Arizona–Texas League

The Arizona–Texas League was a Class D level American minor league baseball league that existed for nine seasons, from 1931–32, 1937–41, 1947–50 and 1952-54. In 1951, the Arizona-Texas loop merged with the Sunset League (based primarily in California but with teams in Nevada and New Mexico) to form the Southwest International League. However, the Arizona and Texas clubs played only that one season (1951) in the new circuit before seceding and reforming the A-TL in 1952. From 1928 to 1930, it was known as the Arizona State League.

History

After the 1930 season, the Arizona State League, which began play in 1928, changed their name and evolved into the 1931 Class D Arizona–Texas League. Arizona State League president Wilford S. Sullinger remained as president of the newly named league. Former Arizona State League members Bisbee Bees, El Paso Texans, Globe Bears, Phoenix Senators and Tucson Missions continued play in the 1931 Arizona–Texas League, joined by the .

The Arizona–Texas League was the lowest level in the minor leagues, Class D, through 1939, and upgraded to Class C from 1940 onward. Its longest tenured clubs included:

• El Paso, Texas
• Bisbee and Bisbee-Douglas, Arizona
• Phoenix, Arizona
• Tucson, Arizona

The Arizona-Texas circuit also had teams in Mexico as early as 1931, although its name did not reflect this fact. Indios de Ciudad Juárez team was a member for seven years in the 1940s and 1950s. But in 1955, when the league lost its lone Texas franchise, in El Paso, its name was formally changed to the Arizona–Mexico League. In 1958, its Phoenix franchise moved all the way up to Class AAA when it received the old San Francisco Seals club after the Giants moved West. That signaled the end of the Class C Arizona–Mexico League; its final champion in 1958 was the Douglas Copper Kings, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

List of teams

• Albuquerque, New Mexico: Albuquerque Dons (1932); Albuquerque Cardinals (1937–1941)
• Bisbee, Arizona: Bisbee Bees (1931–1932; 1937–1941); Bisbee Yanks (1947)
• Bisbee, Arizona & Douglas, Arizona: Bisbee-Douglas Miners (1948); Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings (1949–1950; 1952–1954)
• Cananea, Sonora, Mexico: Cananea Mineros (1954)
• Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico: Chihuahua Dorados (1952)
• Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico: Juarez Indios (1947–1950; 1952–1954)
• El Paso, Texas: El Paso Texans (1931–1932; 1937–1941; 1947–1950; 1952–1954)
• Globe, Arizona: Globe Bears (1931)
• Globe, Arizona & Miami, Arizona: Globe-Miami Browns (1947–1950)
• Mesa, Arizona: Mesa Orphans (1947)
• Mexicali, Baja California, MEX: Mexicali Eagles (1953–1954)
• Nogales, Sonora, Mexico: Nogales Internationals (1931; Nogales Yaquis (1954)
• Phoenix, Arizona: Phoenix Senators (1931–1932; 1947–1950; 1952–1953); Phoenix Stars (1954)
• Tucson, Arizona: Tucson Missions (1931); Tucson Lizards (1932; Tucson Cowboys (1937–1941; 1947–1950; 1952–1954)

Champion teams

• 1931 – El Paso Texans
• 1932 – Unknown
• 1937 – Albuquerque Cardinals
• 1938 – El Paso Texans
• 1939 – Albuquerque Cardinals
• 1940 – El Paso Texans
• 1941 – Tucson Cowboys
• 1947 – Globe-Miami Browns
• 1948 – Globe-Miami Browns
• 1949 – El Paso Texans
• 1950 – El Paso Texans
• 1952 – Juarez Indios
• 1953 – Tucson Cowboys
• 1954 – Phoenix Stars

Standings & statistics

1931 to 1940

1931 Arizona–Texas League schedule Playoff: El Paso 5 games, Bisbee 0.

1932 Arizona–Texas League Phoenix disbanded May 9. The league disbanded July 24.

1937 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: Albuquerque defeated El Paso in a one game playoff for the second half title.<br /> Finals: Albuquerque 4 games, El Paso 3.

1938 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: El Paso 4 games, Bisbee 3.

1939 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: Albuquerque 4 games, Bisbee 2.

1940 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: El Paso 4 games, Tucson 3.

1941 to 1950

1941 Arizona–Texas League schedule Playoffs: None Scheduled

1947 Arizona–Texas League schedule Juarez disbanded June 22 after winning the first half and was replaced by Mesa June 27. <br />Playoffs: Tucson 2 games, Bisbee 0; Globe-Miami 2 games, Phoenix 0; Finals: Globe–Miami 3 games, Tucson 2.

1948 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: El Paso defeated Juarez in a one game playoff for third place; Globe–Miami 4 games, El Paso 2; Juarez 4 games, Tucson 1.<br> Finals: Globe–Miami 4 games, Juarez 3.

1949 Arizona–Texas League schedule Playoffs: Phoenix 4 games, Tucson 2; El Paso 4 games, Juarez 2.<br /> Finals: El Paso 4 games, Phoenix 2.

1950 Arizona–Texas League schedule Playoffs: Phoenix 4 games, Juarez 2; El Paso 4 games, Bisbee-Douglas 2.<br /> Finals: El Paso 4 games, Phoenix 2.

1952 to 1954

1952 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: None Scheduled.

1953 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: None Scheduled.

1954 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: None Scheduled.

References

• Johnson, Lloyd and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 1997.

External links

• Baseball Reference – Arizona–Texas League Encyclopedia and History