- San Diego Surf Dawgs
Independent baseball team
name = San Diego Surf Dawgs
founded = 2005
city = San Diego, California
cap
current league =Arizona Winter League
current division =
past league =Golden Baseball League
currentname = San Diego Surf Dawgs (2005-2006, 2008-present)
* Sonora Surf Dawgs (2007, AWL)
pastnames =
colors = Columbia Blue, Navy Blue, Gold
color box|lightblue color box|navy color box|gold
ballpark = Desert Sun Stadium
pastparks =Tony Gwynn Stadium
leaguechamps = 1 (GBL, 2005)
divisionchamps = 1 (GBL California, 2005)
owner = Golden Baseball League
manager =Terry Kennedy (GBL version)Cory Snyder (AWL version)
gm =
media =The San Diego Union-Tribune , [http://www.yumasun.com The Yuma Sun]
website = http://www.goldenbaseball.com/SanDiego www.goldenbaseball.com/SanDiegoThe San Diego Surf Dawgs are a professional baseball team based in
San Diego, California , that currently play in the short-season instructionalArizona Winter League and played in the independentGolden Baseball League , which is not affiliated with eitherMajor League Baseball "or"Minor League Baseball . Their now-former home stadium is named after former Padres greatTony Gwynn , and is located on the campus ofSan Diego State University . They currently play atDesert Sun Stadium inYuma, Arizona as part of the AWL, but are rumored to rejoin the GBL in 2009.Team history
Golden Baseball League (2005-2006)
The Surf Dawgs were one of the eight original GBL charter teams that began play in 2005 along with the
Chico Outlaws ,Fullerton Flyers andLong Beach Armada in California;Mesa Miners ,Surprise Fightin' Falcons andYuma Scorpions in Arizona and the travelingJapan Samurai Bears . They were known for playing in the same city as aMajor League Baseball team, the National League'sSan Diego Padres .The signing of
Rickey Henderson gave the team national exposure. (Henderson had also played for the Padres at one point in his career.) Former first-round draft pick Matt Wheatland is among five San Diegans on the roster.The 2005 team won the first ever GBL California Division title, and on
Labor Day weekend 2005 they won the inaugural GBL Championship tournament, coming back on the last day to win two games.The team again made news in June 2006 by signing former Major League player
José Canseco . He made his debut on July 3, 2006 and struck out 4 times. Prior to the game, the "" author looked like the Bash Brother of old during batting practice, knocking multiple pitches out of the park. After playing in one game with the Surf Dawgs, Canseco requested to be traded to a team closer to his home inLos Angeles [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2509719 Canseco seeks, receives trade for personal reasons] (ESPN.com, July 5, 2006)] and was sent to the Long Beach Armada.The Surf Dawgs became the fourth franchise of the GBL to be deactivated on February 8, 2007. A published report in
The San Diego Union-Tribune stated the team had suspended operations for financial reasons. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20070208-9999-1s8dawgs.html Baseball Surf Dawgs won't play in '07] ("San Diego Union-Tribune", February 8, 2007)] But the league disputes that because they still own the rights to the team.Arizona Winter League (2007-present)
The team joined the
Arizona Winter League as the Sonora Surf Dawgs in January of 2007 [ [http://www.yumazone.com/Arizona_Winter_League.htm Yuma Zone AWL baseball] ] , but reverted back to San Diego for the 2008 season. During the AWL regular season, they are managed byCory Snyder , who also manages the GBL'sSt. George RoadRunners .eason-by-season records
Golden Baseball League:
Arizona Winter League:
Rebirth?
Though the Surf Dawgs play in the Arizona Winter League, there has been talk about a possible return of the team to the GBL by 2009. They are currently looking for a more suitable stadium after having issues regarding
Tony Gwynn Stadium . Some say their best bet is to play at a ballpark inChula Vista, California , which was to have hosted theTijuana Toros in 2005 and is waiting for a GBL team to occupy. [ [http://www.stammer.eu/chula_vista_california_en.html Stammer.eu : Chula Vista, California] ] An announcement could come as early as October.References
External links
* [http://www.sdsurfdawgs.com San Diego Surf Dawgs]
* [https://www.sedonamg.com/sandiegosecure/Store/ San Diego Surf Dawgs Surf Shop] (Team Store)
* [http://www.sdkennelclub.com The San Diego Kennel Club, the Surf Dawgs official booster club]
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