Mesa Miners
Encyclopedia
The Mesa Miners are an independent professional baseball team that is based in Mesa, Arizona
. They began as a member of the Arizona Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League
in 2005. The original team became known as the Reno Silver Sox
in 2006, and then the Tucson Toros
in 2009, but the league could bring the Miners back as an expansion team should they decide to do so.
They returned to play in 2011 after a six-year absence as a member of the Arizona Summer League
, one of two instructional leagues affiliated with the North American League
, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball
or Minor League Baseball
.
, Fullerton Flyers
, Long Beach Armada
and San Diego Surf Dawgs
in California, the Surprise Fightin' Falcons
and Yuma Scorpions
in Arizona and a traveling team, the Japan Samurai Bears
that began play in May 2005. All teams were league-owned and the team names and logos also belong to the league. In their one year of play, the team won the first ever GBL Arizona Division title and played in the Championship Game against the Surf Dawgs
.
Unfortunately, the Miners had the league's worst overall attendance, (which is somewhat dubious because of the highly inflated attendance numbers that the Fightin' Falcons
allegedly received) and was dropped from the Golden Baseball League
in November 2005. The league dropped Surprise largely due to not having another team in central Arizona and to give the league an even number of six teams instead of seven. The low attendance numbers both teams received were due largely to the fact that many of their home games were played in the scorching afternoon heat of central Arizona. The Miners roster and coaching staff were carried over to the league's new Reno Silver Sox
team, which won the League Championship in 2006. The franchise has since been purchased and relocated to Tucson, Arizona
, and has been renamed the Tucson Toros
.
could agree on a revenue sharing agreement for concessions sales. In 2005 the Miners received none of the sales proceeds from their own games. The Miners were the only team in the league without revenue sharing on concessions. HoHoKam Park has played host to the Arizona Fall League
's Mesa Solar Sox
since 1992.
Should the Miners return to Mesa, they would be an expansion team since the original team was absorbed by the Silver Sox. The Miners name, logo and uniforms (owned by the league) have been used by the Western Canada Miners
of the Arizona Winter League
, the NAL's instructional league started by the GBL in 2007.
If the brand does not return to Mesa, some suggest that the new expansion franchise which adopts the "Miners" identity should be placed in possibly Canada because of the history of mining in the western part of the country. Other suggest California for the obvious state nickname of the "Golden State".
, the Miners' representation was returned to Mesa as the team returned to play as the newest member of the Arizona Summer League
in July 2011. They joined fellow former Golden Baseball League teams the Long Beach Armada
and San Diego Surf Dawgs
in the league as well as Arizona Winter League
's Team Canada
.
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
. They began as a member of the Arizona Division of the now-defunct 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....
in 2005. The original team became known as the Reno Silver Sox
Reno Silver Sox
The Reno Silver Sox were a professional baseball team based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. They were a member of the North Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
in 2006, and then the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The 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 of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
in 2009, but the league could bring the Miners back as an expansion team should they decide to do so.
They returned to play in 2011 after a six-year absence as a member of 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...
, one of two instructional leagues affiliated with the North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
or Minor League Baseball
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...
.
History
The Miners started as one of eight charter teams in the GBL along with the Chico OutlawsChico 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...
, Fullerton Flyers
Fullerton Flyers
The Fullerton Flyers are a professional baseball team based in Fullerton, California, in the United States. They are an independent franchise which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
, Long Beach Armada
Long Beach Armada
The Long Beach Armada was an independent professional baseball team based in Long Beach, California, in the United States. The Armada was a member of the North Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
and 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,...
in California, the Surprise Fightin' Falcons
Surprise Fightin' Falcons
The Surprise Fightin' Falcons are an inactive professional baseball team based in Surprise, Arizona. They played in the Arizona Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
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...
in Arizona and a traveling team, the Japan Samurai Bears
Japan Samurai Bears
The Japan Samurai Bears are a defunct traveling professional baseball team that played in the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. They were based in the Arizona Division...
that began play in May 2005. All teams were league-owned and the team names and logos also belong to the league. In their one year of play, the team won the first ever GBL Arizona Division title and played in the Championship Game against the 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,...
.
Unfortunately, the Miners had the league's worst overall attendance, (which is somewhat dubious because of the highly inflated attendance numbers that the Fightin' Falcons
Surprise Fightin' Falcons
The Surprise Fightin' Falcons are an inactive professional baseball team based in Surprise, Arizona. They played in the Arizona Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
allegedly received) and was dropped from 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....
in November 2005. The league dropped Surprise largely due to not having another team in central Arizona and to give the league an even number of six teams instead of seven. The low attendance numbers both teams received were due largely to the fact that many of their home games were played in the scorching afternoon heat of central Arizona. The Miners roster and coaching staff were carried over to the league's new Reno Silver Sox
Reno Silver Sox
The Reno Silver Sox were a professional baseball team based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. They were a member of the North Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
team, which won the League Championship in 2006. The franchise has since been purchased and relocated to Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, and has been renamed the Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The 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 of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
.
Rebirth?
The GBL has said publicly that they would reconsider the Arizona market (Mesa and Surprise) if the league, the city of Mesa and the concessionaire at HoHoKam ParkHoHoKam Park
HoHoKam Stadium also known as Dwight W. Patterson Field and formerly HoHoKam Park, is a park with a baseball stadium located at 1235 N Center St in Mesa, Arizona . The stadium was built in January 1997 and holds 13,074 people. It is the home of the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League...
could agree on a revenue sharing agreement for concessions sales. In 2005 the Miners received none of the sales proceeds from their own games. The Miners were the only team in the league without revenue sharing on concessions. HoHoKam Park has played host to the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
's Mesa Solar Sox
Mesa Solar Sox
The Mesa Solar Sox are a baseball team that plays in the East Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games in Mesa, Arizona at HoHoKam Stadium, which is also the spring training facility of the Chicago Cubs....
since 1992.
Should the Miners return to Mesa, they would be an expansion team since the original team was absorbed by the Silver Sox. The Miners name, logo and uniforms (owned by the league) have been used by the Western Canada Miners
Western Canada Miners
The Western Canada Miners are a professional independent baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, and representing western Canada...
of 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...
, the NAL's instructional league started by the GBL in 2007.
If the brand does not return to Mesa, some suggest that the new expansion franchise which adopts the "Miners" identity should be placed in possibly Canada because of the history of mining in the western part of the country. Other suggest California for the obvious state nickname of the "Golden State".
Arizona Summer League
After one season representing Bisbee, ArizonaBisbee, 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...
, the Miners' representation was returned to Mesa as the team returned to play as the newest member of 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...
in July 2011. They joined fellow former Golden Baseball League teams the Long Beach Armada
Long Beach Armada
The Long Beach Armada was an independent professional baseball team based in Long Beach, California, in the United States. The Armada was a member of the North Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
and 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,...
in the league as well as 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...
's Team Canada
Team Canada (baseball)
Team Canada is a professional independent baseball team representing Canada. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, short-season instructional leagues affiliated with the North American League. The team is owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment and have...
.
Team Record
| Season | W | L | Win % | Place | Playoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 51 | 36 | .589 | 1st, Arizona Division | Won Arizona Division. Lost to San Diego in the Championship Series. |