Pecos League
Current season, competition or edition: 2016 | |
| File:Peco League logo.gif | |
| Sport | Baseball |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2010 |
| CEO | Andrew Dunn |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Most recent champion(s) | Tucson Saguaros (2016) |
| Most titles | Roswell Invaders (3) |
| Official website | pecosleague |
The Pecos League of Professional Baseball Clubs is an independent professional baseball league headquartered in Houston, which operates in cities in desert mountain regions throughout New Mexico, Arizona, southern Colorado, Kansas and West Texas. The league plays in cities that do not have Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either.
History
The Pecos League operated six teams in the 2011[1] and 2012 seasons and expanded to eight teams for 2013. Continued growth saw the league reach a high of 10 teams for 2014.
The season is a highly condensed one, where teams may play 70 games in 72 days, all for a weekly salary of $50 per player.
The Pecos League also operates a spring developmental league, which is a one-month showcase beginning in March for recent college graduates and free agents looking to catch on to a full season league.
In May 2014, Fox Sports 1 aired a six-part documentary about life in the Pecos League, mostly based on the Trinidad Triggers.
In August 2014, Jon Edwards made his major league debut with the Texas Rangers becoming the first player in Pecos League history to play in Major League Baseball.
In September 2016, Chris Smith was called up to the Toronto Blue Jays becoming the 2nd player from the Pecos League to make a major league roster.
For 2016, the Las Vegas Train Robbers moved to Topeka, Kansas. Expansion teams were added in Great Bend, Kansas[2] and Tucson, Arizona.[3][4][5] The Tucson Saguaros will play home games at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium on Thursdays through Saturdays and at Warren Ballpark in Bisbee on Sundays.
On February 25, 2016 it was announced that the Las Cruces Vaqueros would sit out the 2016 season due to severe damage to their home stadium.[6] Expansion team Salina Stockade[7] was added to the league and will play a limited 11-game home schedule in 2016.
Current teams
| Pecos League | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Team | Founded | City | Stadium |
| Northern | Garden City Wind | 2015 | Garden City, Kansas | Clint Lightner Field |
| Salina Stockade | 2016 | Salina, Kansas | Dean Evans Stadium | |
| Trinidad Triggers | 2012 | Trinidad, Colorado | Central Park | |
| Southern | Alpine Cowboys | 2009 | Alpine, Texas | Kokernot Field |
| Roswell Invaders | 2011 | Roswell, New Mexico | Joe Bauman Stadium | |
| Santa Fe Fuego | 2012 | Santa Fe, New Mexico | Fort Marcy Ballfield | |
| Tucson Saguaros | 2016 | Tucson, Arizona and Bisbee, Arizona | Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium and Warren Ballpark | |
| White Sands PupFish | 2009 | Alamogordo, New Mexico | Griggs Park | |
Former teams
| Team | Season(s) | Location | Homefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bisbee Blue | 2014 | Bisbee, Arizona | Warren Ballpark |
| Carlsbad Bats | 2011 | Carlsbad, New Mexico | Travel team |
| Douglas Diablos | 2014 | Douglas, Arizona | Copper King Park |
| Great Bend Boom | 2016 | Great Bend, Kansas | Al Burns Memorial Field |
| Las Cruces Vaqueros | 2011–2012, 2015 | Las Cruces, New Mexico | Apodoca Park |
| Las Vegas Train Robbers | 2013–2015 | Las Vegas, New Mexico | Rodriguez Park |
| Raton Osos | 2013–2014 | Raton, New Mexico | Gabrielle Park |
| Ruidoso Osos | 2011 | Ruidoso, New Mexico | White Mountain Park |
| Taos Blizzard | 2013–2014 | Taos, New Mexico | The Tundra |
| Topeka Train Robbers | 2016 | Topeka, Kansas | Lake Shawnee Park |
League timeline
League members Former Team
Champions
| Season | Winner | Runner-up | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Roswell Invaders | Ruidoso Osos | 2-1 (best-of 3) |
| 2012 | Alpine Cowboys | Las Cruces Vaqueros | 2-1 (best-of 3) |
| 2013 | Roswell Invaders | Las Vegas Train Robbers | 2-0 (best-of 3) |
| 2014 | Santa Fe Fuego | Alpine Cowboys | 2-1 (best-of 3) |
| 2015 | Roswell Invaders[8] | Santa Fe Fuego | 2-0 (best-of 3) |
| 2016 | Tucson Saguaros | Trinidad Triggers | 2-0 (best-of 3) |
References
- ^ "Independent Pecos League also will play in Las Cruces, Roswell and Artesia". Albuquerque Journal. 25 August 2010.
- ^ "Great Bend independent baseball team gets schedule, new name". The Hutchinson News. 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Martinez signs pro baseball contract with Tucson". Mesabi Daily News. 4 January 2016.
- ^ "NJIT's Mike Rampone Signs Professional Contract with Tucson Saguaros". NJIT Athletics. 3 February 2016.
- ^ "Ex-JCC player Ramos signs pro contract". Watertown Daily Times. 10 February 2016.
- ^ "Vaqueros will not return in 2016". Las Cruces Sun-News. 25 February 2016.
- ^ "Introducing the Salina Stockade". Salina Journal. 14 February 2016.
- ^ "Invaders handily end Fuego's wild season, claim 3rd league title". Santa Fe New Mexican. 4 August 2015.