Amarillo Sonics

Texas League (1965-1967)

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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 Sonics were a Class AA farm team of the Houston Astros that played in the Texas League from 1965 until 1967. The Sonics replaced the recently departed Amarillo Gold Sox on the local sporting scene. The Gold Sox were a long-running club that played in several leagues between 1939 and 1963. But the Sox sat out the 1964 Texas League season after failing to secure a Major League tie-up, leaving Amarillo without pro baseball for the first summer since the War years of 1943-1945.

In late November 1964, the Houston Colt .45s moved their wholly owned Texas League farm club, the San Antonio Bullets, to Amarillo. Just days later, the Colt .45s changed their name to the Houston Astros on December 1st, 1964.

In Competition

The 1960’s were a tough time for the Minor League Baseball industry and the Texas League consisted of just six clubs for each of the seasons that the Sonics competed from 1965 to 1967.

The Sonics struggled to a 60-80 finish in the first season during the summer of 1965. One bright spot to the campaign as the play of 29-year old Cuban outfielder Leo Posada. A former Major League with the Kansas City Athletics, Posada slashed ..305/.400/.545 with 26 home runs and 107 RBI and was named the Texas League’s Player of the Year.

The Sonics fielded strong clubs in 1966 and 1967. The 1966 squad finished 2nd place with a 77-63 record before falling to the Austin Braves in the first round of playoffs.

The 1967 Sonics were dominated the Texas League until a spectacular late season collapse consigned them to a 2nd place finish in a season with no playoffs. On August 18th, 1967 the Sonics held a commanding 8-game lead with just 17 days left in the season. But the Sonics lost 17 of their final 20 games to forfeit the Texas League pennant to the Albuquerque Dodgers.

Rising Stars

Key prospects that played at Amarillo during the Astros/Sonics era included:

• Pitcher Tom Griffin (Sonics ’66)
• Pitcher Don Wilson (Sonics ’66)
• First baseman/outfielder Nate Colbert (Sonics ’67)
• First basemen Bob Watson (Sonics ’67)

Don Wilson and Bob Watson, both now deceased, are members of the Houston Astros Hall-of-Fame. Watson was the last active member of the Amarillo Sonics when he played his final Major League game in September 1984.

Nate Colbert, who found stardom as one of the lone bright spots on the hapless San Diego Padres teams of the early 1970’s, won the 1967 Texas League Player of the Year Award during the Sonics’ final season.

Following the 1967 season, the Astros departed and the San Francisco Giants took over as Amarillo’s parent club. The team changed its name to the Amarillo Giants as part of the transition.

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Texas League Media Guides

Texas League Programs

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