The Artesia Dodgers was the final nickname of the

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team based in

Artesia, New Mexico Artesia is a city in Eddy County, New Mexico, centered at the intersection of U.S. routes 82 and 285; the two highways serve as the city's Main Street and First Street, respectively. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 12,875. His ...

. Artesia teams played from 1951-1955 and 1958-1961 as an affiliate of the

San Francisco Giants The San Francisco Giants are an American professional baseball team based in San Francisco. The Giants compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

and

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

History

The Artesia Drillers (1951-1953) and later the Artesia Numexers(1954-1955) first began play in Artesia as members of the

Longhorn League The Longhorn League was the name of a Minor league baseball circuit that operated from through in the Southwestern United States. In , it was renamed the Southwestern League and operated through before changing its name to the Sophomore Leagu ...

from 1951-1955. They were later an affiliate of the

during final season of existence in 1961. They finished 48-78 in the

Sophomore League The Sophomore League was a Class D level minor league baseball league that operated from 1958 through 1961. League franchises were located in New Mexico and Texas. The league evolved from the Southwestern League, which played in 1956 and 1957. ...

under manager Spider Jorgensen. Before becoming the Dodgers, they were a

affiliate known as the Artesia Giants from 1958-1960. The 1954 Numexers were Longhorn League Champions after finishing 92-46 in the regular season. The team moniker was a combination of "New" and "Mexico." The 1958 team finished 63-57, losing in the league Finals.

The ballpark

Artesia teams hosted home minor league games at Brainard Park. Today, the ballpark is still in use, known as Brainard Baseball Field, and serves as the home to Artesia High School teams. The ballpark is located at 1102 North 13th Street in Artesia, New Mexico.

Notable alumni

* Jesus Alou (1960) *

Dick Dietz Richard Allen Dietz (September 18, 1941 – June 28, 2005) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 1966 to 1973, most prominently as a member of the San Francisco Giants wher ...

(1960) MLB All-Star * Clarence Jones (1961)

References

External links

Artesia - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Los Angeles Dodgers minor league affiliates Professional baseball teams in New Mexico Baseball teams established in 1961 Baseball teams disestablished in 1961 1961 establishments in New Mexico 1961 disestablishments in New Mexico Eddy County, New Mexico Defunct baseball teams in New Mexico Sophomore League teams {{NewMexico-baseball-team-stub