The Abilene Prairie Dogs were an independent

professional baseball Professional baseball is organized baseball in which players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system. It is played in baseball league, leagues and associated farm teams throughout the world. Moder ...

team based in

Abilene, Texas Abilene ( ) is a city in Taylor County, Texas, Taylor and Jones County, Texas, Jones counties, Texas, United States. Its population was 125,182 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene metropolitan ar ...

. They were members of the

Texas–Louisiana League 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. In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron ...

from 1995 to 1999, and returned for one season in the North American League in 2012.

Team history

Texas–Louisiana League (1995–1999)

In 1995, the Prairie Dogs, or Dogs as the fans commonly called them, began play at

Abilene Christian University Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a Private university, private Christian research university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as an R2 (High Research Spending and Doctorate Production) institutio ...

's Crutcher Scott Field. Under the management of Charlie Kerfeld, the Prairie Dogs accumulated a dismal 40-60 record, earning them the last place in their League. 1996 brought a new manager, Phil Stephenson, who led the Dogs to a League Championship with a 67-31 record. In 1997, the Dogs returned to last place standing (36-52) under the management of Barry Jones. Jones rallied the Dogs in 1998, to take a fourth-place position with a 39-45 record for the year. In 1999, Jones moved on to the Ozark Mountain Ducks, and was replaced by Dan Madsen, who took the Dogs to a 46-38 third place League standing in their final year of play.

North American League (2012)

It was announced on January 31, 2012 that the Abilene Prairie Dogs would return to play in June 2012 as a part of the southern division of the North American Baseball League. Their home field would be Walt Driggers Field, on the campus of

McMurry University McMurry University is a Private university, private United Methodist Church, Methodist university in Abilene, Texas, United States. It was founded in 1923 and named after William Fletcher McMurry. The university offers forty-five majors in the ...

, in Abilene. The Prairie Dogs went 34-53 and did not play their last eight games (all on the road) as they struggled with financial and attendance issues. The club announced in early 2013 that they would not return but hoped to play in 2014. They did not.

References

External links

*{{usurped,
Texas–Louisiana League Standings, 1995–2000
} Defunct minor league baseball teams Baseball teams in Abilene, Texas Baseball teams established in 1995 Baseball teams disestablished in 1999 Defunct baseball teams in Texas 1995 establishments in Texas 1999 disestablishments in Texas Baseball teams established in 2012 Professional baseball teams in Texas Baseball teams disestablished in 2013 2012 establishments in Texas Defunct independent baseball league teams 2013 disestablishments in Texas