Tucson Toros
Encyclopedia
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.
The original Toros were a Triple-A minor league baseball
team in the Pacific Coast League
from 1969 to 1997, where they won the PCL Championship in 1991 and 1993. They were affiliated with several Major League Baseball
teams over the years, most notably with the Houston Astros
.
The current Toros were created as a new team in the independent Golden Baseball League
on September 1, 2008. They were originally the Mesa Miners
(2005) and Reno Silver Sox
(2006–2008) before being purchased by Tucson Baseball LLC and relocating to Tucson. The new Toros play their home games at Hi Corbett Field
in Tucson, home of the original Toros team, starting May 21, 2009, at the start of the league's fifth anniversary. They played in the South Division in the GBL along with the Long Beach Armada
, Orange County Flyers, St. George RoadRunners and Yuma Scorpions
. (The expansion Tijuana Potros
were supposed to play in the same division, but their season was postponed until 2010 due to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico.)
The Toros have taken 2011 off due to the Triple A Tucson Padres playing across town during the season. They were expected to return to play and join the new North American League
as early as 2012, but they announced on their website that they were playing their final game with members of the Yuma Scorpions taking on the Lake County Fielders
on July 21, 2011.
, who went on to become the Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona.
From 1969 through 1972, the Tucson Toros were the AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox
. During this period, the team managed no better than a fourth place finish for the season. The Toros did better as the AAA team of the Oakland Athletics
(1973–1976), winning the PCL Eastern Division title in 1973 and finishing in second place in 1975. As the Texas Rangers
farm team (1977–1979) they finished in third and fourth place, but with outstanding individual performances by outfielder Billy Sample (AAA Minor League Player of the Year, 1978) and others.
In 1980 the Toros began a long association with the Houston Astros
. Following the lead of the parent club (which was widely criticized for its 1980s uniforms), the Toros introduced what some consider the ugliest uniform in the history of organized baseball: orange pants with yellow and red stripes, and a jersey with a turquoise back, yellow raglan sleeves, and a front resplendent in yellow, avocado, red, orange, and lime green stripes of various widths. The look in 1981, an all-orange uniform with red and yellow trim, was similarly ill-received.
In their first year of affiliation with the Astros, the Toros won the first half Southern Division title, but were quickly eliminated by the Albuquerque Dukes
in the second half playoffs. The team spent most of the rest of the decade in third place for the season. In 1989, under new team owner Rick Holtzman, Mike Feder became the Toros' general manager, a post he would hold through the end of the Toros era of Tucson AAA baseball. His family-friendly promotions brought immediate results. The club was named Promotional Club of the Year in 1990, and had its highest season attendance to date.
The following season, 1991, was the Toros' first championship season. The team overcame a series deficit of 0-2 to sweep the Calgary Cannons
in the remaining games of the best of five series. Third year Toros manager Bob Skinner
was named PCL Manager of the Year, while series MVP Kenny Lofton
led all of professional baseball with 17 triples for the season.
After a second place finish in 1992, the Toros had their second and final championship season in 1993 under new manager Rick Sweet, winning both halves of the season. First baseman Jim Lindeman led the league with a .362 batting average. Second baseman James Mouton
, in his first season above the single-A level, was the PCL MVP with 92 RBI and 40 stolen bases.
The Toros had the PCL's second-best overall record in 1994, and Rick Sweet was named PCL Manager of the Year. In 1995 the team had the best record in the PCL (87-56), but was defeated by the champion Colorado Springs Sky Sox
in the first round of the playoffs. The 1996 campaign proved to be the Toros' last as a Houston affiliate. The team went 70-74, while "losing" a number of outstanding players, such as pitchers Donne Wall
and Billy Wagner
, to major league call-ups.
In addition to Lofton, Wall and Wagner the Astros-era also yielded several future MLB players including Ray Montgomery, Mike Simms, Bobby Abreu, Dave Hajek, Melvin Mora, Phil Nevin, Craig Biggio, Brian Hunter and Mike Hampton.
, so that the Phoenix AAA team technically moved to Tucson while retaining the Tucson club's staff and facilities. The long affiliation with the Houston Astros was suddenly over, as Tucson signed a one year agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers
. The one major league prospect with the Toros who was not part of the Brewers' organization was Travis Lee
of the Arizona Diamondbacks
. The new franchise did not yet have a AAA team of its own, so Lee was assigned to the nearby Tucson team for part of the season. Although Travis Lee personally had a good year, the transitional Toros only managed a 64-78 record. It was the Tucson team's last season at Hi Corbett Field, and their last season with the Toros name.
After the 1997 season, the Tucson club became the Triple-A club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Because the Colorado Rockies
used Hi Corbett Field for spring training, Tucson Electric Park was built to accommodate the Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox
in the spring "Cactus League." TEP also became home to the newly-renamed Tucson Sidewinders
in 1998. This ended minor league baseball history at Hi Corbett Field and was not well received by fans, who responded to the new stadium, affiliation and team name with significantly reduced attendance.
, the Toro's successor, to SK Baseball LLC for $15 M. The team was moved to Reno, Nevada
after the season. At the time, the Reno Silver Sox
of the Golden Baseball League
(which began as the Mesa Miners
in 2005) were reported to be forced to leave Reno when the Sidewinders move into town. The Silver Sox franchise was sold by the league to Tucson Baseball LLC, but the team's history (including Reno's 2006 GBL Championship) did not go with them. There were original reports of their "relocating" to Carson City, Nevada
, but the team instead moved to Tucson. The Silver Sox team name is now associated with the Arizona Winter League
team from Saskatchewan
. The new PCL team has since become the Reno Aces
.
On September 1, 2008, Jay Zucker of Tucson Baseball LLC and GBL chief executive officer David Kaval announced at a press conference at Hi Corbett Field
in Tucson that the Tucson Toros were coming back and are now officially a part of the Golden League. Zucker owns the rights to the name, logos, colors, uniforms and history of the Toros. Ironically, it was Zucker who had sold the Tucson Sidewinders team just one year prior to purchasing the new Tucson Toros team.
He and his wife Melinda wore classic throwback jerseys when the announcement was made. However, the team will be donning new uniforms to coincide with the new updated team logo and colors of black, red and gold unveiled at the press conference. The players may sport throwback jerseys at times to pay homage to the original team. Though they entered the league as an expansion team, they have adopted the original franchise's history and records up until 1997, essentially being "resurrected".
In addition to celebrating their return to professional baseball, the Toros celebrated their 40th anniversary of their formation during the 2009 season.
On, September 7, 2009, the Toros captured their very first GBL South Division Championship by defeating the St. George RoadRunners 3 games to 2 and advanced to the GBL Championship Series in their inaugural GBL season. They faced the North Division champion Calgary Vipers, and lost to the Vipers 3 games to 1 in a best of 5 championship series.
On October 27, 2010, it was announced at the GBL website that the Toros would take 2011 off due to the Triple-A Tucson Padres playing their season at Kino Stadium (formerly Tucson Electric Park).
On July 21, 2011, the Toros announced on their website that members of the Yuma Scorpions
would play as the Toros in a doubleheader and that it would be the team's final night in action. The reason for their farewell was that the franchise received an eviction notice from the city of Tucson that their lease of Hi Corbett Field was terminated.
On November 29, 2011, the Toros announced that they were folding after agreeing to a settlement of $300,000 paid to the city paving the way for the University of Arizona
baseball team to playing their home games at Hi Corbett. It is unclear if the Toros brand will be transferred to the current Tucson Padres Pacific Coast League
team in the future.
It should be noted, however, that at least a few of these were "Tucson" players only by virtue of being sent down to AAA for rehab after an injury.
Hi Corbett Field
(originally Randolph Field) was the venue for the original Tucson Toros, and also serves as home of the "resurrected" team. It was built in 1937, remodeled in 1972 and renovated in 1992, 1997 and 1999. It is part of a larger city park complex, Reid Park (which also includes the Reid Park Zoo
) and Randolph Park, located between Broadway Boulevard and 22nd Street in midtown Tucson. The largest Toros crowd at Hi Corbett was 12,863 on May 17, 1981 against Salt Lake City. Hi Corbett dimensions are as follows: RF: 348 feet; CF: 392 feet; LF: 366 feet. The park has a "Green Monster" fence in Center Field.
The ballpark was home to the Tucson Cowboys in the 1930s to 1950s, and the spring training home of the Cleveland Indians from 1945 through 1992. Parts of the 1989 movie Major League
were filmed at Hi Corbett Field, using the University of Arizona
baseball team as extras. In 1993 it became the Spring Training home of the expansion Colorado Rockies
, the first major league team in the Mountain time zone.
Despite the 1998 opening of Tucson Electric Park, the Colorado Rockies have continued to train at Hi Corbett. USA Baseball was headquartered at Hi Corbett from 1997-2003. From 2004-2006 Hi Corbett was home to the Arizona Heat
women's pro softball team, with a season from June to August. As of 2009, the venue is shared by the Rockies and the Toros.
The Rockies played their final game in Tucson against the Arizona Diamondbacks in March 2010. Both teams moved their spring training camps to the more lucrative Phoenix suburbs.
once wrote and performed a theme song for the Tucson Toros (circa 1993). Ray Charles
also appeared in concert after a Tucson Toros game in the early 1990s. Toros broadcasters Vince Cotroneo
, Mario Impemba
and Matt Vasgersian
all went on to major league broadcast jobs.
The team mascot, Tuffy the Toro, also appeared intermittently with the Tucson Sidewinders.
A hapless team called the Tucson Toros was featured in an episode of Highway To Heaven
, "Popcorn, Peanuts and Cracker Jacks." However, the episode was filmed in Los Angeles, not Tucson, and had little or no connection to the actual ballclub.
Major League
, starring Tom Berenger
, Charlie Sheen
, Corbin Bernsen
and Wesley Snipes
as Willie Mays Hayes was shot at Hi Corbett Field
. The Cleveland Indians
did have spring practice in Tucson from 1947 to 1992 so to add to the realistic feel of the movie it was shot at the same locations the Cleveland Indians
really played at.
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...
, 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.
The original Toros were a Triple-A 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...
team in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
from 1969 to 1997, where they won the PCL Championship in 1991 and 1993. They were affiliated with several 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...
teams over the years, most notably with the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
.
The current Toros were created as a new team in the independent 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....
on September 1, 2008. They were originally the Mesa Miners
Mesa Miners
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...
(2005) and 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...
(2006–2008) before being purchased by Tucson Baseball LLC and relocating to Tucson. The new Toros play their home games at Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field is a baseball stadium located in Tucson, Arizona. The stadium holds approximately 9,500 people. It was the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies, and is currently home to the Tucson Toros...
in Tucson, home of the original Toros team, starting May 21, 2009, at the start of the league's fifth anniversary. They played in the South Division in the GBL along with 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...
, Orange County Flyers, St. George RoadRunners 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...
. (The expansion Tijuana Potros
Tijuana Potros
The Tijuana Cimarrones are an inactive professional independent baseball franchise based in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. They were originally a minor league baseball team in Liga Mexicana de Béisbol , but joined the Golden Baseball League as an expansion team in 2009...
were supposed to play in the same division, but their season was postponed until 2010 due to the swine flu outbreak in Mexico.)
The Toros have taken 2011 off due to the Triple A Tucson Padres playing across town during the season. They were expected to return to play and join the new North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
as early as 2012, but they announced on their website that they were playing their final game with members of the Yuma Scorpions taking on the Lake County Fielders
Lake County Fielders
The Lake County Fielders are a professional minor league baseball team based in Zion, Illinois, located in Lake County in the northern reaches of the Chicago area...
on July 21, 2011.
Early days
Tucson had a number of baseball teams between 1915 and 1958, including the Tucson Old Pueblos, the Tucson Waddies, the Tucson Cowboys (several teams), the Tucson Missions and the Tucson Lizards. None of these were part of the Pacific Coast League. When the last iteration of the Cowboys folded in 1958, Tucson was left with no professional baseball until the advent of the Toros.Pacific Coast League era begins
Hiram "Hi" Corbett, a former Arizona state senator, helped to bring the Pacific Coast League to Tucson, in recognition of which the 1937 ballpark in midtown Tucson's Reid Park was eventually renamed Hi Corbett Field. The Tucson Toros, a AAA team in the league's southern division, began play in 1969. The name Toros was suggested by name-the-team contest winner Clarence DupnikClarence Dupnik
Clarence William Dupnik is an American law enforcement official. Dupnik was appointed Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona, in February 1980 to fill a vacancy rising from the resignation of his predecessor, Richard Boykin. He won election in his own right in September 1980, and has been re-elected...
, who went on to become the Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona.
From 1969 through 1972, the Tucson Toros were the AAA affiliate of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. During this period, the team managed no better than a fourth place finish for the season. The Toros did better as the AAA team of the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
(1973–1976), winning the PCL Eastern Division title in 1973 and finishing in second place in 1975. As 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...
farm team (1977–1979) they finished in third and fourth place, but with outstanding individual performances by outfielder Billy Sample (AAA Minor League Player of the Year, 1978) and others.
The Astros era
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
. Following the lead of the parent club (which was widely criticized for its 1980s uniforms), the Toros introduced what some consider the ugliest uniform in the history of organized baseball: orange pants with yellow and red stripes, and a jersey with a turquoise back, yellow raglan sleeves, and a front resplendent in yellow, avocado, red, orange, and lime green stripes of various widths. The look in 1981, an all-orange uniform with red and yellow trim, was similarly ill-received.
In their first year of affiliation with the Astros, the Toros won the first half Southern Division title, but were quickly eliminated by the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
in the second half playoffs. The team spent most of the rest of the decade in third place for the season. In 1989, under new team owner Rick Holtzman, Mike Feder became the Toros' general manager, a post he would hold through the end of the Toros era of Tucson AAA baseball. His family-friendly promotions brought immediate results. The club was named Promotional Club of the Year in 1990, and had its highest season attendance to date.
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
in the remaining games of the best of five series. Third year Toros manager Bob Skinner
Bob Skinner
Robert Ralph Skinner is a scout for the Houston Astros and a former outfielder-first baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball...
was named PCL Manager of the Year, while series MVP Kenny Lofton
Kenny Lofton
Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed...
led all of professional baseball with 17 triples for the season.
After a second place finish in 1992, the Toros had their second and final championship season in 1993 under new manager Rick Sweet, winning both halves of the season. First baseman Jim Lindeman led the league with a .362 batting average. Second baseman James Mouton
James Mouton
James Raleigh Mouton is a former professional baseball player. An outfielder, he played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1994 until 2001, for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Montreal Expos and Milwaukee Brewers.- Early career :Mouton was originally drafted by the...
, in his first season above the single-A level, was the PCL MVP with 92 RBI and 40 stolen bases.
The Toros had the PCL's second-best overall record in 1994, and Rick Sweet was named PCL Manager of the Year. In 1995 the team had the best record in the PCL (87-56), but was defeated by the champion Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Colorado Springs Sky Sox
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies...
in the first round of the playoffs. The 1996 campaign proved to be the Toros' last as a Houston affiliate. The team went 70-74, while "losing" a number of outstanding players, such as pitchers Donne Wall
Donne Wall
Donnell Lee Wall , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from 1995-2002....
and Billy Wagner
Billy Wagner
William Edward Wagner , nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He pitched for the Houston Astros , the Philadelphia Phillies , the New York Mets , the Boston Red Sox , and the Atlanta Braves...
, to major league call-ups.
In addition to Lofton, Wall and Wagner the Astros-era also yielded several future MLB players including Ray Montgomery, Mike Simms, Bobby Abreu, Dave Hajek, Melvin Mora, Phil Nevin, Craig Biggio, Brian Hunter and Mike Hampton.
The Toros become the Sidewinders
Nineteen ninety-seven was the last year of the Tucson Toros, in more ways than one. In a complicated "swap", the team was sold to the owner of the Phoenix FirebirdsPhoenix Firebirds
The Phoenix Firebirds, formerly the Phoenix Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 1958-1959, and 1966 until 1997....
, so that the Phoenix AAA team technically moved to Tucson while retaining the Tucson club's staff and facilities. The long affiliation with the Houston Astros was suddenly over, as Tucson signed a one year agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. The one major league prospect with the Toros who was not part of the Brewers' organization was Travis Lee
Travis Lee
Travis Lee is a former Major League Baseball first baseman.Lee graduated from Capital High School in Olympia, Washington in 1993, where he also played football. Being ambidextrous Lee played as a lefty in baseball and as a QB for the Capital High football team threw with his right...
of the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. The new franchise did not yet have a AAA team of its own, so Lee was assigned to the nearby Tucson team for part of the season. Although Travis Lee personally had a good year, the transitional Toros only managed a 64-78 record. It was the Tucson team's last season at Hi Corbett Field, and their last season with the Toros name.
After the 1997 season, the Tucson club became the Triple-A club of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Because the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
used Hi Corbett Field for spring training, Tucson Electric Park was built to accommodate the Diamondbacks and the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the spring "Cactus League." TEP also became home to the newly-renamed Tucson Sidewinders
Tucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
in 1998. This ended minor league baseball history at Hi Corbett Field and was not well received by fans, who responded to the new stadium, affiliation and team name with significantly reduced attendance.
The Independent baseball era (2009-2011)
In June 2007, owner Jay Zucker of Tucson Baseball LLC announced the sale of the Tucson SidewindersTucson Sidewinders
The Tucson Sidewinders were a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which played in the Pacific Coast League, was the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club....
, the Toro's successor, to SK Baseball LLC for $15 M. The team was moved to Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
after the season. At the time, 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...
of 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....
(which began as the Mesa Miners
Mesa Miners
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...
in 2005) were reported to be forced to leave Reno when the Sidewinders move into town. The Silver Sox franchise was sold by the league to Tucson Baseball LLC, but the team's history (including Reno's 2006 GBL Championship) did not go with them. There were original reports of their "relocating" to Carson City, Nevada
Carson City, Nevada
The Consolidated Municipality of Carson City is the capital of the state of Nevada. The words Consolidated Municipality refer to a series of changes in 1969 which abolished Ormsby County and merged all the settlements contained within its borders into Carson City. Since that time Carson City has...
, but the team instead moved to Tucson. The Silver Sox team name is now associated with 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...
team from Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Silver Sox
The Saskatchewan Silver Sox are an independent professional baseball team based in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league affiliated with the North American League and compete in the International...
. The new PCL team has since become the Reno Aces
Reno Aces
The Reno Aces are a minor league baseball franchise based in Reno, Nevada, in the United States. The team is a member of the Pacific Coast League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks....
.
On September 1, 2008, Jay Zucker of Tucson Baseball LLC and GBL chief executive officer David Kaval announced at a press conference at Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field is a baseball stadium located in Tucson, Arizona. The stadium holds approximately 9,500 people. It was the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies, and is currently home to the Tucson Toros...
in Tucson that the Tucson Toros were coming back and are now officially a part of the Golden League. Zucker owns the rights to the name, logos, colors, uniforms and history of the Toros. Ironically, it was Zucker who had sold the Tucson Sidewinders team just one year prior to purchasing the new Tucson Toros team.
He and his wife Melinda wore classic throwback jerseys when the announcement was made. However, the team will be donning new uniforms to coincide with the new updated team logo and colors of black, red and gold unveiled at the press conference. The players may sport throwback jerseys at times to pay homage to the original team. Though they entered the league as an expansion team, they have adopted the original franchise's history and records up until 1997, essentially being "resurrected".
In addition to celebrating their return to professional baseball, the Toros celebrated their 40th anniversary of their formation during the 2009 season.
On, September 7, 2009, the Toros captured their very first GBL South Division Championship by defeating the St. George RoadRunners 3 games to 2 and advanced to the GBL Championship Series in their inaugural GBL season. They faced the North Division champion Calgary Vipers, and lost to the Vipers 3 games to 1 in a best of 5 championship series.
On October 27, 2010, it was announced at the GBL website that the Toros would take 2011 off due to the Triple-A Tucson Padres playing their season at Kino Stadium (formerly Tucson Electric Park).
On July 21, 2011, the Toros announced on their website that members of the 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...
would play as the Toros in a doubleheader and that it would be the team's final night in action. The reason for their farewell was that the franchise received an eviction notice from the city of Tucson that their lease of Hi Corbett Field was terminated.
On November 29, 2011, the Toros announced that they were folding after agreeing to a settlement of $300,000 paid to the city paving the way for the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
baseball team to playing their home games at Hi Corbett. It is unclear if the Toros brand will be transferred to the current Tucson Padres Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
team in the future.
Notable players
Some notable players to don a Toros or Sidewinders uniform:
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Conor Jackson Conor Sims Jackson is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He is 6'2" and roughly 225 pounds. His father is actor John M... Geoff Jenkins Geoff Jenkins is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. He previously played for the Milwaukee Brewers from until and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008... Randy Johnson Randall David Johnson , nicknamed "The Big Unit", is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. During a 22-year career, he pitched for six different teams.... Jeff Juden Jeffrey Daniel Juden is a former Major League Baseball player. He is 6'8" and weighs 270 lbs... Darryl Kile Darryl Andrew Kile was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched from 1991-2002 for three different teams in his career. In his first season for the Cardinals, he won 20 games in 2000 as the team reached the postseason for the first time in four years. They advanced to the... Byung-Hyun Kim Byung-Hyun Kim is a South Korean professional baseball pitcher for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of Nippon Professional Baseball. He is best known for his years with the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Boston Red Sox. In 2001, Kim took over mid-season as the Diamondbacks' closer and saved 19... Travis Lee Travis Lee is a former Major League Baseball first baseman.Lee graduated from Capital High School in Olympia, Washington in 1993, where he also played football. Being ambidextrous Lee played as a lefty in baseball and as a QB for the Capital High football team threw with his right... Kenny Lofton Kenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder known for his great speed on the base paths as well as in the field, award-winning defensive play , timely hitting, and playful spirit. He batted and threw left-handed... Leo Mazzone Leo David Mazzone is a former pitcher in minor league baseball and coach in Major League Baseball. He began working with the Atlanta Braves' organization in 1979.-Early life:... Mark McLemore Mark Tremell McLemore is a former second baseman and utility player in Major League Baseball.... Joe Mikulik Joseph "Joe" Mikulik, born October 30, 1963 in Weimar, Texas, is a former minor league baseball player and the current manager of the Asheville Tourists class A minor league baseball team. The 5' 11" right-handed outfielder never rose above AAA baseball, but was a key player in the Tucson Toros'... Damian Miller Damian Donald Miller is a former Major League Baseball catcher who last played for the Milwaukee Brewers.-High school years:... Melvin Mora Melvin Mora , affectionately nicknamed Melmo or Melvy, is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder who is a free agent... |
Phil Nevin Phillip Joseph Nevin is a retired American professional baseball player who spent twelve seasons in Major League Baseball with the Houston Astros , Detroit Tigers , Anaheim Angels , San Diego Padres , Texas Rangers , Chicago Cubs and Minnesota Twins... Carlos Quentin Carlos Josè Quentin is an American outfielder who plays for the Chicago White Sox. In 2008 and in 2011, Quentin was selected as an All-Star.-Early career:... Shane Reynolds Richard Shane Reynolds is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Houston Astros , Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks... Reggie Sanders Reginald Laverne Sanders is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed. Sanders was 24 years old when he made his major league debut on August 22, , after being selected in the 7th round of the amateur draft by the Cincinnati Reds... Curt Schilling Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a... Junior Spivey Ernest Lee "Junior" Spivey, Jr. was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. In his five-year major league career, Spivey batted .270 with 48 home runs and 201 runs batted in in 457 games. He made the National League All-Star team in . He batted and threw right-handed.-Career:Spivey attended... Chad Tracy Chad Austin Tracy is a Major League Baseball third baseman, who is currently with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.-College & draft:... Dave Veres David Scott Veres is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1994-2003. On January 4, 2007, he signed a minor league deal with the Colorado Rockies. However, he was released after appearing in just 5 games for their AAA affiliate in Colorado Springs... Óscar Villarreal Óscar Eduardo Villarreal is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently a free agent. He has played in the majors for the Arizona Diamondbacks , Atlanta Braves , and Houston Astros .-Arizona Diamondbacks:... Fernando Viña Fernando Viña is a retired Cuban-American Major League Baseball second baseman and current MLB analyst for Oakland Athletics... Billy Wagner William Edward Wagner , nicknamed "Billy the Kid", is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He pitched for the Houston Astros , the Philadelphia Phillies , the New York Mets , the Boston Red Sox , and the Atlanta Braves... Donne Wall Donnell Lee Wall , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily in relief from 1995-2002.... Tony Womack Anthony Darrell Womack is a former second baseman and shortstop in Major League Baseball who played most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Arizona Diamondbacks, then with several other teams during his last four years... |
It should be noted, however, that at least a few of these were "Tucson" players only by virtue of being sent down to AAA for rehab after an injury.
Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field is a baseball stadium located in Tucson, Arizona. The stadium holds approximately 9,500 people. It was the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies, and is currently home to the Tucson Toros...
(originally Randolph Field) was the venue for the original Tucson Toros, and also serves as home of the "resurrected" team. It was built in 1937, remodeled in 1972 and renovated in 1992, 1997 and 1999. It is part of a larger city park complex, Reid Park (which also includes the Reid Park Zoo
Reid Park Zoo
The Reid Park Zoo, founded in 1967, is a city-owned and operated non-profit zoo in Tucson, Arizona. The zoo features more than 500 animals. It was unofficially established in 1965 by Gene Reid, the parks and recreation director at the time.-Exhibits:...
) and Randolph Park, located between Broadway Boulevard and 22nd Street in midtown Tucson. The largest Toros crowd at Hi Corbett was 12,863 on May 17, 1981 against Salt Lake City. Hi Corbett dimensions are as follows: RF: 348 feet; CF: 392 feet; LF: 366 feet. The park has a "Green Monster" fence in Center Field.
The ballpark was home to the Tucson Cowboys in the 1930s to 1950s, and the spring training home of the Cleveland Indians from 1945 through 1992. Parts of the 1989 movie Major League
Major League (film)
Major League is a 1989 American satire comedy film written and directed by David S. Ward, starring Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, James Gammon, and Corbin Bernsen. Made for US$11 million, Major League grossed nearly US$50 million in domestic release...
were filmed at Hi Corbett Field, using the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
baseball team as extras. In 1993 it became the Spring Training home of the expansion Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, the first major league team in the Mountain time zone.
Despite the 1998 opening of Tucson Electric Park, the Colorado Rockies have continued to train at Hi Corbett. USA Baseball was headquartered at Hi Corbett from 1997-2003. From 2004-2006 Hi Corbett was home to the Arizona Heat
Arizona Heat
The Arizona Heat is a women's softball team based in Tucson, Arizona. From the 2004 season, it played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch. The team's home games were played at historic Hi Corbett Field....
women's pro softball team, with a season from June to August. As of 2009, the venue is shared by the Rockies and the Toros.
The Rockies played their final game in Tucson against the Arizona Diamondbacks in March 2010. Both teams moved their spring training camps to the more lucrative Phoenix suburbs.
Off the field
Some popular Toros promotions included Turn Back the Clock Night, "bull bells" and a cow-milking contest on Arizona Dairy Night, and the annual Diamond Dig in the base paths. Huey LewisHuey Lewis
Huey Lewis is an American musician, songwriter and occasional actor.Lewis sings lead and plays harmonica for his band Huey Lewis and the News, in addition to writing or co-writing many of the band's songs...
once wrote and performed a theme song for the Tucson Toros (circa 1993). Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
also appeared in concert after a Tucson Toros game in the early 1990s. Toros broadcasters Vince Cotroneo
Vince Cotroneo
Vince Cotroneo is a radio play-by-play announcer for the Oakland Athletics. He signed a two-year contract with the A's on January 13, 2006 to fill a void in the broadcast booth left by the sudden death of longtime lead announcer Bill King...
, Mario Impemba
Mario Impemba
Mario Impemba is an American sportscaster, currently the TV voice of the Detroit Tigers and the radio and TV voice of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies men's basketball team.-Early life:...
and Matt Vasgersian
Matt Vasgersian
Matt Vasgersian is an American sportscaster and television host. Vasgersian is a host for the MLB Network and has served as an announcer for NBC Sports' coverage of the Olympics, and on Fox Sports' MLB coverage...
all went on to major league broadcast jobs.
The team mascot, Tuffy the Toro, also appeared intermittently with the Tucson Sidewinders.
A hapless team called the Tucson Toros was featured in an episode of Highway To Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven is an American television drama series which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.- Season 1 :- Season 2 :- Season 3 :- Season 4 :- Season 5 :...
, "Popcorn, Peanuts and Cracker Jacks." However, the episode was filmed in Los Angeles, not Tucson, and had little or no connection to the actual ballclub.
Major League
Major League (film)
Major League is a 1989 American satire comedy film written and directed by David S. Ward, starring Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheen, Wesley Snipes, James Gammon, and Corbin Bernsen. Made for US$11 million, Major League grossed nearly US$50 million in domestic release...
, starring Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger
Tom Berenger is an American actor known mainly for his roles in action films.-Early life:Berenger was born as Thomas Michael Moore in Chicago to an Irish Catholic family. Berenger's father was a printer for the Chicago Sun-Times. Berenger has a sister, Susan...
, Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
, Corbin Bernsen
Corbin Bernsen
Corbin Dean Bernsen is an American actor and director, known for his work on television. He is best known for his roles as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series L.A. Law, and as retired police detective Henry Spencer on the USA Network comedy-drama series Psych...
and Wesley Snipes
Wesley Snipes
Wesley Trent Snipes is an American actor, film producer, and martial artist, who has starred in numerous action films, thrillers, and dramatic feature films. Snipes is known for playing the Marvel Comics character Blade in the Blade film trilogy, among various other high profile roles...
as Willie Mays Hayes was shot at Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field
Hi Corbett Field is a baseball stadium located in Tucson, Arizona. The stadium holds approximately 9,500 people. It was the spring training home of the Colorado Rockies, and is currently home to the Tucson Toros...
. The Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
did have spring practice in Tucson from 1947 to 1992 so to add to the realistic feel of the movie it was shot at the same locations the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
really played at.