The Waco Tigers were a minor league baseball team based in Waco, Texas . Between 1892 and 1905, the Tigers played in four non–consecutive seasons as members of the Texas League , with three of the seasons being partial seasons of play. The Waco Tigers hosted home minor league games at Padgitt Park until 1905, when the Tigers began play at Katy Park . The Tigers were succeeded by the 1906 Waco Navigators , who continued Waco's membership in the Texas League through 1919.
21-643: In 1889 and 1890, the Tigers were preceded in minor league play by the Waco "Babies," who played both seasons as members of the independent Texas League . The 1892 Waco "Tigers" rejoined the Texas League, which had evolved to become a Class B level league. Waco joined the league during the season. Waco joined the league on July 23, 1892 with the San Antonio Missions , with those two teams replacing
42-619: A Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the state of Texas ; the five North Division teams are located in Arkansas , Kansas , Missouri , and Oklahoma . The league temporarily operated for the 2021 season as Double-A Central before reassuming its original moniker in 2022. The Texas League
63-483: A bloop hit, a soft fly ball that falls for a hit beyond the infielders' reach but too short for the outfielders to catch, has been extant since at least 1903 and was common throughout American baseball in the 20th century and to some degree into the 21st. The source of the idiom is not known but among other theories has been attributed to Ollie Pickering 's feat in a Texas League game of April 4, 1901, in which he made seven such hits in succession. Talk of this singular feat
84-764: Is Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium (1994) in San Antonio, Texas , home of the San Antonio Missions . The newest stadium is Riverfront Stadium (2020) in Wichita, Kansas , home of the Wichita Wind Surge . One stadium was built in the 1990s, six in the 2000s, two in the 2010s, and one in the 2020s. The highest seating capacity is 10,486 at Hammons Field in Springfield, Missouri , where the Springfield Cardinals play. The lowest capacity
105-527: Is 6,631 at Hodgetown in Amarillo, Texas , where the Amarillo Sod Poodles play. All stadiums use a grass surface. Since its founding, there have been 67 stadiums located among 36 municipalities used by the league. The TL does not consider teams in existence from 1888 to 1890 as part of its franchise history. Therefore, the list does not include stadiums prior to it originating in 1902. Of
126-480: Is supposed to have spread widely, bringing the term with it. Around the advent of the 21st century, the Texas League witnessed a great deal of change. Teams once known as the Jackson Mets , El Paso Diablos , Shreveport Captains , and Wichita Wranglers all relocated to new cities and bigger stadiums. In 2019, the San Antonio Missions relocated to Amarillo, Texas , becoming the Amarillo Sod Poodles . At
147-537: The Dallas Hams and Fort Worth Panthers , who had folded on July 7, 1892. Waco ended their season with a record of 15–18, playing the season under manager Pat Flaherty . No playoffs were held after the Houston Mudcats won both half-season standings. Waco had the third best winning percentage in the league. The Texas League did not return to play in 1893. The Waco Tigers returned to minor league play in
168-808: The New York Yankees with Babe Ruth played an exhibition game at the Katy Park against the Waco Cubs . On May 5, 1930, the first night baseball game in Texas took place at Katy Park. The game was between the Negro leagues ' Kansas City Monarchs and the Waco Black Cardinals, a local team. The teams utilized the Monarchs' portable light system. The Monarchs won the game, beating Waco by
189-479: The 1897 season when the "Sherman–Denison Students" team of the Texas League relocated to Waco during the season. On July 15, 1897, the Students moved to Waco with a 44–41 record. After compiling a 19–16 record while based in Waco, The Sherman–Denison/Waco Tigers team ended the 1897 season with an overall record of 63–57. The team was managed by Pete Weckbecker , Pearce Chiles and Joe Dowie. The team placed second in
210-494: The 2021 season. Following MLB's acquisition of the rights to the names of the historical minor leagues, the league switched back to its historical name beginning with the 2022 season. League members Dixie Association PCL Other League Note: • An "^" indicates that team's article redirects to an article of an active team in a different league List of Texas League stadiums There are ten stadiums in use by Texas League (TL) baseball teams. The oldest stadium
231-823: The Texas League and the Mexican League formed the Pan American Association . The two leagues played a limited interlocking schedule and post-season championship. By 1971, the Texas League and the Southern League had both decreased to seven teams. They played an interlocking schedule with the Southern League known as the Dixie Association . The two leagues played separate playoffs. The Texas League has operated its own schedule since 1972. The term "Texas Leaguer" to describe
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#1732772403717252-518: The eight–team Class C level league standings, finishing 8.5 games behind the first place Galveston Sand Crabs . In 1898, the Texas League reduced to six teams, without a Waco team. After a three year absence from the Texas League, the Waco Tigers rejoined the Class D level league for the 1902 season, folding before its completion. On July 8, 1902, Waco folded with a record of 26–36. Emmett Rogers
273-401: The final standings. Don Curtis and Mike O'Connor served as managers, as Waco finished 5.5 games behind the first place Fort Worth Panthers. Waco's Scott Ragsdale won the league batting title, hitting .292 and teammate Stan Stovall led the league with five home runs. Fabian battled with Sunday laws in Waco. After being arrested three times for scheduling games at Katy Park on Sundays, Fabian took
294-529: The first round of the playoffs to the Dallas Giants . Waco did not filed a franchise in the 1904 Texas League, as the team resumed play in Paris. Waco played their final season as the "Tigers" in the 1905 Class C level Texas League. The 1905 team was owned by Henry Fabian and the Tigers began play at Katy Park , designed by Fabian. The Waco Tigers ended the 1905 season with a 65–65 record, placing fourth in
315-469: The matter to court and won at the state level. After the 1905 season, he sold the Waco team to a local businessman. Waco continued play in the 1906 Texas League, becoming the Waco Navigators . The Navigators played continuously in the league through 1919. The Waco Tigers and Steers played home minor league games at Padgitt Park through the 1904 season. The park was founded in the 1880's. The park
336-761: The same time, the Triple-A Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) moved to San Antonio to continue on as the Missions at the Triple-A level. The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. As part of Major League Baseball's 2021 reorganization of the minor leagues, the Texas League was temporarily renamed to "Double-A Central" for
357-452: The score of 8–0. After the original ballpark was razed in the 1960s, it became a parking lot. In 2020, the former ballpark site became a part of the "Magnolia Market at the Silos" renovation and the site was returned to a small ballpark. Today, the new ballpark at the site is called "Katy Ballpark at the Silos." List of Texas League stadiums Texas League The Texas League is
378-565: The stadiums with known opening dates, the oldest to have hosted TL games was Gaston Park (1886), home of the Dallas Steers and Dallas Giants ; Riverfront Stadium is also the newest of all stadiums to host TL games. The highest known seating capacity was 21,000 at Turnpike Stadium , the Dallas–Fort Worth Spurs home. The stadiums with the lowest known capacity were League Park (Longview, Texas) and Trojan Park Athletic Field,
399-584: Was founded in 1902, although it traces its lineage back to a predecessor founded in 1888. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892. It was refounded in 1895 and ran through 1899 (under the name Texas Association in 1895 and Texas-Southern League in 1896). The Texas League was revived as a Class D league in 1902, moved to Class C in 1904 where it played through 1910 (except for 1906 as Class D again), played at Class B until 1920, and finally moved up to Class A in 1921. The Texas League, like many others, shut down during World War II. From 1959 to 1961,
420-501: Was later purchased from owner and namesake Tom Padgitt and became known as the Cotton Palace . In 1905 the Tigers began play at Katy Park . Designed by Waco owner and player Henry Fabian, the ballpark opened in time to host a presidential visit by Teddy Roosevelt on April 6, 1905. Used through the 1960's, when it was torn down, the ballpark was located at the corner of Eighth Street & Webster Avenue in Waco. In April 1929,
441-529: Was the Tigers' manager. The 1903 Texas League began play without a Waco team, but Waco resumed play during the season. On June 26, 1903, the Paris Parasites moved to Waco, where the team finished the season as the Waco Steers . Paris had a record of 32–20 at the time of the move to Waco. The team finished with an overall record of 52–56, placing fifth in the overall regular standings and losing in
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