The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings was a professional baseball team based in Harlingen, Texas, in the United States. The WhiteWings was a member of United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. From the 1994 season to 2014, the WhiteWings played its home games at Harlingen Field.
History Baseball in the region of the Rio Grande Valley had been played before in the Gulf States League (Class A ball), which lasted one season (1976) with six teams, one of which played in Harlingen, Texas by the name of the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings. Eighteen years later, the Texas–Louisiana League was formed, done on the frustrations of Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U.S. Congressman John Bryant of the Texas League not having plans for expansion. The Rio Grande Valley would receive a team as a charter member, which was called the WhiteWings and play at Harlingen Field, which had dimensions of 310' for the corners and 380' in center field for a crowd of 4,000. The WhiteWings won the Texas–Louisiana League Championship in 2000, upsetting the San Angelo Colts and Amarillo Dillas to win the pennant under manager Eddie Dennis (two years later, the league rebranded as the Central Baseball League). After falling on hard times, the WhiteWings suspended operations in 2003. In late 2005, United League Baseball announced that the WhiteWings would resume play as the first charter member of the new league in 2006. They played the 2006 and 2007 seasons before deciding to rebrand in 2008. That year, they rebranded as the Harlingen WhiteWings. After three seasons, they changed the name back to the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings, announcing it as such in May 2009.
In 2011 and 2012, the WhiteWings played in the North American League, where they made the playoffs twice. They returned to the ULB in 2013 and played two season, winning the championship in 2014, their final season. The team announced in 2015 that it was shutting down and would not a field a team for the upcoming season.
Season-by-season record SeasonLeague Manager Wins Losses Pct. ResultRio Grande Valley WhiteWings1976 Gulf States League Ted Uhlaender 32 40 1994 Texas-Louisiana League Alan Ashby 4048 1995 Texas-Louisiana LeagueAlan Ashby 5346 1996 Texas-Louisiana League John Pacella 5048 Lost in 1st Round1997 Texas-Louisiana LeagueMike Brumley39531998 Texas-Louisiana LeagueEddie Dennis36481999 Texas-Louisiana LeagueEddie Dennis45382000 Texas-Louisiana LeagueEddie Dennis6349Won Championship (Amarillo) 3–12001 Texas-Louisiana LeagueGeorge Scott4056 2002 Central Baseball LeagueJohn Harris 3759 2003 Central Baseball LeagueJohn Harris 44522006 United League BaseballEddie Dennis38522007 United League BaseballEddie Dennis5045Lost Finals (Alexandria) 4–0Harlingen WhiteWings2008 United League Baseball Al Gallagher 20622009 United League BaseballEddie Dennis 39412010 United League BaseballEddie Dennis 4745Lost Semifinals (Amarillo) 2–0Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings2011North American LeagueEddie Dennis 5137Won Semifinals (San Angelo) 4–0Lost Finals (Edmonton) 4–12012North American League Eddie Dennis 5144 Lost Semifinals (Edinburg) 2–02013United League BaseballChris Paterson 32432014United League BaseballChris Paterson 5027Won Finals (Fort Worth) 3–0
All-Stars
Players 1994 John O'Brien, 1B
1995 Tim Garland, LF John O'Brien, 1b Clint Davis, RP Kyle Duke, SP Jamie Cooley, C
1996 Lipso Nava, SS John O'Brien, 1B
1997 Pat Koerner (Rookie of the Year) Bryan Warner, OF (Most Valuable Player) Ryan Whitaker, RHP
1998 Scott Emerson, Major League Baseball pitching coach Oakland Athletics Jay Davis, OF Jason Fawcett, RHP Omar Ramirez, LF Joe Stutz, RHP Mark Swindell, 2b
1999 Sergio Cairo, OF Eddie Fitzpatrick, C Mario Rodriguez, RHP Michael Decelle, OF2000 Yfrain Linares, RHP (Pitcher of the Year) Manny Lopez, OF Hector Roa, 2B
2001 Carlos Duncan, OF Tyrone Pendergrass, OF Ty Ryburn, P
2002 John Ballon, 3B
2003 N/A
2006 Adam Clay, RHP
2007 Jermy Acey, 2B Derek Bennett, RHP Omar Bramasco, Utah David Cardona, OF Ryan Fox, DH Kevin Griffin, C Joe Rogers, LHP
2008 Kevin Griffin, C Jorge Lugo, LHP
Past managers Alan Ashby (1994–1995) John Pacella (1996) Mike Brumley (1997) George Scott (2001) "Dirty" Al Gallagher (2008) Eduardo "Eddie" Dennis (1998–2000, 2006–07, 2009 – 2010)
References
External links
WhiteWings website United League Baseball website