Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings
Encyclopedia
The Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings were a minor league baseball
team in Bisbee, Arizona
and Douglas, Arizona
. They played in the Arizona-Texas League
from 1949 to 1950 and in the Arizona-Mexico League in 1955. The Arizona-Mexico League was active from 1955-58 and was the successor of the Arizona-Texas League. In 2003, the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings were briefly reconstituted in an independent professional league, also known as the Arizona-Mexico League, which suspended operations three weeks into the season.
The team played home games in both Bisbee and Douglas. In Bisbee they played their home games at Warren Ballpark
, the oldest ballpark in the United States, constructed in 1909. Games in Douglas were played at Copper King Stadium. Warren Ballpark, built with adobe and steel, still stands in a suburb of Bisbee as does Copper King Stadium in Douglas.
The original Arizona-Mexico League team featured future major leaguers Clint Courtney
, Johnny Keane
, Jim Tobin
and Earl Wilson. In 1950, the team was affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers
.
In 1958 the Copper Kings did something no other professional team has done. All 9 players of the starting line-up hit a home run in the same game. See the external link below.
The 2003 Copper Kings field manager was Butch Hammett. Their general manager was John Guy. Local baseball historian David Skinner was minority owner. The Copper Kings ended with a final record of 9-7, tied for second place.
The 2003 Copper Kings gained national attention with their colorful promotions including Ted Williams
Night in which they gave away free popsicles to their fans in relation to Ted Williams being cryogenically frozen in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 2003 club also made news with the signing of former National League base-stealing champion Chuck Carr, who played center field for the abbreviated season. Former Richmond Braves
shortstop Jose Mateo also played with the Copper Kings.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team in Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, 82 miles southeast of Tucson. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 6,177...
and Douglas, Arizona
Douglas, Arizona
Douglas is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States. Douglas has a border crossing with Mexico and a history of mining.The population was 14,312 at the 2000 census...
. They played in the Arizona-Texas League
Arizona-Texas League
The Arizona-Texas League was a low-level circuit in American minor league baseball that existed from 1928-32, 1937-41, 1947-50 and 1952-54. The Arizona-Texas loop merged with the Sunset League to form the Southwest International League in 1951...
from 1949 to 1950 and in the Arizona-Mexico League in 1955. The Arizona-Mexico League was active from 1955-58 and was the successor of the Arizona-Texas League. In 2003, the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings were briefly reconstituted in an independent professional league, also known as the Arizona-Mexico League, which suspended operations three weeks into the season.
The team played home games in both Bisbee and Douglas. In Bisbee they played their home games at Warren Ballpark
Warren Ballpark
Warren Ballpark is a baseball stadium located in Bisbee, Arizona. The ballpark was recently home to the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings of the independent Arizona-Mexico League...
, the oldest ballpark in the United States, constructed in 1909. Games in Douglas were played at Copper King Stadium. Warren Ballpark, built with adobe and steel, still stands in a suburb of Bisbee as does Copper King Stadium in Douglas.
The original Arizona-Mexico League team featured future major leaguers Clint Courtney
Clint Courtney
Clinton Dawdson Courtney was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics . Courtney batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, Johnny Keane
Johnny Keane
John Joseph Keane was an American manager in Major League Baseball. Born in St. Louis, Missouri and known as a patient manager of young players, Keane participated in one of the strangest turns of events in baseball history in , his final season at the helm of the St...
, Jim Tobin
Jim Tobin
James Anthony Tobin, known as Abba Dabba, was a right-handed major league baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Bees/Braves and Detroit Tigers from 1937 to 1945...
and Earl Wilson. In 1950, the team was affiliated with the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
.
In 1958 the Copper Kings did something no other professional team has done. All 9 players of the starting line-up hit a home run in the same game. See the external link below.
The 2003 Copper Kings field manager was Butch Hammett. Their general manager was John Guy. Local baseball historian David Skinner was minority owner. The Copper Kings ended with a final record of 9-7, tied for second place.
The 2003 Copper Kings gained national attention with their colorful promotions including Ted Williams
Ted Williams
Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
Night in which they gave away free popsicles to their fans in relation to Ted Williams being cryogenically frozen in Scottsdale, Arizona. The 2003 club also made news with the signing of former National League base-stealing champion Chuck Carr, who played center field for the abbreviated season. Former Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
shortstop Jose Mateo also played with the Copper Kings.
See also
- Independent baseballIndependent baseballIndependent baseball leagues are professional baseball organizations located in the United States and Canada. They are not operated in conjunction with either a Major League Baseball team or an affiliated minor league team. Being independent allows teams to be located close to major-league teams...
- Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League AffiliationsLos Angeles Dodgers Minor League Affiliations-1963 to the present :This list compiles the history of their minor league affiliates since the re-organization of the Minor League classification season prior to the 1963 season.-1962 and prior years:...
- Warren BallparkWarren BallparkWarren Ballpark is a baseball stadium located in Bisbee, Arizona. The ballpark was recently home to the Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings of the independent Arizona-Mexico League...
External links
- Main website of the newest iteration of the team (2007-present)
- 1958 Douglas Copper Kings Baseball record. (http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080516&content_id=399596&vkey=news_milb&fext=.jsp