Off Season Visit- Alpine Cowboys- Alpine, Texas

February 29, 2012

On the way from Ft Davis, Texas to Terlingua Texas lies the town of Alpine, Texas, home of Sol Ross State University, and the Alpine Cowboys, who play in the Pecos league, an independent league team that has rookie/A level players.

I had previously called, and left a message on the general owner's phone which was not returned, and todays visit was fruitless, in that there was no one at the park, and it was not open. 

Here is the web page for the team:

http://alpine.pecosleague.com/cowboys.asp?page=1

I missed several of the other Pecos league teams on this pass, I'll have to get to them next year when we aren't so rushed.  I missed Las Cruces, and White Sands, and didn't get yet to Trinidad, Colorado, Santa Fe or Roswell. 

Off Season Visit- El Paso Diablos El Paso Texas

Visited the stadium venue today, February 27th. 

The team has been playing in El Paso since 1898- and was formerly a member of the Texas league-  Then there was apparantly a big dispute about their stadium, and they left the league, and the team became the Springfield Cardinals- 

I can imagine it gets pretty warm here in the summer for games-  The field was not in very good shape, but I imagine they will have it ready for playing-  Winnipeg Canada is in their league! 

I was able to get a ball, but they didn't have a hat pin. 

Off Season Visit- Tucson Padres

The Tuscon Padres are the new Triple A team of the San Diego Padres, and visited their field today, Kimo Sports Complex in metro Tucson.  Beautiful field, formerly the home of spring training for the Rockies-

The field seats over 11,000.  First Class facility- 
Got a ball, a pin, and since I like the logo so much, got a T Shirt also. 

Off Season Visit- Grand Prairie Air Hogs

After my visit to Fort Worth Cats, I ran over to Grand Prairie Texas off I-30, and was able to stop into the Quick Trip Park, home of the Air Hogs.  Beautiful stadium, in a major sports complex area.
Jeff, the team PR fellow met me and even though the team store was closed, and didn't yet have their new season stuff in, let me have a logo ball.  They didn't have any hat pins. 

     This is a lovely ball field, that has to compete with the Texas Rangers.  Jeff said they average 2500 fans a game- the team is under new ownership, and he was looking forward to the new season. 

The team gets the name Air Hogs from the big airfield that used to be next to the stadium.  They play in the American Association.                                          

Off Season Visit - Fort Worth Cats -

                         Fort Worth Cats-  La Grave Field, Fort Worth Texas

Did an off season visit here today, Monday, February 6th, 2012.   This is the second time I had tried to get my stuff.  The team joined the South Division of the North American League this year, and will compete there- 

I was able to get a ball and a pin here- 

The team has played in Fort Worth continuously since 1898!