San Diego Surf Dawgs

Last updated
San Diego Surf Dawgs
San Diego Surf Dawgs Main Logo.png SDSurfDawgsCap.png
Team logoCap insignia
Information
LeagueFederal Baseball League
Location San Diego, California
Founded 2005
Folded2011 (reforming for 2023)
League championships1 (GBL, 2005; ASL, 2010)
Division championships1 (GBL California, 2005)
Former name(s)
  • San Diego Surf Dawgs (2005–06, 2008–present)
  • Sonora Surf Dawgs (2007, AWL)
Former league(s)
ColorsColumbia blue, navy blue, gold, white
    
Media The San Diego Union-Tribune , Yuma Sun

The San Diego Surf Dawgs are a professional baseball team based in San Diego, California, that competes in the Federal Baseball League. The team played for two seasons in San Ramon, California, in the Golden Baseball League (GBL), and then in the Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League.

Contents

The Surf Dawgs were owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment, previous owners of the GBL and primary investors in the North American League. In November 2022, it was announced the Surf Dawgs franchise would be revived, as part of a west coast expansion of the Federal Baseball League.

Their home stadiums included Tony Gwynn Stadium on the campus of San Diego State University and Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. The team was the inaugural GBL Champions in 2005, managed by former Tucson Padres manager Terry Kennedy. They won the 2010 ASL Championship.

Team history

Golden Baseball League (2005–2006)

The Surf Dawgs were one of the eight original GBL charter teams that began play in 2005 along with the Chico Outlaws, Fullerton Flyers and Long Beach Armada in California; Mesa Miners, Surprise Fightin' Falcons and Yuma Scorpions in Arizona and the traveling Japan Samurai Bears. They were known for playing in the same city as a Major League Baseball team, the National League's San Diego Padres.

The signing of Rickey Henderson gave the team national exposure.[ citation needed ] Former first-round draft pick Matt Wheatland was among five San Diegans on the roster.[ citation needed ]

The 2005 team won the first ever GBL California Division title, and on Labor Day weekend 2005 they won the inaugural GBL Championship tournament, coming back on the last day to win two games.[ citation needed ]

The team again made news in June 2006 by signing former Major League player José Canseco. He made his debut on July 3, 2006 and struck out 4 times. Prior to the game, the Juiced author looked like the Bash Brother of old during batting practice, knocking multiple pitches out of the park. After playing in one game with the Surf Dawgs, Canseco requested to be traded to a team closer to his home in Los Angeles [1] and was sent to the Long Beach Armada.[ citation needed ]

Arizona Winter League (2007–present)

The team joined the Arizona Winter League as the Sonora Surf Dawgs in January 2007, [2] but reverted to San Diego for the 2008 season. During the AWL regular season, they are managed by Cory Snyder, who also manages the GBL's St. George RoadRunners. In 2008, they were placed in the new American Division for the 2009 season along with the Blythe Heat, Palm Springs Chill and Yuma Scorpions.

The Surf Dawgs participated in a Lucha & Baseball exhibition game on June 25, 2009, along with some professional wrestlers against the Tucson Toros, which they won 8-3. [3]

Arizona Summer League (2009–2011)

The Surf Dawgs became a charter team of the new Arizona Summer League in June 2009. They played alongside the El Centro Imperials and Canada Miners in 2009 and then the Long Beach Armada and Bisbee Miners in 2010. They replaced the San Luis Atleticos and Yuma Scorpions, who were originally scheduled to play in the league, but were dropped prior to the start of the inaugural season. They began play on July 2. The Surf Dawgs, instead of the Scorpions, have become the first team to have played in all three leagues within the GBL system.[ citation needed ] They were awarded the ASL Championship in 2010 and 2011.[ citation needed ]

Possible GBL return

The GBL has mentioned the possibility of the Surf Dawgs return to the league for 2010. The team still does not have a suitable ballpark to play on, but the league website is saying that it should change by 2010. [4] The team's official website was temporarily shut down in late June 2009, possibly for revamping as the team is expected to return according to the league. But the website returned in August.[ citation needed ]

Federal Baseball League and Return

In 2022, the Federal Baseball League announced a west coast expansion with a division of six tentative host cities: Fresno, Riverside, San Diego, Sonoma, Fullerton, and Stockton. In November 2022, it was announced the Surf Dawgs franchise will be revived for the FBL, with venue and ownership yet to be announced.

Season-by-season records

Golden Baseball League:

SeasonWLWin %PlacePlayoff
20055238N/A1st, California DivisionWon California Division
Defeated Mesa in the Championship Series.
200635 (16/19)45 (24/21)N/A4thDid not qualify.

Arizona Winter League:

SeasonWLWin %PlacePlayoff
2007 (as Sonora)1011.4763rdDid not qualify.
2008109.5263rdLost to Canada in Playoffs.
2009713.3504th, American DivisionDid not qualify.

Arizona Summer League:

SeasonWLWin %PlacePlayoff
200959.3573rdNo playoffs.
201063.6501stAwarded Championship.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Baseball League</span> North American independent baseball league

The Golden Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in San Ramon, California, with teams located in the western United States, western Canada and northwest Mexico.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Beach Armada</span> Baseball team in Long Beach, California

The Long Beach Armada were 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 (GBL), which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. The Armada played its home games at Blair Field.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuma Desert Rats</span> Former professional baseball team in Arizona

The Yuma Desert Rats were a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. From the 2005 season to the 2011 season, they were known as the Yuma Scorpions and played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the Ray Kroc Complex, former spring training home of the San Diego Padres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mesa Miners</span> Baseball team

The Mesa Miners were an independent professional baseball team 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Japan Samurai Bears</span> Japanese Baseball team

The Japan Samurai Bears are a defunct professional baseball traveling 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. The team, which existed for one season, played all of its games on the road in order to keep an even number of teams in the league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Surprise Fightin' Falcons</span> Baseball team

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. They played their home games at the Surprise Recreation Campus athletic facility, which includes a spring training ballpark called Surprise Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reno Silver Sox (Golden Baseball League)</span> Baseball team in Reno, Nevada

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. From 2006 to 2008, they played their home games at William Peccole Park, on the campus of the University of Nevada, Reno.

The Arizona Winter League was an independent professional winter baseball league. Arizona Winter League games were all played at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. The league was founded in 2007. It disbanded in 2013 due to parent league, the Golden Baseball League/North American League, folding, but was restarted in 2016, only to fold again following the 2018 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonora Pilots</span> Pro baseball team in Yuma, Arizona

The Sonora Pilots are a professional independent baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona and represent Sonora, Mexico. They play in the International Division of the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league sanctioned by the North American League and they play their home games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, along with the Canada Miners, San Diego Surf Dawgs and Yuma Scorpions. They are not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saskatchewan Silver Sox</span> Baseball team

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 Division, as well as the Calexico Outlaws, San Diego Surf Dawgs, San Luis Atleticos and Team Canada. They began playing their home games in 2009 at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma. They are owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Canada Miners</span> Baseball team in Yuma, Arizona

The Western Canada Miners are a professional independent baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, and representing western Canada. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league affiliated with the North American League and they play their home games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, as well as the San Diego Surf Dawgs, Saskatchewan Silver Sox, Team Canada and Yuma Scorpions. The team uses the logo and uniforms of the now-defunct Mesa Miners team and are owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment.

The San Luis Atleticos are a professional independent baseball team based in San Luis, Arizona, representing that city and Mexico. They play in the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league affiliated with the Golden Baseball League and play in the International Division, as well as the Saskatchewan Silver Sox, Team Canada and Western Canada Miners. The team will play their home games in 2009 at Joe Orduno Field in San Luis. Their team colors are green and gold, similar to the Oakland Athletics of Major League Baseball. They are managed by former Toronto Blue Jays farmhand Eddie Dennis, who now manages the United League's Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings team.

The Arizona Summer League (ASL) was a professional short-season instructional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League (NAL). The league was announced on April 3, 2009, and founded in Yuma, Arizona by the now-defunct Golden Baseball League. Now headquartered in San Ramon, California, it is an independent baseball league that includes of four teams based out of different cities. All games are played at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. The 2011 season ran from July 13 to August 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arizona RoadRunners</span> Former Arizona Winter League baseball team

The Arizona RoadRunners are a professional baseball team based out of Yuma, Arizona and are currently a member of the American Division of the Arizona Winter League, a short-season developmental program run by the North American League. They are owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment and they played games at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona since 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henderson RoadRunners</span> Baseball team in Henderson, Nevada

The Henderson RoadRunners were an independent professional baseball team based out of Henderson, Nevada. They were members of the Western Division in the North American League and were scheduled to begin play in 2011 at Lied Field at Morse Stadium on the campus of the College of Southern Nevada in Henderson. But they would forgo their inaugural season as Lied Field will not be ready in time for the start of the season. The franchise folded in 2012 after failing to attract attention and secure new ownership. They would've been the second professional franchise to play in the Las Vegas area. The first is the Las Vegas 51s of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Team Canada (baseball)</span> Arizona Winter/Summer League team

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 played their home and away games since 2009 at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma. They replaced the Sonora Pilots, who did not play in 2009 or 2010, yet the Pilots returned in 2011.

The Calexico Outlaws were a professional independent baseball team based in Calexico, California, representing that city and Mexico. They played in the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league affiliated with the North American League and played in the International Division, as well as the San Diego Surf Dawgs, San Luis Atleticos, Saskatchewan Silver Sox and Team Canada. The team plays their home games in 2012 at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona. Their team colors are black, red and white and they don the uniforms of the now-defunct Chico Outlaws. The team disbanded in 2013.

The Somerton Stingers are a professional independent baseball team based in Somerton, Arizona, representing that city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yuma Scorpions (Arizona Winter League baseball team)</span> Former developmental baseball team

The Yuma Scorpions were a professional developmental baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona. They were members of the Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional league run by the North American League. They are owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment LLC and are 3-time AWL Champions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fullerton Flyers</span> Baseball team in Fullerton, California

The Fullerton Flyers were a professional baseball team based in Fullerton, California, in the United States. They were an independent franchise, not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. The team played from 2005 to 2010 and their home stadium was at "The Station" at Goodwin Field, which is also the home field for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.

References

  1. Canseco seeks, receives trade for personal reasons (ESPN.com, July 5, 2006)
  2. Yuma Zone AWL baseball [ permanent dead link ]
  3. Toros Wrestle Surf Dawgs In Exhibition, Tucson Toros website, June 26, 2009
  4. GBL Cities Archived 2009-04-24 at the Wayback Machine , Golden Baseball League website