Pacific Southwest Baseball League
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Southwest League is a collegiate summer baseball league. The PSWL is a member of the National Baseball Congress. The PSWL League Champion represents the league annually at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kansas. 2009 will mark the 75th Anniversary of the NBC World Series at Lawrence-DuMont Stadium. The league consists of 4 teams: Tucson Nationals, Casa Grande Cotton Kings, Mesa Garden of Gears and the Bisbee Copper Kings. Former teams like the Havasu Heat and the Palm Springs Power
were one of the founding teams in the first season of 2000.
TEAM COLORS
2009 SEASON
Before the start of the 2009 PSWL season, the Havasu Heat announced that they were moving to Wichita, Kansas. The Havasu Heat did not participate in 2009 in order to prepare the organization for their move to Kansas.
The PSWL consisted of 4 teams in Arizona that included college baseball players not only from Arizona, but from colleges and universities throughout the United States. The four teams included the Tucson Nationals, Casa Grande Cotton Kings, Mesa Garden of Gears and the Bisbee Copper Kings. Some games are played in Goodyear, Arizona
and Green Valley, Arizona
where former PSWL teams had been in the early 2000s.
The Mesa Garden of Gears won the PSWL regular season championship in 2009. The Tucson Nationals hosted the 2009 PSWL Championship Tournament at Tucson Electric Park
(former home of the Arizona Diamondbacks
affiliate AAA Tucson Sidewinders
). The 2009 tournament championship was won by the Casa Grande Cotton Kings. By taking the championship, the Cotton Kings secured the PSWL's automatic bid in the 2009 NBC World Series in Kansas.
The 2009 season also marked the centennial for the Bisbee Copper Kings' historic Warren Ballpark
, it is the oldest continuously operated ballpark in the United States and during the 2009 season the ballpark celebrated its 100th year of continuous operation. A special exhibition game was played between the Bisbee Copper Kings and the El Paso Sun Kings in honor of the two teams (Bisbee and El Paso) that played in the first game at Warren Ballpark 100 years ago.
The PSWL also played teams from the Rocky Mountain Baseball League, the El Paso Sun Kings and the Davis–Monthan Air Force Base U.S. Air Force Team during the 2009 season.
team of the same name
), Bisbee Copper Kings, the Prescott Bears and two other teams from Pima County, AZ (The Green Valley Sox and Nogales Owls). The Mesa Garden of Gears are now affiliated with the Bisbee Copper Kings after an off-season merger between the two organizations. An exhibition team represents Luke Air Force Base
of Surprise, Arizona
and the US Army team of Sierra Vista, Arizona
.
of the Arizona Winter League
acquired the Copper Kings, while the Cotton Kings and Garden of Gears are independent, and the rest of the league went to the Rocky Mountain league.
The Tucson Outlaws folded while the city now hosts the Tucson Padres of the AAA level pacific Coast League
and has a rival team, the Tucson Toros
of the independent AA level Golden Baseball League
, but postponed its inaugural season. The Tucson Nationals are expected to be an independent team.
The Yuma Scorpions (renamed Bandits) want to join the Sou. Cal. League or the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association
in the 2011 season or they will go independent. Yuma, Arizona
is the home base of two minor leagues: the Arizona Summer League
and co-owned Arizona Winter League
.
Palm Springs Power
The Palm Springs POWER is a collegiate-level baseball team based in Palm Springs, California and are members of the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association. They play their home games at Palm Springs Stadium, also the home of the California Winter League...
were one of the founding teams in the first season of 2000.
TEAMS (2009 Season)
- Tucson Nationals Manager Manny Romo.
- Casa Grande Cotton Kings Manager Jeff Hall *2009 League Tournament Champions/NBC World Series Participant*
- Garden of Gears Manager Bill Moore *2009 Regular Season Champions*
- Bisbee Copper KingsBisbee-Douglas Copper KingsThe Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings were a minor league baseball team in Bisbee, Arizona and Douglas, Arizona. They played in the Arizona-Texas League from 1949 to 1950 and in the Arizona-Mexico League in 1955. The Arizona-Mexico League was active from 1955-58 and was the successor of the Arizona-Texas...
Manager Greg Pennington.
TEAM COLORS
- Tucson Nationals- Red, Black & White.
- Casa Grande Cotton Kings- Black, Old Gold & White.
- Mesa Garden of Gears- Black, Yellow Gold & Green.
- Bisbee Copper Kings- Copper, Black & Turquoise.
2009 SEASON
Before the start of the 2009 PSWL season, the Havasu Heat announced that they were moving to Wichita, Kansas. The Havasu Heat did not participate in 2009 in order to prepare the organization for their move to Kansas.
The PSWL consisted of 4 teams in Arizona that included college baseball players not only from Arizona, but from colleges and universities throughout the United States. The four teams included the Tucson Nationals, Casa Grande Cotton Kings, Mesa Garden of Gears and the Bisbee Copper Kings. Some games are played in Goodyear, Arizona
Goodyear, Arizona
Goodyear is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 65,275...
and Green Valley, Arizona
Green Valley, Arizona
Green Valley is a census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 17,283 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Green Valley is located at ....
where former PSWL teams had been in the early 2000s.
The Mesa Garden of Gears won the PSWL regular season championship in 2009. The Tucson Nationals hosted the 2009 PSWL Championship Tournament at Tucson Electric Park
Tucson Electric Park
Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium is a baseball stadium in Tucson, Arizona. The Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox formerly utilized the park for Cactus League games each March and had their minor league complexes on-site...
(former home of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
affiliate AAA Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
). The 2009 tournament championship was won by the Casa Grande Cotton Kings. By taking the championship, the Cotton Kings secured the PSWL's automatic bid in the 2009 NBC World Series in Kansas.
The 2009 season also marked the centennial for the Bisbee Copper Kings' historic Warren Ballpark
Warren Ballpark
Warren Ballpark is a baseball stadium located in Bisbee, Arizona. The ballpark was recently home to the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings of the independent Arizona-Mexico League...
, it is the oldest continuously operated ballpark in the United States and during the 2009 season the ballpark celebrated its 100th year of continuous operation. A special exhibition game was played between the Bisbee Copper Kings and the El Paso Sun Kings in honor of the two teams (Bisbee and El Paso) that played in the first game at Warren Ballpark 100 years ago.
The PSWL also played teams from the Rocky Mountain Baseball League, the El Paso Sun Kings and the Davis–Monthan Air Force Base U.S. Air Force Team during the 2009 season.
2010 season
The Pacific Southwest Baseball League will play under the name Pacific Southwest League for the 2010 season. The league will consist of 8 teams for the upcoming season including the Tucson Nationals, Tucson Outlaws, Casa Grande Cotton Kings, Yuma Scorpions (not to be confused with the Golden Baseball LeagueGolden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
team of the same name
Yuma Scorpions
The Yuma Scorpions are a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. The Scorpions are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League. From the 2005 season to the present, the Scorpions have played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the...
), Bisbee Copper Kings, the Prescott Bears and two other teams from Pima County, AZ (The Green Valley Sox and Nogales Owls). The Mesa Garden of Gears are now affiliated with the Bisbee Copper Kings after an off-season merger between the two organizations. An exhibition team represents Luke Air Force Base
Luke Air Force Base
Luke Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located seven miles west of the central business district of Glendale, in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States. It is also about west of Phoenix, Arizona....
of Surprise, Arizona
Surprise, Arizona
Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census; however, rapid growth has boosted the city's population to 117,517 at the 2010 census, an increase of 281%...
and the US Army team of Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista, Arizona
Sierra Vista is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. According to 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 43,044....
.
2011 season
It is thought the league after first disbanding in 2008, will not return in 2011 due to financial issues. The Bisbee MinersBisbee Miners
The Bisbee Miners were a season-season independent professional baseball team that played in the Arizona Summer League representing Bisbee, Arizona. They play their home games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona, home of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions. They were one of two teams...
of the Arizona Winter League
Arizona Winter League
The Arizona Winter League is the short-season instructional independent winter professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
acquired the Copper Kings, while the Cotton Kings and Garden of Gears are independent, and the rest of the league went to the Rocky Mountain league.
The Tucson Outlaws folded while the city now hosts the Tucson Padres of the AAA level pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
and has a rival team, the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
of the independent AA level Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
, but postponed its inaugural season. The Tucson Nationals are expected to be an independent team.
The Yuma Scorpions (renamed Bandits) want to join the Sou. Cal. League or the Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association
Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association
The Southern California Collegiate Baseball Association is a collegiate summer baseball league. The SCCBA is a member of the National Baseball Congress. The PSWBL League Champion represents the league annually at the National Baseball Congress World Series in Wichita, Kansas. 2009 will mark the...
in the 2011 season or they will go independent. Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
is the home base of two minor leagues: the Arizona Summer League
Arizona Summer League
The Arizona Summer League is a short-season instructional summer professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
and co-owned Arizona Winter League
Arizona Winter League
The Arizona Winter League is the short-season instructional independent winter professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
.
External links
- Tucson Nationals site
- Bisbee Copper Kings site
- Casa Grande Cotton Kings site
- Mesa Garden of Gears site
- Tucson Advocates for Student Athletes: Non-Profit organization that provides athletic funding and free educational tutoring for low-income youth in Southern AZ/Sponsors the Tucson Nationals
- Friends of the Warren Ballpark