Alexandria Aces
| Alexandria Aces | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Location | Alexandria, Louisiana | ||||
| Ballpark | Bringhurst Field | ||||
| Year founded | 1994 | ||||
| Year disbanded | 2013 | ||||
| League championships | 5 (1997, 1998, 2006, 2007, 2009) | ||||
| Division championships | 6 (1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007) | ||||
| Former league(s) |
| ||||
| Colors | Black, red, vegas gold | ||||
| Ownership |
Aces Baseball, Inc. & Alexandria Community Baseball, LLC | ||||
| Manager | Von Hayes | ||||
| General Manager | Chet Carey | ||||
| Media | Alexandria Daily Town Talk, Broadcaster Marky Billson | ||||
| Website |
www | ||||
The Alexandria Aces were a baseball team based in Alexandria, Louisiana. The last version of the Aces played in the United League in 2013. The Aces have played their home games at historic Bringhurst Field, which was built in 1933 for the original Alexandria Aces.
History
That team started in 1934 as a member of the old Evangeline League and ceased operations with the league in 1942 due to World War II. This early era was highlighted by the presence of Hal Newhouser and Virgil Trucks, future Detroit Tigers' stars who headed the pitching staff of the 1939 Aces.[1]
The Aces (and the league) were revived after the war but once again ceased operations in 1957.[2]
Baseball returned to Alexandria again from 1972, with the Aces as the San Diego Padres' AA farm club, and while it only lasted four years, many major league notables passed through Alexandria – in particular All-Star pitcher Randy Jones and longtime Cleveland Indians first baseman John Grubb. Duke Snider also managed the team during this period.
The new Aces were a charter member of the independent Texas–Louisiana League in 1994, and the Aces won back-to-back titles in 1997 and 1998 before the league changed its name to the Central Baseball League. In the first season of the new United League in 2006, the Aces won the inaugural ULB championship before pulling off another repeat as they would win the title once again in 2007. In 2009 the Aces joined the Continental Baseball League when the ULB went bankrupt. The Aces are the 2009 CBL Champions, beating the Big Bend Cowboys 2-0. In 2010, the Aces ended their contract with the CBL, citing travel costs among other reasons before joining the college wooden bat league, the Texas Collegiate League.
On March 12, 2011 the front office announced that there would be a change to the team's logo for the first time since the team returned in 1994.
In 2013, the Aces joined United League Baseball and slightly past the halfway mark of the season, with a 24-20 record and in second place, the United League cancelled the remaining games for the Aces. Four scheduled road games were forfeited, giving the Aces an official record of 24-24. According to league CEO John O'Bryant, the league could not justify spending at least $100,000 for the remainder of the season because of low attendance, averaging 333 fans a game.[3]
The last Aces' home run was hit by Florida Southern and King (TN) product Doug Freeman off Maximo De la Cruz on July 6 in a 3-2 loss to the Edinburg Roadrunners at Bringhurst Field. Ironically, De la Cruz had pitched two games for the Aces in 2009.
The last Aces' game occurred the next day, with Alexandria defeating Edinburg 7-4. Mike Loseke was the winning pitcher, and Houma native Cullen Babin earned a save by retiring Shreveport native and former Ace Brandon Spencer on a fly ball to centerfield for the final out.[4]
Edinburg would go on to win the Best-of-Five United League Championship Series after claiming nine Aces players, including Loseke and Babin, in a dispersal draft.
Team Record
| Alexandria Aces Baseball | Wins | Losses | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 53 | 35 | Eastern Division Champions, TLL Runner Up |
| 1995 | 57 | 43 | Southern Division Champions; TLL Runner Up |
| 1996 | 42 | 58 | Fifth Place |
| 1997 | 48 | 40 | Texas Louisiana League Champions |
| 1998 | 58 | 26 | Texas Louisiana League Champions |
| 1999 | 48 | 36 | Texas Louisiana League Runner Up |
| 2000 | 51 | 61 | Fifth Place |
| 2001 | 62 | 34 | Second Place |
| 2002 | 59 | 37 | Second Half Eastern Division Champions |
| 2003 | 40 | 56 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2006 | 45 | 44 | United League Champions |
| 2007 | 64 | 35 | United League Champions |
| 2008 | 53 | 38 | Wild Card; Runner Up |
| 2009 | 39 | 21 | Continental Baseball League Champions |
| 2010 | 29 | 38 | Missed Playoffs |
| 2013 | 24 | 20 | Team folded in Second Place on July 9 |
All-Stars
| 1994: Paul Williams, C; Marvin Cole, 2B; Jay Andrews, OF; Alan Newman, LHP |
| 1995: Fletcher Thompson, 3B; Kyle Shade, OF; Joe Ronca, DH; |
| 1996: Malvin Matos, OF; Joe Ronca, DH; |
| 1997: Kevin Tahan, C; John O'Brien, 1B; Kyle Shade, 3B; |
| 1998: John O'Brien, 1B; Robert Hewes, UT; Kyle Shade, OF; Malvin Matos, DH; Russ Reeder, RHP; Tony Mack, RHP; |
| 1999: John O'Brien, 1B; Marvin Cole, 2B; Ryan Rothe, OF; Russ Reeder, RHP; Darell White, RHP; |
| 2000: Robert Hewes, SS; Andre Johnson, OF; |
| 2001: Trey Salinas, C; Joe Hamilton, DH; Rob Vael, LHP; |
| 2002: Jerry Valdez, C; Robert Hewes, 2B; Jorge Alvarez, DH; |
| 2003: N/A |
| 2006: Fontella Jones, RHP; Santo Hernandez, RHP; Luis Guance, SS; Keto Anderson, OF; Erick Mejias, UT; Trey Beamon, OF; Adam Bonner, 1B/RF; Adam Cox, LHP; |
| 2007: Justin Dowdy, LHP; Luis Galaraga, RHP; Luis Guance, SS; Frank James, LHP; Palmer Karr, OF; Selwyn Langaigne, OF; Juan Carlos Ovalles, RHP; Josh Tranum, DH; Jose Umbria, C; |
| 2008: Luis Guance, 2B; Chad Linder, LHP; Juan Carlos Ovalles, RHP; Bryan Sabatella, UT; |
| 2009: Aaron Kalb, RHP; Will Krout, RHP; Nathan Stewart, RHP; Rhett Barber, LHP; Andy Schon, RHP; Aric Weinburg, OF; |
| 2010: |
Coaches
| 1994: Pete Falcone, Manager |
| 1995–1999: Stan Cliburn, Manager |
| 2000–2002: John O'Brien, Manager |
| 2003: Robert Lichtenstein, Manager |
| 2006–2008: Ricky VanAsselberg, Manager |
| 2009: Dan Schwam, Manager |
| 2010–2011: Mike Byrnes, Head Coach |
| 2011: Freddy Rodríguez, Head Coach |
| 2013: Von Hayes, Manager |
References
- ↑ "1939 Alexandria Aces Statistics -- Register - Baseball-Reference.com".
- ↑ "Alexandria, Louisiana Teams History". Retrieved February 6, 2015.
- ↑ "Bob Tompkins, "Tompkins: Pro baseball's demise triggers Aces nostalgia"". Alexandria Daily Town Talk. Retrieved July 22, 2013.
- ↑ "Alexandria Aces vs. Edinburg Roadrunners - United League Baseball - boxscore".