The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas–Louisiana League, was an independent baseball league whose member teams were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises.[1]
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Ceased | 2005 |
| No. of teams | 25 |
| Country | United States |
In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S. Congressman John Bryant, became frustrated that the Texas League had no plans to expand into other Texas locations, and formed The Texas–Louisiana League. The league began play in 1994. After further expansion into Missouri and Mississippi, the Texas–Louisiana League changed its name to the Central Baseball League. In 12 seasons, the league produced 10 different champions; Alexandria and Edinburg were the only teams to win a title twice.
After the 2005 season, the eight-team Central Baseball League disbanded. Five teams joined the American Association: Pensacola, Shreveport, Fort Worth, Coastal Bend and El Paso; and one joined the United League, San Angelo. Edinburg also received a franchise in the United League, unrelated to the now-defunct Roadrunners of the Central League.
Teams
editThe following teams were, at one time, either a member of the Central Baseball League or the Texas–Louisiana League.
| Team Name | City | State | Joined | Left | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene Prairie Dogs | Abilene | Texas | 1995 | 1999 | Folded |
| Alexandria Aces | Alexandria | Texas | 1994 | 2003 | Folded, returned to the United League in 2006 |
| Amarillo Dillas | Amarillo | Texas | 1994 | 2004 | Folded, returned to the United League in 2006 |
| Beaumont Bullfrogs | Beaumont | Texas | 1994 | 1994 | Folded |
| Coastal Bend Aviators | Robstown | Texas | 2003 | 2005 | Joined the American Association |
| Corpus Christi Barracudas | Corpus Christi | Texas | 1994 | 1995 | Folded |
| Edinburg Roadrunners | Edinburg | Texas | 2001 | 2005 | Folded |
| El Paso Diablos | El Paso | Texas | 2005 | 2005 | Joined the American Association |
| Fort Worth Cats | Fort Worth | Texas | 2002 | 2005 | Joined the American Association |
| Greenville Bluesmen | Greenville | Miss. | 1998 | 2001 | Folded |
| Jackson DiamondKats/Senators | Jackson | Miss. | 2000 | 2005 | Folded |
| Lafayette/Bayou Bullfrogs | Lafayette | La. | 1998 | 2000 | Folded |
| Laredo Apaches | Laredo | Texas | 1995 | 1995 | Folded |
| Lubbock Crickets | Lubbock | Texas | 1995 | 1998 | Folded |
| Mobile BaySharks | Mobile | Ala. | 1994 | 1995 | Folded |
| Pensacola Pelicans | Pensacola | Fla. | 2004 | 2005 | Joined the American Association |
| Pueblo Bighorns | Pueblo | Colo. | 1995 | 1995 | Folded |
| Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings | Harlington | Texas | 1994 | 2003 | Folded, returned to the United League in 2006 |
| San Antonio Tejanos | San Antonio | Texas | 1994 | 1994 | Transferred to Laredo |
| San Angelo Colts | San Angelo | Texas | 2000 | 2005 | Joined the United League |
| Shreveport-Bossier Sports | Shreveport | La. | 2003 | 2005 | Joined the American Association |
| Springfield-Ozark Mountain Ducks | Ozark | Mo. | 1999 | 2003 | Joined the Frontier League |
| Tyler Wildcatters | Tyler | Texas | 1994 | 1997 | Folded |
Texas–Louisiana League champions
edit- 1994 Corpus Christi
- 1995 Lubbock
- 1996 Abilene
- 1997 Alexandria
- 1998 Alexandria
- 1999 Amarillo
- 2000 Rio Grande Valley
- 2001 Edinburg
Central Baseball League champions
edit- 2002 San Angelo
- 2003 Jackson
- 2004 Edinburg
- 2005 Fort Worth
References
edit- ^ "Central League (Independent)". Encyclopedia and History – Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-03-13.