Texas League

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Texas League
Texasleague.png
SportBaseball
Founded1902
Ceased2020
Replaced byDouble-A Central
CountryUnited States
Last
champion(s)		Amarillo Sod Poodles (2019)
Most titlesHouston Buffaloes (16)
Classification
  • Double-A (1946–2020)
  • Class A1 (1936–1942)
  • Class A (1921–1935)
  • Class B (1911–1920)
  • Class C (1904–1905, 1907–1910)
  • Class D (1902–1903, 1906)
Official websitewww.milb.com/texas

The Texas League was a Minor League Baseball league which operated in the South Central United States from 1902 to 2020. It was classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams were actually based in the state of Texas in its final season; the five North Division teams were located in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. The league maintained its headquarters in Fort Worth.

The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892. It was called the Texas Association in 1895, the Texas-Southern League in 1896 and again as the Texas League from 1897 to 1899. It was revived as a Class D league in 1902, moved to Class C in 1904 where it played through 1910 (except for 1906 as Class D again), played at Class B until 1920, and finally moved up to Class A in 1921. The Texas League, like many others, shut down during World War II. From 1959 to 1961, the Texas League and the Mexican League formed the . The two leagues played a limited interlocking schedule and post-season championship. By 1971, the Texas League and the Southern League had both decreased to seven teams. They played an interlocking schedule with the Southern League known as the Dixie Association. The two leagues played separate playoffs. The Texas League operated its own schedule from 1972 to 2020. The league ceased operations after the 2020 season in conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball.

The Texas League's name is well known due to its association with a particular aspect of the game. A bloop single that drops between the infielders and outfielders has been called a Texas Leaguer since the 1890s, despite no evidence that it originated in the Texas League, or was any more common there than elsewhere.[1]

History[]

Near the end of its run, the Texas League witnessed a great deal of change. Teams once known as the Jackson Mets, El Paso Diablos, Shreveport Captains, and Wichita Wranglers all relocated to new cities and bigger stadiums.

In 2019, the San Antonio Missions relocated to Amarillo, Texas, becoming the Amarillo Sod Poodles. At the same time, the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) moved to San Antonio to continue on as the Missions at the Triple-A level.[2]

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being cancelled on June 30.[3][4]

The league ceased operations after the 2020 season in conjunction with Major League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball.[5] All eight of the Texas League's teams continued on in professional baseball as members of the Double-A Central.[6]

Texas League timeline[]

League members Dixie Association PCL Other Defunct League

  • In 1971, the Southern League and Texas League were each down to seven teams, so they formed the Dixie Association for one season. They played interlocking schedules but held their own separate playoffs.

Complete list of Texas League teams (1902–2020)[]

Note: • An "^" indicates that team's article redirects to an article of an active team in a different league

League champions and award winners[]

See also: Baseball awards § Texas League
Main articles: List of Texas League champions, Texas League Player of the Year Award, Texas League Pitcher of the Year Award, and Texas League Mike Coolbaugh Memorial Coach of the Year Award

Hall of fame[]

Main article: Texas League Hall of Fame

See also[]

References[]

Sources[]

  • Baseball in the Lone Star State: Texas League's Greatest Hits, Tom Kayser and David King, Trinity University Press 2005

Notes[]

  1. ^ Popik, Barry. "Barry Popik". www.barrypopik.com. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  2. ^ "San Antonio to join PCL beginning in 2019". Pacific Coast League. June 21, 2017. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
  3. ^ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  4. ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  5. ^ Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.

External links[]

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