List of Texas League champions
The Texas League of Minor League Baseball is a Double-A baseball league in the United States. The circuit was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892. After two years of dormancy, it was revived as the Texas Association in 1895, the Texas-Southern League in 1896, and the Texas League from 1897 to 1899. With the exception of three years during World War II (1943–1945) and one year during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), the Texas League has been in continual operation since 1902.
A league champion is determined at the end of each season. Champions have been determined by postseason playoffs, winning the regular season pennant, or being declared champion by the league office. From 1952 to 1964, the league recognized both a pennant winner and a playoff winner; they were declared co-champions. For the 2019 season, the first-half and second-half winners within each division (North and South) met in a best-of-five series to determine division champions. Then, the North and South Division winners played a best-of-five series to determine a league champion.[1] In 2021, the Double-A Central held a best-of-five series between the top two teams in the league, regardless of division standings, to determine a league champion.[2] As of 2022, the winners of each division from both the first and second halves of the season meet in a best-of-three division series, with the winners of the two division series meeting in a best-of-three championship series.[3]
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the
Double-A Central, which was divided into two divisions.[6] Prior to the 2022 season, MLB renamed the Double-A Central as the Texas League, and it carried on the history of the league prior to reorganization.[7]
Key
^ |
Indicates pennant winner (1952–1964, 1966) |
† |
Indicates playoff winner (1952–1964, 1966) |
‡ |
Indicates pennant and playoff winner (1952–1964, 1966) |
League champions
- Score and finalist information is presented when postseason play occurred. The lack of this information indicates a league champion by virtue of finishing the season in first place or missing information.
| Year | Champion | Score | Finalist |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1888 | Dallas Hams |
— | — |
| 1889 | Houston Mud Cats | — | — |
| 1890 | Galveston Sand Crabs | — | — |
| 1891 | Not in operation | ||
| 1892 | Houston Mud Cats |
— | — |
| 1893 | Not in operation | ||
| 1894 | Not in operation | ||
| 1895 | Fort Worth Panthers |
7–6 | Dallas Steers |
| 1896 | Houston Buffaloes | 5–2 | Galveston Sand Crabs |
| 1897[a] | Galveston Sand Crabs San Antonio Bronchos |
— | — |
| 1898 | None awarded | — | |
| 1899 | Galveston Sand Crabs | — | — |
| 1900 | Not in operation | ||
| 1901 | Not in operation | ||
| 1902 | Corsicana Oil Citys |
— | — |
| 1903 | Dallas Giants | 7–3 | Waco Steers |
| 1904 | Corsicana Oil Citys |
11–8 | Fort Worth Panthers |
| 1905 | Fort Worth Panthers |
— | — |
| 1906 | Cleburne Railroaders | — | — |
| 1907 | Austin Senators | — | — |
| 1908 | San Antonio Bronchos | — | — |
| 1909 | Houston Buffaloes | — | — |
| 1910[b] | Dallas Giants Houston Buffaloes |
— | — |
| 1911 | Austin Senators | — | — |
| 1912 | Houston Buffaloes | — | — |
| 1913 | Houston Buffaloes | — | — |
| 1914[c] | Waco Navigators Houston Buffaloes |
— | — |
| 1915 | Waco Navigators | — | — |
| 1916 | Waco Navigators | — | — |
| 1917 | Dallas Giants |
— | — |
| 1918 | Dallas Giants |
— | — |
| 1919 | Shreveport Gassers | 4–2 | Fort Worth Panthers |
| 1920 | Fort Worth Panthers |
— | — |
| 1921 | Fort Worth Panthers |
— | — |
| 1922 | Fort Worth Panthers |
— | — |
| 1923 | Fort Worth Panthers |
— | — |
| 1924 | Fort Worth Panthers |
— | — |
| 1925 | Fort Worth Panthers |
— | — |
| 1926 | Dallas Steers |
— | — |
| 1927 | Wichita Falls Spudders | — | — |
| 1928 | Houston Buffaloes | 3–1 | Wichita Falls Spudders |
| 1929 | Dallas Steers | 3–1 | Wichita Falls Spudders |
| 1930 | Fort Worth Panthers |
3–2 | Wichita Falls Spudders |
| 1931 | Houston Buffaloes | — | — |
| 1932 | Beaumont Exporters | 3–0 | Dallas Steers |
| 1933 | San Antonio Missions | 4–2 | Galveston Buccaneers |
| 1934 | Galveston Buccaneers | 4–2 | San Antonio Missions |
| 1935 | Oklahoma City Indians | 4–1 | Beaumont Exporters |
| 1936 | Tulsa Oilers | 4–3 | Dallas Steers
|
| 1937 | Fort Worth Cats | 4–2 | Oklahoma City Indians |
| 1938 | Beaumont Exporters | 4–3 | San Antonio Missions |
| 1939 | Fort Worth Cats | 4–1 | Dallas Rebels |
| 1940 | Houston Buffaloes | 4–1 | Oklahoma City Indians |
| 1941 | Dallas Rebels |
4–2 | Tulsa Oilers |
| 1942 | Shreveport Sports | 4–3 | Beaumont Exporters |
| 1943 | Not in operation | ||
| 1944 | Not in operation | ||
| 1945 | Not in operation | ||
| 1946 | Dallas Rebels |
4–1 | Fort Worth Cats |
| 1947 | Houston Buffaloes | 4–2 | Dallas Rebels |
| 1948 | Fort Worth Cats | 4–2 | Tulsa Oilers |
| 1949 | Tulsa Oilers | 4–3 | Fort Worth Cats |
| 1950 | San Antonio Missions | 4–2 | Tulsa Oilers |
| 1951 | Houston Buffalos |
4–0 | San Antonio Missions |
| 1952 | Dallas Eagles ^ |
— | — |
| 1952 | Shreveport Sports† | 4–1 | Oklahoma City Indians |
| 1953 | Dallas Eagles ‡ |
4–1 | Tulsa Oilers |
| 1954 | Shreveport Sports^ | — | — |
| 1954 | Houston Buffalos † |
4–1 | Fort Worth Cats |
| 1955 | Dallas Eagles ^ |
— | — |
| 1955 | Shreveport Sports† | 4–3 | Houston Buffalos |
| 1956 | Houston Buffalos ‡ |
4–1 | Dallas Eagles |
| 1957 | Dallas Eagles ^ |
— | — |
| 1957 | Houston Buffalos † |
4–3 | Dallas Eagles |
| 1958 | Fort Worth Cats^ | — | — |
| 1958 | Corpus Christi Giants † |
4–3 | Austin Senators |
| 1959 | Victoria Rosebuds^ | — | — |
| 1959 | Austin Senators† | 3–0 | San Antonio Missions |
| 1960 | Rio Grande Valley Giants^ | — | — |
| 1960 | Tulsa Oilers† | 3–0 | Victoria Rosebuds |
| 1961 | Amarillo Gold Sox^ | — | — |
| 1961 | San Antonio Missions† | 3–0 | Austin Senators |
| 1962 | El Paso Sun Kings ^ |
— | — |
| 1962 | Tulsa Oilers† | 3–1 | Austin Senators |
| 1963 | San Antonio Bullets ^ |
— | — |
| 1963 | Tulsa Oilers† | 3–1 | San Antonio Bullets
|
| 1964 | San Antonio Bullets ‡ |
3–1 | Tulsa Oilers |
| 1965 | Albuquerque Dodgers |
3–1 | Tulsa Oilers |
| 1966 | Arkansas Travelers^ | - | - |
| 1966 | Austin Braves† | 1–0 | Albuquerque Dodgers
|
| 1967 | Albuquerque Dodgers |
— | — |
| 1968 | El Paso Sun Kings |
3–1 | Arkansas Travelers |
| 1969 | Memphis Blues | 3–0 | Amarillo Giants |
| 1970 | Albuquerque Dodgers |
3–1 | Memphis Blues |
| 1971 | Arkansas Travelers | 2–0 | Amarillo Giants |
| 1972 | El Paso Sun Dodgers |
3–0 | Alexandria Aces |
| 1973 | Memphis Blues | 3–2 | San Antonio Brewers |
| 1974 | Victoria Toros |
3–0 | El Paso Diablos |
| 1975[d] | Midland Cubs Lafayette Drillers |
2–2 | — |
| 1976 | Amarillo Gold Sox | 3–0 | Shreveport Captains |
| 1977 | Arkansas Travelers | 2–0 | El Paso Diablos |
| 1978 | El Paso Diablos | 3–0 | Jackson Mets |
| 1979 | Arkansas Travelers | 3–0 | San Antonio Dodgers
|
| 1980 | Arkansas Travelers | 3–0 | San Antonio Dodgers
|
| 1981 | Jackson Mets | 3–0 | San Antonio Dodgers
|
| 1982 | Tulsa Drillers | 3–0 | El Paso Diablos |
| 1983 | Beaumont Golden Gators | 3–0 | Jackson Mets |
| 1984 | Jackson Mets | 4–2 | Beaumont Golden Gators |
| 1985 | Jackson Mets | 4–0 | El Paso Diablos |
| 1986 | El Paso Diablos | 4–0 | Jackson Mets |
| 1987 | Wichita Pilots |
4–2 | Jackson Mets |
| 1988 | Tulsa Drillers | 4–2 | El Paso Diablos |
| 1989 | Arkansas Travelers | 4–3 | Wichita Wranglers |
| 1990 | Shreveport Captains | 4–2 | San Antonio Missions |
| 1991 | Shreveport Captains | 4–2 | El Paso Diablos |
| 1992 | Wichita Wranglers | 4–0 | Shreveport Captains |
| 1993 | Jackson Generals | 3–0 | El Paso Diablos |
| 1994 | El Paso Diablos | 4–0 | Jackson Generals |
| 1995 | Shreveport Captains | 4–1 | Midland Angels
|
| 1996 | Jackson Generals | 4–0 | Wichita Wranglers |
| 1997 | San Antonio Missions | 4–3 | Shreveport Captains |
| 1998 | Tulsa Drillers | 4–3 | Wichita Wranglers |
| 1999 | Wichita Wranglers | 4–0 | Tulsa Drillers |
| 2000 | Round Rock Express | 3–1 | Wichita Wranglers |
| 2001[e] | Arkansas Travelers | 2–0 | Round Rock Express |
| 2002 | San Antonio Missions | 4–3 | Tulsa Drillers |
| 2003 | San Antonio Missions | 4–1 | Frisco RoughRiders |
| 2004 | Frisco RoughRiders | 4–1 | Round Rock Express |
| 2005 | Midland RockHounds | 3–1 | Arkansas Travelers |
| 2006 | Corpus Christi Hooks | 3–1 | Wichita Wranglers |
| 2007 | San Antonio Missions | 3–1 | Springfield Cardinals |
| 2008 | Arkansas Travelers | 3–2 | Frisco RoughRiders |
| 2009 | Midland RockHounds | 3–1 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals |
| 2010 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | 3–1 | Midland RockHounds |
| 2011 | San Antonio Missions | 3–0 | Arkansas Travelers |
| 2012 | Springfield Cardinals | 3–1 | Frisco RoughRiders |
| 2013 | San Antonio Missions | 3–2 | Arkansas Travelers |
| 2014 | Midland RockHounds | 3–2 | Tulsa Drillers |
| 2015 | Midland RockHounds | 3–0 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals |
| 2016 | Midland RockHounds | 3–1 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals |
| 2017 | Midland RockHounds | 3–2 | Tulsa Drillers |
| 2018 | Tulsa Drillers | 3–0 | San Antonio Missions |
| 2019 | Amarillo Sod Poodles | 3–2 | Tulsa Drillers |
| 2020 | None (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic)[4] | ||
| 2021 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals[8] | 3–0 | Wichita Wind Surge |
| 2022 | Frisco RoughRiders | 2–0 | Wichita Wind Surge |
| 2023 | Amarillo Sod Poodles | 2–1 | Arkansas Travelers |
Championship wins by team
Active Texas League teams appear in bold.
| Wins | Team | Championship years |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Houston Mud Cats/Buffaloes | 1889, 1892, 1896, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1928, 1931, 1940, 1947, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1957 |
| 13 | Dallas Hams/Giants/Submarines/Steers/Rebels/Eagles | 1888, 1903, 1910, 1917, 1918, 1926, 1929, 1941, 1946, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957 |
| 13 | Fort Worth Panthers/Cats | 1895, 1905, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1937, 1939, 1948, 1958 |
| 13 | San Antonio Bronchos/Bullets/Missions | 1897, 1908, 1933, 1950, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013 |
| 9 | Tulsa Oilers/Drillers | 1936, 1949, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1982, 1988, 1998, 2018 |
| 8 | Arkansas Travelers | 1966, 1971, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1989, 2001, 2008 |
| 8 | Shreveport Gassers/Sports/Captains | 1919, 1942, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1990, 1991, 1995 |
| 7 | Midland Cubs/RockHounds | 1975, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| 6 | El Paso Sun Kings/Sun Dodgers/Diablos | 1962, 1968, 1972, 1978, 1986, 1994 |
| 5 | Jackson Mets/Generals | 1981, 1984, 1985, 1993, 1996 |
| 4 | Amarillo Gold Sox/Amarillo Sod Poodles | 1961, 1976, 2019, 2023 |
| 4 | Austin Senators/Braves | 1907, 1911, 1959, 1966 |
| 4 | Galveston Sand Crabs/Buccaneers | 1890, 1897, 1899, 1934 |
| 3 | Waco Navigators | 1914, 1915, 1916 |
| 3 | Wichita Pilots/Wranglers | 1987, 1992, 1999 |
| 3 | Albuquerque Dodgers |
1965, 1967, 1970 |
| 3 | Beaumont Exporters/Golden Gators | 1932, 1938, 1983 |
| 2 | Corsicana Oil Citys |
1902, 1904 |
| 2 | Memphis Blues | 1969, 1973 |
| 2 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | 2010, 2021 |
| 2 | Corpus Christi Giants/Hooks | 1958, 2006 |
| 2 | Frisco RoughRiders | 2004, 2022 |
| 2 | Victoria Rosebuds/Toros | 1959, 1974 |
| 1 | Cleburne Railroaders | 1906 |
| 1 | Lafayette Drillers | 1975 |
| 1 | Oklahoma City Indians | 1935 |
| 1 | Rio Grande Valley Giants | 1960 |
| 1 | Round Rock Express | 2000 |
| 1 | Springfield Cardinals | 2012 |
| 1 | Wichita Falls Spudders | 1927 |
Notes
- a Galveston and San Antonio were declared co-champions.
- b Dallas and Houston were declared co-champions.
- c Waco and Houston were declared co-champions.
- d Midland and Lafayette were declared co-champions.
- September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, which caused a stoppage in professional baseball.[9]
References
- General
- "League Champions". Texas League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
- "Team Records". Texas League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
- Specific
- ^ "Playoff Procedures". Texas League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 7, 2017.
- ^ Heneghan, Kelsie (July 1, 2021). "Playoffs Return to the Minor Leagues". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ "MiLB Playoff Procedures". MiLB.com. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
- ^ a b "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "Minor League Baseball Overhaul Unveiled". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ Horrorbin, Jordan (September 25, 2021). "Hicklen's Slam Powers Northwest Arkansas to Title". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
- ^ "Round Rock Express Baseball Club" (PDF). 2015 Round Rock Express Media Almanac. Minor League Baseball. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 19, 2015. Retrieved February 23, 2016.