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47-671: The Arizona–Mexico League was the successor league of the Arizona-Texas League and Arizona State League . The Arizona–Texas League existed from 1930–32, 1937–41, 1947–50 and 1952-54. From 1928 to 1930, it was known as the Arizona State League . On February 12, 1955, a league meeting at the Tucson league office was held, with President Tim Cusick presiding. The league board consisting of seven members were present. The El Paso and Juarez clubs had been released by

94-603: A minor league baseball team in San Francisco, California , that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 until 1957 before transferring to Phoenix, Arizona . The organization was named for the abundant California sea lion and harbor seal populations in the Bay Area. The 1909, 1922, 1925, and 1928 Seals were recognized as being among the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time . Along with

141-427: A general business meeting of league officials. Hollinger replaced E. T. (Tim) Cusick who resigned the previous year. It was voted that there would be no split season in 1957 and no playoff series. The members also adopted a 140-game playing schedule which included no doubleheader games although games rescheduled multiple times because of bad weather could have resulted in a doubleheader. A player pool, based on attendance,

188-644: A harbinger of his 56-game hitting streak for the New York Yankees in 1941. The team won the pennant again in 1935. In 1945, a controlling interest in the team was purchased by businessman Paul Fagan, with the stated intention of bringing Major League Baseball to the west coast by having the Pacific Coast League becoming the nation's third major league. He spent thousands of dollars upgrading Seals Stadium to perceived major league standards. He hired former major league player Lefty O'Doul ,

235-428: A major league club. The new Toros played their home games at Hi Corbett Field , the longtime home of minor league baseball in Tucson, until 2010. The Giants played their home games at Seals Stadium in 1958 and 1959, moving to Candlestick Park in 1960. Seals Stadium was subsequently torn down to make way for a White Front store. When this chain of stores went out of business, the building stayed empty for some years. It

282-486: A native San Franciscan and fan favorite, as manager. Though the Seals won the pennant in 1946, subsequent teams under Fagan's watch did not fare as well, typically finishing in the second division. Rival clubs did not buy into Fagan's major league ambitions. Rather, they established working agreements with major league teams, and fared better than did the independent Seals. Fagan gave up his aspirations and sold his interest in

329-479: A one-third share in the team. In 1931, the Seals moved to their own park, Seals Stadium , an 18,600-seat facility located at 16th and Bryant Streets. Seals Stadium was unusual in that it boasted three clubhouses: one for the visitors, one for the Seals, and one for the Missions, who moved there with the Seals and were the Seals' tenants from 1931 through 1937, after which the team moved back to Los Angeles to become

376-595: The Hollywood Stars in 1938. There were three breweries on the adjoining northwest corners of Seals Stadium, which included Hamm's , Budweiser and Lucky Lager. The Seals celebrated their inaugural year in Seals Stadium by winning the PCL pennant in 1931. The following year, Seals outfielder Vince DiMaggio arranged a tryout for his younger brother Joe . In 1933, Joe DiMaggio hit safely in 61 straight games,

423-492: The Los Angeles Angels , Portland Beavers , Oakland Oaks , Sacramento Solons , and Seattle Indians , the Seals were charter members of the Pacific Coast League, which was founded in 1903. The team played their home games at Recreation Park at Harrison and 8th Streets until it was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake . The mild climate of the west coast allowed the PCL to play a much longer season than

470-858: The New York Giants moved to San Francisco. With the Arizona–Mexico League already at six-teams, losing Phoenix 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 . During the four seasons more than 1,700,000 fans went through the gates. The Cananea Mineros were the only team to win more than one league title, taking back to back championships in 1955 and 1956. They drew 347,247 fans those two years. George Trautman, head of

517-714: The Pittsburgh Pirates . 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. 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 Arizona–Texas League schedule Playoffs: None Scheduled 1947 Arizona–Texas League schedule Juarez disbanded June 22 after winning

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564-550: The 1931 Arizona–Texas League, joined by the Nogales Internationals . 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: 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

611-607: 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

658-613: The 6th and final team. The league board voted to accept Chihuahua, they also voted to have a 120-game season, begin play May 1 and close Sept. 7. Chihuahua would play some of it home games at Las Delicias in the state of Chihuahua and Douglas planned to schedule some of its home games at Agua Prieta in Sonera, Mex. Two weeks before the start of the season, it was announced that the Nogales-Cananea franchise will operate solely from Nogales that year. League president Chuck Hollinger made

705-675: The Cincinnati Reds along with the Douglas Copper Kings becoming affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Cananea won the first half pennant and Yuma the second half in the split season. 1957 brought a lot of business action. In a January 6, 1957 league meeting held in Nogales, Sonora, Chuck Hollinger of Tucson was elected president of the Arizona–Mexico League and Oliver Talimini of Phoenix, vice president in

752-820: The Firebirds–until 1998, when they were displaced by MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks . In a complicated deal, the Firebirds' ownership group bought the Tucson Toros , inheriting the Toros' staff and facilities. After an interim one-year affiliation with the Milwaukee Brewers , the Toros affiliated with the Diamondbacks and changed their name to the Sidewinders. The Giants' affiliation was transferred to

799-544: The Mission District as this team played their games five blocks from Mission San Francisco de Asís . From 1926 through 1930, they played their home games at Recreation Park, playing at home while the Seals were on the road. In 1918, financially strapped owner Henry Berry put the San Francisco Seals up for sale and Charles H. Strub , George Alfred (Alfie) Putnam and Charles H. Graham each acquired

846-649: The Seals became its top affiliate after a swap on October 15, 1957 in which the Minneapolis Millers joined the Red Sox organization. They moved to Phoenix, Arizona for the 1958 season and were renamed the Phoenix Giants . The franchise then moved to Tacoma, Washington , where they played from 1960 to 1965, returning to Phoenix for the 1966 season. The team remained in Phoenix–from 1986 onward as

893-605: The Seals, who became an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox . After their Bay Area rival, the Oakland Oaks , moved to Vancouver after the 1955 season, the Seals won their last PCL pennant in 1957, which proved to be their final season. Late in that season, the New York Giants announced their move to San Francisco for the 1958 season, and the Seals were forced to relocate. As part of the Giants' transfer to San Francisco,

940-403: The announcement after talking by telephone to Cananea officials who had conferred earlier in the day with Carlos de la Isla of Nogales. For the past several seasons Cananea had been leading the league in attendance but the previous year, due to the drop in copper prices in the mining city, the club had trouble making ends meet. At the same time the shortest playing schedule since the reactivation of

987-617: The city's Mission District . That same year, the Seals moved across town to play their inaugural and only season at foggy Ewing Field . The idea of a second team in San Francisco remained alive and, after the 1925 season, the Vernon Tigers were purchased by a group headed by San Francisco businessman Herbert Fleishhacker and moved to San Francisco and renamed the Mission Reds or simply the "Missions", again representing

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1034-599: The displaced Tucson AAA franchise, which became the Fresno Grizzlies until their reassignment to Low-A. In 2009, the Sidewinders franchise moved to Reno, Nevada . They retained their affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks as the Reno Aces , and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field . The Tucson Toros returned under the same ownership as the Sidewinders, but they are not affiliated with

1081-499: The eight league teams had affiliation with Major League Baseball. Mexicali had a working agreement with St Louis, Phoenix with Baltimore and the recently joined Globe-Miami team signed with Philadelphia. The 1956 season had one team membership move and that was the Globe-Miami membership relocating to Tijuana. Also, the league trimmed the number of games from 139 in 1955, to a less aggressive 120 in 1956. Yuma found affiliation with

1128-439: The eight-team league during the 1954 season, release effective November 1955, and Globe-Miami entered the league in the off-season. With El Paso, the lone Texas franchise no longer in the league, on this date, the league voted to officially change the league name from Arizona-Texas League to Arizona-Mexico League . League brass were scrambling in early 1955, trying to recruit an eighth team. Not knowing how many teams would be in

1175-907: The first half and was replaced by Mesa June 27. 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. Finals: Globe–Miami 4 games, Juarez 3. 1949 Arizona–Texas League schedule Playoffs: Phoenix 4 games, Tucson 2; El Paso 4 games, Juarez 2. 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. Finals: El Paso 4 games, Phoenix 2. 1952 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: None Scheduled. 1953 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: None Scheduled. 1954 Arizona–Texas League Playoffs: None Scheduled. San Francisco Seals (PCL) The San Francisco Seals were

1222-662: The historic team moved to Sonoma, CA, and then most recently Alameda, CA where he put together teams at various levels from 8U-18U while continuing the collegiate summer team. The collegiate team played in the Far West League in 2012 and 2013, the Great West League in 2018, and the California Collegiate League in 2019, but has been known for being an independent summer collegiate team that travels more than any summer collegiate team in

1269-410: The job of executive secretary and to raise the salary of League President Charles Hollinger of Tucson from $ 2,400 to $ 3,200 a year. Hollinger, who was the former league executive secretary, will combine duties of the secretary with his post as league President. He also was selected to handle the job of league statistician, held for several years by William J. Weiss of San Mateo, Calif. In mid-March, from

1316-591: The league held discussions of what the best interest of the league would be concerning keeping more rookies on team rosters in order to receive more Major League help. Four teams attended the meeting along with several new cities attending whom expressed interest in joining the '58 season. Also, the league voted to retain Charles Hollinger as president and elected the Douglas club president, Curtis Page, as Arizona–Mexico League vice-president. A league meeting

1363-500: The league in 1947 was released by Hollinger. In 1958 the Douglas Copper Kings did something no other professional team has done in minor league baseball history. All nine players of the starting line-up hit a home run in the same game at Chihuahua. See the external link below. In late 1958, Phoenix was granted a Class AAA Pacific Coast League membership as it received the AAA San Francisco Seals club membership as

1410-443: The league office in Tucson it became clear only six weeks from opening day that the league will "open and finish the 1957 season with six teams", according to President Chuck Hollinger. Douglas, Las Vegas, Tucson, Phoenix and the two Mexican entries, Mexicali and Cananea. The league lineup is two short of last season, which included Yuma, Tijuana and Nogales. Nogales and Tijuana had financial difficulties and Yuma had problems in securing

1457-464: The league office the morning of June 17, which was an off-day for each team, and requested an emergency meeting held at the Bisbee-Douglas team office. The meeting was held late-afternoon and directors of each team were present. Each team explained the difficulty of operations since the league inception. Bisbee-Douglas explained they had overdrawn at the bank, the primary Nogales shareholder told

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1504-467: The league on opening day, league president Tim Cusick drafted a two-part league schedule, a schedule for a seven-team league and one for an eight-team league. Just before the start of the 1955 season Yuma was accepted into the league. Eventual baseball heavyweight promoter Dick King got word that a team operator was needed in Yuma and he quickly arrived to begin the process of putting a team together. Three of

1551-528: The major leagues and the other eastern professional baseball leagues. Seasons often ran 200 games or more, especially in the early years. In the 1905 season, the Seals set the all-time PCL record by playing 230 games ( Pacific Coast Baseball League Record Book 1903–1969 , compiled by William J. Weiss, League Statistician; published by the PCL, 1969; p. 30). The Seals finished the 1906 season playing home games at Freeman's Park in Oakland. A new Recreation Park

1598-482: The maximum series. No doubleheaders are included in the schedule, but may be played if there are multiple rain-outs during the season. The number of working agreements decreased to two teams, Phoenix with the Baltimore Orioles and Douglas with the Pittsburgh Pirates. With the Yuma and Mexicali departure from the league, so did two affiliations. In an early January 1958 league meeting held at Nogales, Sonora,

1645-456: The meeting they did not want to continue. The directors of the Cananea and Tecate teams said they would try to continue their season. The president of the league, Bob Lipp, called for a vote. Each team agreed to suspend operations and it was a 4-0 vote, each team in favor to stop the season. The season lasted nearly three weeks and each team played 16 games. The league's highest profile player

1692-504: The meeting. The league voted unanimously to accept the Juarez team and asked them to help with communications with Chihuahua about bringing their team to be the sixth much needed team into the league for 1958. At the April 13th special called league meeting held in El Paso, Texas, Chihuahua team officials traveled to attend in order to gain the league vote for their team to enter the league as

1739-567: The minor leagues informed league team members, via wire that effective March 23, 1959, the Arizona–Mexico League will fold. Don Jameson, owner of the Tucson Cowboys, received a night wire and $ 2,100 in deposits which was that years league dues. On December 21, 2002, a meeting was held by representatives of the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings, Cananea Mineros, Juarez Halcones and Nogales Charros. This meeting resulted in

1786-482: The municipal ball park after leaving a $ 3,000 debt after the previous season. The three teams dropping from the league along with the Las Vegas addition, the league sat at six teams by the start of the season. Hollinger also said the league will open April 26, and have a late closing date of September 15. The president said the schedule will have teams playing in each city five times during the summer with three games as

1833-575: The new circuit before seceding and reforming the A-TL in 1952. From 1928 to 1930, it was known as the Arizona State League . 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

1880-424: The official formation of the Arizona–Mexico League (AZMXL), a league that would fill a void for the rookie year to third year professional player. Team directors were John Guy/Bisbee-Douglas; Abe Erdman/Cananea; Alicia Barboza/Juarez; and Shane Folsom/Nogales. The 2003 season marked the beginning as an Independent league and each team was scheduled to play 72 games. Opening night was May 30, 2003. A month prior to

1927-477: The start of the season the Juarez team moved to Tecate, Baja California and became the Tecate Cerveceros. The Juarez home stadium, Estadio Carta Blanca, was to undergo renovations, as agreed between the team and the stadium owner. The renovations had not begun as of 30 days before the beginning of the season, and the league voted to move the team to the next viable city. The Bisbee-Douglas team notified

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1974-776: 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

2021-461: Was also voted in with the top four finishers splitting the profits. The veteran limit of five was retained for this season. Las Vegas was voted into the league in a league meeting held in Phoenix on February 3, replacing Tijuana which folded the previous season. At the close of the meeting the league had eight teams for the upcoming season. In other actions at the meeting, the league voted to abolish

2068-405: Was called at the Tucson league headquarters on March 2, and the league's current four teams, Tucson, Douglas, Mexicali, and a combined Cananea-Nogales team voted not to continue unless two more teams could be found to enter the league. The league postponed to the next league meeting that was held in Douglas, Arizona March 30. The Central Mexican League disbanded over the off-season and Juarez attended

2115-552: Was constructed at 14th and Valencia Streets for the 1907 season. The Seals won their first PCL pennant in 1909, finishing 13 + 1 ⁄ 2 games over the runner-up Portland Beavers. They won flags also in 1915, 1917, 1922, 1923 and 1925. During the 1914 season, the Sacramento Solons were moved to San Francisco, where they finished out the season playing as the San Francisco Missions , representing

2162-696: Was finally turned into a car dealership and later a Safeway grocery store. The legacy of the Seals lives on in the Giants' mascot Lou Seal , as well as in a statue of the Seals' cartoon mascot (c. 1947) at Oracle Park , and with a marker on the 16th & Bryant sidewalk placed where Seals Stadium home plate stood. The Seals were reborn as a collegiate woodbat team in 1985 by Bay Area high school and college coach as well as former scout Abel Alcantar. Seals Alumni include many current California Junior College, Division I, and Division II coaches. The Seals played out of Albert Park in San Rafael, CA until 2002, until

2209-679: Was former MLB outfielder Chuck Carr who signed with Bisbee-Douglas as a player-coach on May 7. 1955 Arizona–Mexico League schedule President: Tim Cusick No Playoffs Scheduled. 1956 Arizona–Mexico League President: Tim Cusick Tijuana disbanded June 28. Playoffs: Cananea 3 games, Yuma 0. 1957 Arizona–Mexico League schedule President: Charles S. Hollinger Mexicali disbanded September 6 and forfeited 10 remaining games. Playoffs: None Scheduled. 1958 Arizona–Mexico League schedule President: Charles S. Hollinger Playoffs: None Scheduled. 2003 Arizona–Mexico League Arizona-Texas League The Arizona–Texas League

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