Shreveport Swamp Dragons

From BR Bullpen

Location: Shreveport, LA
League: Texas League 2001-2002
Affiliation: San Francisco Giants 2001-2002
Ballpark: Fair Grounds Field

The Shreveport Swamp Dragons began play in the Texas League in 2001 when the Shreveport Captains changed ownership and names. In 2001, Shreveport drew 913 fans per game, less than half any other team in the league. No player hit more than 11 homers, with SS Nelson Castro (.296/.359/.447, 76 R, 11 HR, 38 SB) the top offensive threat among the regulars for a team that scored 564 runs, last in the league. The team had no All-Stars. Ryan Cox (8-8, 3.69) and Jeff Urban (7-11, 3.91) finished in the top 10 in ERA while teenager Jerome Williams (9-7, 3.95) just missed.

In 2002, the attendance dropped to 431 per game; the next lowest in the TL was 2,189. OF Todd Linden (.314/.419/.482) and while 1B Lance Niekro (.310/.327/.424) posted an empty average. Joining Linden in the top 10 in average was OF Delvis Santos (.312/.349/.440). Jesse Foppert (3-3, 2.79), Felix Diaz (3-5, 2.70), Mitch Walk (6-5, 1 Sv, 2.89) and Luke Anderson (2-4, 11 Sv, 2.81) led the staff. They scored 540 runs, 7th in the 8-team league, and had a 4.28 ERA, also 7th. Linden was their only All-Star/

After two seasons, they moved to Texas and became the Frisco Rough Riders.

Sources: 2002-2003 Baseball Almanacs