Tombstone
Born: 1976 – The Alexandria Aces relocate to Amarillo, TX
Move Announced: August 1982 (Beaumont Golden Gators)
First Game: April 14, 1976 (W 7-5 @ El Paso Diablos)
Last Game: September 1, 1982 (L 6-5 vs. El Paso Diablos)
Texas League Champions: 1976
Stadium
Potter County Memorial Stadium
Opened: 1949
Marketing
Team Colors:
Mascot: Ballpark Frank
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners:
- 1976: William Zuhone
- 1977: Len Monheimer
- 1978: ?
- 1979-1980: John Dittrich
- 1980-1982: Ted Moor
Major League Affiliation: San Diego Padres
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.
When you make a purchase through an affiliate link like this one, Fun While It Lasted earns a commission at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Background
Amarillo, Texas was a mainstay on the Class AA Texas League circuit from 1959 through 1982. Yellow City went through several Texas League clubs during the era, starting with the original Gold Sox, followed by the Sonics, the Giants and finally the latter-day Gold Sox. Today we’ll take a loot at the Gold Sox re-boot that took the field at Potter County Memorial Stadium from 1976 until 1982.
Amarillo had no baseball during the summer of 1975. The Amarillo Giants had bolted town for Lafayette, Louisiana the previous fall. But in late 1975, another Louisiana-based Texas League franchise came back in the other direction. Owner William Zuhone moved his Alexandria Aces franchise to Amarillo. The Aces were a San Diego Padres farm club and that partnership survived the move to Amarillo. The team revived the city’s traditional Gold Sox identity, used by Amarillo’s minor league ball clubs between 1939 and 1963.
The latter day Gold Sox’ first season in Amarillo was their best one. The 1976 squad, managed by Bob Miller, posted the best record in the Texas League (81-54). In the playoff championship series, the Gold Sox bested the Shreveport Captains 3 games to 2.
Top Alumni
The Amarillo Gold Sox helped to develop much of the home-grown nucleus of players that would go on to help the San Diego Padres to their first World Series appearance during the summer of 1984. These included:
- Pitcher Mark Thurmond (Amarillo ’79-’81)
- Pitcher Eric Show (Amarillo ’80)
- Pitcher Dave Dravecky (Amarillo ’81)
- Pitcher Andy Hawkins (Amarillo ’81)
- Outfielder Tony Gwynn (Amarillo ’81)
- Outfielder Kevin McReynolds (Amarillo ’82)
Tony Gwynn was the last member of the Amarillo Gold Sox to be active in professional baseball. He retired from the Padres in 2001, nineteen years after the Gold Sox played their final game. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 and passed away in 2014.
Move to Beaumont & Aftermath
With one month remaining in the 1982 season, owner Ted Moor announced that the franchise would relocate to the Texas city that he lived and worked in, Beaumont, for the 1983 Texas League season. The Gold Sox became the Beaumont Golden Gators in 1983.
Amarillo had several independent professional teams during the 1990’s and early 2000’s, including the Dillas, the Sox and the Thunderheads. In 2018, Amarillo broke ground on a new $45 million dollar baseball stadium known as Hodgetown. The stadium project lured the Texas League back to Amarillo after a 37-year absence and the Amarillo Sod Poodles played their first season during the summer of 2019.
Amarillo Gold Sox Shop
In Memoriam
Pitcher Eric Show died on March 16th, 1994 at age 37. New York Times obituary.
Utility man Craig Stimac (Amarillo ’76-’77), who went on to play briefly for the San Diego Padres in 1980 and 1981, passed on January 15th, 2009 at age 54.
Outfielder Tony Gwynn died on June 16th, 2014 of complications from his battle with cancer of the salivary glands and mouth. Gwynn was only 54 years old. New York Times obituary.
Gold Sox owner Ted Moor (’81-’82) passed away at the age of 82 on May 3rd, 2015.
Links
###
