Central Baseball League


The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas–Louisiana League, was an independent baseball league whose member teams were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball franchises.
In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S. Congressman John Bryant, became frustrated that the Texas League had no plans to expand into other Texas locations, and formed The Texas–Louisiana League. The league began play in 1994. After further expansion into Missouri and Mississippi, the Texas–Louisiana League changed its name to the Central Baseball League. In 12 seasons, the league produced 10 different champions; Alexandria and Edinburg were the only teams to win a title twice.
After the 2005 season, the eight-team Central Baseball League disbanded. Five teams joined the American Association: Pensacola, Shreveport, Fort Worth, Coastal Bend and El Paso; and one joined the United League, San Angelo. Edinburg also received a franchise in the United League, unrelated to the now-defunct Roadrunners of the Central League.

Teams

The following teams were, at one time, either a member of the Central Baseball League or the Texas–Louisiana League.
Team Name CityStateJoinedLeftReason
Abilene Prairie DogsAbileneTexas19951999Folded
Alexandria AcesAlexandriaLouisiana19942003Folded, returned to the United League in 2006
Amarillo DillasAmarilloTexas19942004Folded, returned to the United League in 2006
Beaumont BullfrogsBeaumontTexas19941994Folded
Coastal Bend AviatorsRobstownTexas20032005Joined the American Association
Corpus Christi BarracudasCorpus ChristiTexas19941995Folded
Edinburg RoadrunnersEdinburgTexas20012005Folded
El Paso DiablosEl PasoTexas20052005Joined the American Association
Fort Worth CatsFort WorthTexas20022005Joined the American Association
Greenville BluesmenGreenvilleMississippi19982001Folded
Jackson DiamondKats/SenatorsJacksonMississippi20002005Folded
Lafayette/Bayou BullfrogsLafayetteLouisiana19982000Folded
Laredo ApachesLaredoTexas19951995Folded
Lubbock CricketsLubbockTexas19951998Folded
Mobile BaySharksMobileAlabama19941995Folded
Pensacola PelicansPensacolaFlorida20042005Joined the American Association
Pueblo BighornsPuebloColorado19951995Folded
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWingsHarlingtonTexas19942003Folded, returned to the United League in 2006
San Antonio TejanosSan AntonioTexas19941994Transferred to Laredo
San Angelo ColtsSan AngeloTexas20002005Joined the United League
Shreveport-Bossier SportsShreveportLouisiana20032005Joined the American Association
Springfield-Ozark Mountain DucksOzarkMissouri19992003Joined the Frontier League
Tyler WildcattersTylerTexas19941997Folded

Texas–Louisiana League champions

  • 1994 Corpus Christi
  • 1995 Lubbock
  • 1996 Abilene
  • 1997 Alexandria
  • 1998 Alexandria
  • 1999 Amarillo
  • 2000 Rio Grande Valley
  • 2001 Edinburg

Central Baseball League champions

  • 2002 San Angelo
  • 2003 Jackson
  • 2004 Edinburg
  • 2005 Fort Worth