Timeline
Baseball has become a key part of Escondidan life - here you can find a timeline of major events in the island's history, intertwined with key milestones in the development of baseball on Escondida. Historical events are in black text, general baseball events in red and Liga Nacional structural and rules changes are in blue.
1563
The first Spanish colonizers arrive on Escondida at Navalesa, and formally claim the island for King Felipe II.
1590
The city of Centenera is founded.
1672
Spanish colonial government is relocated to Centenera.
1731
El Desafortunado Incidente. The British Navy inadvertently invade Escondida while pursuing a suspected pirate vessel near present-day El Guate. The British forces are swiftly repelled by local Rangers, and the Spanish increase their military presence on the island in response.
1845
La Institution del Este is established in San Rodrigo, the first public university on the island.
1883
War for Independence - Escondidan nationalists lay siege to the mayor's office in La Cruz, firing the first shots of the war against the Spanish colonial rulers.
1885
War for Independence - Spanish troops massacre 300 protesters at an independence rally in San Rodrigo.
1887
War for Independence - Centenera falls to nationalist forces.
1885
War for Independence - Spanish troops massacre 300 protesters at an independence rally in San Rodrigo.
1887
War for Independence - Centenera falls to nationalist forces.
1889
War for Independence - The last Spanish forces on the island surrender to nationalists in Tahón.
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Spain grants Escondidan independence after peace talks brokered by the United States.
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The first Escondidan national government is formed.
1895
A barnstorming teams of American National Leaguers visit the island as part of their winter tour, playing the first recorded games of baseball on the island.
1896
The Atlético baseball club are formed, and play their first game.
1898
The national government provides safe harbour to Spanish ships fighting the Spanish-American War, outraging citizens who demanded the country remain neutral.
1899
The Tahón Leones baseball club is formed.
1904
Club Orientales is formed by students at the Institution del Este, to compete in the amateur Eastern Coastal baseball league.
1913
Documents stolen from the Foreign Ministry reveal the national government have been accepting money from Spain in return for promoting pro-Madrid policies.
1915
The La Cruz Baseball Club is founded.
1920
The last "free" elections are held on Escondida, amidst intimidation and violence from the ruling government.
1921
Libertad Campaign - Dissidents of the corrupt government set up camp on Santa Agnes.
1923
Libertad Campaign - The rebels, having seized control of Santa Agnes, make landing on the mainland and overrun the town of La Cruz.
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Libertad Campaign - Pushing inland, by winter the rebels have reached Progreso, where they fortify the town as a base for a push northwards towards the main population centres.
1924
Libertad Campaign - The rebel forces reach Centenera, seizing control of the capital after a seven-week battle.
1925
Libertad Campaign - The rebels rout the last remaining government forces from their holdouts at the Reducto in Tahón.
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Libertad Campaign - El Presidente is formally declared as Supreme Leader of the Free Republic of Escondida.
1929
The final section of the cross-island Centenera to San Rodrigo railway is completed.
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The Progreso Tabaqueros baseball club is founded to compete in the Southern Summer Baseball Tournament.
1932
The island's first professional baseball league - the Liga Nacional de Escondida - is announced by El Presidente, to begin play in the autumn.
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A new Centenera club, Los Metropolitanos, is established to compete in the new league.
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Sweeping reforms are made to youth baseball on the island, with the Torneo Desafío Juventud re-established as a representative competition for young players seeking to enter the professional game.
1933
The Liga de Desarollo, the development league, begins play as a four-team, independent professional league.
1935
Two new teams are invited to enter La Liga, the Rio Hondo Rojos and the Villardondiego Tropicales. Both are newly established teams, and are able to draw some of their players through a distribution draft from the original six Liga sides.
History Home
*
Sweeping reforms are made to youth baseball on the island, with the Torneo Desafío Juventud re-established as a representative competition for young players seeking to enter the professional game.
1933
The Liga de Desarollo, the development league, begins play as a four-team, independent professional league.
1935
Two new teams are invited to enter La Liga, the Rio Hondo Rojos and the Villardondiego Tropicales. Both are newly established teams, and are able to draw some of their players through a distribution draft from the original six Liga sides.
History Home
