Amarillo Dillas
Encyclopedia
The Amarillo Dillas were a professional baseball team based in Amarillo, Texas
, in the United States
. The Dillas were a member of United League Baseball
, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
or Minor League Baseball
. From 1994 to 2010, the Dillas played their home games at historic Potter County Memorial Stadium
, nicknamed the "Dilla Villa."
in 2002, and several new teams were added. The Dillas struggled with attendance after the expansion, only averaging 846 fans in their championship series appearance in 2004. A neglected stadium and erosion of local fan support resulted in the Dillas being dropped from the Central League following the 2004 season in favor of the El Paso Diablos
.
The Amarillo Dillas were brought back in 2006 as one of six charter members of the independent United League Baseball
(ULB). The new Amarillo Dillas management renovated the entire stadium, including a new field and new seats. The Amarillo Dillas just missed the playoffs in their first two seasons in the new league. In 2008, the Dillas posted a 54-37 record, claiming first-half champion honors. In the playoffs, Amarillo defeated Alexandria for their first league championship since 1999. Amarillo would continue their success in 2009 with a 44-35 record and another championship, defeating San Angelo for the title. The Dillas would win the title again in 2010, becoming the first United League three-peat champions.
In October 2010, the Dillas were evicted from Potter County Memorial Stadium, as Reunion Sports Group
, the parent company of the Dillas, could not pay the $75,000 lease on the stadium. In November 2010, Potter County commissioners awarded the bid for the 2011 use of the stadium to Scott Berry, owner of Southern Independent Baseball and franchisee with the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. The Dillas will be replaced by the Amarillo Sox
beginning in the 2011 season.
Amarillo, Texas
Amarillo is the 14th-largest city, by population, in the state of Texas, the largest in the Texas Panhandle, and the seat of Potter County. A portion of the city extends into Randall County. The population was 190,695 at the 2010 census...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Dillas were a member of United League Baseball
United League Baseball
United League Baseball was an independent baseball league that operated in Texas. It later merged with the Northern League and the Golden Baseball League to form the North American League.- History :...
, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
or Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. From 1994 to 2010, the Dillas played their home games at historic Potter County Memorial Stadium
Potter County Memorial Stadium
Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium is a baseball-only stadium in Amarillo, Texas. It is home to the Amarillo Sox, a professional baseball team and member of the American Association and the West Texas A&M University college baseball team of the Division II Lone Star Conference. It was home to the...
, nicknamed the "Dilla Villa."
History
The Amarillo Dillas were a charter member of the independent Texas-Louisiana League, which was formed in 1994. The Dillas were a strong team in the early years of the Texas-Louisiana League, claiming the regular season champion title in 1995, 1998, and 2000. They would win the first half championship in 1997 and were the 1999 Texas-Louisiana League champions. The Texas-Louisiana League was renamed the Central Baseball LeagueCentral Baseball League
The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas-Louisiana League, was a minor league whose member teams were independent of any Major League Baseball affiliations.In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S...
in 2002, and several new teams were added. The Dillas struggled with attendance after the expansion, only averaging 846 fans in their championship series appearance in 2004. A neglected stadium and erosion of local fan support resulted in the Dillas being dropped from the Central League following the 2004 season in favor of the El Paso Diablos
El Paso Diablos
The El Paso Diablos are a professional baseball team based in El Paso, Texas, in the United States. The Diablos are a member of the South Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 2005 season to the...
.
The Amarillo Dillas were brought back in 2006 as one of six charter members of the independent United League Baseball
United League Baseball
United League Baseball was an independent baseball league that operated in Texas. It later merged with the Northern League and the Golden Baseball League to form the North American League.- History :...
(ULB). The new Amarillo Dillas management renovated the entire stadium, including a new field and new seats. The Amarillo Dillas just missed the playoffs in their first two seasons in the new league. In 2008, the Dillas posted a 54-37 record, claiming first-half champion honors. In the playoffs, Amarillo defeated Alexandria for their first league championship since 1999. Amarillo would continue their success in 2009 with a 44-35 record and another championship, defeating San Angelo for the title. The Dillas would win the title again in 2010, becoming the first United League three-peat champions.
In October 2010, the Dillas were evicted from Potter County Memorial Stadium, as Reunion Sports Group
Reunion Sports Group
Reunion Sports Group is an investor group which owns United League Baseball, an independent baseball league started in 2005. Owned by league co-founders John Bryant and Byron Pierce who had left the original ownership group a few years back and then purchased the league out of bankruptcy in 2009,...
, the parent company of the Dillas, could not pay the $75,000 lease on the stadium. In November 2010, Potter County commissioners awarded the bid for the 2011 use of the stadium to Scott Berry, owner of Southern Independent Baseball and franchisee with the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. The Dillas will be replaced by the Amarillo Sox
Amarillo Sox
The Amarillo Sox are a professional baseball team based out of Amarillo, Texas, and is set to play in the independent American Association in 2011. They will play their home games at Amarillo National Bank Sox Stadium in Amarillo, replacing the Amarillo Dillas of United League Baseball after that...
beginning in the 2011 season.
Team Record
| Amarillo Dillas (All Leagues) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | W-L | PCT | League | Postseason |
| 1994 | 48-40 | .546 | Texas-Lou. | |
| 1995 | 64-36 | .640 | Texas-Lou. | RS Champs |
| 1996 | 43-57 | .430 | Texas-Lou. | |
| 1997 | 55-33 | .625 | Texas-Lou. | 1st Half Champs |
| 1998 | 64-20 | .762 | Texas-Lou. | RS Champs |
| 1999 | 63-21 | .750 | Texas-Lou. | TLL Champs |
| 2000 | 76-36 | .679 | Texas-Lou. | RS Champs |
| Year | W-L | PCT | League | Postseason |
| 2001 | 49-45 | .521 | Central | |
| 2002 | 46-50 | .479 | Central | |
| 2003 | 48-46 | .511 | Central | |
| 2003 | 48-46 | .511 | Central | Wild Card |
| 2004 | 36-58 | .383 | Central | Wild Card |
| Year | W-L | PCT | League | Postseason |
| 2006 | 39-50 | .438 | United | |
| 2007 | 47-48 | .495 | United | |
| 2008 | 54-37 | .593 | United | 1st Half/ULB Champs |
| 2009 | 44-35 | .557 | United | ULB Champs |
| 2010 | 52-39 | .571 | United | RS Champs/ULB Champs |