Dorados de Chihuahua
Encyclopedia
Dorados de Chihuahua were a baseball
team from the city of Chihuahua
. Recently Tuneros de San Luis moved to Chihuahua and took the Dorados namesake, which also brought the LMB (AAA) Mexican Baseball League
to Chihuahua for the first time since 1982. The Dorados played their home games at Estadio Chihuahua
. The Dorados will be sold to either Nuevo Laredo
or Aguascalientes
for the 2011-2012 season.
, Cool Papa Bell, Martin Dihigo
, Ray Dandridge
and Willie Wells
. Native Mexican talent was almost run out of the league in 1940, when many Cuban and Negro League stars took central stage - only a handful of Mexican players like Angel Castro and Jesus Valenzuela were competitive with the foreign imports. Three Negro Leaguers won Triple Crowns in a 4-year period - since then only three other players have won Triple Crowns in the Mexican League. The Dorados de Chihuahua joined the Mexican League in 1940. The Golden men were 14-67 and 42 games out of first in dead last. The teams loan super stars were Lonnie Summers and Jacinto Roque, both of whom spent time on other clubs.
was a class D circuit that ran from '31-'32 and '37-'39. In '40-'41 it was promoted to class C, then halted play from 1942 to 1946. In '47-'50 the league again organized and competed until 1951 when it merged with the Sunset League
to form the Southwest International League
. Chihuahua Dorados joined the league towards the end in 1952, winning 57 and losing 83, finishing 27 and 1/2 games out of first. Though the team did not win as many games as expected, they drew an impressive 130,329 fans in 70 home games in 1952; out drawing every other team in the league by double.
became the Arizona-Mexico League. The circuit continued only four more seasons before the class C league bid adieu to baseball. During these four seasons more than 1,700,000 fans went through the gate. The Cananea Mineros was the only team to win more than one league title, taking two back to back, in 1955 and 1956. They drew 347,247 fans those two years. Chihuahua joined the league for its final year in 1958. In 1958 the Dorados, skippered by Leonel Aldama, went 56 and 62 falling to fourth place, yet still leading the league in 58 with 59,917 fans in attendance.
, went 527 and 776. Never climbing above second place, the Centauros were a fan favorite drawing the most fans over the 10 year stretch.
19 wins and 3 losses, catcher Moose Edmunds from the Bend Bandits
, .329 avg with 15 home runs and 4 steals of home (two coming in one game), outfielder George Wallace Johnson Jr 62 Stolen Bases, and Tim Leone cut from the Edinburg Roadrunners, was a heavy hitting first baseman who clubbed an amazing 40 home runs in one season for Chihuahua.
Tuneros were moving to the city of Chihuahua, where the team became known as the Dorados. The Tuneros finished out of the playoffs in 2007 with an overall record of 49-61, which ranked 15th among 16 Liga teams in attendance. Just over 68,000 fans turned out for games in San Luis Potosi for an average of about 1,200 fans per game. Only the perpetually cash-strapped Campeche Piratas did worse at the gate. Although the Tuneros never won an LMB pennant in San Luis, the old Chihuahua Dorados failed to even make the Mexican League playoffs in twelve seasons in the 1970s and 1980s. The new Dorados featured such holdovers from the Tuneros as Sharnol Adriana
, Darryl Brinkley
and Pat O'Sullivan
.
As the Liga's most northwesterly city after Tijuana
, the Dorados remained in the LMB Northern Division until 2010.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team from the city of Chihuahua
Chihuahua, Chihuahua
The city of Chihuahua is the state capital of the Mexican state of Chihuahua. It has a population of about 825,327. The predominant activity is industry, including domestic heavy, light industries, consumer goods production, and to a smaller extent maquiladoras.-History:It has been said that the...
. Recently Tuneros de San Luis moved to Chihuahua and took the Dorados namesake, which also brought the LMB (AAA) Mexican Baseball League
Liga Mexicana de Beisbol
The Mexican League is a summer minor league baseball league with teams based across Mexico. Along with the International League and the Pacific Coast League, it is one of three leagues playing at the triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It is the only Minor League...
to Chihuahua for the first time since 1982. The Dorados played their home games at Estadio Chihuahua
Estadio Chihuahua
Estadio Chihuahua is a stadium in Chihuahua, Mexico. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Dorados de Chihuahua baseball team of the Mexican League. It holds 14,500 people and opened in 2005.-External links:*...
. The Dorados will be sold to either Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo
Nuevo Laredo is a city located in the Municipality of Nuevo Laredo in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The city lies on the banks of the Río Grande, across from the United States city of Laredo, Texas. The 2010 census population of the city was 373,725. Nuevo Laredo is part of the Laredo-Nuevo...
or Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes
The city of Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes in western central Mexico. It stands on the banks of the Río Aguascalientes, 1880 meters above sea level, at...
for the 2011-2012 season.
Mexican League 1940
The Mexican League was founded in 1925 with 5 teams and slowly grew. By the late 1930s and 40s, the league was drawing the top players from the Negro Leagues, including Satchel PaigeSatchel Paige
Leroy Robert "Satchel" Paige was an American baseball player whose pitching in the Negro leagues and in Major League Baseball made him a legend in his own lifetime...
, Cool Papa Bell, Martin Dihigo
Martín Dihigo
Martín Magdaleno Dihigo Llanos was a Cuban player in baseball's Negro leagues and Latin American leagues who excelled at several positions, primarily as a pitcher and second baseman...
, Ray Dandridge
Ray Dandridge
Raymond Emmitt Dandridge was an American third baseman in baseball's Negro leagues. He was born in Richmond, Virginia. Dandridge was one of the greatest fielders in the history of baseball, and one of the sport's greatest hitters for average, but unfortunately his name is not familiar to the...
and Willie Wells
Willie Wells
Willie James Wells was an American shortstop who played from -48 for various teams in the Negro Leagues.Wells was born in Austin, Texas...
. Native Mexican talent was almost run out of the league in 1940, when many Cuban and Negro League stars took central stage - only a handful of Mexican players like Angel Castro and Jesus Valenzuela were competitive with the foreign imports. Three Negro Leaguers won Triple Crowns in a 4-year period - since then only three other players have won Triple Crowns in the Mexican League. The Dorados de Chihuahua joined the Mexican League in 1940. The Golden men were 14-67 and 42 games out of first in dead last. The teams loan super stars were Lonnie Summers and Jacinto Roque, both of whom spent time on other clubs.
Arizona-Texas League 1952
Formed from the Arizona State League in 1931, the Arizona-Texas LeagueArizona-Texas League
The Arizona-Texas League was a low-level circuit in American minor league baseball that existed from 1928-32, 1937-41, 1947-50 and 1952-54. The Arizona-Texas loop merged with the Sunset League to form the Southwest International League in 1951...
was a class D circuit that ran from '31-'32 and '37-'39. In '40-'41 it was promoted to class C, then halted play from 1942 to 1946. In '47-'50 the league again organized and competed until 1951 when it merged with the Sunset League
Sunset League
The Sunset League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1950. For the 1951 season, the league merged with the Arizona-Texas League to form the Southwest International League.- Former :...
to form the Southwest International League
Southwest International League
The Southwest International League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1951 through 1952. The league was formed through the merger of the Sunset League and Arizona-Texas League in 1951.- Former :...
. Chihuahua Dorados joined the league towards the end in 1952, winning 57 and losing 83, finishing 27 and 1/2 games out of first. Though the team did not win as many games as expected, they drew an impressive 130,329 fans in 70 home games in 1952; out drawing every other team in the league by double.
The Central Mexican League 1956-57
The Central Mexican League was a class C operation which lasted two seasons, 1956 and 1957. The six-team circuit was very offense-friendly and ERAs over 8 were about as common as ERAs under 3.50. Both the City of Juarez and Chihuahua represented the state of Chihuahua Mexico. In 1956 the great pitcher Marte de Alejandro propelled Chihuahua to a second place finish behind the Saltillo Saraperos by only a half game, with an astounding 129 strikeouts and 18 victories in the short season of only 100 games. Both teams had equal records on the last day of the season, yet a loss by Chihuahua and a forfeit by Saltillo's opponent gave the crown to the Saraperos. Chihuahua's manager Manuel Arroyo was furious, and promised a local paper that the Dorados would win in 1957, which they did. 1957 marked the Gold men’s first crown outright, posting a 62 and 38 record behind the great pitching of Antonio Dicochea, 17 wins and 157 Strikeouts.Arizona-Mexico League 1958
In 1955 the Arizona-Texas LeagueArizona-Texas League
The Arizona-Texas League was a low-level circuit in American minor league baseball that existed from 1928-32, 1937-41, 1947-50 and 1952-54. The Arizona-Texas loop merged with the Sunset League to form the Southwest International League in 1951...
became the Arizona-Mexico League. The circuit continued only four more seasons before the class C league bid adieu to baseball. During these four seasons more than 1,700,000 fans went through the gate. The Cananea Mineros was the only team to win more than one league title, taking two back to back, in 1955 and 1956. They drew 347,247 fans those two years. Chihuahua joined the league for its final year in 1958. In 1958 the Dorados, skippered by Leonel Aldama, went 56 and 62 falling to fourth place, yet still leading the league in 58 with 59,917 fans in attendance.
Mexican League 1973-1982
Returning to the Mexican League in 1973, Chihuahua, now under the name Centauros de Chihuahua in relation to a nickname for Pancho VillaPancho Villa
José Doroteo Arango Arámbula – better known by his pseudonym Francisco Villa or its hypocorism Pancho Villa – was one of the most prominent Mexican Revolutionary generals....
, went 527 and 776. Never climbing above second place, the Centauros were a fan favorite drawing the most fans over the 10 year stretch.
Independent Semi Pro State Baseball 1985-2002
For much of the next 20 years Chihuahua was without a professional team, instead a sponsored independent city team was organized to play against other independent teams in the surrounding area. Many college and high school players from the Texas-Louisiana league, along with stragglers form the now defunct Western League spent time playing among these teams gaining valuable experience and giving the crowds a great show. Some of the greatest imports from the US during this time were: pitcher Duke Richards later with the Alexandria AcesAlexandria Aces
This article is about the Alexandria Aces of the Texas Collegiate League, who are based in Alexandria, LA. For the Alexandria Aces of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, see Alexandria Aces ...
19 wins and 3 losses, catcher Moose Edmunds from the Bend Bandits
Bend Bandits
The Bend Bandits were a minor league baseball team located in Bend, Oregon. The team played in the independent Western Baseball League, and was not affiliated with any Major League Baseball team. Their home stadium was Vince Genna Stadium....
, .329 avg with 15 home runs and 4 steals of home (two coming in one game), outfielder George Wallace Johnson Jr 62 Stolen Bases, and Tim Leone cut from the Edinburg Roadrunners, was a heavy hitting first baseman who clubbed an amazing 40 home runs in one season for Chihuahua.
Mexican League 2003 - 2010
2003 marked official talks and action to bring Chihuahua back into the LMB, along with its cousin Juarez. In 2007 The Mexican League announced the San Luis PotosiSan Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
Tuneros were moving to the city of Chihuahua, where the team became known as the Dorados. The Tuneros finished out of the playoffs in 2007 with an overall record of 49-61, which ranked 15th among 16 Liga teams in attendance. Just over 68,000 fans turned out for games in San Luis Potosi for an average of about 1,200 fans per game. Only the perpetually cash-strapped Campeche Piratas did worse at the gate. Although the Tuneros never won an LMB pennant in San Luis, the old Chihuahua Dorados failed to even make the Mexican League playoffs in twelve seasons in the 1970s and 1980s. The new Dorados featured such holdovers from the Tuneros as Sharnol Adriana
Sharnol Adriana
Sharnol Leonard Adriana is a Dutch baseball player.-Early years:Adriana began his professional baseball career after being taken in the 15th round of the 1991 MLB Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays assigned him to their St. Catharines Blue Jays farm team, where he hit .206-.311-.341 as...
, Darryl Brinkley
Darryl Brinkley
Darryl Maurice Brinkley is an American former professional baseball player and manager. He played one season in the Korea Baseball Organization for the Hyundai Unicorns in 2000. In 2007, he became the first player in Northern League history to bat .400...
and Pat O'Sullivan
Pat O'Sullivan
Pat O'Sullivan Lucey is an American amateur golfer who won the 1950, 1951, and 1953 North and South Women's Amateur. As well, she won the 1951 Titleholders Championship, then one of the LPGA Tour's major championships. She was a member of Race Brook Country Club in Orange, Connecticut...
.
As the Liga's most northwesterly city after Tijuana
Tijuana
Tijuana is the largest city on the Baja California Peninsula and center of the Tijuana metropolitan area, part of the international San Diego–Tijuana metropolitan area. An industrial and financial center of Mexico, Tijuana exerts a strong influence on economics, education, culture, art, and politics...
, the Dorados remained in the LMB Northern Division until 2010.
Managers
- 1952 Domingo Santana and Marvin WilliamsMarvin WilliamsMarvin Gaye Williams, Jr. is an American professional basketball player. He currently is playing for the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association and is listed at 6' 9" and 240 pounds...
. - 1956 - 1957 Manuel Arroyo
- 1958 Leonel Aldama
MLB Players from Chihuahua, Chihuahua
- Mario MendozaMario MendozaMario Mendoza Aizpuru is a former Major League Baseball infielder. Mendoza, a lifetime 0.215 hitter, is best known as the threshold for batting aptitude, with the "Mendoza Line", meaning a batting average of .200....
(–) — Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
, Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
; most famous as the namesake of the Mendoza LineMendoza LineThe Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose lifetime batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting... - Luis RiveraLuis Rivera (pitcher)Luis Rivera Gutierrez is a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He is 6'3" tall and weighes 163 pounds....
— Atlanta BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
, Baltimore OriolesBaltimore OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...