# Liga Invernal Veracruzana

The Veracruz Winter League (Spanish: Liga Invernal Veracruzana de Béisbol Profesional) is a professional baseball winter league, representing the Mexican state of Veracruz, taking place between the months of October and January. It is currently made up of 6 teams and the league champion is invited to compete in the Latin American Series.

## History

The league was formed in its current iteration in 2005 by the then-state governor Fidel Herrera Beltrán as a league representing an area of Mexico not covered by the other two professional leagues, with the Mexican Pacific League covering the Pacific side of the country and the Mexican League covering inland and southern Mexico, leaving Veracruz unrepresented up to that point. The league ran for eleven seasons before it was put on hold due to lack of funding, with youth competition Veracruz State League, representing the state from that point onwards. In 2018, the president of Tobis de Acayucan, Regina Vázquez Saut, announced the revival of the league, appointing herself as the commissioner, with the first game of the revived league being played on October 27, 2018.

## Current teams

| Team | Head Coach | City | Stadium |
| Astros de Jáltipan | Eddy Castro | Jáltipan, Veracruz | "Fernando López Arias" |
| Cafetaleros de Córdoba | Alberto Joachín | Heroica Córdoba, Veracruz | "Beisborama" |
| Cañeros de Úrsulo Galván | Ángel Utrera | Cempoala, Veracruz | 20 de Noviembre |
| Chileros de Xalapa | Juan Carlos Hernández | Xalapa-Enríquez, Veracruz | Deportivo Colón |
| Rojos de Veracruz | Ramón Esquer | Heroica Veracruz, Veracruz | Deportivo Universitario "Beto Ávila" |
| Tobis de Acayucan | Félix Tejeda | Acayucan, Veracruz Oluta, Veracruz | "Luis Díaz Flores" Emiliano Zapata |

### Affiliations with Mexican League

Because the Veracruz Winter League is considered a lower level than the other two professional leagues in Mexico, three of the teams have affiliations with Mexican League teams:
| Team | Mexican League Affiliate |
| Astros de Jáltipan | Unaffiliated |
| Cafetaleros de Córdoba | Bravos de León |
| Cañeros de Úrsulo Galván | Unaffiliated |
| Chileros de Xalapa | Acereros del Norte |
| Rojos de Veracruz | Diablos Rojos del México |
| Tobis de Acayucan | Unaffiliated |

## League champions

| Season | Champions | Series Score | Runners-up | Winning Coach |
| 2005–06 | Broncos de Cosamaloapan | 4-3 | Chileros de Xalapa | Ramón Arano |
| 2006–07 | Gallos de Santa Rosa | 4-2 | Dragones Rojos de Coatzacoalcos | Ramón Montoya |
| 2007–08 | Chileros de Xalapa | 4-3 | Broncos de Cosamaloapan | Rafael Castañeda |
| 2008–09 | Brujos de Los Tuxtlas | 4-1 | Gallos de Santa Rosa | Pedro Meré |
| 2009–10 | Brujos de Los Tuxtlas (2) | 4-2 | Chileros de Xalapa | Pedro Meré |
| 2010–11 | Chileros de Xalapa (2) | 4-2 | Brujos de Los Tuxtlas | Shammar Almeida |
| 2011–12 | Brujos de Los Tuxtlas (3) | 4-1 | Chileros de Xalapa | Pedro Meré |
| 2012–13 | Brujos de Los Tuxtlas (4) | 4-1 | Gallos de Santa Rosa | Pedro Meré |
| 2013–14 | Brujos de Los Tuxtlas (5) | 4-1 | Tobis de Acayucan | Pedro Meré |
| 2014–15 | Brujos de San Andrés Tuxtla (6) | 4-1 | Gallos de Santa Rosa | Pedro Meré |
| 2015–16 | Tobis de Acayucan | 4-1 | Chileros de Xalapa | José Ángel Chávez |
| 2017–2018 | Not held (see Veracruz State League) | Not held (see Veracruz State League) | Not held (see Veracruz State League) | Not held (see Veracruz State League) |
| 2018–19 | Tobis de Acayucan (2) | 4-3 | Chileros de Xalapa | Félix Tejeda |

### Championships by Team

| Team | Wins | Seasons |
| Brujos de Los Tuxtlas (defunct) | 6 | 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 |
| Chileros de Xalapa | 2 | 2007-08, 2010-11 |
| Tobis de Acayucan | 2 | 2015-16, 2018-19 |
| Broncos de Cosamaloapan (defunct) | 1 | 2005-06 |
| Gallos de Santa Rosa (defunct) | 1 | 2006-07 |