The Corpus Christi Seagulls were a minor league baseball team based in Corpus Christi, Texas in 1976 and 1977. The Seagulls played as members of the Class A level Gulf States League in 1976 and Lone Star League in 1977, winning the league championship in both seasons under player/manager Leo Mazzone . The Seagulls hosted minor league home games at Cabaniss Field .
22-765: The first minor league team based in Corpus Christi was the 1910 Corpus Christi Pelicans , who played as charter members of the Southwest Texas League . The Seagulls were preceded by the 1959 Corpus Christi Giants of the Texas League . In 1976, local advertising businessman Terry Ferrell led a successful effort to place a minor league team in Corpus Christi. Ferrell gained approval from the Corpus Christi Independent School District school board to obtain
44-540: A lease of Cabaniss Field . The ballpark required upgrades to meet minor league requirements and the team spent approximately $ 20,000 on improvements to the ballpark, adding box seats, an eight–foot wooden fence, with upgrades to the press box and concession areas. Seats were painted in the Seagulls' selected team color, bright aqua. In 1976, the Corpus Christi Seagulls began play as charter members of
66-865: The Corpus Christi Aces , the Laredo Apaches of Laredo , the Brownsville Charros of Brownsville , the McAllen Giants and the Del Rio Cowboys of Del Rio . On June 6, Donna moved to Robstown to become the Robstown Cardinals . Charlie Engle managed Donna/Robstown for part of the season. Corpus Christi finished first in the standings and faced McAllen in the postseason, winning 4 games to 0. Brownsville matched against Laredo and won 4 games to 2. In
88-748: The Corpus Christi Seagulls of 1976 and today,s Corpus Christi Hooks of the Texas League. Early Corpus Christi teams played in various leagues under differing monikers. The first minor league team based in Corpus Christi was the 1910 Corpus Christi Pelicans , who played as charter members of the Southwest Texas League in 1910 and 1911. The Corpus Christi Seahawks were members of the Gulf Coast League in 1926, Texas Valley League in 1927 and 1928 and Rio Grande Valley League in 1931. The Corpus Christi Spudders played in
110-612: The La Feria Nighthawks in June. The league disbanded on July 30. McAllen finished in first place with a 55–37 record; they also won the league playoff against La Feria 3 games to 0. Johnny Rizzo , who played in the major leagues from 1938 to 1942, played for Corpus Christi/La Feria. Tex Covington managed McAllen. The league returned as a Class D level circuit in 1949, featuring the Donna Cardinals of Donna ,
132-637: The Southwest Texas League (1910–1911), Gulf Coast League (1926), Texas Valley League (1927–1928), Rio Grande Valley League (1931), Texas Valley League (1938), Rio Grande Valley League (1949–1950), Gulf Coast League (1951–1953), Big State League (1954–1957), Rio Grande Valley League (1949–1950) and Texas League (1958–1959). Corpus Christi played as minor league affiliates of the St. Louis Browns in 1938, Milwaukee Braves from 1954 to 1956, Pittsburgh Pirates in 1957 and San Francisco Giants from 1958 to 1959. The Corpus Christi Clippers and Aces preceded
154-514: The 1938 Texas Valley League. The 1927 Corpus Christi Seahawks won the 1927 Texas Valley League championship. The Seahawks were managed by Jim Payton in the Class D level league. The Seahawks finished 1st in the regular season standings with a 63–56 record in the four–team league. Corpus Christi then defeated the Laredo Oilers 3 games to 0 in the finals. The Corpus Christi Aces played in
176-665: The 1958 Texas League Playoffs, Corpus Christi defeated the Houston Buffalos 4 games to 1. In the Finals, the Corpus Christi Giants defeated the Austin Senators 4 games to 1 to capture the championship. Playing at Schepps Palms, Corpus Christi had season attendance of 87,774, an average of 1,155 per game. Baseball Hall of Fame member Gaylord Perry played for the 1959 Corpus Christi Giants. Perry
198-410: The 1977 Lone Star League championship in their final season of play. The Seagulls again placed first in the final standings, ending the 1977 regular season with 53–27 record. Corpus Christi finished 12.0 games ahead of the second place Harlingen Suns.The Seagulls led the league with 533 runs scored and allowed 402 runs, least in the league. The potential 1977 Lone Star League playoffs were cancelled due to
220-422: The Class A level Gulf Coast League . The Corpus Christi Seahawks hosted 1926 and 1927 home minor league games at Kleberg Park . The ballpark was named for its builder and owner Richard M. Kleberg . In 1931 and 1938, Corpus Christi played home games at League Park . Corpus Christi teams played at Schepps Palm Field from 1949–1959. Named after owner George Schepps, the ballpark was torn down in 1960 after
242-554: The Class A level Gulf States League , which formed as a six–team league. The Baton Rouge Cougars , Beeville Bees , Rio Grande Valley White Wings , Seguin Toros and Victoria Cowboys joined the Seagulls in beginning league play on June 1, 1976. On June 3, 1976, the Seagulls hosted their first home game at Cabaniss Field. With 5,000 in attendance, Corpus Christi defeated the Rio Grande Valley White Wings by
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#1732791414811264-697: The Class AA Texas League moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. The new Corpus Christi franchise became a minor league affiliate of the San Francisco Giants and began play in 1958 as the Corpus Christi Giants . The 1958 Corpus Christi Giants won the Texas League Championship. The Giants finished the regular season with a 77–75 record. They were 3rd in the Texas League under Manager Ray Murray. In
286-548: The Class D level Rio Grande Valley League in 1949 and 1950. The Aces joined the Class B level Gulf Coast League from 1951 to 1953, before changing their moniker to "Clippers" for the 1954 season. Texas businessman, George Schepps, was the owner of both the Aces and Clippers. The Corpus Christi Clippers were affiliates of the Milwaukee Braves (1954–1956) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1957). In their four seasons of play,
308-634: The Corpus Christi Clippers finished with records of 87–60, 93–48, 83–57 and 69–58 (1954–1957). The Clippers captured the 1955 Big State League Championship and made the Big State Finals the other three seasons. The Clippers had home attendance totals of 97,255; 102,788; 112,625 and 56,871 in their four seasons. The Big State League permanently folded after the 1957 season. In 1958, the Oklahoma City Indians of
330-521: The Corpus Christi Seagulls hosted minor league games at Cabaniss Field . Today, the ballpark remains home to Corpus Christi Independent School District baseball teams. Corpus Christi - Baseball Reference Cabiniss Field photos Corpus Christi Pelicans The Corpus Christi Clippers was a primary name of the minor league baseball teams based in Corpus Christi, Texas between 1910 and 1959. Corpus Christi teams played as members of
352-648: The championship. The Seagulls scored 556 total runs, most in the league. The Gulf Coast League evolved into the Lone Star League in 1977, with the Corpus Christi Seagulls continuing play at Cabaniss Field, playing again under returning manager Leo Mazzone. Joining Corpus Christi in the new league were the Beeville Blazers , Harlingen Suns , McAllen Dusters , Texas City Stars and Victoria Rosebuds , with play beginning on June 10, 1977. The Corpus Christi Seagulls repeated their championship and won
374-569: The departure of the Corpus Christi Giants. Schepps Palm Field was located near Old Brownsville Road, Highway 44 and Baldwin Boulevard. The approximate address of the site today is 4242 Baldwin Boulevard, Corpus Christi, Texas 78405. Corpus Christi Aces players Corpus Christi Clippers players Corpus Christi Giants players Corpus Christi Pelicans players Corpus Christi Seahawks players Corpus Christi Spudders players Rio Grande Valley League The Rio Grande Valley League
396-733: The finals, Corpus Christi beat Brownsville 4 games to 0. In 1950, the league became a Class C level circuit. Laredo, Corpus Christi, Brownsville, McAllen and Del Rio returned from 1949. Robstown became the Robstown Rebels . Donna and Weslaco featured the Donna-Weslaco Twins . Harlingen featured the Harlingen Capitals . On May 4, Donna-Weslaco disbanded; Robstown did the same on May 13. The playoffs had first-place finisher Harlingen beating Brownsville 4 games to 2. and Corpus Christi beating Laredo 4 games to 1. In
418-549: The score of 12–8. In their first season of play, the Corpus Christi Seagulls won both the Gulf States League pennant and championship. Managed by Leo Mazzone , the Seagulls ended the 1976 season with a record of 50–27, placing first in the regular season standings, finishing 2.5 games ahead of the second place Baton Rouge Cougars. In the playoff Finals, Corpus Christi swept the Seguin Toros in three games to win
440-477: The threat of the approaching Hurricane Anita , allowing Corpus Christi to claim the championship. The Seagulls were unable to defend their championships when the Lone Star League permanently folded following the 1977 season. Corpus Christi was without minor league baseball until the 1994 Corpus Christi Barracudas began play as members of the independent Texas-Louisiana League . In both 1976 and 1977,
462-530: Was 10–11 with a 4.05 ERA at age 20. In 1959, the Corpus Christi Giants finished 66–79. They placed 6th in the Texas League, playing under manager Ray Murray. Corpus Christi had season attendance of 61,501, an average of 848. After the season, Corpus Christi relocated to Harlingen, Texas and became the Rio Grande Valley Giants . Corpus Christi next hosted minor league baseball when the 1976 Corpus Christi Seagulls began play as members of
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#1732791414811484-740: Was a minor league baseball league, with franchises based exclusively in Texas . The Rio Grande Valley League had two incarnations, playing in 1931 and 1949 to 1950. In 1931, the league initially featured the Corpus Christi Seahawks of Corpus Christi , the Harlingen Ladds of Harlingen , the McAllen Palms of McAllen and the San Benito Saints of San Benito . Corpus Christi moved to La Feria to become
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