The Texas League of Minor League Baseball is a Double-A baseball league in the United States. The circuit was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892. After two years of dormancy, it was revived as the Texas Association in 1895, the Texas-Southern League in 1896, and the Texas League from 1897 to 1899. With the exception of three years during World War II (1943–1945) and one year during the COVID-19 pandemic (2020), the Texas League has been in continual operation since 1902.
A league champion is determined at the end of each season. Champions have been determined by postseason playoffs, winning the regular season pennant, or being declared champion by the league office. From 1952 to 1964, the league recognized both a pennant winner and a playoff winner; they were declared co-champions. For the 2019 season, the first-half and second-half winners within each division (North and South) met in a best-of-five series to determine division champions. Then, the North and South Division winners played a best-of-five series to determine a league champion. [1] In 2021, the Double-A Central held a best-of-five series between the top two teams in the league, regardless of division standings, to determine a league champion. [2] As of 2022, the winners of each division from both the first and second halves of the season meet in a best-of-three division series, with the winners of the two division series meeting in a best-of-three championship series. [3]
The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, [4] and the league ceased operations before the 2021 season in conjunction with Major League Baseball's (MLB) reorganization of Minor League Baseball. [5] In place of the Texas League, MLB created the Double-A Central, which was divided into two divisions. [6] Prior to the 2022 season, MLB renamed the Double-A Central as the Texas League, and it carried on the history of the league prior to reorganization. [7]
^ | Indicates pennant winner (1952–1964, 1966) |
† | Indicates playoff winner (1952–1964, 1966) |
‡ | Indicates pennant and playoff winner (1952–1964, 1966) |
Active Texas League teams appear in bold.
Wins | Team | Championship years |
---|---|---|
16 | Houston Mud Cats/Buffaloes | 1889, 1892, 1896, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1928, 1931, 1940, 1947, 1951, 1954, 1956, 1957 |
13 | Dallas Hams/Giants/Submarines/Steers/Rebels/Eagles | 1888, 1903, 1910, 1917, 1918, 1926, 1929, 1941, 1946, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957 |
13 | Fort Worth Panthers/Cats | 1895, 1905, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1930, 1937, 1939, 1948, 1958 |
13 | San Antonio Bronchos/Bullets/Missions | 1897, 1908, 1933, 1950, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1997, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013 |
9 | Arkansas Travelers | 1966, 1971, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1989, 2001, 2008, 2024 |
9 | Tulsa Oilers/Drillers | 1936, 1949, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1982, 1988, 1998, 2018 |
8 | Shreveport Gassers/Sports/Captains | 1919, 1942, 1952, 1954, 1955, 1990, 1991, 1995 |
7 | Midland Cubs/RockHounds | 1975, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
6 | El Paso Sun Kings/Sun Dodgers/Diablos | 1962, 1968, 1972, 1978, 1986, 1994 |
5 | Jackson Mets/Generals | 1981, 1984, 1985, 1993, 1996 |
4 | Amarillo Gold Sox/ Amarillo Sod Poodles | 1961, 1976, 2019, 2023 |
4 | Austin Senators/Braves | 1907, 1911, 1959, 1966 |
4 | Galveston Sand Crabs/Buccaneers | 1890, 1897, 1899, 1934 |
3 | Waco Navigators | 1914, 1915, 1916 |
3 | Wichita Pilots/Wranglers | 1987, 1992, 1999 |
3 | Albuquerque Dodgers | 1965, 1967, 1970 |
3 | Beaumont Exporters/Golden Gators | 1932, 1938, 1983 |
2 | Corsicana Oil Citys | 1902, 1904 |
2 | Memphis Blues | 1969, 1973 |
2 | Northwest Arkansas Naturals | 2010, 2021 |
2 | Corpus Christi Giants/Hooks | 1958, 2006 |
2 | Frisco RoughRiders | 2004, 2022 |
2 | Victoria Rosebuds/Toros | 1959, 1974 |
1 | Cleburne Railroaders | 1906 |
1 | Lafayette Drillers | 1975 |
1 | Oklahoma City Indians | 1935 |
1 | Rio Grande Valley Giants | 1960 |
1 | Round Rock Express | 2000 |
1 | Springfield Cardinals | 2012 |
1 | Wichita Falls Spudders | 1927 |
The National League Championship Series (NLCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. It is contested by the winners of the two National League (NL) Division Series. The winner of the NLCS wins the NL pennant and advances to the World Series, MLB's championship series, to play the winner of the American League's (AL) Championship Series. The NLCS began in 1969 as a best-of-five playoff and used this format until 1985, when it changed to a best-of-seven format.
The American League Championship Series (ALCS) is a best-of-seven playoff and one of two League Championship Series comprising the penultimate round of Major League Baseball's (MLB) postseason. The winner of the ALCS wins the AL pennant and advances to the World Series, MLB's championship series, to play the winner of the National League's (NL) Championship Series. The ALCS began in 1969 as a best-of-five playoff and used this format until 1985, when it changed to its current best-of-seven format.
In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series (ALDS) determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring each of the two division winners with the best records and the winners of the wild-card play-off.
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series (NLDS) determines which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring each of the two division winners with the best records and the winners of the wild-card play-offs.
The Southern League is a Minor League Baseball league that has operated in the Southern United States since 1964. Along with the Eastern League and Texas League, it is one of three circuits playing at the Double-A level, which is two grades below Major League Baseball (MLB).
The Round Rock Express are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. They are located in Round Rock, Texas, and play their home games at the Dell Diamond. The team is named for Baseball Hall of Famer and Texas native Nolan Ryan, who was nicknamed "The Ryan Express." Ryan, along with son Reid Ryan and Don Sanders make up the team's ownership group, Ryan Sanders Baseball.
The Midland RockHounds are a Minor League Baseball team based in Midland, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Momentum Bank Ballpark, which opened in 2002 and seats 4,709 fans. They have won seven Texas League championships: in 1975, 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball (MLB).
The Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason is the annual playoff tournament held to determine the champion of MLB in the United States and Canada. Since 2022, the playoffs for each league—American and National—consist of two best-of-three Wild Card Series contested by the lowest-seeded division winner and the three wild card teams, two best-of-five Division Series (LDS) featuring the wild-card winners and the two highest-seeded division winners, and finally the best-of-seven League Championship Series (LCS). The winners of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) and the National League Championship Series (NLCS) play each other in the best-of-seven World Series. Under this system, the postseason comprises 32 to 53 games. The postseason tournament takes place after the conclusion of MLB's regular season and takes approximately one month to complete.