Texas AirHogs
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueAmerican Association
LocationGrand Prairie, Texas
BallparkAirHogs Stadium
Founded2007
Folded2020
League championships(1) 2011
Division championships(3) 2008, 2011, 2013
ColorsBlack, red, white, silver
       
OwnershipNeltex Sports (Donnie Nelson)

The Texas AirHogs were a professional baseball team based in Grand Prairie, Texas from 2008 to 2020. The AirHogs were members of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Beginning in the 2008 season as the Grand Prairie AirHogs, the team played their home games at AirHogs Stadium. The team folded after the 2020 season.

The team's name was taken from a slang term used by American military pilots and referred to the city's aviation industry (Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control is headquartered in Grand Prairie, and Vought Corporation once had a major plant in Dallas adjacent to Grand Prairie before the company was sold and the plant closed).[1]

For the 2016 season, the AirHogs merged with the Amarillo Thunderheads, taking their name and splitting games between both home ballparks; from 2017 to 2020, the team was based solely in Grand Prairie.

Patrick Mahomes Senior and Tyler Matzek played for them, both good players in MLB.

History

2008 season

The AirHogs were managed in their inaugural season by former major leaguer Pete Incaviglia. The team played their first game on May 8 against the St. Paul Saints, losing the contest 10–3. Their first home game was a 4–2 loss to the Wichita Wingnuts on May 16. On July 25, Scot Drucker's contract was purchased by the Detroit Tigers. He was the first ever Grand Prairie player to be signed by Major League Baseball organization. On July 28, starting pitcher Kieran Mattison's contract was purchased by the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was sent to the Dodgers Double-A team, the Jacksonville Suns in the Southern League.

2009 All-Star Game

The AirHogs played host to the 2009 American Association All-Star Game at their home field, the Ballpark in Grand Prairie, on July 21, 2009.

2011 season

The AirHogs won their first American Association championship by winning a decisive game five in the championship series.

2015–2016

On November 19, 2015, American Association commissioner Miles Wolff announced that there would no longer be interleague play between the American Association and the Can-Am League (for which he was also commissioner) and that for the 2016 season the Amarillo Thunderheads and the AirHogs would operate as a joint team with 25 games in Amarillo and 25 games in Grand Prairie to make a 12-team league.[2] On November 27, 2015 James Frisbie was named the team's manager.[3] Following the season the team announced that they would not be returning to Amarillo and would play all games in Grand Prairie for 2017.[4]

2018–2020

On May 18, 2018, the American Association announced that AirHogs have developed a partnership with the Chinese Baseball Association (CBA) and Shougang Sports for the 2018 to 2020 seasons. Thirty members of the Chinese National Baseball Team (known as the Beijing Shougang Eagles) would train at AirHogs Stadium and rotate as players on the Texas AirHogs roster. New manager John McLaren served as the manager of the China national baseball team.[5]

Tyler Matzek pitched for the team in 2018.[6]

On June 12, 2020, it was announced that the AirHogs were one of six teams that would not be participating in the 2020 American Association season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7]

On October 23, 2020, the AirHogs terminated their membership in the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.[8]

Season-by-season records

Season Record Win % Finish Playoffs
200856–40.6222ndLost in Finals to Sioux Falls Canaries
200948–48.500T–3rdDid not qualify
201043–52.4533rdDid not qualify
201164–36.6401stWon Championship Series over St. Paul Saints
201253–47.6402ndDid not qualify
201354–46.5401stLost 1st Round to Wichita Wingnuts
201440–60.4003rdDid not qualify
201529–71.2905thDid not qualify
201634–65.3434thDid not qualify
201743–57.4303rdDid not qualify
201825–75.2505thDid not qualify
201928–71.2836thDid not qualify
2020Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

References

  1. AirHogs takes root as Grand Prairie baseball team's name Archived 23 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  2. "American Association of Professional Baseball - AMERICAN ASSOCIATION RELEASES 2016 SCHEDULE". 19 November 2015.
  3. "American Association of Professional Baseball - TEXAS NAMES JAMES FRISBIE AS CLub's MANAGER". 27 November 2015.
  4. Lahnert, Lance; Winslow, Donald R. (October 13, 2016). "Going, going, gone: Amarillo loses its minor league team". Amarillo Globe-News.
  5. "American Association of Professional Baseball - THE CHINESE NATIONAL BASEBALL TEAM…NOW IN NORTH!". 18 May 2018.
  6. "Tyler Matzek's Improbable Journey to Immortality in Atlanta". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  7. "Independent American Association to start baseball season July 3 with limited fans". ESPN. June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
  8. "Texas Airhogs Terminate Membership in American Association". American Association. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
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