From Monterrey's modest sand lots to LLWS's only perfect game
April 27, 2023
matt monaghan
@MattMonaganNearly 70 years have passed, but pitcher José "Pepe" Maiz García remembers his team's miraculous run in the 1957 Little League World Series like it was yesterday. It seems to be something that is constantly on his mind.
"Our coach César Faz always told us: 'You have to have fun,'" recalled Maiz, now 78. "He plays for fun. He plays for fun. He never pushed us. He just let us play."
A group of 11- and 12-year-olds from a factory-sponsored team at the Monterrey manors took it seriously.
They won 14 straight games in two different countries and three different states to become the first non-American team to bring home the Williamsport title. Star pitcher Ángel Macías threw the first and only perfect game in the final. It's a historic season that's been done in the interimto the movieand, as Maiz points out, it helped Mexico, a country already in love with baseball, fall in love with the game again.
"We had a little league in 1956, 1957," Maiz said. "Now we have 62 in our state and 220 in our country."
Little Industrial League Monterrey (Mexico) and LLWS 1957Little League celebrates #LatinxHeritageMonth. Learn about Mexico's first #LLWS champion team and their PERFECT result.
published bybad leagueThursday 16.09.2021
In 1957, the Little League program was brand new in Monterrey, Mexico.
The city had only been a part of the organization since the previous year, in 1956. There were four teams, sponsored by local factories, that played a 16-game season. An All-Star team made up of the best players was then selected to represent Monterrey in the '57 Little League World Series.
14 children practiced from 4 to 8 p.m. every night together for a month, and then, after two exhibition victories in Monterey, they were ready to start the series in Texas. Almost immediately, even in their own city, the team was considered a huge underdog.
Most never left Monterrey, especially without their parents. They were also too small, averaging around 4 feet 11 inches in height.and 35 pounds lessbut most of his future opponents. And unlike some of the American teams they faced, many of the kids came from poor backgrounds, some even wearinggloves and household equipment.
"We played on fields without grass, stones and broken glass," Maiz told me. "[The ball] wasn't that easy."
Expectations were so low that the team only received a three-day visa to visit the United States.
However, with an eternally optimistic coach in the worker César Faz and very little pressure (some did not even know in which tournament they were playing orwhat was williamsport), Los Pequeños Gigantes -- The Little Giants -- headed to their first stop: the sub-regional tournament in McAllen, Texas. They took a bus to the border city of Reynosa and walked across a bridge over the Rio Grande. They walked another 12 miles to the area where they would stay.
“We crossed the border walking and with sticks,” Maiz said.Williamsport Sun-Gazette. “We started looking for a ride and they took us to a motel called Rio Grande Courts.”
Even after that arduous journey to the first leg, Monterrey immediately began to defy the odds on the field.
They won five straight games, defeating All-Star teams from Mexico City, McAllen, Mission, Wesaloc, and West Brownsville. Pepe led his team to a 7-1 victory in one of the games, while star pitcher Ángel Macías won both games by scores of 13-1 and 14-1.
"Ángel Macías had a very good fastball and a very good 12-6 curve," his rotation partner told me. "We call it 'The Drop'."
Because they kept winning, the Mexican ambassador to the United States had to intervene to extend the team's visas. However, the Monterrey team was only preparing for a three-day stay in McAllen and had little clothing and money.
"We had a lot of problems," Maiz said. "We don't have money for food. We were in a very small motel. After the game, we'd take our hats off and the fans would help us with some coins or dollar bills. That helped us eat at a restaurant. And the restaurant owner just He charged us 50 percent of the bill.”
Pepe recalled a case that really stood out: In a McAllen motel, his roommate, catcher Norberto Villarreal, slept on the floor instead of a double bed. Villareal had never slept in a bed before, he was not comfortable. This made Pepe realize the humble upbringing that many of his teammates had and brought him closer to Villareal and the other 14 children. They may not have their family or enough clothes or money, but they had each other. That's all they needed.
"We were all together," Maiz said. "Also."
The team moved to Corpus Christi for the regional tournament.
Here, since they were housed on a naval base, they were well cared for. They had access to a buffet, slept in a bunk with the Marines, and, well, they had a winning streak. Monterrey won the first game 5-0 and the second 6-0. Enrique Suárez, also a forward for the team, won the first game on the mound, while Macías won the second.
Next up was the Texas State Tournament in Fort Worth. The kids stayed in the barracks again and came out victorious again after two games. They had their closest win yet with a 6-4 win over the Houston All-Star team (Pepe came on and made the save), then Macias shutout Waco, 11-2.
The team from Monterrey, Mexico was the Texas state champion.
His offense, his pitching, his defense were all connected in every contest. The latter were helped by something that most initially thought he could play against them: those fields in Monterrey where they practiced. They had seen all kinds of bad jumps at home and those courses in Texas were, as far as they were concerned, perfect.
"When we went to the United States and we played in McAllen, we were happy to play on grass," Maiz told me. "We never play on grass, only on dirt."
However, they needed to win a few more games at the Southern Regional Championship in Kentucky to get to Pennsylvania. A plane was sent for them and they arrived in Louisville for a two game series to try to become champions of the South. The little giants dominated again.
"We played Biloxi, Mississippi and, well, I was lucky that day," Maiz said. "The bases were loaded and I hit a home run and we went up 5-0. We won 13-0."
Macías scored a goal against Lexington the next day to give his team a 3-0 victory and a trip to Williamsport, which represents the southern region of the United States. As you can imagine, outsiders from south of the border began to catch America's fascination.
"After they saw us play and win, I think the people were very nice," Maiz said. "We were very short, very skinny, very small, and I think people had feelings for us."
That excitement for Monterrey was evident as soon as the team arrived in Williamsport. But like every other game that month, they were still underdogs to win against a much bigger and broader team from Bridgeport, Connecticut, a bunch of kids representing the US East region.
The difference in size became apparent when Monterrey had to wear the new "sureño" uniforms; their trousers reached almost to their shoulders.
"Little ones, over your head," Maiz laughed.
When asked if they were afraid of their Connecticut opponents, Maiz recalls player Gerardo Elizondo saying, "No, we're not going to pick them up. We're going to play them."
It turned out to be a much easier task for the little Giants. They won 2-1 and advanced to the final.
The championship would be against an equally dominant (and again much larger) team from La Mesa, California. Monterrey saw them dominate their semifinal game against the Michigan team, 7-1. Left-handed starter Joe McKirahan struck out 15 and hit two home runs, not just over the fence, but over the small mound behind the fence. McKirahan wasn't eligible to pitch in the title game, but still, Pepe says his team was scared, though they wouldn't say it out loud. La Mesa felt confident going into the game.
"They were warned that we were a big big California team and they were a little Mexican team," McKirahan said.Orange County Registryyears later. "We were bigger than them and we should have killed them."
As expected, coach Faz invited Macías to play against La Mesa. Pepe would be second in the relay. Ten thousand fans turned up to watch David vs. Goliath, many of them curiously cheering for this small factory team from the south.
“We didn't feel at home because we were alone, but the truth is that they treated us very, very well,” Maiz recalled.
Both teams went scoreless for four innings, then Monterrey struck out in the fifth. Hit after pitch, hit after hit, some gritty base running and some key hits, including a big RBI double by Pepe, the Giants took a 4-0 lead. That was all his heroic starting pitcher needed.
Macías relied heavily on his drop ball to confuse the La Mesa forwards. He struck out 11 of the 18 batters he faced and didn't allow a hit or a walk (not even a field ball). His players behind him made no mistakes.
"We were walking back to the dugout with that deer look in the headlights," Lew Riley of La MesaHe said.
By the end of six innings, Macías had delivered the first and only perfect game in LLWS history, a fitting final note for an incredible tournament.
"When I got to the plate, Angel was already in the air," Maiz said. "All the players, all the people who came to the game rushed it."
LLWS75 Diamond Legacies: Ángel Macías#LLWS75 Diamond Legacy 💠Ángel Macías made history in 1957, becoming the only player to pitch a perfect game in a Little League Baseball World Series championship.
published bybad leagueon Tuesday, June 7, 2022(Video) How "China" Rigged the Little League World Series
Although they wanted to return to Monterrey immediately - none of their relatives was in the final game - the team, which had become America's favorite, was sent on a small victory tour.
They traveled to New York for the Cardinals-Dodgers game, each receiving $40 to buy much-needed new clothes at Macy's. The kids hung out and talked with Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Stan Musial.
"Oh, it was wonderful for us," Maiz said, her eyes still lighting up when she thought about the moment seven decades later.
Then President Dwight Eisenhower invited the LLWS champions for a quick visit. The team met with Eisenhower, had lunch with Vice President Richard Nixon, and spoke with Senator Lyndon B. Johnson.
"I don't know, we're probably the only people who have seen three presidents of the United States in three days," Maiz told me. "Incredible."
They left DC for Mexico City to meet with Mexican President Adolfo López Mateos. After three or four days, they finally returned home to Monterrey.
“When we were coming on the plane from Mexico City to Monterrey, the captain said: 'Hey, there are a lot of people waiting for you,'” Maiz recalled. "There were 350,000 people from the airport to the city center waiting for us."
At that time, a total of about 610,000 inhabitants lived in Monterrey.
It wasn't until the team saw the crowd – more than half their country turned out to welcome them home after a tournament against all odds – that they didn't fully realize what they had done.
Although almost the entire '57 team, including Pepe, had aged, Monterrey won unbelievablyLLWS title back in '58. They had a little more support and a little more money and, after what they had done the year before, a lot more expectations.
No player from the '57 team played in the MLB, although Macías was signed by the Angels and spent years in the Mexican League. Pepe had the opportunity to sign with the Giants, but instead, at his father's urging, he went to work for his father's construction company. He still runs that company today, and of course, he's still very much involved in the game that he loves.
He is the national director of the minor leagues in Mexico and has been president of the Mexican league Monterrey Sultanes for 41 years. The game has grown rapidly over the years in the country, with expanded youth leagues, more MLB games in Monterrey, Mexico's recent success in the WBC, and most recently the 2023Mexico City seriesbetween the Giants and the Padres.
Maiz believes much of that fervor and passion for the sport can be traced back to a magical race run by a group of high school kids 66 years ago. It is a feeling and a memory that she can keep forever.
"God has given me many, many things that I couldn't have imagined," Maiz said. - That's more than enough for me.
FAQs
The Mexican Little League team that shocked the world? ›
The group of 11- and 12-year-olds from a factory-sponsored team on the sandlots of Monterrey took that to heart. They won 14 straight games in two different countries and three different states to become the first non-U.S. team to take home the Williamsport title.
How old is Angel Macias now? ›Angel Macias, age 86, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, in El Paso, Texas.
Did Angel Macias play in MLB? ›Macias didn't make it to the Major League Baseball level. He was signed by the Angels (given his first name, very fitting) and played for a couple of seasons at the Class A level. He did play for some Mexican teams after his stint in the United States.
Has Mexico ever won Little League World Series? ›This year is the 60th anniversary of the 1957 Mexico team winning the Little League® Baseball World Series. In 1957, the upstart team from Monterrey's Industrial Little League beat a team from California and became the first team from outside the United States to win the Little League World Series.
Did Angel Macias play for the Angels? ›Angel Macias was signed by The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at the age of 16. He was invited to their spring training in 1961. He played for a couple of years as an outfielder in the minor leagues.
Did Angel Macias have a brother? ›His brother, Felix Macias, is currently a member of the Esports program at Illinois Wesleyan …
How old was Angel Macias when he pitched the perfect game? ›It was about the only thing Sunday that went wrong for the 13-year-old ace pitcher for Matamoros, Mexico. Sauceda pitched the fifth perfect game in Little League World Series history and the first in 29 years when he struck out all 12 batters in a 12-0 win over Emilia, Italy.
What team does Jose Juan Macias play for? › Who was banned from baseball for gambling? ›Pete Rose, the all-time Major League Baseball hit king who received a lifetime ban from the sport for betting on games in which he managed, just placed the first legal sports bet in the history of the state of Ohio at Hard Rock Casino.
Who was the first Mexican to play in the MLB? ›Share this image: On Sept. 8, 1933, Baldomero Melo “Mel” Almada became the first Mexican-born major leaguer when he played center field for the Boston Red Sox. Almada was born in Huatabampo, in the state of Sonora, but grew up in Los Angeles, where his father was consul for the Mexican government.
What is the longest Little League World Series game ever? ›
The Tainan Little League of Tainan City, Taiwan, defeated the Anderson Little League of Gary, Indiana, in the championship game of the 25th Little League World Series. This was the first championship game that was decided in extra innings, and remains the longest championship game in LLWS history, at nine innings.
Has anyone won a Little League World Series and MLB World Series? ›Only eight of the 64 have appeared in the Fall Classic, with Yusmeiro Petit as the only one to win both: LLWS with Venezuela in 1994 and the MLB World Series with San Francisco in 2012 and 2014.
What state has the most Little League World Series? ›In the 74-year history of the Little League Baseball World Series, International teams have won 37 Championships, while teams from the United States have won 37. The state with the most championships is California with seven. Chinese Taipei is the country with the most titles with 17.
Have the Angels ever had a perfect game? ›Mike Witt threw the only perfect game, a special subcategory of no-hitter, in Angels history on September 30, 1984. As defined by Major League Baseball, "in a perfect game, no batter reaches any base during the course of the game."
Have the Angels ever been to the World Series? ›Recent News. Los Angeles Angels, American professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, that plays in the American League (AL). The Angels won a World Series title in 2002, their first appearance in the “Fall Classic.”
Is perfect game a true story? ›Based on a true story, a group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico who became the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series. Based on a true story, a group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico who became the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series.
Is Julio Macias alive in real life? ›...
| Julio Macias | |
|---|---|
| Years active | 2016–present |
Julio Macias is an actor based in Los Angeles. Macias was born in Mexico City and moved to the US when he was 8 years old.
Is Julio Macias Mexican? ›As a Mexican-born, Los Angeles-raised actor, Macias decided early in his career that he didn't want to be typecast as the stereotypical gang member whose sole purpose is to portray violence and inflict fear.
How much of the perfect game is true? ›The film is based on a true story about a group of boys from Monterrey, Mexico, who became the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series in 1957. Their team was Industriales de Monterrey, nicknamed "Los pequeños gigantes" (The little giants).
Who was the youngest to pitch a perfect game? ›
John Montgomery Ward
At the age of 20 years, 105 days, Ward is the youngest pitcher ever to throw a perfect game. He batted sixth in the lineup.
According to preliminary reports, Mexican striker José Juan Macías was driving a Chevrolet Blazar truck, the same one that suffered a frontal collision. Said car would be appraised at a value close to 1.6 million pesos.
Who is Juan Macias? ›John Macías, O.P. (Spanish San Juan Macias alt. sp Massias) (2 March 1585 Ribera del Fresno, Extremadura, Spain – September 16, 1645, Lima, Viceroyalty of Peru), was a Spanish-born Dominican Friar who evangelized in Peru in 1620. He was canonized in 1975 by Pope Paul VI.
Who is Macias on the Padres? ›David Gustavo Macias (born March 7, 1986) is an American professional baseball coach who currently serves as the first base coach for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB).
What baseball team was banned for life? ›William D. Cox, Philadelphia Phillies owner, was banned in 1943 for betting on his team's games. Cox and one of the predecessor Phillies owners, Horace Fogel, are the only owners to be banned for life.
Who are the 8 players banned from baseball? ›The eight players are Shoeless Joe Jackson, Eddie Cicotte, Chick Gandil, Swede Risberg, Buck Weaver, Claude "Lefty" Williams, "Happy" Felsch and Fred McMullen. They will be acquitted by a jury in August, but Landis will ban the Black Sox for life.
Who is the biggest sports gamblers? ›William T. Walters (born July 15, 1946) is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and one of the most successful American sports bettors of all time, having a winning streak which extended over 30 years. Walters was convicted and received a 5-year prison sentence for insider trading, later commuted.
How much of the MLB is Mexican? ›...
List of active Major League Baseball players by country of birth.
| Rank | 6 |
|---|---|
| Country | Mexico |
| # | 24 |
| % | 1.6% |
Baseball-Reference claims that a total of 140 Mexican-born players have appeared in the Majors (not including any players born in 2022). As a result, as of the 2021 MLB season, there are 25 countries represented by players born in the United States, with 1,088 players called up to 26 man rosters.
How much of the MLB is Hispanic? ›The report said Latinos make up around 28.5% of all MLB players.
What is the smallest town to win the Little League World Series? ›
According to a release from ESPN, the documentary “tells the enchanting history of the Little League Baseball World Series tournament in which Maine-Endwell, an undefeated team from the Southern Tier of New York State, becomes the smallest community ever to win the Series.”
Who was the tallest kid to play in the Little League World Series? ›At 6' 9", 245, Durley is the biggest player in Little League World Series history.
Who is the biggest kids in Little League World Series? ›The Little League World Series already has its big superstar of the tournament in Japanese 13-year-old Kotaro Kiyomiya. It's almost ridiculous to call the six-foot athlete a Little Leaguer, but his stature isn't the only amazing thing about him.
What happened to Pinky Deras? ›Art "Pinky" Deras, who led Hamtramck to the Little League World Series championship in 1959, died at a local hospital early Sunday morning following a brief illness. He was 75. Deras' death was confirmed by the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame, which inducted Deras in 2011.
Who is the only player to play in Little League College and World Series? ›Rochester, Michigan, U.S. Varitek is one of only three players, along with pitcher Ed Vosberg and outfielder Michael Conforto, to have played in the Little League World Series, College World Series, and Major League World Series.
Did Derek Jeter play Little League? ›Jeter grew up in Michigan and started playing Little League baseball when he was about five years old. After an impressive high school baseball record, including a . 557 batting average in his junior year, he was drafted as a first-round pick in 1992 by the Yankees.
Why is Hawaii so good at Little League baseball? ›“Hawaii kids are able to play year round, giving them the opportunity to develop their skills much faster and at an earlier age. And with more repetition, the kids are able to develop better coordination and body control. I think that's a big part of it.”
What do you get if you win the Little League World Series? ›A 1st and 2nd place winner will be chosen for each U.S. Little League Region. First Place Winners receive: $500 cash award to be used for safety equipment or insurance premium. Trip for two League Representatives to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
What is the age limit for LLWS? ›The Little League World Series is an annual baseball tournament for children—typically boys—aged 10 to 12 years old, held in the Eastern United States. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball.
Has anyone ever pitched a 27 pitch game? ›On May 13, 1952 while pitching for the Class-D Bristol Twins, Ron Necciai tossed a no-hitter, striking out 27 in nine innings!
Has anyone thrown 2 perfect games? ›
No major league player has ever thrown two perfect games, although Jean Faut of the AAGPBL accomplished the feat with perfect games in 1951 and 1953.
Has there ever been an immaculate inning in a perfect game? ›Danny Jackson is the sole player to pitch an immaculate inning in the World Series: the seventh inning of Game 5 of the 1985 World Series. Jackson pitched a complete game, winning 6–1 an staving off elimination for the Kansas City Royals, who eventually won the series in seven games.
What team has the most World Series wins? ›- Oakland Athletics.
- Seattle Mariners.
- Texas Rangers.
- Los Angeles Dodgers.
As of November 2022, Chuck Finley tops the ranking of the Los Angeles Angels all-time wins leaders having won a total of 165 games throughout his career. Finley is followed within this ranking by Jered Weaver with a total of 150 games won.
Is Angel Macias still alive? ›March 15, 1936 — October 19, 2022
Angel was preceded in death by his father, Agustin Macias; his daughter, Martha Macias; his brother, Victor Macias; and his sister, Aurelia Macias.
Industrial Little League of Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, defeated Northern La Mesa Little League of La Mesa, California, in the championship game of the 11th Little League World Series. Ángel Macías threw the first and, to date, only perfect game in an LLWS championship.
Who was the last perfect game? ›The most recent perfect game for MLB was on August 15, 2012, Félix Hernández of the Seattle Mariners against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Who has pitched a perfect game in Little League? ›Angel Macias, the only pitcher to ever pitch a perfect game in the Little League Baseball® World Series final has served as a major influencer in the growth of baseball in Mexico, and because of his commitment to growing the game, Little League® International will enshrine Mr.
Who was the first non US team to win the Little League World Series? ›1957: Monterrey, Mexico becomes the first non-U.S. team to win the Little League World Series. 1958: Monterrey, Mexico becomes the first Little League to win consecutive World Series championships.
What was the box score in the 1957 Little League World Series? ›
On August 23, 1957, behind the pitching wizardry of Angel Macias, they defeated La Mesa, California, 4-0, before 10,000 people in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, to become the first team from outside the United States to win the Little League World Series.
Has anyone had 2 perfect games? ›No major league player has ever thrown two perfect games, although Jean Faut of the AAGPBL accomplished the feat with perfect games in 1951 and 1953.
Has anyone ever lost a perfect game? ›On May 26, 1959, Harvey Haddix of the Pittsburgh Pirates pitched a perfect game for 12 innings against the Milwaukee Braves, but lost the no-hitter and the game in the 13th inning. The game was played at Milwaukee County Stadium.
How much does it cost to play in perfect game? ›PG offers three different subscription packages: DiamondKast, Crosschecker, and Scout. DiamondKast subscription options include: a $96 one-time annual fee (totals out to $7.99 a month) or $9.99 a month with a three-month minimum commitment.
Who hit 5 home runs in a Little League World Series? ›McClendon a long time baseball guy played in the majors from 1987 to 1994 and is remembered for hitting 5 consecutive home-runs in the Little League World Series for Gary Indiana in 1971.
When was the last time Mexico won the LLWS? ›Mexican teams have won three LLWS championships (1957, 1958, 1997) and have been runner-up three times (1964, 1985, 2008). The country currently has about 450 active leagues, making it the third-largest country in terms of Little League participation.
Who has won the most Little League World Series? ›In the 74-year history of the Little League Baseball World Series, International teams have won 37 Championships, while teams from the United States have won 37. The state with the most championships is California with seven. Chinese Taipei is the country with the most titles with 17.
What team has won the most Little League World Series championships? ›Which U.S. state has won the most Little League World Series titles? California leads the pack with seven LLWS championships. Six of those have come from Southern California teams, while Campbell earned one for Northern California in 1962.
Who has the most appearances in Little League World Series? ›...
State Participants.
| State | Texas |
|---|---|
| First LLWS | 1950 |
| Last Appearance | 2022 |
| Appearances | 27 |
| Championships | 2 (1950, 1966) |
On August 21, 2002 — In the longest game ever played in Little League World Series history, Louisville, Kentucky beats Fort Worth, Texas in the US semifinal in 11 innings, 2-1.
Are there any undefeated teams in the Little League World Series? ›
2012 – A team from Lugazi, Uganda, became the first team from Africa to play in the tournament. 2016 – The team from Maine–Endwell, New York, completed an undefeated season (24–0) by defeating Seoul for the championship, giving South Korea its first loss in a LLWS championship game.
How many home runs did Hank Aaron hit in the 1957 World Series? ›