Pecos League#Champions
{{Short description|US professional baseball league}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title =
| current_season = 2025 Pecos League season
| logo = Pecos League logo.png
| sport = Baseball
| founded = 2010
| founder = Bob Ward, Andrew Dunn
| inaugural = 2011
| owner = Andrew Dunn
| ceo = Andrew Dunn
| commissioner = Andrew Dunn
| divisions = 2
| teams = 16
| champion = Alpine Cowboys
| champ_season = 2024
| most successful club = Roswell Invaders (4)
| streaming = Meridix
| headquarters = Houston, Texas
| country = United States
| continent = North America
| website = {{URL|http://pecosleague.com}}
}}
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 California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Texas. The league plays in cities that do not have Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either.
The Pecos League season is a highly condensed one. Schedules vary, but teams have played as many as 70 games in 72 days, or 80 games in three months.{{Cite web |last=Darby |first=Seyward |date=2013-04-03 |title=The Legends of Last Place |url=http://magazine.atavist.com/the-legends-of-last-place/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=The Atavist Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=IndyBallIsland |date=2014-10-15 |title="The Shit Show" – The Pecos League and Reality TV |url=https://indyballisland.com/2014/10/15/the-shit-show-the-pecos-league-and-reality-tv/ |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Indy Ball Island |language=en}}
History
The Pecos League operated six teams in the 2011{{Cite web
| url = http://www.abqjournal.com/9024/abqnewsseeker/630am-pro-baseball-coming-to-alamogordo.html
| title = Independent Pecos League also will play in Las Cruces, Roswell and Artesia
| date = August 25, 2010
| website = Albuquerque Journal
}} and 2012 seasons and expanded to eight teams for 2013. Continued growth saw the league reach a high of 10 teams for 2014.
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 second player from the Pecos League to make a major league roster, though he did not appear in a game that season. Smith would eventually make his debut for the Blue Jays on June 27, 2017, against the Baltimore Orioles.
For 2016, the Las Vegas Train Robbers moved to Topeka, Kansas. Expansion teams were added in Great Bend, Kansas{{Cite web
| url = http://www.hutchnews.com/news/local_state_news/great-bend-independent-baseball-team-gets-schedule-new-name/article_7b9afa05-94c2-5111-a0eb-78b39e447b69.html
| title = Great Bend independent baseball team gets schedule, new name
| date = February 3, 2016
| website = The Hutchinson News
}} and Tucson, Arizona.{{Cite web
| url = http://www.virginiamn.com/sports/college_sports/martinez-signs-pro-baseball-contract-with-tucson/article_4c6214b2-b368-11e5-b594-a7127c1d5f03.html
| title = Martinez signs pro baseball contract with Tucson
| date = January 4, 2016
| website = Mesabi Daily News
| url = http://www.njithighlanders.com/news/2016/2/3/BB_0203164939.aspx
| title = NJIT's Mike Rampone Signs Professional Contract with Tucson Saguaros
| date = February 3, 2016
| website = NJIT Athletics
| url = http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/sports/college-baseball-ex-jcc-player-ramos-signs-pro-contract-20160210
| title = Ex-JCC player Ramos signs pro contract
| date = February 10, 2016
| website = Watertown Daily Times
}}
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.{{Cite web
| url = http://www.lcsun-news.com/story/sports/2016/02/25/pecos-league-vaqueros-not-return-2016/80952362/
| title = Vaqueros will not return in 2016
| date = February 25, 2016
| website = Las Cruces Sun-News
}} Expansion team Salina Stockade{{Cite web
| url = http://www.salina.com/sports/local/introducing-the-salina-stockade/article_e015c4b7-f0fc-5e97-85d0-1bd0425f6ef2.html
| title = Introducing the Salina Stockade
| date = February 14, 2016
| website = Salina Journal
}} was added to the league and played a limited 11-game home schedule in 2016.
Following the 2016 season, a drastic shift in the Pecos League landscape occurred as two Kansas teams, the Salina Stockade and Great Bend Boom, both folded, while a third, the Topeka Train Robbers, moved to Bakersfield, California, taking the place of the former Bakersfield Blaze, who folded following the 2016 California League season.
The Train Robbers were joined in California for 2017 by three expansion teams: the High Desert Yardbirds (replacing the California League's High Desert Mavericks), the Monterey Amberjacks, and California City Whiptails. The league also announced a travel team, the Hollywood Stars, who played a handful of home games in Los Angeles.
For 2019, the Ruidoso Osos were replaced by the Wasco Reserves, and the league reduced the number of divisions from three to two.
For 2020, the Martinez Sturgeon and Santa Cruz Seaweed were announced as expansion teams, and the San Rafael Pacifics were added from the Pacific Association. They joined the all-California Pacific Division, and replaced the California City Whiptails and High Desert Yardbirds in the circuit. The Tucson Saguaros moved to the Mountain Division, taking the place of the White Sands Pupfish. Interdivisional games would not be played to cut down on travel and other expenses.{{Cite press release |title=Pecos League to play with fourteen teams in two divisions for 2020 season |date=February 25, 2020 |publisher=Pecos League |url=http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=28&article_id=10283}} Later, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league announced that the Mountain Division teams would not play at their home stadiums, and that 4 of the 6 teams would play a condensed 36-game season beginning on July 1, 2020.{{Cite press release |title=Pecos League 2020 Season Update|date=May 7, 2020 |publisher=Pecos League |url=http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=28&article_id=10860}} All games were played at Coastal Baseball Park in Houston, Texas. The Pacific Division originally planned on enacting a similar format, but due to the ongoing pandemic, were unable to compete in 2020.
For the 2021 season, the Salina Stockade returned and the league announced the addition of the Colorado Springs Snow Sox as an expansion team. On April 4, the league announced its final division alignment for the season, which did not include California City and High Desert after previously indicating each would return.{{cite web|url=http://www.pecosleague.com/images/2021map.png|title=2021 team map|website=Pecos League official site|accessdate=February 16, 2021}} On August 3, the league announced the Bay Series between the San Rafael Pacifics, Monterey Amberjacks, Martinez Sturgeon, and Santa Cruz Seaweed after the Bakersfield Train Robbers tested positive for COVID-19 and had to cancel their final home series.{{cite web|url=http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=28&article_id=11434| title=The Bay Series is born }} The Pecos League operated the Houston Apollos in the American Association as a travel team.
In April 2021, Yermín Mercedes was called up to the Chicago White Sox where he set a major league record as the first baseball player in modern MLB history to begin a season with eight consecutive hits.
For the 2022 season, the league announced three expansion franchises: the Santa Rosa Scuba Divers, Austin Weirdos, and Weimar Hormigas.{{cite web|url=http://www.pecosleague.com/pecosleague.asp?page=28&article_id=11526| title=It is the Weimar Hormigas Baseball in the Pecos League for 2022 }} After competing in 2021, Salina was not included as a member club in 2022.
Before 2023, the league introduced 4 new teams; the Lancaster Sound Breakers, Marysville Drakes, Blackwell Fly Catchers, and Dublin Leprechauns. The Weimar Hormigas, Colorado Springs Snow Sox, Wasco Reserve, and Santa Rosa Scuba Divers folded. Tucson moved back to the Mountain Division, while the Santa Cruz Seaweed moved to Vallejo, California.
For the 2024 season, the Lancaster Sound Breakers and Monterey Amberjacks did not return. The Sound Breakers folded due to the city of Lancaster entering into a lease with a soccer organization to use The Hangar, leaving the Sound Breakers without a stadium. The City of Monterey reportedly did not renew its contract with the league, but the Amberjacks plan to return in 2025.
To replace the Sound Breakers and Amberjacks, the league brought in two new teams for the season, the North Platte 80s and the Pecos Bills. Both of which are the first time that each city has had a team in the league.
Before the 2025 season, the Amberjacks made a return while Marysville folded. A new expansion team, the Kansas City Hormigas was announced. The Santa Rosa Scuba Divers returned with the relocation of the Vallejo Seaweed, but it was short lived as they moved back to Vallejo to play as the Seaweed in June, 2025.
The league will split the Mountain Division into a Mountain North and Mountain South for the 2025 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/weekly-sports-league-and-franchise-report/n-6176784 |title=Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report |publisher=Our Sports Central |website=oursportscentral.com |last=Krieger |first=Dan |date=December 30, 2024 |access-date=December 30, 2024}}
Current teams
class="wikitable"
|+style="background-color:#003366" | Pecos League |
Division
! Team ! Founded ! City ! Stadium ! Capacity |
---|
style="background-color:#FFA7A7" rowspan="5" | Mountain North
| align=center| 2023 | Morgan Field | align=center | 1,500 |
Garden City Wind
| align=center| 2015 | Clint Lightner Field | align=center | 1,000{{cite web|title=Clint Lightner|url=http://www.clintlightner.com/ballparks.asp?page=1&ballparks_id=1700|website=www.clintlightner.com|publisher=Pecos League|access-date=20 January 2018}} |
Kansas City Hormigas
| align=center| 2024 | Satchel Paige Stadium | align=center | 2,000 |
North Platte 80s
| align=center| 2023 | Bill Wood Field | align=center| 1,500 |
Trinidad Triggers
| align=center| 2012 | Central Park |
style="background-color:#FFA7A7" rowspan="5" | Mountain South
| align=center| 2009 |
Pecos Bills
| align=center| 2023 | Cyclone Ballpark | align=center|Unknown |
Roswell Invaders
| align=center| 2011 | Joe Bauman Stadium | align=center| 500 |
Santa Fe Fuego
| align=center| 2012 |
Tucson Saguaros
| align=center| 2016 | align=center | 11,000 |
rowspan="7" style="background-color:#B7D0FF" | Pacific
| align=center| 2013 |
Dublin Leprechauns
| align=center| 2023 | Fallon Sports Park | align=center| 250 |
Martinez Sturgeon
| align=center| 2020 | Waterfront Park | align=center|200 |
Monterey Amberjacks
| align=center| 2017 | Frank E. Sollecito Jr. Ballpark | align=center|2,500 |
San Rafael Pacifics
| align=center| 2020 |
Vallejo Seaweed
| align=center| 2021 | Wilson Park | align=center | Unknown |
= Map of teams =
{{location map+ |USA |float=left |width=800|caption=Current team locations:{{Legend|#FF0000|Mountain Division}}{{Legend|#0000FF|Pacific Division}}
|places=
{{location map~ |USA|lat=30.373 |long=-103.6645 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Cowboys |position=top}}
{{location map~ |USA|lat=36.804330 |long=-97.282980 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=FlyCatchers |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |USA|lat=37.96061 |long=-100.86707 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Wind |position=top}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=31.42291 |long=-103.49323 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Bills|position=top}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=33.36392 |long=-104.50969 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Invaders |position=right}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=35.6955563 |long=-105.9369242 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Fuego |position=left}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=37.1668792 |long=-104.5184219 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Triggers |position=left}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=32.176675 |long=-110.933367 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Saguaros |position=top}}
{{location map~ |USA|lat=39.099724 |long=-94.578331 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Hormigas |position=top}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=35.3975 |long=-119.0224 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Train Robbers |position=right}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=37.71267 |long=-121.85496 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label= Leprechauns| position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=38.022964 |long=-122.132548 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Sturgeon |position=right}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=36.6002|long=-121.8947 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=Amberjacks |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=41.136111|long=-100.763056 |mark=Red pog.svg |marksize=6 |label=80s |position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=37.967780 |long=-122.528243 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label= Pacifics| position=left}}
{{location map~ |USA |lat=38.097155 |long=-122.244400 |mark=Blue pog.svg |marksize=6 |label= {{nowrap|Seaweed}}| position=top}}
}}
{{-}}
Former teams
class="wikitable" |
Team
! Season(s) ! Location ! Homefield |
---|
Carlsbad Bats
| 2011 |
Bisbee Blue
| 2014 |
Douglas Diablos
| 2014 | Copper King Park |
Raton Osos
| 2013–2014 | Gabrielle Park |
Taos Blizzard
| 2013–2014 | The Tundra |
Las Cruces Vaqueros
| 2010–2012, 2015 | Apodaca Park |
Las Vegas Train Robbers
| 2013–2015 | Rodriguez Park |
Great Bend Boom
| 2016 | Al Burns Memorial Field |
Topeka Train Robbers
| 2016 | Lake Shawnee Park |
Ruidoso Osos
| 2011, 2018 | White Mountain Park |
California City Whiptails
| 2017–2019 | Balsitis Park |
High Desert Yardbirds
| 2017–2019 |
White Sands Pupfish
| 2009–2019 | Jim Griggs Park |
Houston Apollos
| 2012–2020 |
Salina Stockade
| 2016, 2020–2021 | Dean Evans Stadium |
Colorado Springs Snow Sox
| 2021–2022 | Spurgeon Field |
Weimar Hormigas
| 2022 | Veterans Park |
Wasco Reserve
|2019, 2021–2022 |Wasco, California, Bakersfield, California |Wasco Ballpark, Sam Lynn Ballpark |
Santa Rosa Scuba Divers
| 2022 |
Lancaster Sound Breakers
| 2023 |
Marysville Drakes
|2023-2024 |
Austin Weirdos
|2022-2024 |Travel Team |
Proposed teams that never played
A high number of Pecos League teams postponed their premiere seasons before they were slated to play, like the Pueblo Diablos (Bighorns) in Colorado, and Douglas Diablos, Maricopa Monsoon in Arizona and Nogales Sonorans or Skeletons.{{cite web | url=http://www.maricopamonsoon.com/maricopa.asp?page=2 | title=新人报导,请多多关照!我叫罗伯特-莱万多夫斯基 }}
League timeline
DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
ImageSize = width:1100 height:auto barincrement:25
Period = from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2025
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal
PlotArea = right:20 left:0 bottom:50 top:5 #> to display a count on left side of graph, use "left:20" to suppress the count, use "left:20"<#
Colors = id:barcolor value:black
id:line value:pink
id:bg value:white
id:Full value:rgb(0.742,0.727,0.852) # Use this color to denote a team that is a current league member
id:Past value:rgb(0.4,0.80,0.67) # Use to indicate a former team
id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to or from another league
PlotData=
width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s
bar:1 color:Full from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2019 text:Alpine Cowboys (2011–2019, 2021–present)
bar:1 color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:end text:
bar:2 color:Past from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2011 text:Carlsbad Bats (2011)
bar:3 color:Past from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2012 text:Las Cruces Vaqueros (2011–2012, 2015)
bar:3 color:Past from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2015 text:
bar:4 color:Full from:01/01/2011 till:end text:Roswell Invaders (2011–present)
bar:5 color:Past from:01/01/2011 till:12/31/2011 text:Ruidoso Osos (2011, 2013–2014, 2018)
bar:5 color:Past from:01/01/2013 till:12/31/2014 text:
bar:5 color:Past from:01/01/2018 till:12/31/2018 text:
bar:6 color:Past from:01/01/2011 till:01/01/2020 text:White Sands Pupfish (2011–2019)
bar:7 color:Full from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2019 text:Santa Fe Fuego (2012–2019, 2021–present)
bar:7 color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:end text:
bar:8 color:Full from:01/01/2012 till:12/31/2019 text:Trinidad Triggers (2012–2019, 2021–present)
bar:8 color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:end text:
bar:9 color:Full from:01/01/2013 till:12/31/2015 text:Las Vegas Train Robbers (2013–2015), Topeka Train Robbers (2016), Bakersfield Train Robbers (2017–2019, 2021–present)
bar:9 color:Full from:01/01/2016 till:12/31/2016 text:
bar:9 color:Full from:01/01/2017 till:12/31/2019 text:
bar:9 color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:end text:
bar:10 color:Past from:01/01/2013 till:12/31/2014 text:Taos Blizzard (2013–2014)
bar:11 color:Past from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2014 text:Bisbee Blue (2014)
bar:12 color:Past from:01/01/2014 till:12/31/2014 text:Douglas Diablos (2014)
bar:13 color:Full from:01/01/2015 till:12/31/2019 text:Garden City Wind (2015–2019, 2021–present)
bar:13 color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:end text:
bar:14 color:Past from:01/01/2016 till:01/01/2017 text:Great Bend Boom (2016)
bar:15 color:Past from:01/01/2016 till:01/01/2017 text:Salina Stockade (2016, 2020–2021)
bar:15 color:Past from:01/01/2020 till:12/31/2021 text:
bar:16 color:Full from:01/01/2016 till:end text:Tucson Saguaros (2016–present)
bar:17 color:Past from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2020 text:California City Whiptails (2017–2019)
bar:18 color:Past from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2020 text:High Desert Yardbirds (2017–2019)
bar:19 color:Past from:01/01/2017 till:01/01/2018 text:Hollywood Stars (2017)
bar:20 color:Full from:01/01/2017 till:12/31/2019 text:Monterey Amberjacks (2017–2019, 2021–2023, 2025–present)
bar:20 color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:12/31/2023 text:
bar:20 color:Full from:01/01/2025 till:end text:
bar:21 color:Past from:01/01/2019 till:12/31/2019 text:Wasco Reserve (2019, 2021–2022)
bar:21 color:Past from:01/01/2021 till:12/31/2022 text:
bar:22 color:Past from:01/01/2020 till:12/31/2020 text:Houston Apollos (2020)
bar:23 color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:end text:Martinez Sturgeon (2021–present)
bar:24 color:Full from:01/01/2021 till:end text:San Rafael Pacifics (2021–present)
bar:25 color:Past from:01/01/2021 till:11/17/2022 text:Santa Cruz Seaweed (2021–2022), Vallejo Seaweed (2023–2024)
bar:25 color:Past from:11/17/2022 till:12/31/2024 text:
bar:26 color:Past from:01/01/2021 till:12/31/2022 text:Colorado Springs Snow Sox (2021–2022)
bar:27 color:Past from:01/01/2022 till:12/31/2024 text:Austin Weirdos (2022–2024)
bar:28 color:Full from:01/01/2022 till:12/31/2022 text:Santa Rosa Scuba Divers (2022, 2025–present)
bar:28 color:Full from:01/01/2025 till:end text:
bar:29 color:Past from:01/01/2022 till:12/31/2022 text:Weimar Hormigas (2022)
bar:29 color:Full from:01/01/2025 till:end text:Kansas City Hormigas (2025–present)
bar:30 color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Blackwell FlyCatchers (2023–present)
bar:31 color:Full from:01/01/2023 till:end text:Dublin Leprechauns (2023–present)
bar:32 color:Past from:01/01/2023 till:12/31/2023 text:Lancaster Sound Breakers (2023)
bar:33 color:Past from:01/01/2023 till:12/31/2024 text:Marysville Drakes (2023–2024)
bar:34 color:Full from:01/01/2024 till:end text:North Platte 80s (2024–present)
bar:35 color:Full from:01/01/2024 till:end text:Pecos Bills (2024–present)
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:1 start:01/01/2011
TextData =
fontsize:L
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text:^"Pecos League Timeline"
- > If the chart uses more than one bar color, add a legend by selecting the appropriate fields from the following three options (use only the colors that are used in the graphic.) Leave a blank line after the end of the timeline, then add a line with the selected values from the list, separated by a space. {{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|League members}} {{Font color||{{RGB|255|255|179}}|Other Current League}} <#
{{Font color||{{RGB|190|186|218}}|League members}} {{Font color||{{RGB|102|205|170}}|Former Team}}
Champions
class="wikitable"
!Season !Winner !Runner-up !Result |
2011
|2–1 (best-of-3) |
2012
|2–1 (best-of-3) |
2013
|2–0 (best-of-3) |
2014
|2–1 (best-of-3) |
2015
| url = http://www.santafenewmexican.com/sports/invaders-handily-end-fuego-s-wild-season-claim-rd-league/article_d5f22718-a6b2-5664-9253-db8cbd452209.html | title = Invaders handily end Fuego's wild season, claim 3rd league title | date = August 4, 2015 | website = Santa Fe New Mexican }} |2–0 (best-of-3) |
2016
|2–0 (best-of-3) |
2017
|2–0 (best-of-3) |
2018
|Bakersfield Train Robbers{{Cite web|url=https://www.turnto23.com/news/local-news/bakersfield-train-robbers-win-pecos-league-championship|title=Bakersfield Train Robbers win Pecos League Championship|date=August 4, 2018|website=23 ABC News}} |2–1 (best-of-3) |
2019
|2–0 (best-of-3) |
2020
|2–0 (best-of-3) |
2021
|2–1 (best-of-3) |
2022
|2–1 (best-of-3) |
2023
|2-1 (best-of-3) |
2024
|2-0 (best-of-3) |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://pecosleague.com}}
- [https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/league.cgi?code=PECO&class=Ind Pecos League Encyclopedia and History at BaseballReference.com]
- [http://www.independentbaseball.net/independent-baseball-leagues/pecos-league/ Pecos League at IndependentBaseball.net]
{{Pecos League}}
{{Professional Baseball}}
Category:Sports leagues established in 2010
Category:Independent baseball leagues in the United States
Category:2010 establishments in the United States
Category:Professional sports leagues in the United States
Category:Baseball leagues in New Mexico
Category:Baseball leagues in California
Category:Baseball leagues in Kansas
Category:Baseball leagues in Arizona