Central Baseball League

For other uses, see Central League (disambiguation).
"Texas–Louisiana League" redirects here. Not to be confused with Texas–Louisiana League (Negro league).
Central Baseball League
SportBaseball
Founded1994
Ceased2005
No. of teams25
CountryUnited States

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]

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

The following teams were, at one time, either a member of the Central Baseball League or the Texas–Louisiana League.

Central Baseball League is located in the United States
Prairie Dogs
Prairie
Dogs
Aces
Aces
Dillas
Dillas
Bullfrogs
Bullfrogs
Aviators
Aviators
Barracudas
Barracudas
Roadrunners
Roadrunners
Diablos
Diablos
Cats
Cats
Bluesmen
Bluesmen
Senators
Senators
Central Baseball League
Apaches
Apaches
Crickets
Crickets
BaySharks
BaySharks
Pelicans
Pelicans
Bighorns
Bighorns
WhiteWings
WhiteWings
Tejanos
Tejanos
Colts
Colts
Sports
Sports
Mountain Ducks
Mountain Ducks
Wildcatters
Wildcatters
Central Baseball League (the United States)

   

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

  • 1994 Corpus Christi
  • 1995 Lubbock
  • 1996 Abilene
  • 1997 Alexandria
  • 1998 Alexandria
  • 1999 Amarillo
  • 2000 Rio Grande Valley
  • 2001 Edinburg

Central Baseball League champions

  • 2002 San Angelo
  • 2003 Jackson
  • 2004 Edinburg
  • 2005 Fort Worth

References

  1. ^ "Central League (Independent)". Encyclopedia and History – Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-03-13.