Central Baseball League
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1994 |
| Ceased | 2005 |
| No. of teams | 25 |
| Country | United 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.
- Abilene Prairie Dogs
- Alexandria Aces
- Amarillo Dillas
- Beaumont Bullfrogs (also Bayou Bullfrogs, Lafayette Bullfrogs)
- Coastal Bend Aviators
- Corpus Christi Barracudas
- Edinburg Roadrunners
- El Paso Diablos
- Fort Worth Cats
- Greenville Bluesmen
- Jackson Senators (also Jackson DiamondKats)
- Lafayette Bullfrogs (also Beaumont Bullfrogs and Bayou Bullfrogs)
- Laredo Apaches
- Lubbock Crickets
- Mobile BaySharks
- Pensacola Pelicans
- Pueblo Bighorns
- Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
- San Antonio Tejanos
- San Angelo Colts
- Shreveport-Bossier Sports
- Springfield/Ozark Mountain Ducks
- Tyler Wildcatters
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
- ^ "Central League (Independent)". Encyclopedia and History – Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-03-13.
- Central Baseball League
- Defunct minor baseball leagues in the United States
- Defunct independent baseball leagues in the United States
- Baseball leagues in Alabama
- Baseball leagues in Arkansas
- Baseball leagues in Colorado
- Baseball leagues in Florida
- Baseball leagues in Kansas
- Baseball leagues in Louisiana
- Baseball leagues in Mississippi
- Baseball leagues in Missouri
- Baseball leagues in Texas