American Association (2012-2016)
Tombstone
Born: November 29, 2011 – The Shreveport-Bossier Captains relocate to Laredo, TX
Folded: May 2017
First Game: May 17, 2012 (W 5-1 vs. Grand Prairie AirHogs)
Last Game: September 5, 2016 (W 3-0 vs. Wichita Wingnuts)
American Association Champions: 2015
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners:
- 2012-2014: Mark Schuster, et al.
- 2015-2016: Arianna Torres
Major League Affiliation: Independent
Attendance
Background
The Laredo Lemurs were an independent baseball outfit in the Texas/Mexico border city of Laredo. The team was originally put together by Ventura Sports Group, a group headed by veteran Minor League Baseball exec Mark Schuster that specialized in pitching taxpayer-financed ballparks to small cities, typically with the promise of bringing an independent pro baseball team to town.
In Laredo, Ventura Sports Group convinced city officials in 2010 to pony up for the construction of the $18 million, 6,000-seat Uni-Trade Stadium. In doing so, Laredo officials effectively displaced the city’s existing independent baseball team, the Laredo Broncos who played at 60-year old Veterans Field.
With the ballpark in hand, Ventura Sports Group acquired the Shreveport-Bossier Captains of the independent American Association in November 2011. The American Association, whose clubs ran the length of the Mississippi Delta from Texas and Louisiana to Minnesota and as far north as Winnipeg, was the go-to league for Schuster and Ventura in the late oughts and early 2010’s. The group previously operated American Association clubs in El Paso and Grand Prairie, Texas as well as St. Joseph, Missouri.
On The Field
Former Major League slugger Pete Incavligia managed the Lemurs for their entire five-year run in the American Association. The Lemurs were generally outstanding in competition, finishing 5 games or better above .500 in each season of play. In 2015, the Lemurs won the American Association championship, defeating the Sioux Falls Canaries in the Finals, 3 games to 1.
During the Lemurs first season in 2012, the team signed 25-year old right handed pitcher Chaz Roe. Roe was a former 1st round draft pick of the Colorado Rockies (2005) who stalled just short of the Major Leagues. After an impressive full season stint in Laredo (3-2, 1.47 ERA in 49 games), Roe made his big league debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013. Eight seasons later, he remains in the Majors as of 2020.
Struggle & Closure
The team’s success in the standings was hardly mirrored at the box office. After a decent start in 2012, Lemurs’ crowds plummeted in each season that followed. Ventura Sports Group got out after the 2014 season, turning the team over to local operators headed by Arianna Torres.
The Lemurs won their 2015 championship during Torres’ first season at the helm, but attendance took a sickening 50% dive from 2014.
“This is a super difficult market,” Torres told The San Antonio Express-News in 2016.1Roy Bragg. “Border baseball isn’t thriving, but the dream is.” San Antonio Express News. August 25, 2016
The following year, internecine warfare broke out between Torres and her management partners. The disputes spilled out into the court system and press. Amidst the chaos and disputes with city officials, the Lemurs folded in May 2017 just days before players were due to report for pre-season training.
No pro baseball was played in Laredo in 2017. Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Class AAA Mexican League set up shop at Uni-Trade Stadium in 2018.
Links
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