El Centro Imperials
Encyclopedia
The El Centro Imperials are an inactive independent professional baseball
team based out of El Centro, California
. Founded in 1947 and revived on April 3, 2009, the Imperials were introduced as one of the four charter members (along with the San Luis Atleticos
, Canada Miners and Yuma Scorpions
) of the new Arizona Summer League
, an instructional summer professional baseball league affiliated with the Golden Baseball League
, now the North American League
. (However, the Atleticos and Scorpions were dropped from the league and were replaced by the San Diego Surf Dawgs
.) The team started play in 2009 at Desert Sun Stadium
in Yuma, Arizona
, home of the Scorpions and the league, and is managed by former Los Angeles Dodgers
player Mike Marshall, whose is the current president and field manager of the Chico Outlaws
.
team with the Sunset League
from 1947 to 1950 and then the Southwest International League
in 1951 and 1952 (the team shortened their name to the "Imps" in 1952). They played their home games at Stark Field
in El Centro.
They won the Sunset League championship in 1950 before moving to the Southwest League, but were the worst team in the Southwest League in 1952. They went 28-47-1 before withdrawing from the league on July 13. The club did not have past or future major-leaguers on their roster during the campaign.
On April 3, 2009, the Imperials were revived and were named one of four charter teams in the Golden Baseball League
's newest instructional league, the Arizona Summer League
. They played their home games at Stark Field
in El Centro, while most other teams played theirs at Desert Sun Stadium
in Yuma, Arizona
.
On July 10, 2009, they were announced as set to play in 2010 in the Arizona Winter League
, again playing at Stark Field and Desert Sun Stadium. However, an October 23, 2009, update does not have them coming to the AWL after all. They could be invited to play in another league in the future.
The Imperials became inactive as of 2010.
by having four games played at Stark Field during the season as Scorpions home games. The team donned special throwback uniforms of the Imperials. The last game was an 11-7 loss to the Chico Outlaws
on August 27.
There was a rumor that El Centro could become a city to host a GBL team, but Stark Field would have to be remodeled. It is uncertain if they will play their home games at Stark Field in the future.
Arizona Summer League (2009-future):
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team based out of El Centro, California
El Centro, California
El Centro is a city in and county seat of Imperial County, the largest city in the Imperial Valley and the east anchor of the Southern California Border Region, and the core urban area and principal city of the El Centro metropolitan area which encompasses all of Imperial County. El Centro is also...
. Founded in 1947 and revived on April 3, 2009, the Imperials were introduced as one of the four charter members (along with the San Luis Atleticos
San Luis Atleticos
The San Luis Atleticos are a professional independent baseball team based in San Luis, Arizona, representing that city and Mexico. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league affiliated with the Golden Baseball League and play in the...
, Canada Miners and Yuma Scorpions
Yuma Scorpions
The Yuma Scorpions are a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. The Scorpions are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League. From the 2005 season to the present, the Scorpions have played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the...
) of the new Arizona Summer League
Arizona Summer League
The Arizona Summer League is a short-season instructional summer professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
, an instructional summer professional baseball league affiliated with the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
, now the North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
. (However, the Atleticos and Scorpions were dropped from the league and were replaced by the San Diego Surf Dawgs
San Diego Surf Dawgs
The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,...
.) The team started play in 2009 at Desert Sun Stadium
Desert Sun Stadium
Desert Sun Stadium is a stadium in Yuma, Arizona. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions minor league baseball team and plays host to the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League. The stadium, which originally opened in 1969,...
in Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
, home of the Scorpions and the league, and is managed by former Los Angeles 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...
player Mike Marshall, whose is the current president and field manager of the Chico Outlaws
Chico Outlaws
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California, in the United States. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
.
Team history
The Imperials began as a minor league baseballMinor 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 with the Sunset League
Sunset League
The Sunset League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1947 through 1950. For the 1951 season, the league merged with the Arizona-Texas League to form the Southwest International League.- Former :...
from 1947 to 1950 and then the Southwest International League
Southwest International League
The Southwest International League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1951 through 1952. The league was formed through the merger of the Sunset League and Arizona-Texas League in 1951.- Former :...
in 1951 and 1952 (the team shortened their name to the "Imps" in 1952). They played their home games at Stark Field
Stark Field
Stark Field is a professional-size baseball field located in El Centro, California. It played host to the El Centro Imperials minor league baseball team of the Sunset League and Southwest International League from the 1947 to 1951...
in El Centro.
They won the Sunset League championship in 1950 before moving to the Southwest League, but were the worst team in the Southwest League in 1952. They went 28-47-1 before withdrawing from the league on July 13. The club did not have past or future major-leaguers on their roster during the campaign.
On April 3, 2009, the Imperials were revived and were named one of four charter teams in the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
's newest instructional league, the Arizona Summer League
Arizona Summer League
The Arizona Summer League is a short-season instructional summer professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
. They played their home games at Stark Field
Stark Field
Stark Field is a professional-size baseball field located in El Centro, California. It played host to the El Centro Imperials minor league baseball team of the Sunset League and Southwest International League from the 1947 to 1951...
in El Centro, while most other teams played theirs at Desert Sun Stadium
Desert Sun Stadium
Desert Sun Stadium is a stadium in Yuma, Arizona. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the North American League's Yuma Scorpions minor league baseball team and plays host to the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League. The stadium, which originally opened in 1969,...
in Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
.
On July 10, 2009, they were announced as set to play in 2010 in the Arizona Winter League
Arizona Winter League
The Arizona Winter League is the short-season instructional independent winter professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
, again playing at Stark Field and Desert Sun Stadium. However, an October 23, 2009, update does not have them coming to the AWL after all. They could be invited to play in another league in the future.
The Imperials became inactive as of 2010.
Honored by the Scorpions
In 2008, the Imperials were honored by the GBL's Yuma ScorpionsYuma Scorpions
The Yuma Scorpions are a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. The Scorpions are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League. From the 2005 season to the present, the Scorpions have played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the...
by having four games played at Stark Field during the season as Scorpions home games. The team donned special throwback uniforms of the Imperials. The last game was an 11-7 loss to the Chico Outlaws
Chico Outlaws
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California, in the United States. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
on August 27.
There was a rumor that El Centro could become a city to host a GBL team, but Stark Field would have to be remodeled. It is uncertain if they will play their home games at Stark Field in the future.
Year-by-year record
Sunset League (1947–1950) / Southwest International League (1951–1952)| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1947 | 53-86 | 6th | Bob Boken Bob Boken Robert Anthony Boken was a Major League Baseball infielder. Boken played for the Washington Senators and the Chicago White Sox .... / Ray Viers |
|
| 1948 | 67-73 | 5th | Ray Viers | |
| 1949 | 59-66 | 5th | Ray Viers / Frank Stinson | none |
| 1950 | 85-58 | 2nd | Ken Meyers | League Champs |
| 1951 | 59-86 | 9th | Red Kress Red Kress Ralph "Red" Kress was a shortstop and coach in Major League Baseball. From through , he played for the St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers and New York Giants . Kress batted and threw right-handed... / Bud Beringhele |
|
| 1952 | N/A | N/A | Bud Beringhele | |
Arizona Summer League (2009-future):
| Season | W | L | Win % | Place | Playoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 7 | 7 | .467 | 2nd | No playoffs. |