonardo Hernández , pinch-hitter Andrés Galarraga and pitcher Joe Cowley , among others. On February 7, 2006,
8736-532: Was located in the capital city of Caracas . The team was founded by Martín Tovar Lange and managed by big leaguer Alejandro Carrasquel . The Princesa team played its last game on May 7, 1942. Then, Caracas debuted four days later with a 7–3 victory over the Criollos (English: Creoles ). The game was played in Puerto Cabello , a city on the north coast of Venezuela. Caracas faced its later nemesis,
8832-400: Was marked by a strong exodus of Colombians. The multiethnic, cultural and racial mix has marked the city throughout history. Its ethnic composition is very diverse. Venezuela and its capital, Caracas, have been reported to both have among the highest per capita murder rates in the world. In 2010 Caracas had the highest murder rate in the world, having more deaths than Baghdad during
8928-549: Was only 173.8 million bolivars, while the Ministry of the Youth received approximately 724.6 million bolivars. The tourism industry in Venezuela contributes approximately 3.8 percent of the country GDP. The World Economic Forum predicts Venezuela's GDP to rise to 4.2 percent by 2022. On 8 March 2000, the year after a new constitution was introduced in Venezuela, it was decreed in Gaceta Official N° 36,906 that
9024-412: Was populated by indigenous peoples. Francisco Fajardo , the son of a Spanish captain and a Guaiqueri cacica , who came from Margarita , began establishing settlements in the area of La Guaira and the Caracas valley between 1555 and 1560. Fajardo attempted to establish a plantation in the valley in 1562 after these unsuccessful coastal towns, but it did not last long: it was destroyed by natives of
9120-479: Was thrown out at second base by Díaz in the 4th, 6th and 9th innings and was picked off by pitcher John Franco in the 11th inning. Three of the outs occurred during attempted hit and run plays and were recorded as stolen base attempts. In 1987 , Díaz was hitting for a .292 average at mid-season, earning his second All-Star selection as a reserve player, this time for the National League team in
9216-559: Was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a three-team trade. He became the Phillies starting catcher in 1982 , replacing Bob Boone , who had been traded to the California Angels . Díaz set career highs in batting average (.288), home runs (18), and runs batted in (85). Although Díaz led National League catchers in stolen bases allowed, his pitch-calling skills helped pitcher Steve Carlton become
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