Biography

Monchin Pichardo

Monchin Pichardo (or Ernesto “Monchin” Pichardo) was longtime President (1961-1965, 1971-1973, 1974-1992) of the Tigres de Licey of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. In 1972, Pichardo and the Los Angeles Dodgers entered into a working agreement with the Dominican Republic Winter League team. Over the next 20 years, Licey would win 10 championships and 6 Caribbean Series. Through the years, the Dodgers sent many players to Licey for winter ball. Albuquerque Dukes Manager Tommy Lasorda, fresh off a 1972 Pacific Coast League championship, guided the Licey club in 1972-73 to the Dominican Republic Winter League championship. Dodger players Steve Garvey and Bill Russell participated in winter ball that season for Lasorda at Licey. Dodger Coach Lasorda led Licey to the championship in the 1973 Caribbean Series, held in Caracas, Venezuela with a 5-1 record. It was Licey’s second championship in the Caribbean Series. Lasorda was also at the helm of Licey and managed them to back-to-back Dominican Winter Baseball League championships in 1973-74.

March 24, 1992 at Port St. Lucie, Florida, Dodgers at New York Mets exhibition game (L-R): Fred Claire, Dodger Executive Vice President and General Manager; Monchin Pichardo, President of Licey Baseball Club, Dominican Republic; Ruben De Lara, Commissioner of Baseball, the Dominican Republic; and Peter O’Malley, Dodger President.

March 17, 1993, Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida (L-R): Monchin Pichardo, owner of the Licey Tigres; Dodger President Peter O’Malley; and National League umpire Dutch Rennert. At the St. Patrick’s dinner party, Pichardo and Rennert each receive a “Key to Dodgertown” from longtime friend O’Malley. Only a few keys were presented, representing the highest honor accorded to those special friends.

September 4, 1999, (L-R): Peter O’Malley; Dodger Vice President Ralph Avila; and Monchin Pichardo, President, Licey Tigres, Dominican Republic. O’Malley was at Campo Las Palmas baseball academy in Guerra, Dominican Republic, which he created and privately built in 1987. Under Pichardo’s leadership, the Licey Tigres won six Caribbean Series championships in winter ball.

On March 16, 1988, Pichardo visited Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida as a week-long guest of Peter O’Malley. On March 17, 1993, O’Malley showed great appreciation for his friendship with Pichardo by presenting him with the “Key to Dodgertown” in Vero Beach, Florida. In September, 1999, Peter visited Campo Las Palmas outside of Santo Domingo and Pichardo was invited to participate in ceremonies recognizing Peter’s longtime support of the Dodgers’ academy and Dominican Republic baseball. Pichardo was inducted into the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. Pichardo passed April 18, 2006. His son, Dr. Domingo Ernesto Pichardo Peña became the president of Licey in 2019. Dr. Pena told theworldnews.net on June 4, 2019: “My father, Monchín Pichardo, dedicated his life to this team. The truth is that at that time he did not understand why he put so much passion and dedication to the affairs of the Licey; when he won he enjoyed it intensely and when he lost he did it with a tremendous sense of frustration: now I understand it.”