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70-659: Minor league baseball first began in Albuquerque in 1915, when the Albuquerque Dukes played one season in the Rio Grande Association . The Albuquerque Dons returned minor league baseball to the city, joining the 1932 Class D level Arizona-Texas League In 1932, Albuquerque Dons had a record of 57–42 and were in first place under Manager Bobby Coltrin when the five–team league disbanded on July 24, 1932. The Arizona-Texas League did not play for

140-495: A Class C level league. The Albuquerque Cardinals finished with a record of 60–64, placing third in the league, playing the season under manager Jack Farmer . The Cardinals did not play in the post season, won by El Paso over Tucson. The Cardinals finished 6.5 games behind 1st place Tucson in the final overall standings. 1941 was the final season for the Albuquerque Cardinals. The Arizona-Texas League continued as

210-522: A Los Angeles-area television station, broadcast several games live from Albuquerque Sports Stadium during the players' strike that disrupted the season . The station even brought along Don Drysdale to be the announcer. In addition, when the 1981 players strike ended, the Dukes played an exhibition game against the Dodgers at Dodger stadium as a tune-up for the Dodgers, the Dukes won the game, 1–0. The game

280-688: A championship pennant. The first true minor league is traditionally considered to be the Northwestern League of 1883 to 1884. Unlike the earlier minor associations, it was conceived as a permanent organization. It also, along with the NL and the American Association (AA), was a party to the National Agreement of 1883 . Included in this was the agreement to respect the reserve lists of clubs in each league. Teams in

350-490: A flat-fee purchase amount of $ 5,000 for the contract of any player from an NA member league team. This measure was leveled primarily at the Baltimore Orioles , then a Triple-A team that had dominated the minors by keeping players longer than many competitors, allowing the players to more fully develop, driving up their sale value to major-league teams and giving Baltimore a talent advantage. Deprived of this option by

420-568: A four–team, Class C level league. The 1941 Cardinals manager was Jimmy Zinn . Under Zinn, the Cardinals finished 63–65, placing second in the league and finishing 21.0 games behind the first place Tucson Cowboys (86–46). No playoffs were held. The Arizona–Texas League folded after the 1941 season. In 1942, Albuquerque continued play as the Albuquerque Dukes , joining the West Texas-New Mexico League . Today, Albuquerque

490-667: A higher level of play. These leagues are intended almost exclusively to allow players to hone their skills; no admission is charged and no concessions are sold. As of the 2024 season, the Arizona Complex League and Florida Complex League seasons commence in early May and conclude in late July in order to provide players with previous experience in the Dominican Summer League with a full season in stateside professional baseball without having to compete for playing time with newly drafted players selected in

560-598: A history in Portland. San Diego took over the Beavers/Dukes, and Los Angeles took Las Vegas, renaming the team the Las Vegas 51s for the famed alleged UFO spaceport, Area 51 , near Las Vegas . The Dukes' logo depicted a smiling cartoon version of a Spanish conquistador . That, and the team name reflecting Spanish nobility , likely reflect New Mexico's history as the earliest center of Spanish colonization in

630-591: A limited membership which excluded less competitive and financially weaker teams. Professional clubs outside the NL responded by forming regional associations of their own. There was a series of ad hoc groupings, such as the New England Association of 1877 and the Eastern Championship Association of 1881. These were loose groups of independent clubs which agreed to play a series of games over the course of one season for

700-481: A second or third promotion for a minor league player, although some high first-round draftees, particularly those with experience playing college baseball , begin at this level. Below the High-A level is Single-A, named "Class A" before 2021, when it was also known as Single-A or Full-Season A, and "Low-A" for the 2021 season. This classification has three leagues: the 8-team California League , known as Low-A West for

770-516: A statement, asserting that it is "unnecessary and unacceptable to wipe out one-quarter of minor league teams" and characterized the proposal as a way "to improve the profitability of MLB". Manfred rebuked Minor League Baseball for releasing the negotiations to the public and threatened to cut ties with MiLB altogether. The following changes, which represent the first significant overhaul of minor league classifications since 1963, have since been implemented: When MLB teams announced their affiliates for

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840-526: A steady supply of players, as many NA and independent teams could not afford to keep their doors open without the patronage of Major League Baseball. The leagues of the NA became subordinate to the major leagues, creating the first minor leagues in the current sense of the term. Other than the Pacific Coast League (PCL), which under its president Pants Rowland tried to become a third major league in

910-517: A temporary replacement. There are currently three leagues in this classification: the 12-team Eastern League , known as Double-A Northeast for the 2021 season, with teams in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S., the eight-team Southern League (known as Double-A South for the 2021 season) with teams in the Deep South, and the 10-team Texas League (known as Double-A Central for

980-493: Is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), including teams affiliated with MLB clubs. Entering the 2021 season, the number of full-season MLB-affiliated minor leagues with teams in the United States and Canada was reduced to 11, with a total of 120 teams (four per each of the 30 MLB franchises). There are also two affiliated rookie leagues based in the United States, with teams based at

1050-501: Is home to the Class AAA Albuquerque Isotopes . The Albuquerque Dons and Albuquerque Cardinals played minor league home games at Tingley Field . Also called "Apprentice Field," the stadium was upgraded in 1937 with a $ 10,900 Works Progress Administration grant. The ballpark officially opened April 6, 1932. Tingley Field, was named for Mayor Clyde Tingley. St. Louis Cardinals general manager Branch Rickey

1120-715: Is named. Among the well-known players to have served with the Dukes are Mike Piazza , Paul Konerko , Pedro Martínez , Orel Hershiser , Kirk Gibson (on major league rehab assignment), Mike Marshall , John Wetteland , Darryl Strawberry (on major league rehab assignment), Eric Karros , Mike Maddux , Raúl Mondesí , Chan Ho Park , Mike Scioscia , Dave Stewart , Rick Sutcliffe , Fernando Valenzuela , José Vizcaíno , Sid Bream , Rick Rhoden , Steve Sax , Greg Gagne , Eric Young , Mickey Hatcher , Tim Wallach (on major league rehab assignment), Davey Lopes , Steve Yeager , Tom Paciorek , José Offerman , Larry Hisle , Éric Gagné , Todd Hollandsworth , and Paul Lo Duca . One of

1190-486: Is usually that these veteran players will be in the majors by the end of the season, as their salaries tend to be higher than those of most prospects. One level below Double-A is the High-A level, named "Class A-Advanced" before 2021. This classification has three leagues: the 12-team Midwest League , known as High-A Central for the 2021 season, covering the Midwest, the six-team Northwest League , known as High-A West for

1260-672: The Arizona Complex League and Florida Complex League , known as the Arizona League and Gulf Coast League, respectively, before 2021, and one Caribbean-based league, the Dominican Summer League . The U.S.-based Rookie leagues play a schedule of approximately 60 games and are named "complex leagues" because games are played at their parent clubs' spring training complexes. Rosters consist primarily of newly drafted players who are not yet ready for

1330-568: The Arizona Complex League or Florida Complex League , and international summer baseball teams in the Dominican Summer League . While major league teams play a 162-game schedule, minor league seasons are shorter. As of 2022 , a complete season in Triple-A is 150 games, Double-A is 138 games, and High-A and Single-A are each 132 games. In addition to the below organized leagues, the off-season Arizona Fall League has six teams that play approximately 30 games apiece in autumn, with rosters comprising

1400-589: The Colorado Rockies . The Isotopes play at Isotopes Park , the completely renovated stadium that now stands at the site of the Dukes former home field, Albuquerque Sports Stadium . This award-winning stadium opened in 2003 and is shared with the University of New Mexico Lobos baseball team, hosting approximately 100 home games each year, as well as New Mexico United soccer team. Minor league baseball Minor League Baseball ( MiLB )

1470-610: The National Association of Professional Base Ball Players of 1871 to 1875, commonly referred to as the National Association, comprised all fully professional teams. This system proved unworkable, however, as there was no way to ensure competitive balance, and financially unsound clubs often failed in midseason. This problem was solved in 1876 with the formation of the National League (NL), with

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1540-695: The Northwest League and Midwest League promoted with 75% of their teams. The Carolina League dropped to Low-A with seven of its ten teams and added five from the old South Atlantic League in trade; the SAL in turn moved to High-A with half of its previous 12-team roster, filling it out with two Carolina League High-A holdovers, one Midwest League returnee, and three formerly short-season New York-Penn League promotees. On February 12, 2021, Major League Baseball announced new league alignments for all 120 affiliated Minor League Baseball clubs effective as of

1610-567: The United States Congress signed a letter sent to Commissioner of Baseball Rob Manfred opposing the proposal, noting that it "is not in the best interest of the overall game of baseball" and that it would "devastate our communities, their bond purchasers and other stakeholders affected by the potential loss of these clubs." A response from MLB highlighted that the proposal aims to improve player travel and working conditions. On November 21, 2019, Minor League Baseball released

1680-607: The 1937 Finals, the Albuquerque defeated the El Paso 4 games to 3 to capture the 1937 championship. Total home attendance for the Cardinals was 30,110. The 1938 Albuquerque Cardinals placed third in the four–team Arizona–Texas League regular season standings. The Cardinals ended the season with a 67–65 record, playing under returning manager Bill DeLancey and did not qualify for the playoff, won by El Paso. Albuquerque had season home attendance of 60,000, averaging 909 per home game. Albuquerque finished 6.0 games behind first place Bisbee in

1750-595: The 1950s and early 1960s. In 1949, the peak of the postwar minor league baseball boom, 448 teams in 59 leagues were members of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues, with the number of teams falling to 324 in 1952, and 243 in 1955. By the end of 1963, only 15 leagues above Rookie-level survived in the United States and Canada. After the 1962 season, the Triple-A American Association—which had lost key markets such as Milwaukee , Kansas City , Minneapolis–Saint Paul and Houston to

1820-523: The 2021 season on December 9, 2020, each of the 30 MLB teams had one affiliate at four levels—Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Low-A—for a total of 120 affiliated teams. Approximately 40 teams lost their MLB affiliations; the Fresno Grizzlies were demoted from Triple-A to Low-A; and the majority of surviving clubs at High-A and Low-A swapped levels, with the former Florida State League and California League dropped down nearly as intact units and

1890-466: The 2021 season) with teams in the Southwest and Great Plains. Some players jump to the majors from this level, as many of the top prospects are put here to play against each other rather than against minor and major league veterans in Triple-A. A small handful of players might be placed here to start, usually veterans from foreign leagues with more experience in professional baseball. The expectation

1960-486: The 2021 season, located entirely in California , the 12-team Carolina League , known as Low-A East for the 2021 season, and the 10-team Florida State League , known as Low-A Southeast for the 2021 season. All three leagues were demoted from High-A to Single-A effective with the 2021 season. These leagues are a mix of players moving up from Rookie leagues, as well as the occasional experienced first-year player. Most of

2030-673: The 2021 season, with teams in the Pacific Northwest, and the 12-team South Atlantic League , known as High-A East for the 2021 season, with teams in the eastern states. All three leagues were reclassified prior to the 2021 season, with the Midwest League and the South Atlantic League promoted from Single-A and the Northwest League promoted from Class A Short Season. This level of play is often

2100-522: The Dominican Summer League who have not yet been assigned to a domestic affiliate, as well as players placed on the minor league 60-day and full-season injured lists—during the minor league season, with a limit of 175 domestic players during the offseason. During the minor league season, the following roster limits for each classification are used: Triple-A Double-A High-A Single-A Rookie Off-season leagues Showcase league Partner leagues The earliest professional baseball league,

2170-753: The Dukes began play in the Class A Western League as an affiliate of the New York Giants (now San Francisco Giants). In 1958 they switched to being the Cincinnati Reds affiliate, but the Western League folded at the end of the season. The Dukes returned to Albuquerque in 1960, playing as an affiliate for the Kansas City Athletics (now Oakland Athletics) in the Class D Sophomore League . In 1962 Kansas City management moved

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2240-802: The Dukes left Albuquerque in 2000, no replacement team had been found. In 2003, the Calgary Cannons were moved to Albuquerque as the Albuquerque Isotopes , a Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins at the time. In 2009, the Isotopes became an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers , reuniting Albuquerque's relationship with the Dodgers from 2009 until 2014. Since 2015, they have been the Triple-A affiliate of

2310-665: The Dukes name was revived and the team moved up to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League . The Dodgers transferred the Spokane Indians to Albuquerque after the 1971 season. Ironically, that franchise was a charter member of the PCL in 1903 as the original Los Angeles Angels , who had been displaced by the Dodgers in 1958 to spend the next 14 years in Spokane. With future Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda at

2380-544: The Dukes returned in 1942, this time with the Class D West Texas–New Mexico League . The Dukes went 24-30, but withdrew from competition in June of that year. The league was silent from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II, but play resumed in 1946 with the Dukes returning to the league, which was reclassified as Class C. In 1955 the West Texas–;New Mexico League stepped up one more level, to Class B. In 1956

2450-603: The July Major League Baseball draft . This adjusted schedule also allows the top Rookie-level prospects in each organization to be promoted to class Single-A for the final two months of the professional baseball season upon the conclusion of the complex league seasons. As of the 2024 season, each major league club may have no more than 165 players assigned to the rosters of their domestic affiliates (i.e., Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, Single-A, and complex-league Rookie)—excluding international players assigned to

2520-553: The Major Leagues since 1953—disbanded. The surviving International and Pacific Coast leagues absorbed the four remaining American Association franchises. Meanwhile, at the Double-A level and below there were even more significant changes: Designations below Class A disappeared because the lower levels could not sustain operation during a large downturn in the financial fortunes of minor league baseball, due to factors including

2590-625: The NL and the AA could only reserve players who had been paid at least $ 1,000. Northwestern League teams could reserve players paid $ 750, implicitly establishing the division into major and minor leagues. Over the next two decades, more minor leagues signed various versions of the National Agreement. Eventually, the minor leagues allied to negotiate jointly. In the late 1890s, the Western League run by Ban Johnson decided to challenge

2660-581: The NL's position. In 1900, he changed the name of the league to the American League (AL) and vowed to make deals to sign contracts with players who were dissatisfied with the pay and terms of their deals with the NL. This led to a turf war that heated up in 1901 enough to concern Patrick T. Powers , president of the Eastern League, and many other minor league owners about the conflict potentially affecting their organizations. Representatives of

2730-607: The Texas League, which had last operated in 1942, and the Southern Association) became Class AA. Class A remained the third-highest classification, with lower levels still ranked Class B through Class D in descending order, with Class D being the equivalent of later Rookie leagues. The impact of the Korean War in 1950 caused a player shortage in many cities below Class B. In 1952, the "Open" classification

2800-671: The Triple-A Inter–American League (1979). None lasted more than a full season. In October 2019, Baseball America reported that Major League Baseball had proposed dramatic changes to MiLB that would take effect after expiration of the Professional Baseball Agreement, which governed the MLB–MiLB relationship, at the end of the 2020 season. This included the elimination of many minor league teams. In mid-November 2019, more than 100 members of

2870-474: The Triple-A level. Such players are eligible to be added to a team's active major league roster. For teams in contention for a playoff spot late in a season, it gives them fresh players, while for teams not in contention, it gives them an opportunity to evaluate their second-tier players against major league competition. Some Triple-A players are "career minor leaguers", former prospects whose skill growth has halted and who are not likely to advance to MLB, unless as

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2940-691: The Western states, the other leagues maintained autonomy in name only, being totally economically dependent upon the AL and NL. In 1922, the United States Supreme Court decision Federal Baseball Club v. National League (259 U.S. 200), which grants baseball a special immunity from antitrust laws , had a major effect on the minor leagues. The special immunity meant that the AL and NL could dictate terms under which every independent league did business. By 1925, major league baseball established

3010-615: The different minor leagues met at the Leland Hotel in Chicago on September 5, 1901. In response to the NL–AL battle, they agreed to form the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues (NAPBL), sometimes shortened to National Association (NA), which would later adopt the trade name "Minor League Baseball". The purpose of the NAPBL at the time was to maintain the independence of

3080-591: The final standings. The 1939 Albuquerque Cardinals won their second Arizona–Texas League Championship. The Cardinals finished the regular season with a record of 70–60, placing second in the overall standings under manager Bill DeLancey, winning the second half–standings of the split–season schedule. In the playoff final, the Cardinals defeated the Bisbee-Douglas Bees 4 games to 2 to claim the 1939 championship. The Cardinals had home season attendance of 100,000. The 1940 four-team Arizona–Texas League became

3150-435: The flat-fee policy, minor league teams had little choice but to sell players as soon as they drew major-league interest. The earliest classifications used in the minor leagues began circa 1890, for teams that were party to the National Agreement of 1883. The different levels represented different levels of protection for player contracts and reserve clauses : After the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues

3220-446: The following assignments entering the 1902 season: Additional classifications added prior to World War II included: In 1946, with the minor leagues poised for unprecedented growth, the higher-level classifications were changed. Class AAA ("Triple-A") was created and the three Double-A circuits (the Pacific Coast League , International League , and the American Association ) were reclassified into Triple-A. Class A1 (comprising

3290-491: The helm, the Dukes amassed a 92–58 record and won the PCL championship, the first of eight for the franchise. That 1972 team, featuring future big leaguers Charlie Hough , Davey Lopes , Ron Cey , Larry Hisle , Tom Paciorek , and Von Joshua (among others). Much of that team, including Lasorda, helped the Dodgers win pennants in 1977, 1978 and 1981, and a World Series in 1981. The 1981 club, powered by sluggers Mike Marshall and Candy Maldonado and managed by Del Crandall ,

3360-451: The later stages of the negotiations to develop rules for the acquisition of players from their leagues by the NL and the AL. The 1903 agreement ensured that teams would be compensated for the players that they had taken the time and effort to scout and develop, and no NA team was required to sell their players, although most did because the cash was an important source of revenue for most teams. The NA leagues were still fiercely independent, and

3430-539: The leagues involved. Several did not sign the agreement and continued to work independently. Powers was made the first president of the NAPBL, whose offices were established in Auburn, New York . In 1903, the conflict between the AL and NL ended in the National Agreement of 1903 , which created the National Baseball Commission to oversee the major and minor leagues. The NAPBL became involved in

3500-584: The minor leagues, such as Buzz Arlett , Jigger Statz , Ike Boone , Buddy Ryan , Earl Rapp , and Frank Shellenback , as comparable to major league players. Leagues in the NA would not be truly called minor until Branch Rickey developed the first modern farm system in the 1930s. The Commissioner of Baseball , Kenesaw Mountain Landis fought Rickey's scheme, but, ultimately, the Great Depression drove teams to establish systems like Rickey's to ensure

3570-520: The most popular players in Dukes history was Brian Traxler , who only played 14 games in the major leagues. In 1954, Albuquerque native and future United States Senator Peter V. Domenici earned an education degree at New Mexico State University and signed on with the Dukes for whom he pitched for one year. Among the managers of the Dukes were Lasorda, Del Crandall , Bill Russell, Kevin Kennedy , Rick Dempsey , Terry Collins and Mike Scioscia. When

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3640-530: The next four seasons. In 1937, the Arizona-Texas League reformed. The Albuquerque "Cardinals" took the moniker of their major league affiliate as they joined the Class D level league and won the league championship. The Albuquerque Cardinals played as an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1937, the first of a five–year partnership. The Cardinals placed third with an overall record of 56–59, playing

3710-597: The other two leagues, as part of a reorganization of the Triple-A level in 1997. The International League features teams from the Atlantic coast and midwestern U.S., while the Pacific Coast League features teams from the Pacific coast and the southwest. Both young players and veterans play for Triple-A teams. Parent clubs often hold players who are on the 40-man roster , but not on the active MLB roster, at

3780-591: The parent clubs' spring training complexes in Arizona and Florida , an off-season autumn league, and one affiliated rookie league in the Dominican Republic . Additionally, four independent leagues are in association with MiLB. As of the 2022 season, the minor league system is divided into four classes: Triple-A (AAA), Double-A (AA), High-A (A+), and Single-A (A). Major League Baseball franchises may also maintain one or two complex-based rookie teams in

3850-408: The present-day United States. It is generally believed that the city of Albuquerque was named in honor of Don Francisco Fernández de la Cueva , viceroy of New Spain from 1653 to 1660. One of de la Cueva's aristocratic titles was Duke of Alburquerque , referring to the Spanish town of Alburquerque. Thus, the moniker "Dukes" commemorated the original Duke of Alburquerque, for whom the city of Albuquerque

3920-608: The rise of television broadcasts of major league sports across broad regions of the country. As part of the 1963 reorganization, Major League clubs increased their commitments to affiliate with minor league teams through Player Development Contracts, outright ownerships, or shared affiliations and co-op arrangements. The minor league system that evolved following the 1963 reorganization remained in place through 2020, categorizing leagues into one of six classes: Triple-A (AAA), Double-A (AA), Class A-Advanced (High A or A+), Class A (Low A), Class A Short Season, and Rookie. Furthermore, Rookie

3990-426: The season under manager Bill DeLancey . The 1937 regular season standings were led by the El Paso Texans with a 73–49 record, followed by Albuquerque (56–59), the Bisbee Bees (51–71), and Tucson Cowboys (57–58). Albuquerque won the second–half championship, after the Cardinals defeated El Paso in a one–game playoff for second–half championship to force a final series. El Paso had won the first–half championship. In

4060-404: The team to the Double-A Texas League , but dropped the team at the end of the season. The Los Angeles Dodgers began what would be a 47-year relationship with the club in 1963, and changed the name to the Albuquerque Dodgers in 1965. In 1969, the team moved from Tingley Field to the Albuquerque Sports Stadium , a fully modern facility on the south edge of town, near the UNM area. In 1972,

4130-409: The teams in the Florida State League are owned by major league parent clubs and use their spring training complexes. In 2022, the official name of the class became Single-A. Minor leagues with the Rookie classification play a shortened season that traditionally began in mid-June and ended in late August or early September. This lowest level of minor league baseball consists of two US-based leagues,

4200-404: The term minor was seldom used in reference to them, save by the major-market sportswriters. Sports news, like most news generally, often did not travel far in the days before radio and television, so, while the leagues often bristled at the major market writers' descriptions, they viewed themselves as independent sports businesses. Many baseball writers of that time regarded the greatest players of

4270-410: The time it seemed like the PCL would eventually become a third major league. The PCL would revert to Triple-A in 1958, due to increasing television coverage of major league games and in light of the Dodgers and Giants moving to Los Angeles and San Francisco , respectively. A significant reorganization of the minor leagues took place in 1963, caused by the contraction of clubs and leagues during

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4340-439: The top prospects associated with each of the six MLB divisions. This classification currently includes two affiliated leagues: the 20-team International League and the 10-team Pacific Coast League , known as Triple-A East and Triple-A West, respectively, for the 2021 season. For most of the 20th century, Triple-A also included the American Association , based in the Midwest, but that league disbanded with its clubs absorbed by

4410-408: Was also a dominant team, winning both halves of the South Division with a 94–38 record and sweeping the Tacoma Rainiers to win their third league title. Their .712 winning percentage was the second-best in PCL history at the time. The 1981 Dukes were recognized as the eleventh best minor league baseball team of all time , and the only team in the top 20 to play after 1943. During that season, KTLA ,

4480-410: Was created. The Pacific Coast League (PCL), which had been rated Triple-A since 1946, was the only minor league to obtain this classification, which it held through 1957. At this time, the major leagues only extended as far west as St. Louis, Missouri , and as far south as Washington, D.C. This classification severely restricted the rights of the major leagues to draft players out of the PCL, and at

4550-405: Was formed in 1915 as part of the Class D Rio Grande Association . The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs, hitting 10 dingers for the season. These Dukes folded that same year. Albuquerque was host to two other Class D minor-league teams (the Dons and the Albuquerque Cardinals , the latter for which Tingley Field was built) before

4620-422: Was founded in 1901, classifications were redefined: † Draft fee set an amount for a team in a higher class to select a player; n/a for Class A as it would be up to each team to negotiate with an interested major league club. ‡ Protection fee reserved a player to a team, even after a contract expired, preventing the player for seeking employment with any other team. All minor leagues were classified, and had

4690-467: Was further informally subdivided into Rookie Advanced, complex-based Rookie, and international summer baseball. There have also been some failed start-up leagues. During the 1970s, three official minor leagues (members of NAPBL) attempted unsuccessfully to revive unaffiliated baseball (teams not associated with specific MLB franchises) within the organized baseball structure. These were the Class A Gulf States League (1976) and Lone Star League (1977), and

4760-456: Was present for first game in 1937 and called Tingley Field "one of the finest minor league parks in America". Tingley Field was demolished in 1969. Today, the old ticket booth remains and the site is called Tingley Park, a public park with baseball and softball fields. Albuquerque Cardinals players Albuquerque Dukes The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico . The first Dukes team

4830-431: Was televised in Albuquerque on KNAT-TV 23. In the early 1990s, future stars such as Mike Piazza , Pedro Martínez , John Wetteland , Raúl Mondesí , Paul Konerko , and many more came through on their way to 'The Show.' The team won PCL titles in 1990 and '94, and posted the PCL's best overall record in 1991. By then, however, the Dukes were growing dissatisfied with their longtime home, Albuquerque Sports Stadium . It

4900-421: Was the oldest facility in the PCL, and was increasingly in disrepair. In 2000, the Lozinak family, absentee owners who resided in Maryland, sold the franchise to an interest group in Portland, Oregon . Following that season, the Dukes were moved and renamed the Portland Beavers . The Dodgers traded Triple-A franchises with the San Diego Padres , who had the Las Vegas Stars franchise as an affiliate, but who had

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