The Arizona–Texas League was a Class D level American minor league baseball league that existed for nine seasons, from 1931–32, 1937–41, 1947–50 and 1952-54. In 1951, the Arizona-Texas loop merged with the Sunset League (based primarily in California but with teams in Nevada and New Mexico) to form the Southwest International League. However, the Arizona and Texas clubs played only that one season (1951) in the new circuit before seceding and reforming the A-TL in 1952. From 1928 to 1930, it was known as the Arizona State League.
History After the 1930 season, the Arizona State League, which began play in 1928, changed their name and evolved into the 1931 Class D Arizona–Texas League. Arizona State League president Wilford S. Sullinger remained as president of the newly named league. Former Arizona State League members Bisbee Bees, El Paso Texans, Globe Bears, Phoenix Senators and Tucson Missions continued play in the 1931 Arizona–Texas League, joined by the Nogales Internationals.
The Arizona–Texas League was the lowest level in the minor leagues, Class D, through 1939, and upgraded to Class C from 1940 onward. Its longest tenured clubs included: El Paso, Texas Bisbee and Bisbee-Douglas, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Tucson, Arizona
The Arizona-Texas circuit also had teams in Mexico as early as 1931, although its name did not reflect this fact. Indios de Ciudad Juárez team was a member for seven years in the 1940s and 1950s. But in 1955, when the league lost its lone Texas franchise, in El Paso, its name was formally changed to the Arizona–Mexico League. In 1958, its Phoenix franchise moved all the way up to Class AAA when it received the old San Francisco Seals club after the Giants moved West. That signaled the end of the Class C Arizona–Mexico League; its final champion in 1958 was the Douglas Copper Kings, an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
List of teams
Albuquerque, New Mexico: Albuquerque Dons (1932); Albuquerque Cardinals (1937–1941) Bisbee, Arizona: Bisbee Bees (1931–1932; 1937–1941); Bisbee Yanks (1947) Bisbee, Arizona & Douglas, Arizona: Bisbee-Douglas Miners (1948); Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings (1949–1950; 1952–1954) Cananea, Sonora, Mexico: Cananea Mineros (1954) Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico: Chihuahua Dorados (1952) Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico: Juarez Indios (1947–1950; 1952–1954) El Paso, Texas: El Paso Texans (1931–1932; 1937–1941; 1947–1950; 1952–1954) Globe, Arizona: Globe Bears (1931) Globe, Arizona & Miami, Arizona: Globe-Miami Browns (1947–1950) Mesa, Arizona: Mesa Orphans (1947) Mexicali, Baja California, MEX: Mexicali Eagles (1953–1954) Nogales, Sonora, Mexico: Nogales Internationals (1931; Nogales Yaquis (1954) Phoenix, Arizona: Phoenix Senators (1931–1932; 1947–1950; 1952–1953); Phoenix Stars (1954) Tucson, Arizona: Tucson Missions (1931); Tucson Lizards (1932; Tucson Cowboys (1937–1941; 1947–1950; 1952–1954)
Champion teams
1931 – El Paso Texans 1932 – Unknown 1937 – Albuquerque Cardinals 1938 – El Paso Texans 1939 – Albuquerque Cardinals 1940 – El Paso Texans 1941 – Tucson Cowboys 1947 – Globe-Miami Browns 1948 – Globe-Miami Browns 1949 – El Paso Texans 1950 – El Paso Texans 1952 – Juarez Indios 1953 – Tucson Cowboys 1954 – Phoenix Stars
Standings & statistics 1931 to 1940 1931 Arizona–Texas League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers El Paso Texans7952.603– Royce Washburn Tucson Missions7259.5507.0 Bobby Coltrin Phoenix Senators 6563.50812½Louis Guisto Bisbee Bees 6368.48116.0Roy Johnson Nogales Internationals6267.48116.0Dick Cox Globe Bears4981.37729½ Mickey Shader Playoff: El Paso 5 games, Bisbee 0. +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot John KeaneBisbeeBA.408Joe Sullivan TucsonW23 Emil MailhoPhoenixRuns108 George Nielson El PasoSO196 Red AndersonTusc/NogaHits190Joe SullivanTucsonPct.767; 23–7 Walter Carson GlobeHR34 1932 Arizona–Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Albuquerque Dons5742.576– Bobby Coltrin Bisbee Bees5049.5057.0 Roy Johnson El Paso Texans 5153.4908½ Royce Washburn Tucson Lizards 4453.45412.0 Mickey Shader Phoenix Senators813.381NADick Cox Phoenix disbanded May 9. The league disbanded July 24. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Dick GyselmanAlbuquerqueBA.392Bill Chamberlain Phoe/AlbW15 Dick GyselmanAlbuquerqueRuns104 Guido Simoni Phoe/TucsSO157 Dick GyselmanAlbuquerqueHits165 Boyd Biggers El PasoERA3.78 Vince DiMaggioTucsonHR25 1937 Arizona–Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers El Paso Texans7349.598–Jimmy Zinn Tucson Cowboys5758.49612½Harry Krause Albuquerque Cardinals 5659.48713½Bill DeLancey Bisbee Bees 5171.41822.0 Mickey Shader Playoffs: Albuquerque defeated El Paso in a one game playoff for the second half title. Finals: Albuquerque 4 games, El Paso 3. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Richard Lang AlbuquerqueBA.374Milo Candini El PasoW21 Hubert Singer AlbuquerqueRuns122Floyd BevensEl PasoSO179 Richard Lang AlbuquerqueRBI109Lawrence PowellTucsonERA2.56 James Nicholson El PasoHR10 Ken Manning El PasoHits179
1938 Arizona–Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Bisbee Bees7258.554– Charlie Moglia El Paso Texans6864.5155.0Jimmy Zinn Albuquerque Cardinals 6765.5086.0Bill DeLancey Tucson Cowboys 5575.42317.0Harry Krause Playoffs: El Paso 4 games, Bisbee 3. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Mike SimonTucsonBA.367Jesse Flores BisbeeW24 Dick Warfield BisbeeRuns120 Walter Stewart El PasoW24 Ed Morris AlbuquerqueRuns120 Walter Stewart El PasoSO270 Mike Simon TucsonHits195Jesse FloresBisbeeERA2.37 Mike Simon TucsonRBI121 Bill Creager BisbeeHR20 1939 Arizona–Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Bisbee Bees7257.558– Carl Dittmar Albuquerque Cardinals7060.5382½Bill DeLancey El Paso Texans 6862.5234½ Ted Mayer Tucson Cowboys 4980.38023.0Bill Salkeld / Mike Simon Playoffs: Albuquerque 4 games, Bisbee 2. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Bob Joratz AlbuquerqueBA.348 Eddie King BisbeeW25 Bob Joratz AlbuquerqueRuns126 Jack Hawkins El PasoSO257 Willie Reyes AlbuquerqueRBI124 Ned Rogers El PasoERA2.20 Dale Gill BisbeeHits182Al MontgomeryBisbeeHR17 1940 Arizona–Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Tucson Cowboys6459.520– Lester Patterson El Paso Texans6460.516½ Specs Williamson Albuquerque Cardinals 6064.4844½ Jack Farmer Bisbee Bees 5863.4795.0 Carl Dittmar Playoffs: El Paso 4 games, Tucson 3. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Joe BroviaEl PasoBA.383 Bob Raines El PasoW18 Elwood Curtis AlbuquerqueRuns118 Frank Totaro BisbeeSO251 Harry Clements TucsonHits175 Luther French AlbuquerqueERA3.50 Joe BroviaEl PasoRBI103 Joe Skeber El PasoHR10
1941 to 1950 1941 Arizona–Texas League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGB Managers Tucson Cowboys8646.652– Lester PattersonAlbuquerque Cardinals6365.49221.0Jimmy ZinnEl Paso Texans 6171.46225.0 Specs Williamson Bisbee Bees 5179.39234.0 Carl Dittmar Playoffs: None Scheduled +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Burl Horton El PasoBA.375 Harry Parks AlbuquerqueW24 Doug Smith TucsonRuns147Marino PierettiEl PasoSO237 Burl Horton El PasoHits216 Lee Porterfield TucsonERA3.01 Clarence MaddernBisbeeRBI129 Doug Smith TucsonHR15 1947 Arizona–Texas League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend ManagersPhoenix Senators8251.617–55,452Alton Biggs Tucson Cowboys8052.6061½63,580Joe Vosmik Bisbee Yanks 7459.5568½33,686Charlie Metro Juarez Indios / Mesa Orphans 6169.46919½27,153 Manuel Fortes Globe-Miami Browns5377.40827½60,669Lloyd Brown El Paso Texans4486.33836½39,996Syd Cohen Juarez disbanded June 22 after winning the first half and was replaced by Mesa June 27. Playoffs: Tucson 2 games, Bisbee 0; Globe-Miami 2 games, Phoenix 0; Finals: Globe–Miami 3 games, Tucson 2. +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Billy MartinPhoenixBA.392 John Conant PhoenixW19 Pete Hughes PhoenixRuns180Lloyd BrownGlobe-MiamiSO167 Billy MartinPhoenixHits230Syd CohenEl PasoERA3.38 Billy MartinPhoenixRBI174 Pete Hughes PhoenixHR38Pete HughesPhoenixBB193 1948 Arizona–Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Globe-Miami Browns8060.571–75,001Don Heffner Tucson Cowboys7862.5572.079,327Lloyd Brown El Paso Texans 7466.5296.073,766 Walter Millies Juarez Indios 7466.5296.052,525 Manuel Fortes / Francisco Barradas Phoenix Senators6773.47913.079,821Alton Biggs Bisbee-Douglas Miners4793.33633.043,610 Mel Steiner / Mitchell Chetkovitch Playoffs: El Paso defeated Juarez in a one game playoff for third place; Globe–Miami 4 games, El Paso 2; Juarez 4 games, Tucson 1. Finals: Globe–Miami 4 games, Juarez 3. +Player statistics Player TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Gene LillardPhoenixBA.364 Thomas Radcliff El PasoW17 Dick Sabatini PhoenixRuns145 Alwin Aguilar Tucson17 Ramon Vargas TucsonHits197 William AbernathieTucson17 Daniel Baich Globe-MiamiRBI152 Edward Graham PhoenixSO178 Daniel Baich Globe-MiamiHR27Lloyd BrownTucsonERA3.01 Pete Hughes PhoenixBB207 1949 Arizona–Texas League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Phoenix Senators9455.631–126,347 Don Trower Juarez Indios9258.6132½85,769Hector Leal / Victor Canales Tucson Cowboys 7476.49320½53,771Gene Lillard El Paso Texans 6783.44727½107,778Syd Cohen Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings6683.44328.060,149 Elmer Williamson / Paul Jones Buck Elliott Globe-Miami Browns5694.37338½60,394 Frank Volpi / Edward Dancisak Playoffs: Phoenix 4 games, Tucson 2; El Paso 4 games, Juarez 2. Finals: El Paso 4 games, Phoenix 2. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Vinicio Garcia JuarezBA.377 Edward Graham PhoenixW24 Vinicio Garcia JuarezRuns170 Richard Drilling PhoenixERA2.55 Vinicio Garcia JuarezHits227 William Abernathie TucsonSO220 Dick Steinhauer PhoenixRBI151Gene LillardTucsonBB154 Gene Clough Bisbee-DouglassHR37 1950 Arizona–Texas League schedule Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Juarez Indios9355.628–69,738Syd Cohen El Paso Texans9258.6132.0100,212 Art Lilly Phoenix Senators 8268.54712.0104,137 Don Trower Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings 6979.46624.068,651 Buck Elliott Tucson Cowboys6486.42730.061,254Hank Leiber Globe-Miami Browns48102.32046.047,388Thornton Lee Playoffs: Phoenix 4 games, Juarez 2; El Paso 4 games, Bisbee-Douglas 2. Finals: El Paso 4 games, Phoenix 2. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Art Lilly El PasoBA.386 Hector Anzamar JuarezW25 Alfredo Perez TucsonRuns172Jesus Valenzuela JuarezW25 Dick Zwaing TucsonHits221Jesus Valenzuela JuarezSO256 Len Noren PhoenixRBI169Jesus Valenzuela JuarezERA3.47 Donald Mason El PasoRBI169 Hector Lara El PasoHR28
1952 to 1954 1952 Arizona–Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Juarez Indios8455.604–64,870 Manuel Fortes El Paso Texans7961.5645½83,373 Art Lilly Phoenix Senators 7862.5576½64,410 Jeep Trower Tucson Cowboys 6178.43923.068,500 Don Jameson Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings6080.42924½56,206Syd Cohen Chihuahua Dorados5783.40727½130,329Domingo Santana / Marvin Williams Playoffs: None Scheduled. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Marvin Williams ChihuahuaBA.401Wenceslao Gonzalez JuarezW25 Felipe Hernandez JuarezRuns144Wenceslao GonzalezJuarezSO222 Dick Steinhauer PhoenixHits233 Donald Cantrell PhoenixERA3.64 Ramon Vargas El PasoRBI143 Marvin Williams ChihuahuaHR45
1953 Arizona–Texas League Team standingsWLPCTGBAttend Managers Tucson Cowboys9049.647–92,157 Don Jameson Mexicali Eagles7762.55413.068,719Art Lilly Juarez Indios 7465.53216.046,800 Manuel Fortes / Pingua Canales El Paso Texans 6080.42930½52,501Diamond Cecil Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings5980.42431.044,650Syd Cohen Phoenix Senators5882.41432½49,270Buck Elliott Playoffs: None Scheduled. +Player statisticsPlayer TeamStat TotPlayerTeamStatTot Edwin Roberts TucsonBA.392 Corky Reddell TucsonW29 Joe Joshua TucsonRuns164Wenceslao GonzalezJuarezSO276 Roberto Canales JuarezHits208 Corky Reddell TucsonERA2.64 Lloyd Jenney TucsonRBI152 Charles Lundgren TucsonHR34
1954 Arizona–Texas League