Tucson Toros

Independent baseball team
name = Tucson Toros
founded = 1969
city = Tucson, Arizona

cap
current league = Golden Baseball League
current division = South Division
past league = * Pacific Coast League (1969-1997)
currentname = Tucson Toros (1969-1997, 2009-future)
colors = Black, Red, Gold, White
color box|#000000 color box|#CE2029 color box|#FFBF00 color box|white
ballpark = Hi Corbett Field
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 3 (PCL - 1991, 1993)
divisionchamps = 5 (PCL - 1973, 1991, 1993)
owner = Tucson Baseball, LLC
manager = TBA
gm = Sean Smock
media = [http://www.azstarnet.com/ Arizona Daily Star] , [http://www.tucsoncitizen.com Tucson Citizen]
website = http://www.tucsontoros.com www.tucsontoros.comThe Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman or the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager.

They were a Triple-A minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League from 1969 to 1997, where they won the PCL Championship in 1991 and 1993. They were affiliated with several Major League Baseball teams over the years, most notably with the Houston Astros.

They became members of the independent Golden Baseball League on September 1, 2008, and will once again play their home games at legendary Hi Corbett Field in Tucson beginning (tentatively) May 27, 2009, at the start of the league's fifth anniversary. They will play in the South Division along with the Long Beach Armada, Orange County Flyers and Yuma Scorpions, with a possible return of the San Diego Surf Dawgs.

The Toros' return to pro baseball coincides with the 40th anniversary of their formation during the 2009 season.

History

Early days

Tucson had a number of baseball teams between 1915 and 1958, including the Tucson Old Pueblos, the Tucson Waddies, the Tucson Cowboys (several teams), the Tucson Missions and the Tucson Lizards. None of these were part of the Pacific Coast League. When the last iteration of the Cowboys folded in 1958, Tucson was left with no professional baseball until the advent of the Toros. Sidewinders 2002 Commemorative Program". Tucson: Tucson Sidewinders Baseball Club, 2002.] cite web | title = Team History | work = Tucson Sidewinders web site | publisher = Minor League Baseball | date = 2006 | url = http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/ballpark/page.jsp?ymd=20060125&content_id=39224&vkey=ballpark_t549&fext=.jsp&sid=t549 | accessdate = 2007-04-09 ]

Pacific Coast League era begins

Hiram "Hi" Corbett, a former Arizona state senator, helped to bring the Pacific Coast League to Tucson, in recognition of which the 1937 ballpark in midtown Tucson's Reid Park was eventually renamed Hi Corbett Field. The Tucson Toros, a AAA team in the league's southern division, began play in 1969. The name Toros was suggested by name-the-team contest winner Clarence Dupnik, who went on to become the Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona."Tucson Toros 1997 Media Guide". Tucson: Tucson Toros Baseball Club, 1997.]

From 1969 through 1972, the Tucson Toros were the AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. During this period, the team managed no better than a fourth place finish for the season. The Toros did better as the AAA team of the Oakland Athletics (1973-1976), winning the PCL Eastern Division title in 1973 and finishing in second place in 1975. As the Texas Rangers farm team (1977-1979) they finished in third and fourth place, but with outstanding individual performances by outfielder Billy Sample (AAA Minor League Player of the Year, 1978) and others.

The Astros era

In 1980 the Toros began a long association with the Houston Astros. Following the lead of the parent club (which was widely criticized for its 1980s uniforms), the Toros introduced what some consider the ugliest uniform in the history of organized baseball: orange pants with yellow and red stripes, and a jersey with a turquoise back, yellow raglan sleeves, and a front resplendent in yellow, avocado, red, orange, and lime green stripes of various widths. The look in 1981, an all-orange uniform with red and yellow trim, was similarly ill-received.

In their first year of affiliation with the Astros, the Toros won the first half Southern Division title, but were quickly eliminated by the Albuquerque Dukes in the second half playoffs. The team spent most of the rest of the decade in third place for the season. In 1989, under new team owner Rick Holtzman, Mike Feder became the Toros' general manager, a post he would hold through the end of the Toros era of Tucson AAA baseball. His family-friendly promotions brought immediate results. The club was named Promotional Club of the Year in 1990, and had its highest season attendance to date.

The following season, 1991, was the Toros' first championship season. The team overcame a series deficit of 0-2 to sweep the Calgary Cannons in the remaining games of the best of five series. Third year Toros manager Bob Skinner was named PCL Manager of the Year, while series MVP Kenny Lofton led all of professional baseball with 17 triples for the season.

After a second place finish in 1992, the Toros had their second and final championship season in 1993 under new manager Rick Sweet, winning both halves of the season. First baseman Jim Lindeman led the league with a .362 batting average. Second baseman James Mouton, in his first season above the single-A level, was the PCL MVP with 92 RBI and 40 stolen bases.

The Toros had the PCL's second-best overall record in 1994, and Rick Sweet was named PCL Manager of the Year. In 1995 the team had the best record in the PCL (87-56), but was defeated by the champion Colorado Springs Sky Sox in the first round of the playoffs. 1996 proved to be the Toros' last year as a Houston affiliate. The team went 70-74, while "losing" a number of outstanding players, such as pitchers Donne Wall and Billy Wagner, to major league call-ups.

The Toros become the Sidewinders

1997 was the last year of the Tucson Toros, in more ways than one. In a complicated "swap", the team was sold to the owner of the Phoenix Firebirds, so that the Phoenix AAA team technically moved to Tucson while retaining the Tucson club's staff and facilities. [http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2008/09/01/news/doc48b6e5de83776081205646.txt "Tucson Toros make their return home to Hi Corbett next year"] ("Inside Tucson Business", AZBiz.com, September 1, 2008)] The long affiliation with the Houston Astros was suddenly over, as Tucson signed a one year agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers. The one major league prospect with the Toros who was not part of the Brewers' organization was Travis Lee of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The new franchise did not yet have a AAA team of its own, so Lee was assigned to the nearby Tucson team for part of the season. Although Travis Lee personally had a good year, the transitional Toros only managed a 64-78 record. It was the Tucson team's last season at Hi Corbett Field, and their last season with the Toros name.

After the 1997 season, the Tucson club became the Triple-A club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Because the Colorado Rockies used Hi Corbett Field for spring training, Tucson Electric Park was built to accommodate the Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox in the spring "Cactus League." TEP also became home to the newly-renamed Tucson Sidewinders in 1998. This ended minor league baseball history at Hi Corbett Field and was not well received by fans, who responded to the new stadium, affiliation and team name with significantly reduced attendance.

The Golden Baseball League era: "The Toros are back!"

In late 2006, it was formally announced that the Tucson Sidewinders, the Toros' successor, would be moving to Reno, Nevada after the by|2008 season. The Reno Silver Sox of the Golden Baseball League could be forced to leave Reno when the Sidewinders move into town. [Brodesky, Josh. [http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/211061 "Toros could return in new incarnation"] "The Arizona Daily Star". 11 November 2007. 26 December 2007.] (The new PCL team has since become the Reno Aces.)

On September 1, 2008, Jay Zucker, owner of Tucson Baseball LLC, and GBL chief executive officer David Kaval announced at a press conference at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson that the Tucson Toros were coming back and are now officially a part of the league. [ [http://www.goldenbaseball.com/ArDisplay.aspx?ID=4712&SecID=303 Golden Baseball League Expands to Tucson] (Golden Baseball League website, September 1, 2008)] [ [http://www.azstarnet.com/sports/255552 Zucker takes bull by horns with new team at Hi Corbett Field] ("The Arizona Daily Star", September 1, 2008)] [ [http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/fromcomments/95462.php Tucson to get independent league baseball team] ("Tucson Citizen", September 1, 2008)] [ [http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/sports/95495.php Gimino: Goodbye AAA; hello Golden] ("Tucson Citizen", September 1, 2008)] Zucker owns the rights to the name, logos, colors, uniforms and history of the Toros.

He and his wife Melinda wore classic throwback jerseys when the announcement was made. However, the team will be donning new uniforms to coincide with the new updated team logo and colors of black, red and gold unveiled at the press conference. The players may sport throwback jerseys at times to pay homage to the original team. Though they are entering the league as an expansion team, they have adopted the original franchise's history and records up until 1997, essentially being "resurrected".

Despite original reports having the team absorb the Silver Sox history into the new franchise, the team is going to be a straight expansion team as the Silver Sox could likely relocate to Carson City, Nevada. [ [http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2008/09/01/news/doc48b6e5de83776081205646.txt Tucson Toros make their return home to Hi Corbett next year] (AZBiz.com, September 1, 2008)] [ [http://news.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809160357 Silver Sox could be headed down the highway] ("Reno Gazette-Journal", September 16, 2008)]

In addition to celebrating their return to professional baseball, the Toros are expected to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their formation during the 2009 season.

Notable Players

Some notable players to don a Toros or Sidewinders uniform:

It should be noted, however, that at least a few of these were "Tucson" players only by virtue of being sent down to AAA for rehab after an injury.

The Venue: Hi Corbett Field

Hi Corbett Field (originally Randolph Field) was built in 1937, remodeled in 1972 and renovated in 1992, 1997 and 1999. It is part of a larger city park complex, Reid Park (which also includes the Reid Park Zoo) and Randolph Park, located between Broadway Boulevard and 22nd Street in midtown Tucson. The largest Toros crowd at Hi Corbett was 12,863 on May 17, 1981 against Salt Lake City. Hi Corbett dimensions are as follows: RF: 348 feet; CF: 392 feet; LF: 366 feet. The park had a "Green Monster" fence in Center Field.

The Tucson Cowboys played at Hi Corbett in the 1930s to 1950s. It also served as the spring training home of the Cleveland Indians from 1945 through 1992. Parts of the 1989 movie "Major League" were filmed at Hi Corbett Field, using the University of Arizona baseball team as extras. In 1993 it became the Spring Training home of the expansion Colorado Rockies, the first major league team in the Mountain time zone.

Despite the 1998 opening of Tucson Electric Park, the Colorado Rockies have continued to train at Hi Corbett. USA Baseball was also headquartered at Hi Corbett from 1997-2003. In 2004 Hi Corbett became home to the Arizona Heat women's pro softball team, with a season from June to August.

Off the field

Some popular Toros promotions included "Turn Back the Clock Night", "bull bells" and a cow-milking contest on "Arizona Dairy Night", and the annual "Diamond Dig" in the base paths. Huey Lewis once wrote and performed a theme song for the Tucson Toros (circa 1993). Ray Charles also appeared in concert after a Tucson Toros game in the early 1990s.

The team mascot, Tuffy the Toro, has also appeared intermittently with the Tucson Sidewinders.Toros broadcasters Vince Cotroneo, Mario Impemba and Matt Vasgersian all went on to major league broadcast jobs.

A hapless team called the Tucson Toros was featured in an episode of "Highway To Heaven", "Popcorn, Peanuts and Cracker Jacks." However, the episode was filmed in Los Angeles, not Tucson.

References

See also

*Tucson Sidewinders

External links

* [http://www.tucsontoros.com Tucson Toros official website]
* [http://www.goldenbaseball.com Golden Baseball League]
* [http://tucsontoros.bravepages.com/index.htm Tucson Toros on BravePages]
* [http://www.springtrainingonline.com/teams/colorado_rockies.htm Spring Training 2006: Colorado Rockies]
* [http://www.mikesummers.org/gblmedford/news/columns_07282008.htm Tucson Toros? In The GBL? Why not?] (GBL Medford Website, July 28, 2008)
* [http://baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Tucson,_AZ BR Bullpen: Tucson, AZ]