Tombstone
Born: 1972
Moved: 1975 (Amarillo Gold Sox)
First Game: April 15, 1972 (W 4-1 vs. Shreveport Captains)
Last Game: September 1, 1975 (W 17-2 @ Arkansas Travelers)
Texas League Championships: None
Stadium
Bringhurst Field
Opened: 1933
Demolished: 2017
Ownership & Affiliation
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 Alexandria Aces were a Class AA Texas League farm club of the San Diego Padres who played at Bringhurst Field for four summers between 1972 and 1975. The “Aces” name was a throwback to the original Alexandria Aces (1934-1942 & 1946-1957) who played 21 seasons in the Louisiana-based Evangeline League.
The franchise changed hands at least once during its brief history in Alexandria (pop. 39,000), when Pete Tattersall sold the club to Oklahoma oil man William Zuhone for $50,000 in October 1974.
Future Hall-of-Famer Duke Snider managed the Aces during their first summer of operation in 1972.
Notable players who passed through Alexandria during the Padres era included Bill Almon and Randy Jones. Almon was the #1 overall pick in the 1974 Major League Baseball amateur draft out of Brown University. He stopped for a cup of coffee in Alexandria in 1974 before making his Major League debut later the same summer. Almon went on to a 15-year Major League career.
Jones appeared for the Aces in 1972 and 1973. He debuted for the Padres in June 1973 and was a two-time National League All-Star (1975 and 1976). In 1976, Jones won the National League Cy Young Award with a 22-14 record and 2.74 ERA.
Following the 1975 season, the Alexandria franchise moved to Amarillo, Texas and became the Amarillo Gold Sox. The “Aces” nickname has been revived by independent baseball clubs in Alexandria on two occasions, in 1994 and again in 2006.
Alexandria Aces Shop
In Memoriam
1972 Aces Manager Duke Snider died on February 27, 2011 at age 84. New York Times obituary.
Downloads
1975 Aces vs. Arkansas Travelers Game Notes
1975 Alexandria Aces vs Arkansas Travelers Game Notes
Links
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One Response
Remembering the 72 season of the Alexandria Aces as an Air Force NCo working part time doing field work for Duke Snyder and working the concession stands. Good times and great baseball.