Frisco RoughRiders
Encyclopedia
The Frisco RoughRiders (short form: 'Riders) are currently the Class AA affiliate of the Texas Rangers
major league baseball
club. The team plays in the Texas League
, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport
, Louisiana
, and were known as the Shreveport Captains (and, for the 2002 season, the Shreveport SwampDragons). In 2003, they were purchased by Mandalay Entertainment
in connection with Tom Hicks
, owner of the Texas Rangers
and the company that owns it, Southwest Sports Group. Mandalay Baseball moved them to the North Texas
city of Frisco
and changed their name to the RoughRiders.
They currently play at the Dr Pepper Ballpark
in Frisco. Opened on April 3, 2003, the stadium seats 10,600 fans. The stadium is both unique and innovative; both bullpens are surrounded by seats and there is a pool area available for rental just beyond the right center field wall.
" was the name bestowed by the American press on the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment during the Spanish-American War
, headed by to-be American President Theodore Roosevelt
. The team was named after a historical division in order to comply with the tradition of the major league affiliate, the Texas Rangers
, who were named after the Texas Ranger Division
.
. The RoughRiders beat the Wranglers three games to none, allowing them to advance to the Texas League Championship Series. However, the RoughRiders were unable to capitalize on their earlier successes, and ultimately lost in the Series to the San Antonio Missions
four games to one.
. The RoughRiders easily defeated the team, winning the best-of-five series three games to none. The Roughriders proceeded to defeat the Round Rock Express
in the Texas League Championship Series four games to one, winning their first-ever championship in their second year of existence.
was selected as the Tom Grieve
award winner, which is awarded to the best hitter in the Rangers minor league system.
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
major league baseball
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...
club. The team plays in the Texas League
Texas League
The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...
, assigned to the South Division. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, and were known as the Shreveport Captains (and, for the 2002 season, the Shreveport SwampDragons). In 2003, they were purchased by Mandalay Entertainment
Mandalay Entertainment
Mandalay Entertainment Group is a multimedia entertainment vehicle in motion pictures, television, sports entertainment and new media. It was formed in 1995...
in connection with Tom Hicks
Tom Hicks
Thomas Ollis Hicks, Sr. , is an American 'leveraged buyout' businessman living in Dallas, Texas. Despite Forbes Magazine estimating Hicks' wealth at USD 1 billion in 2009, Hicks was unable to pay off joint loans of circa £200 million the following year...
, owner of the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and the company that owns it, Southwest Sports Group. Mandalay Baseball moved them to the North Texas
North Texas
North Texas is a distinct cultural and geographic area forming the central-northeastern section of the U.S. state of Texas. North Texas is generally considered to include the area south of Oklahoma, east of Abilene, and north of Waco...
city of Frisco
Frisco, Texas
Frisco is an affluent city in Collin and Denton Counties in the U.S. state of Texas and a rapidly growing suburb of Dallas. As of the 2010 Census, 116,989 people were living in Frisco up from 33,714 in the previous census. Frisco was the fastest growing city in the United States in 2009, and also...
and changed their name to the RoughRiders.
They currently play at the Dr Pepper Ballpark
Dr Pepper Ballpark
Dr Pepper Ballpark is the home ballpark of the Frisco RoughRiders Class AA minor league baseball club. Located in Frisco, Texas in the United States, the stadium has a capacity of 10,600...
in Frisco. Opened on April 3, 2003, the stadium seats 10,600 fans. The stadium is both unique and innovative; both bullpens are surrounded by seats and there is a pool area available for rental just beyond the right center field wall.
Origins of team name
"The Rough RidersRough Riders
The Rough Riders is the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States Army was weakened and left with little manpower after the American Civil War...
" was the name bestowed by the American press on the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment during the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
, headed by to-be American President Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
. The team was named after a historical division in order to comply with the tradition of the major league affiliate, the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, who were named after the Texas Ranger Division
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
.
Recent regular season records
| Season | GP | W | L | Current Position | GB | |
| 2009/ 1st Half | 67 | 32 | 35 | 3rd in South | 4 | |
| 2009/ 2nd Half | 62 | 35 | 27 | 2nd in South | 1 |
2003 season
The RoughRiders experienced much success during their inaugural season. The RoughRiders qualified for the playoffs, having the best first-half record of 40-30 in the East Division to clinch a playoff berth. They failed to attain the best 2nd half record, forcing a playoff between the RoughRiders and the Wichita WranglersWichita Wranglers
The Wichita Wranglers were a minor league baseball team based in Wichita, Kansas. The team, which played in the Texas League, was the Double-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals major-league club from 1995 to 2007, and of the San Diego Padres from 1987 to 1994. The Wranglers played in...
. The RoughRiders beat the Wranglers three games to none, allowing them to advance to the Texas League Championship Series. However, the RoughRiders were unable to capitalize on their earlier successes, and ultimately lost in the Series to the San Antonio Missions
San Antonio Missions
The San Antonio Missions are a minor league baseball team based in San Antonio, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres major-league club. The Missions play in Nelson W. Wolff Municipal Stadium, located in San Antonio...
four games to one.
2004 season
The 2004 season would prove to have even more success than the 2003 one did. The RoughRiders struggled in the first half of the season, not clinching a playoff berth in that first half. However, the RoughRiders came alive in the second half of the season, easily clinching the half well before the season ended. Because they did not win the first half, the RoughRiders were forced into a playoff series against the Tulsa DrillersTulsa Drillers
The Tulsa Drillers are a minor league baseball team based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies major-league club.-Stadium:...
. The RoughRiders easily defeated the team, winning the best-of-five series three games to none. The Roughriders proceeded to defeat the Round Rock Express
Round Rock Express
The Round Rock Express is a class Triple-A Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team in Round Rock, Texas, owned by RSR Sports and founded by Reid Ryan, son of Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan. The team is affiliated with the Texas Rangers, for whom Nolan Ryan serves as the president and...
in the Texas League Championship Series four games to one, winning their first-ever championship in their second year of existence.
2006 season
First baseman Nate GoldNate Gold
Nathan G. Gold is a former minor league first baseman and back-up third baseman for the Texas Rangers organization.-Early childhood:Gold was born on June 12, 1980 in Bountiful, Utah. He attended Viewmont High School located in Bountiful....
was selected as the Tom Grieve
Tom Grieve
Thomas Alan Grieve was a Major League Baseball player from 1970-1979 for the Washington Senators, Texas Rangers, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals...
award winner, which is awarded to the best hitter in the Rangers minor league system.
Notable alumni
These players were once part of the RoughRiders (not including any rehab assignment) and have then succeeded to have a Major League appearance.- Elvis AndrusElvis AndrusElvis Augusto Andrus Torres is a Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers.Entering , he was rated by Baseball America as the No. 2 prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization...
, IF - Joaquin Arias, IF
- Blake BeavanBlake BeavanBlake Beavan is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners.-Professional:Beavan drafted from Irving High School in the 1st round, 17th overall by the Texas Rangers in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft...
,RP - Jason BottsJason BottsJason Carl Botts is a Major League Baseball infielder currently in the New York Mets organization...
, IF - John DanksJohn DanksJohn William Danks is a left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball currently playing with the Chicago White Sox....
, SP - Chris DavisChris Davis (baseball)Christopher Lyn Davis is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Baltimore Orioles.-Professional career:...
, 1B - John Fecarotta, SP
- Scott FeldmanScott FeldmanScott Feldman was a news anchor for News 12 Long Island for 22 years.-Early life:Feldman was born in St. Louis, Missouri, graduated from the University of Denver in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves and National Guard....
, SP - Neftali Feliz, RP
- Craig GentryCraig GentryCraig Alan Gentry is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Texas Rangers.-Baseball career:...
, OF - Adrian GonzalezAdrián GonzálezAdrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
, IF - Derek HollandDerek HollandDerek Holland is a figure on the European far-right noted for his Catholic Integralism.Holland was brought up in Huntingdon and was already trying to recruit new members to the National Front while a student at Cambridgeshire College of Art and Technology...
, SP - Ian KinslerIan KinslerIan Michael Kinsler is a Major League Baseball All-Star second baseman for the Texas Rangers.Despite having been drafted in only the 17th round out of college, Kinsler has risen to become a two-time All Star, and a member of the Sporting News 2009 list of the 50 greatest current players in baseball...
, IF - Kameron LoeKameron LoeKameron David Loe is a professional baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.He previously pitched in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers. At 6' 9" tall, Loe is one of the tallest players in the game, and also has a 7 foot boa constrictor named Angel which he keeps in the clubhouse...
, SP - Marshall McDougallMarshall McDougallMarshall James McDougall is a professional baseball player. Primarily a third baseman, he has played part of one season in Major League Baseball with the Texas Rangers, and one season in the Chinese Professional Baseball League with the Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions...
, IF - Drew MeyerDrew MeyerDrew Edward Meyer is a Major League Baseball player in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim organization. Meyer made his major league debut on April 21, , for the Texas Rangers in a game against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
, IF - Ramon NivarRamon NivarRamón A. Nivar Martínez is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently a free agent.Nivar was original signed as an undrafted free agent by the Texas Rangers in 1998...
, OF - Laynce NixLaynce NixLaynce Michael Nix is a Major League Baseball outfielder. Nix plays all three outfield positions, but plays most of his games at left field. His younger brother is Jayson Nix, a utility player for the Toronto Blue Jays....
, OF
- Scott PodsednikScott PodsednikScott Eric Podsednik is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Podsednik led the major leagues in stolen bases in with 70.-Minor leagues:...
, OF - Josh RupeJosh RupeJoshua Matthew Rupe is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent.-Career:...
, SP - Mark TeixeiraMark TeixeiraMark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
, 1B - Edinson VolquezEdinson VolquezEdinson Volquez [VOL-kez] , is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cincinnati Reds. He bats and throws right-handed....
, SP - C.J. Wilson, SP
- Chris Young, SP