The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the state of

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

; the five North Division teams are located in

Arkansas Arkansas ( ) is a landlocked state in the South Central United States. It is bordered by Missouri to the north, Tennessee and Mississippi to the east, Louisiana to the south, and Texas and Oklahoma to the west. Its name is from the O ...

, Kansas,

Missouri Missouri is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee): Iowa to the north, Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee to the east, Arkansas t ...

, and Oklahoma. 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 The Mexican League (, ) is a professional baseball league based in Mexico and the oldest running professional league in the country. The league has 18 teams organized in two divisions, North and South. Teams play 114 games each season. Five te ...

formed the Pan American Association. 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 has operated its own schedule since 1972. Following MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues in 2021, it operated as the Double-A Central for one season before switching back to its previous moniker in 2022. 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, The hit was attribute to Ollie Pickering who often hit them.

History

Around the advent of the 21st century, the Texas League witnessed a great deal of change. Teams once known as the

Jackson Mets The Jackson Mets were a professional baseball team based in Jackson, Mississippi, from 1975 through 1990. As of 2010, they were the longest-tenured club to be based in the Jackson metropolitan area. For their entire sixteen seasons of existence, t ...

El Paso Diablos "El Paso Diablos" refers to two different professional baseball teams based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The most recent Diablos were a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, wh ...

Shreveport Captains The Shreveport Captains (1971–2000) and Shreveport Swamp Dragons (2001–02) were a professional minor-league baseball team based in Shreveport, Louisiana. They were affiliated with the California Angels (1971–72), Milwaukee Brewers (1973–74 ...

, and

Wichita Wranglers The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994 and the Kansas City Royals ...

all relocated to new cities and bigger stadiums. In 2019, the San Antonio Missions relocated to Amarillo, Texas, becoming the

Amarillo Sod Poodles The Amarillo Sod Poodles, nicknamed the Soddies, are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Amarillo, Texas, and play their home games at Hodgetown in downtown ...

. 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. The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Texas League was temporarily renamed the "Double-A Central" for the 2021 season. Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the Double-A Central was renamed the Texas League effective with the 2022 season.

Current teams

Texas League timeline

DateFormat = yyyy ImageSize = width:1000 height:auto barincrement:20 Period = from:1946 till:2036 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 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 stint in the Dixie Association (1971) id:OtherC1 value:rgb(0.996,0.996,0.699) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to another current league id:OtherC2 value:rgb(0.988,0.703,0.383) # Use this color to denote a team that has moved to a now-defunct league PlotData= width:15 textcolor:black shift:(5,-5) anchor:from fontsize:s bar:1 color:Full from:1946 till:1971 text:Beaumont Exporters/Roughnecks; Austin Senators/Braves; Shreveport Braves (1946–1970) bar:2 color:Full from:1946 till:1959 text:Dallas Rebels/Eagles/Rangers (1946–1958) AA bar:2 color:OtherC2 from:1959 till:1963 bar:2 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1965 text:PCL bar:3 color:Full from:1946 till:1960 text:Fort Worth Cats (1946–1958; 1964) bar:3 color:OtherC2 from:1959 till:1960 text:AA bar:3 color:Full from:1964 till:1965 bar:3 color:Full from:1965 till:1971 text:Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs (1965–1971) bar:3 color:Past from:1971 till:1972 bar:4 color:Full from:1946 till:1959 text:Houston Buffaloes (1946–1958) bar:4 color:OtherC2 from:1959 till:1962 text:AA bar:5 color:Full from:1946 till:1958 text:Oklahoma City Indians (1946–1957) bar:6 color:Full from:1946 till:1965 text:San Antonio Missions/Bullets (1946–1964) bar:6 color:Full from:1968 till:1971 text:San Antonio Missions/Brewers/Dodgers (1968–2018) bar:6 color:Past from:1971 till:1972 bar:6 color:Full from:1972 till:2019 bar:6 color:OtherC1 from:2019 till:2020 text: PCL bar:7 color:Full from:1946 till:1958 text:Shreveport Sports (1946–1957) bar:7 color:OtherC2 from:1959 till:1962 text:SA bar:8 color:Full from:1946 till:1966 text:Tulsa Oilers (1946–1965) bar:8 color:OtherC1 from:1966 till:1969 text:PCL bar:8 color:OtherC2 from:1969 till:1977 text:AA bar:9 color:Full from:1958 till:1962 text:Corpus Christi/Rio Grande Valley/Victoria Giants (1958–1961) bar:10 color:Full from:1958 till:1962 text:Victoria/Ardmore Rosebuds (1958–1961) bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:1953 till:1956 text:WTNM bar:11 color:OtherC2 from:1956 till:1959 text:WL bar:11 color:Full from:1959 till:1964 text:Amarillo Gold Sox (1959–1963; 1976–1982) bar:11 color:Full from:1976 till:1983 bar:11 color:Full from:1983 till:2008 text:Beaumont Golden Gators; Wichita Pilots/Wranglers (1983–2007) bar:11 color:Full from:2008 till:2020 text:NW Arkansas Naturals (2008–2022) bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:1946 till:1956 text: WTNM bar:12 color:OtherC2 from:1956 till:1962 text: WL bar:12 color:Full from:1962 till:1971 text:Albuquerque Dukes/Dodgers (1962–1971) PCL bar:12 color:Past from:1971 till:1972 bar:12 color:OtherC1 from:1972 till:2001 bar:13 color:OtherC2 from:1961 till:1962 text:Soph El Paso Sun Kings; El Paso Sun Dodgers/Sun Kings/Diablos (1962–1970; 1972–2004) bar:13 color:Full from:1962 till:1971 bar:13 color:Full from:1972 till:2005 bar:13 color:Full from:2005 till:2022 text:Springfield Cardinals (2005–2022) bar:14 color:Full from:1965 till:1971 text:Amarillo Sonics/Giants; Lafayette/Tulsa Drillers (1965–2022) bar:14 color:Past from:1971 till:1972 bar:14 color:Full from:1972 till:2022 bar:15 color:OtherC1 from:1963 till:1966 text:IL PCL bar:15 color:Full from:1966 till:1971 text:Arkansas Travelers (1966–present) bar:15 color:Past from:1971 till:1972 bar:15 color:Full from:1972 till:2022 bar:16 color:Full from:1968 till:1971 text:Memphis Blues; Victoria Toros; Jackson Mets/Generals (1968–1999) bar:16 color:Past from:1971 till:1972 bar:16 color:Full from:1972 till:2000 bar:16 color:Full from:2000 till:2005 text:Round Rock Express (2000–2004) PCL bar:16 color:OtherC1 from:2005 till:2020 bar:17 color:Past from:1971 till:1972 text:Shreveport Captains/Swamp Dragons (1971–2002) bar:17 color:Full from:1972 till:2003 bar:17 color:Full from:2003 till:2022 text:Frisco RoughRiders (2003–2022) bar:18 color:Full from:1972 till:1976 text:Alexandria Aces (1972–1975) bar:19 color:Full from:1972 till:2022 text:Midland Cubs/Angels/RockHounds (1972–present) bar:20 color:Full from:2005 till:2022 text:Corpus Christi Hooks (2005–2020) bar:21 color:Full from:2019 till:2022 text:Amarillo Sod Poodles (2019–2020) bar:22 color:Full from:2021 till:2022 text:Wichita Wind Surge (2021-present) ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:4 start:1946 TextData = fontsize:L textcolor:black pos:(0,30) tabs:(400-center) text:^"Texas 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. <# * 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. * The Wichita Wind Surge were originally slated to begin play in 2020 in the Pacific Coast League as the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. However, the cancellation of the 2020 season and the 2021 realignment of the minor leagues resulted in Wichita dropping to Double-A without playing a Triple-A game.

Complete list of Texas League teams (1902–present)

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

Albuquerque Dodgers Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...

Albuquerque Dukes The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. History The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank ...

* Alexandria Aces *

Amarillo Giants The Amarillo Gold Sox was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise that represented the city of Amarillo, Texas, in the Class D West Texas–New Mexico League, the Class A Western League (1900–1958), Western League and the Double- ...

Amarillo Gold Sox The Amarillo Gold Sox was the name of an American minor league baseball franchise that represented the city of Amarillo, Texas, in the Class D West Texas–New Mexico League, the Class A Western League and the Double-A Texas League at various t ...

* Amarillo Sonics *

* Ardmore Rosebuds * Ardmore Territorians *

Arkansas Travelers The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The Travelers are affiliated with the Seattle Mariners as members of the Texas League. History The team succeeded ...

* Austin Braves *

Austin Senators The "Austin Senators" is the name of various minor league baseball teams based in Austin, Texas, United States which played on-and-off between 1898 and 1964. Different incarnations of the Senators have played in the Texas League (1888–1890, 1905, ...

Beaumont Exporters The Beaumont Exporters was the predominant name of a minor league baseball team located in Beaumont, Texas that played between 1920 and 1957 in the Texas League and the Big State League. Beaumont rejoined the Class AA Texas League (1983-1986) and ...

* Beaumont Golden Gators * Beaumont Oilers * Beaumont Roughnecks * Cleburne Railroaders * Corpus Christi Giants *

Corpus Christi Hooks The Corpus Christi Hooks are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. They are located in Corpus Christi, Texas, and are named for the city's association with fishing. The team is owned by ...

* Corsicana Oil Citys * Corsicana Oilers *

Dallas Eagles Dallas () is the third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County wi ...

Dallas Giants The Dallas Rangers were a high-level minor league baseball team located in Dallas, Texas from 1958 to 1964. The team was known by the Dallas Rangers name in 1958, 1959, and 1964 and as the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers from 1960 to 1963. It played in ...

* Dallas Griffins * Dallas Marines *

Dallas Rangers The Dallas Rangers were a high-level minor league baseball team located in Dallas, Texas from 1958 to 1964. The team was known by the Dallas Rangers name in 1958, 1959, and 1964 and as the Dallas-Fort Worth Rangers from 1960 to 1963. It played in ...

* Dallas Rebels * Dallas Steers *

Dallas Submarines The Dallas Submarines, based in Dallas, Texas, United States, were a minor league baseball team that played from 1917 to 1918 in the Texas League. They were managed by Ham Patterson Hamilton Patterson (October 13, 1877 – November 25, 1945) was a ...

* Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs *

* El Paso Sun Dodgers * El Paso Sun Kings *

Fort Worth Cats The Fort Worth Cats was a professional baseball team based in Fort Worth, Texas, in the United States. The Cats were a member of the South Division of the now disbanded United League Baseball, which was not affiliated with Major League Basebal ...

* Fort Worth Panthers * Frisco RoughRiders * Galveston Buccaneers * Galveston Pirates * Galveston Sand Crabs * Greenville Hunters * Houston Buffaloes * Houston Mud Cats *

Jackson Generals The Jackson Generals were a professional baseball team located in Jackson, Tennessee. From 1998 to 2020, they were a part of Minor League Baseball's Southern League (SL) as the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs (1998–2006), Seattle Mari ...

* Lafayette Drillers * Longview Cannibals *

Memphis Blues The Memphis blues is a style of blues music created from the 1910s to the 1930s by musicians in the Memphis area, such as Frank Stokes, Sleepy John Estes, Furry Lewis and Memphis Minnie. The style was popular in vaudeville and medicine shows a ...

* Midland Angels *

Midland Cubs Midland may refer to: Places Australia * Midland, Western Australia Canada * Midland, Albert County, New Brunswick * Midland, Kings County, New Brunswick * Midland, Newfoundland and Labrador * Midland, Ontario India * Midland Ward, Kohima, Na ...

Midland RockHounds The Midland RockHounds are a Minor League Baseball team based in Midland, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Momentum Bank Ballpark, w ...

* Northwest Arkansas Naturals * Oklahoma City Indians * Oklahoma City Mets * Paris Eisenfelder's Homeseekers * Paris Parisites * Paris Red Ravens * Paris Steers * Rio Grande Valley Giants * Round Rock Express^ * San Antonio Aces *

San Antonio Bears The San Antonio Bears were a minor league baseball team located in San Antonio, Texas. The Bears played in the Texas League from 1920 through 1928. Their home stadium was League Park. Season records Source: League leaders * 1920: Ed Brown – ...

* San Antonio Brewers *

San Antonio Bronchos The San Antonio Bronchos were a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas, that played in the South Texas League (1903–1906) and Texas League (1907–1919). The team was also known as the Mustangs (1903–04), Warriors (1905), and Ace ...

* San Antonio Bullets * San Antonio Dodgers *

San Antonio Indians The San Antonio Indians were a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas, that played from 1929 to 1932 in the Texas League. They played their home games at League Park. Notable players include Ray Grimes, Wilbur Cooper, Sam Leslie, Ja ...

* San Antonio Missions * Sherman-Denison Students * Shreveport Braves *

* Shreveport Gassers *

Shreveport Pirates The Shreveport Pirates were a Canadian Football League team, playing at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, in 1994 and 1995. Despite a relatively strong fan base, they were one of the least successful of the CFL's A ...

* Shreveport Sports * Shreveport Swamp Dragons *

Springfield Cardinals The Springfield Cardinals are a Minor League Baseball team based in Springfield, Missouri. They compete as a member of the Texas League's North Division. The Cardinals began play in 2005. The team is owned by the 11-time Major League Baseball ...

* Temple Boll Weevils * Texarkana Casket Makers * Tulsa Drillers *

Tulsa Oilers The Tulsa Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and play in the ECHL. The Oilers played their home games at the Tulsa Convention Center until 2008 when they moved into the new BOK Center. For many years, the Tuls ...

Tyler Sports The Shreveport Sports were a professional Minor League Baseball team based in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the United States. The Sports fielded a team from 1925 to 1935, 1938 to 1942, 1946 to 1957, and 1959 to 1961. They were affiliated with the C ...

* Victoria Giants * Victoria Rosebuds * Victoria Toros * Waco Cubs * Waco Navigators * Waco Steers * Waco Tigers *

Wichita Falls Spudders The Wichita Falls Spudders were a minor league baseball team that formed in 1920 and played its last game in 1957. They were based in Wichita Falls, Texas. The first Spudders team ran from 1920–1932 and played in the Texas League as an affiliat ...

* Wichita Pilots *

Wichita Wind Surge The Wichita Wind Surge are a Minor League Baseball team of the Texas League and the Double-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins. They are located in Wichita, Kansas, and began play in 2021 at Riverfront Stadium. The Wind Surge were supposed to b ...

League champions and award winners

Hall of fame

References

Sources

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

Notes

External links

* {{Authority control Sports leagues established in 1888 1888 establishments in Texas Organizations based in Fort Worth, Texas Minor baseball leagues in the United States