Texas League (1968-1970 & 1972-1974)
Dixie Association (1971)
Tombstone
Born: 1968: Affiliation change from Amarillo Sonics
Moved: October 1974 (Lafayette Drillers)
First Game: April 16, 1968 (L 3-2 @ San Antonio Missions)
Last Game: September 1, 1974 (L 7-4 vs. El Paso Diablos)
Texas League Championships: None
Stadium
Potter County Memorial Stadium
Opened: 1949
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners:
- 1968-1973: San Francisco Giants
- 1974: Steve Daly
Major League Affiliation: San Francisco Giants
Attendance
Editor's Pick
The Texas League Baseball Almanac
By David King & Tom Kayser
Since forming in 1888, the Texas League has produced some of the most beloved American baseball players and seen more than its fair share of colorful events. In 1931, Houston pitcher Dizzy Dean pitched and won both ends of a double-header in Fort Worth, throwing a three-hit shutout in the second game. In 1906, center fielder Tris Speaker pitched for Cleburne to beat Temple 10-3. In 1998, Arkansas’ Tyrone Horne hit for the “homer cycle” in San Antonio, finishing to a standing ovation. “The Texas League Baseball Almanac” delivers day by day the record-breaking events, personal triumphs and memorable games that helped to shape baseball in the region. Join authors David King and Tom Kayser on a nine-inning trip down one of minor-league baseball’s most historic institutions, both in season and off.
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Background
The Amarillo Giants were a Class AA farm club of the San Francisco Giants in the Texas League from 1968 through 1974.
Key prospects to come through Amarillo during the Giants era included:
- Dave Kingman (Team best 15 home runs in 1970)
- Chris Speier (66 RBIs in 1970)
- Steve Stone (9 wins in 1970).
- Gary Matthews (15 HR and 86 RBI for Amarillo in 1971)
- Future National League Rookie-of-the-Year John Montefusco (8 wins in 1974)
The San Francisco Giants owned and operated the ball club directly from 1968 through 1973. In 1974 the Giants sold the club to veteran minor league exec Steve Daly, who operated the team for its final season in Amarillo. Immediately after the 1974 season concluded, Daly sold the team to a new owner who moved it to Lafayette, Louisiana where the team was known as the Lafayette Drillers (1975-1976).
After a one-year hiatus without baseball, the Texas League returned to Amarillo and Memorial Stadium with the formation of the Amarillo Gold Sox in 1976.
Amarillo Giants Shop
Links
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One Response
One of the more unusual moments in Giants history occurred on the 6th of August 1972, when a game between Amarillo and the Midland Cubs was called due a plague of grasshoppers which descended on the stadium. Apparently there were so many of the critters that when the pitcher pitched the ball, players could hear the sounds of the ball hitting the grasshoppers!
Former Atlanta Braves and Baltimore Orioles pitching coach Leo Mazzone pitched for the Giants in 1972, finishing with a 9-8 record and a 2.26 ERA.