Continental Baseball League
From BR Bullpen
| Continental Baseball League | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Founded | 2006 |
| No. of teams | 4 |
| Country |  United States
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| Current champions | Bay Area Toros |
| Official website | www.cblproball.com |
The Continental Baseball League, based in Dallas, Texas, is a professional, independent baseball organization located in the U.S. state of Texas. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is not affiliated with either. The league's players primarily come from the college ranks, although some former professional players fill the team rosters. It formed in 2006 and began play as a four team circuit on May 27, 2007.
The league's championship trophy is named after Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins. The Tarrant County Blue Thunder captured title in the inaugural season of 2007 and the Bay Area Toros won the crown the next year.
In 2009, the CBL will play a 60 game schedule, with each team playing 30 home and 30 road games.
| Team | Manager | City |
|---|---|---|
| Bay Area Toros | Jim Bolt | Texas City, TX |
| Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs | Murray Wilson | Corpus Christi, TX |
| McKinney Blue Thunder | Curtis Wilkerson | McKinney, TX |
| Texarkana Gunslingers | Steve Trout | Texarkana, TX |
[edit] 2007
Led by former major leaguer Curtis Wilkerson, the Tarrant County Blue Thunder posted the best record in the regular season and then won a double elimination championship series that involved the league's top three clubs. Texas Heat first baseman Robby Winn hit .341 and led the league with 21 home runs and 64 RBIs en route to being named the circuit's MVP. Tarrant County's Zach Duncan won five games, struck out 57, led the league with a 3.14 ERA, and was named Pitcher of the Year, while Wilkerson took home the Manager of the Year award.
| Team | W-L | Pct. | GB | Manager |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tarrant County Blue Thunder | 30-17 | .638 | -- | Curtis Wilkerson |
| Texas Heat | 25-17 | .595 | 2.5 | Royce Holder |
| Lewisville Lizards | 19-25 | .432 | 9.5 | Tom Goodwin |
| Bay Area Toros | 13-28 | .317 | 14.0 | Jim Bolt |
[edit] 2008
In 2008, only one club returned with the same name as the previous year, as the Blue Thunder moved to a new stadium in McKinney, Texas and were renamed after that city and the Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs and the Texarkana Gunslingers replaced the Lizards and the Heat.
| Team | W-L | Pct. | GB | Managers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Area Toros | 44-29 | .603 | -- | Jim Bolt |
| Texarkana Gunslingers | 38-34 | .528 | 5.5 | Steve Trout / Chris McKnight |
| Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs | 34-38 | .472 | 9.5 | Murray Wilson |
| McKinney Blue Thunder | 29-44 | .397 | 15 | Curtis Wilkerson |
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