Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs

Texas League (1965-1971)

Tombstone

Born: 1965 – The Fort Worth Cats re-brand as the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs
Folded: Postseason 1971

First Game: April 16, 1965 (L 17-1 @ Austin Braves)
Last Game: September 6, 1971 (L 4-3 vs. San Antonio Missions)

Texas League Championships: None

Stadium

Turnpike Stadium

Ownership & Affiliation

Owners: Lamar Hunt & Tommy Mercer

Major League Affiliation:

1965-1967: Chicago Cubs
1968: Houston Astros
1969-1971: Baltimore Orioles

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 Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs were a popular minor league baseball entry in the Class AA Texas League for seven summers between 1965 and 1971. The Spurs formed in 1965, shortly after Dallas’ Class AAA ball club, the Dallas Rangers of the Pacific Coast League, shifted to Vancouver. At the same time, the nearby city of Arlington opened 10,000-seat Turnpike Stadium. The Fort Worth Cats, a one-year old club in the Texas League, quickly moved in to fill the void, signing a new lease at Turnpike Stadium and re-branding the team as the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs.

Road To The Majors

The Spurs were originally affiliated with the Chicago Cubs from 1965 to 1967. After one summer as a Houston Astros farm club (1968), the Spurs became a Baltimore Orioles affiliate for their final three seasons of existence from 1969 to 1971.

The Spurs produced dozens of future Major Leaguers, with the Orioles years being especially rich in future stars. Notable players to pass through Turnpike Stadium in these years included Don Baylor, Enos Cabell, Doug DeCinces, Bobby Grich and Joe Niekro. Future Hall of Famer Cal Ripken, Jr. was a batboy for the team.

Legendary sports owner Lamar Hunt was co-owner of the Spurs, along with Tommy Mercer. Hunt helped found the American Football League, Major League Soccer and World Championship Tennis, so his involvement in minor league baseball is typically overlooked. Mercer also owned the Fort Worth Braves of the Continental Football League.

Arrival of Texas Rangers and Demise

The Spurs run came to an end after the 1971 season when the American League’s Washington Senators relocated to Arlington and displaced the minor league team. The Senators became the Texas Rangers and Turnpike Stadium was renamed Arlington Stadium with the arrival of Major League Baseball in the spring of 1972. Arlington Stadium remained the home of the Rangers until 1993. The building was demolished in 1994.