Ponce won the second of back-to-back championships in 1969 – 70 as well as the Caribbean Series ' title being led in both by Conde 's offensive . Wayne Simpson was selected MVP . The Cangrejeros won the 1970 – 71 championship , defeating the Criollos in the finals . Ponce 's Santos Alomar Sr. won the league 's batting championship and was named MVP , while Willie Montañez of Caguas led the league in home runs after recording 30 in Major League Baseball . Clemente returned to serve as San Juan 's manager for the season , naming Nino Escalera as his coach . He only accepted the work for a year , expecting Escalera to replace him during the following season . The team advanced to the playoffs , losing their series against Santurce . Clemente also managed Puerto Rico to a win in the All-Star game , which featured a format of natives versus foreign players . He was succeeded as Santurce 's manager by Frank Robinson on the 1971 – 72 season . Ruben Gomez also performed in the office temporarily , while Robinson attended a tour in Japan with Baltimore . The Cangrejeros won the 1972 – 73 title . That season 's All-Star game was dedicated in Clemente 's honor , who died a week before while transporting supplies to victims of the 1972 Nicaragua earthquake . Both native and foreign players won a black band on their arms to symbolize grief
1972 Nicaragua earthquake
1972 Nicaragua earthquake
Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente