New Martinez Mackerel Pushed to Change Name, San Rafael Pacifics Depart

The Martinez Mackerel will begin play in 2020 and be operated by the Pecos League (Independent Professional).  However, the city council apparently didn’t like the name because of a definition of “Mackerel” in the Urban Dictionary.  So, the Pecos League is in the process of choosing a new one.  Read more here.  The previous Martinez Clippers played in the Pacific Association (Independent Professional), which has shown some instability, including the departure of the San Rafael Pacifics, arguably the league’s most successful franchise.  Read more here.

Pecos League Revives Osos

After a 7-year hiatus, the Ruidoso Osos will return to the Pecos League lineup in 2018.  The Ruidoso (NM) market is the midway point between Roswell to Alamogordo.  Read more here.

Pecos League Claims Success in Bakersfield, Will Return in 2018

Pecos League commissioner Andrew Dunn freely acknowledges the irony of Bakersfield hosting one of the league’s All-Star Games on Wednesday night a year after the city lost its longtime California League franchise because no one wanted to go to the games.  Read more here.

Laredo Lemurs Out of American Association, Salina Stockade Step In

PRESS RELEASE – The Laredo Lemurs will not operate during the 2017 season and are no longer members of the American Association, League Commissioner Miles Wolff announced on Wednesday.

Pecos League Takes Over Sam Lynn Ballpark

The Bakersfield Train Robbers (Independent Professional, Pecos League) have set up shop at Sam Lynn Ballpark in Bakersfield (CA).  The team replaces the former Bakersfield Blaze (Single-A, California League), which departed for the Carolina League.  Read more and view photo here.

Pecos League Expands to Bakersfield, Adelanto

The independent Pecos League announced on Friday it will have franchises in Bakersfield and Adelanto (CA) in 2017, bringing professional baseball back to two markets that lost affiliated minor league teams to relocation after this past season.  Read more here.

No Pecos League at Potter Memorial

Instead of allowing Southern Independent Baseball (SIB) to sub-lease Memorial Stadium to the Pecos League, Potter County (TX) Commissioners decided on Monday to sub-lease the ballpark to San Jacinto Christian Academy.  Read more here.

Pecos League to Amarillo Decision Delayed, Dunn Told to Hold Off Selling Tickets

The Potter County (TX) Commissioners Court agreed Monday to put a two-week hold on their decision to allow the Pecos League to be a 2017 summer tenant in Potter County Memorial Stadium.  League commissioner Andrew Dunn had jumped out ahead of the process by announcing the team after agreeing to a sublease to use the ballpark and was asked to hold off on selling tickets for now.  Read more here.  Read background here.

Despite Announcement, Amarillo Lone Stars’ Ballpark Deal Not Finalized

In typical Pecos League fashion, the circuit announces a new team, unveils branding and uniforms, but doesn’t quit have an approved ballpark lease in place.  This is the case in Amarillo (TX) with the Amarillo Lone Stars.  Read more here.

Pecos League Takes On Tucson, Looks to Wichita Falls

The Tuscon Saguaros have been added to the Pecos League lineup for 2016.  The team will play at the Kino Sports Complex.  Read more here.  Taking another run at Bisbee (AZ), the league has scheduled the Saguaros to play 10 Sunday games at historic Warren Ballpark.  Read more here.  The circuit is also hoping to secure a lease to use Hoskins Field in Wichita Falls (TX) and revive the old Wichita Falls Spudders name.  Read more here.

Pecos League’s Robbers Relocating to Topeka

The Las Vegas (NM) Train Robbers (Pecos League) are relocating to Topeka (KS) for the 2016 season. The team will play at Jerry Robertson Field in the Bettis Family Sports Complex.  As a lease payment, the one-year deal requires the “Topeka Train Robbers” to pay $365 per game plus $1 per person from gate admissions.  Read more here.

A Look at the Business of Independent Professional Baseball

There is not much new here for those who follow the baseball industry closely, but writer Andrew Beaton via The Wall Street Journal takes a look at the business of independent professional baseball.  Read more here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Griggs Sports Complex (Alamogordo, NM)

Eric and Wendy Pastore from DigitalBallparks.com have posted their first ballpark photos of 2015.  The honor goes to Griggs Sports Complex, home of the White Sands Pupfish (Pecos League).  Read more and view photo gallery here.

Pecos League Relocates Blizzard to Kansas, Returns to Las Cruces, Ditches Four Other Markets

The Pecos League has added the Garden City Wind and Las Cruces Vaqueros to the league lineup for the 2015 season.  The Wind will play at Clint Lightner Field in Garden City (KS).  After a two-year hiatus, the Vaqueros will return to play at Apodoca Park in Las Cruces (NM).  The Taos Blizzard, Raton Osos, Douglas Diablos and Bisbee Blue are no longer part of the circuit.

Mount Rainier League Founder Responds to Questions

Brandon Sparks from OlySports.com recently posed questions to Mike Greene, the founder of the developing Mount Rainier Professional Baseball League in the Pacific Northwest, about his plans for making the new circuit a success.

New Pacific Northwest League Announced, Hoquiam First on Deck

Pursuing what appears to be the Pecos League model, former Pecos League coach Mike Greene is working to launch the new Mount Rainier Professional Baseball League in the Pacific Northwest.  Greene has reportedly secured a deal to play at historic Olympic Stadium in Hoquiam (WA), the former home of the defunct indy pro Grays Harbor Gulls (Western Baseball League).  We’ll let

Pecos League Wrap Up

The fourth season of the Pecos Leagues came to a close Friday, when the Santa Fe Fuego defeated the Alpine Cowboys 7-3 in Game 3 of the league championship series.  Below is the unedited off-field report issued by the league for each of the 10 teams playing in 2014.

Pecos League Dumping Osos, Diablos

As teams in the indy pro Pecos League begin post-season play, it has been made clear that the Roton Osos and first-year Douglas Diablos will not be returning in 2015.  At this point, the league will operate with eight teams next season.  Read about the demise of the Osos here.  Read the Pecos League announcement about the Diablos here.

Ballpark Visit ALERT: Central Park (Trinidad, CO)

Graham Knight from BaseballPilgrimages.com visits Central Park, home of the indy pro Trinidad Triggers (Pecos League).  Read more and view photos here.  As you recall, the Triggers are the featured franchise in “The Pecos League” six-part series on Fox Sports 1 airing on Tuesday nights at 9:30 p.m. EST.

A Q&A with ‘The Pecos League’ Stars

Before “The Pecos League” six-part series on Fox Sports 1 made its debut Tuesday night, FoxSports.com talked with John Sullivan and Sam DiMatteo of the Trinidad Triggers — two of the show’s reality “stars.”  One of our favorite quotes:  “Even minor-league players get treated like dirt in some aspects, and we’re even lower than that.”  Read more here.  Learn more about the series here.

‘The Pecos League’ Six-Part Series on Fox Sports 1

PRESS RELEASE – FOX Sports Originals gives viewers a front row seat to the wild, tough, and rewarding life in the lowest level of professional baseball with “The Pecos League.” The series will air for six consecutive Tuesdays starting May 13 at 9:30 PM ET on FOX Sports 1.

Santa Fe’s Fort Marcy Park Has Its Challenges, But…

Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe (NM) has its issues, including no clubhouse or storage, and the city has watering and grass-cutting restrictions for the field, but the indy pro Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League) are happy to call the ballpark home for the coming third season.  Read more here.

Pecos League Officially Enters Arizona

Board members of the Bisbee (AZ) Unified School District voted unanimously to lease Warren Ball Park to the indy pro Pecos League beginning in May next year through July.  As previously posted, the expansion franchise will be known as the Bisbee Blue.  A new team called the Douglas Diablos in nearby Douglas (AZ) will reportedly also take the  field in 2014.  Read more here.  Read press release here.

Triggers Benefit From Babe Ruth’s Last Car

A 1948 Lincoln Continental once owned by Babe Ruth will have a permanent home in little Trinidad (CO) upon completion of a major development there.  The owners are part-time residents of Trinidad.  The car has been featured at several indy pro Trinidad Triggers (Pecos League) games.  View press release here.  Visit TheBabesCar.com.

Pecos League Makes Pitch in Bisbee, Douglas Being Eyeballed Too

Pecos League commissioner Andrew Dunn was in Bisbee (AZ) Wednesday to make a pitch to use historic Warren Ballpark for the proposed Bisbee Blue franchise.  He is reportedly also eyeballing nearby Douglas (AZ) for a second team to bring the circuit to 10.  Two weeks ago, it was reported that Safford (AZ) was a targeted market for the proposed Safford Cottonmouths.  Read more here.

Pecos League Targeting Bisbee and Safford

Pecos League commissioner Andrew Dunn is not satisfied with just eight teams in his indy pro (well, sort of) circuit.  He would like to see two expansion teams in Arizona — the Bisbee Blue and Safford Cottonmouths — to take the field as early as 2014.  He plans to make his pitch to use historic Warren Ballpark in Bisbee on Nov. 13.  Read more here.

Fuego to Host 2014 Pecos League All-Star Game, Logo Released

PRESS RELEASE – The All Star Game will have a home run derby, pregame meal and other league festivities. Santa Fe hosted the 2013 All Star Game which was a huge success for fans, players and travel. Santa Fe has proved it is a very popular city in the league for fans to go and see their players play in an All Star Game.

In a Win for Fuego, Council Eliminates ‘Beer Jail’

The Santa Fe (NM) City Council voted 6-0 Wednesday to allow the consumption of beer in the stands and concession areas at Fort Marcy Ballpark, eliminating the so-called “beer jail” during indy pro Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League) games.  Read more here.

Pecos League Looks to 2014

PRESS RELEASE – In the first three years the off season has been a huge shuffle of potential cities to host Pecos League Teams. For the 2014 season don’t expect there to be much of a shuffle. There are seven returning teams with only eight spots.

Expanded Beer Consumption at Santa Fe Ballpark Takes Next Step

A Santa Fe (NM) City Council committee unanimously recommended a proposal to allow beer consumption (with a number of annoying restrictions) in the entire seating and concession area at Fort Marcy Ballpark during indy pro Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League) games, instead of just the “beer jail.”  The full City Council will hold a public hearing on the matter on Sept. 11.  Read more here.

Pecos League Chief: We Could Look Like Idiots

You’ve got to love no-filter statements by Andrew Dunn, commissioner of the indy pro Pecos League.  A story in the Santa Fe newspaper about a man who took a painful tumble down the steps at Fort Marcy Ballpark, home of the Santa Fe Fuego, provides a few choice quotes by Dunn about Santa Fe ballpark fixes, a Fox Sports crew filming the Trinidad Triggers for a reality TV show, and the Raton

Pecos League: Baseball, Beer and Politics

We haven’t talked much about the indy pro Pecos League this season, but the Santa Fe New Mexican posted an article by intern sports writer Zack Ponce Saturday that will get you up to speed.  According to a quote by league commissioner Andrew Dunn, Las Vegas (NM), Taos (NM), and Alpine (TX) are questionable for next season.  Read more here.

Fuego Get New Scoreboard

It’s not quite one of those fancy new videoboards of today, but the city of Santa Fe (NM) installed a new scoreboard Wednesday at Fort Marcy Ballpark, home of the Santa Fe Fuego (Pecos League).  The scoreboard was donated by the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe.  Read more and view photos here.

Carlsbad Replaces Las Cruces, Developmental League Announced

PRESS RELEASE – The Carlsbad Bats have replaced the Las Cruces Vaqueros on the schedule for the 2013 season. With The San Diego Padres moving into El Paso with their AAA Team in 2014 it is going to be very hard for the Las Cruces to have a Professional Team in Independent Baseball within the radius of a AAA affiliated market. This is a big move for the Pecos League leaving New Mexico’s

Carlsbad Replaces Las Cruces?

There is apparently concern by the indy pro Pecos League about keeping the Las Cruces (NM) Vaqueros operating with a Triple-A club coming to El Paso (TX) just 40 miles away.  The team’s logo no longer appears in the header on the league’s website.  According to The Taos News, league commissioner Andrew Dunn had this to say:

“If Las Cruces no longer makes sense, and the other market in West Texas isn’t ready, we will bring back the Carlsbad Bats for the 2013 season.”

Friday Observation

We noticed that the indy pro Trinidad Triggers (Pecos League) and summer collegiate Seacoast Mavericks (Futures Collegiate Baseball League)  are using the same cowboy image clipart in their primary or secondary marks.  From our perspective, using clipart to represent the face of your organization is never a good idea, if you want to be taken seriously as a  professionally run sports franchise.

Pecos League Targets Las Vegas (NM)

The indy pro Pecos League is targeting Las Vegas (NM) for expansion, which could give the circuit as many as nine teams for the 2013 season.  As is standard operating procedure for the the Pecos, teams are branded before stadium deals are locked in, and it is no exception here.  The the name chosen for the proposed team is the Las Vegas Train Robbers.

Pecos League Announces Taos Blizzard and Pecos Bills, Pueblo Off the Table

The Pecos League is targeting Taos (NM) and Pecos (TX) for expansion in 2013.  The circuit’s modus operandi is to name a new team and unveil branding before a formal ballpark lease agreement is in place.  Read about the Blizzard here.  Read about the Bills here.  Interesting, in The Taos News story about the Blizzard, the Pecos reportedly could not expand to

Pecos League Targets New Markets, Triggers Unveil New Logo

The indy pro Pecos League has completed its 2012 season and is looking at new markets for expansion.  In typical Pecos League fashion, teams have been named before the markets and venues have been  secured.  Proposed new franchises include the Bravos Del Rio, Lubbock Hubbers, Pueblo Westerners, and Durango Brewskis.  View list here.  In the meantime, the Trinidad Triggers have unveiled a new logo.

Pupfish Release New Logo for 2013 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The White Sands Pupfish released their new logo and uniforms for the 2013 season. The team will keep their colors of Vegas Gold, Black and white but will change their hat from the basic WS to the new Pupfish flipping a baseball into its mouth.