Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
Information
LeagueUnited League Baseball (2013–2014)
LocationHarlingen, Texas
BallparkHarlingen Field
Founded1994
Disbanded2014
League championships2 (2000, 2014)
Division championships1 (2007)
Former name(s)
  • Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (1994–2003, 2006–07, 2009–2014)
  • Harlingen WhiteWings (2008–2009)
Former league(s)
ColorsBlack, white, grey
     
OwnershipReunion Sports Group
ManagerChris Paterson
General ManagerDoug Robinson
MediaValley Morning Star
Websitehttp://www.whitewingsbaseball.org/

The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings was a professional baseball team based in Harlingen, Texas, in the United States. The WhiteWings was a member of United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. From the 1994 season to 2014, the WhiteWings played its home games at Harlingen Field.

History

Baseball in the region of the Rio Grande Valley had been played before in the Gulf States League (Class A ball), which lasted one season (1976) with six teams, one of which played in Harlingen, Texas by the name of the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings. Eighteen years later, the Texas–Louisiana League was formed, done on the frustrations of Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U.S. Congressman John Bryant of the Texas League not having plans for expansion. The Rio Grande Valley would receive a team as a charter member, which was called the WhiteWings and play at Harlingen Field, which had dimensions of 310' for the corners and 380' in center field for a crowd of 4,000.[1] The WhiteWings won the Texas–Louisiana League Championship in 2000, upsetting the San Angelo Colts and Amarillo Dillas to win the pennant under manager Eddie Dennis (two years later, the league rebranded as the Central Baseball League). After falling on hard times, the WhiteWings suspended operations in 2003. In late 2005, United League Baseball announced that the WhiteWings would resume play as the first charter member of the new league in 2006. They played the 2006 and 2007 seasons before deciding to rebrand in 2008. That year, they rebranded as the Harlingen WhiteWings. After three seasons, they changed the name back to the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings, announcing it as such in May 2009.[2]

In 2011 and 2012, the WhiteWings played in the North American League, where they made the playoffs twice. They returned to the ULB in 2013 and played two season, winning the championship in 2014, their final season. The team announced in 2015 that it was shutting down and would not a field a team for the upcoming season.[3]

Season-by-season record

Season
LeagueManagerWinsLossesPct.Result
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
1976Gulf States LeagueTed Uhlaender3240.444
1994Texas-Louisiana LeagueAlan Ashby4048.455
1995Texas-Louisiana LeagueAlan Ashby5346.535
1996Texas-Louisiana LeagueJohn Pacella5048.510Lost in 1st Round
1997Texas-Louisiana LeagueMike Brumley3953.424
1998Texas-Louisiana LeagueEddie Dennis3648.429
1999Texas-Louisiana LeagueEddie Dennis4538.542
2000Texas-Louisiana LeagueEddie Dennis6349.563Won Championship (Amarillo) 3–1
2001Texas-Louisiana LeagueGeorge Scott4056.417
2002Central Baseball LeagueJohn Harris3759.385
2003Central Baseball LeagueJohn Harris4452.458
2006United League BaseballEddie Dennis3852.422
2007United League BaseballEddie Dennis5045.526Lost Finals (Alexandria) 4–0
Harlingen WhiteWings
2008United League BaseballAl Gallagher2062.244
2009United League BaseballEddie Dennis3941.488
2010United League BaseballEddie Dennis4745.511Lost Semifinals (Amarillo) 2–0
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
2011North American LeagueEddie Dennis5137.580Won Semifinals (San Angelo) 4–0
Lost Finals (Edmonton) 4–1
2012North American LeagueEddie Dennis5144.537Lost Semifinals (Edinburg) 2–0
2013United League BaseballChris Paterson3243.427
2014United League BaseballChris Paterson5027.649Won Finals (Fort Worth) 3–0

All-Stars

Players

1994

  • John O'Brien, 1B

1995

  • Tim Garland, LF
  • John O'Brien, 1b
  • Clint Davis, RP
  • Kyle Duke, SP
  • Jamie Cooley, C

1996

  • Lipso Nava, SS
  • John O'Brien, 1B

1997

  • Pat Koerner (Rookie of the Year)
  • Bryan Warner, OF (Most Valuable Player)
  • Ryan Whitaker, RHP

1998

  • Scott Emerson, Major League Baseball pitching coach Oakland Athletics
  • Jay Davis, OF
  • Jason Fawcett, RHP
  • Omar Ramirez, LF
  • Joe Stutz, RHP
  • Mark Swindell, 2b

1999

  • Sergio Cairo, OF
  • Eddie Fitzpatrick, C
  • Mario Rodriguez, RHP
  • Michael Decelle, OF

2000

  • Yfrain Linares, RHP (Pitcher of the Year)
  • Manny Lopez, OF
  • Hector Roa, 2B

2001

  • Carlos Duncan, OF
  • Tyrone Pendergrass, OF
  • Ty Ryburn, P

2002

  • John Ballon, 3B

2003
N/A

2006

  • Adam Clay, RHP

2007

  • Jermy Acey, 2B
  • Derek Bennett, RHP
  • Omar Bramasco, Utah
  • David Cardona, OF
  • Ryan Fox, DH
  • Kevin Griffin, C
  • Joe Rogers, LHP

2008

Past managers

References

  1. ↑ "Play Ball, Y'all". April 2000.
  2. ↑ "It's the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (again)". 13 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  3. ↑ "Flown the coop: Harlingen's WhiteWings cease operations". valleymoringstar.com. February 9, 2015.
  4. ↑ "2001 Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings Statistics".
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