The San Diego Surf Dawgs
are a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, that currently play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League and played in the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or
Minor League Baseball. Their now-former home stadium is named after former Padres great Tony Gwynn, and is located on the campus of San Diego State University. They currently play at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona as part of the AWL.
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SAN DIEGO SURF DAWGS TICKETS
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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. (Henderson had also played for the Padres from 1996-97 and in 2001.) Former first-round draft pick Matt Wheatland is among five San Diegans on the roster.
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.
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.
The Surf Dawgs became the fourth franchise of the GBL to be deactivated on February 8, 2007. A published report in
The San Diego Union-Tribune stated the team had suspended operations for financial reasons.
[2] But the league disputes that because they still own the rights to the team.
Arizona Winter League (2007-present)
The team joined the
Arizona Winter League as the Sonora Surf Dawgs in January 2007
[3], but reverted back 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.
[4]
Arizona Summer League (2009-present)
The Surf Dawgs became a charter team of the new
Arizona Summer League in June of 2009. They play along side the
El Centro Imperials and
Canada Miners. 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 2nd. The Surf Dawgs, instead of the Scorpions, have become the first team to have played in all three leagues within the GBL system.
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.
[5] The team's official website was temporarily shut down in late June of 2009, possibly for revamping as the team is expected to return according to the league. But the website returned in August. It is uncertain whether or not the team is up for sale.
Season-by-season records
Golden Baseball League:
| Season
| W
| L
| Win %
| Place
| Playoff
|
| 2005
| 52
| 38
| N/A
| 1st, California Division
| Won California Division
Defeated Mesa in the Championship Series.
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| 2006
| 35 (16/19)
| 45 (24/21)
| N/A
| 4th
| Did not qualify.
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Arizona Winter League:
| Season
| W
| L
| Win %
| Place
| Playoff
|
| 2007 (as Sonora)
| 10
| 11
| .476
| 3rd
| Did not qualify.
|
| 2008
| 10
| 9
| .526
| 3rd
| Lost to Canada in Playoffs.
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| 2009
| 7
| 13
| .350
| 4th, American Division
| Did not qualify.
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Arizona Summer League:
| Season
| W
| L
| Win %
| Place
| Playoff
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| 2009
| 5
| 9
| .357
| 3rd
| No playoffs.
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References
- Canseco seeks, receives trade for personal reasons (ESPN.com, July 5, 2006)
- Baseball Surf Dawgs won't play in '07 (''San Diego Union-Tribune'', February 8, 2007)
- Yuma Zone AWL baseball
- Toros Wrestle Surf Dawgs In Exhibition, Tucson Toros website, June 26, 2009
- GBL Cities, Golden Baseball League website