The Frisco RoughRiders (short form: 'Riders) are a Minor League Baseball team and a member of the Texas League. They are currently the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers. Prior to 2003, the franchise was based in Shreveport, Louisiana, and were known as the Shreveport Captains (and, for the 2002 season, the Shreveport SwampDragons). In 2003, they were purchased by Mandalay Entertainment in connection with Tom Hicks, former owner of the Texas Rangers and the Southwest Sports Group. Mandalay Baseball moved them to the North Texas city of Frisco and changed their name to the RoughRiders.
They currently play at Dr Pepper Ballpark in Frisco. Opened on April 3, 2003, the stadium seats 10,600 fans. The stadium is both unique and innovative; both bullpens are surrounded by seats and there is a pool area available for rental just beyond the right center field wall.
In 2016, Forbes listed the RoughRiders as the tenth-most valuable Minor League Baseball team with a value of $37 million.
On June 16, 2014, it was announced that Mandalay Baseball Properties LLC, who owned the Texas Rangers Double-A Affiliate, the Frisco RoughRiders, entered into a definitive agreement with the CEO and Managing Partner of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, Chuck Greenberg, as well as RoughRiders President Scott Sonju, for the sale of the Frisco RoughRiders franchise. Chuck Greenberg became Chairman, CEO, as well as the Managing Partner of the newly formed Frisco RoughRiders LP, which is a partnership of local investors who will acquire the RoughRiders. Mr. Sonju is a Co-Managing Partner and continues to serve as RoughRiders' president to oversee the day-to-day operations of the team under Mr. Greenberg's leadership.
Video Frisco RoughRiders
Origins of team name
"The Rough Riders" was the name bestowed by the American press on the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment during the Spanish-American War, headed by future American President Theodore Roosevelt.
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Roster
RoughRiders' timeline
2001
December 3: Frisco Minor League Team is announced
Southwest Sports Group (SSG) and Mandalay Sports Entertainment (MSE) reach an agreement of joint ownership of a Double-A, Texas League franchise to be located in Frisco, Texas.
2002
February 6: Frisco Baseball Stadium underway
Officials with the Double-A team and representatives of the City of Frisco and Collin County broke ground on a new ballpark to be ready for the 2003 season.
July 4: Frisco RoughRiders unveil team name and logo
At a July 4 Centennial Celebration, the Frisco Professional Baseball Team announced their new name and logo.
September 26: RoughRiders announce affiliation with Texas Rangers
Frisco RoughRiders Professional Baseball announced its Major League affiliation with the Texas Rangers. "We are thrilled to be the Double-A affiliate of the Rangers", said President & General Manager Mike McCall. "A player may be a RoughRider in April and a Ranger by August."
2003 season
January 21: RoughRiders announce ballpark
The Frisco RoughRiders announced that Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc. and the Dr Pepper Bottling Company of Texas have entered into a partnership with the RoughRiders for naming rights to the team's state-of-the-art stadium.
April 3: RoughRiders sell out inaugural Season Opener
In the first ever professional game at Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark, the RoughRiders announce a sellout of over 10,000 fans.
September, 2: Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark named "Best New Ballpark for 2003"
Each year, the award by baseballparks.com goes to the new baseball stadium with the best combination of superior design, attractive site selection and fan amenities.
September 2: First playoff game is played at Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark
The first playoff game for both the RoughRiders and Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark was played as the 'Riders defeated Wichita.
September 13: RoughRiders advance to Texas League Championship Series
The 'Riders advance to the Texas League Championship Series to face the San Antonio Missions, but lost four games to one in the best-of-seven series.
September 26: RoughRiders set attendance records during inaugural season
Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark witnessed 675,620 fans come through the turnstiles in the RoughRiders' inaugural season, which ranked fourth overall in all of minor league attendance.
2004 season
August 30: 'Riders earn playoff berth for second straight season
The 'Riders finished off a remarkable second half run and clinched the Texas League East Division title at Dr Pepper/Seven Up Ballpark.
September 9: 'Riders advance to Texas League Championship
The Frisco RoughRiders wasted no time in dispatching the Drillers to clinch the Texas League Eastern Division Title and moved on to face Western Division Champs Round Rock in the Championship Series.
September 18: RoughRiders win Texas League Championship
The Frisco RoughRiders shut down the Express and captured its first Texas League title in just its second year of existence as Frisco won the best-of-seven Texas League Championship Series.
2005 season
June 21: Frisco hosts Texas League All-Star Game
Andre Ethier leads the East All-Stars over the West, 5-0, with a key RBI-single.
July 28: RoughRiders combine for Perfect Game A.J. Murray, Steve Karsay, and Scott Feldman combined to pitch a perfect game in Corpus Christi. The final score was 3-0 as it was the first no-hit game in the three-year history of the Frisco RoughRiders.
September 4: RoughRiders end season with 58-82 record
2006 season
June 17: Four RoughRiders are chosen for Texas League All-Star Game
Pitchers Thomas Diamond and John Danks, infielder Adam Morissey, and outfielder Anthony Webster were selected to the Mid-Summer Classic.
September 1: Frisco finishes 2006 season with 72-68 record
RoughRiders finish in third place in the South Division.
2007 season
June 12: Six RoughRiders selected for Texas League All-Star Game
June 16: Frisco clinches playoff berth
The RoughRiders won the first half title and earned an automatic spot in the Texas League playoffs for the first time since 2004.
September 3: RoughRiders end regular season with franchise-best record
Frisco ended the 2007 season with a regular season record of 85-55, the best ever in RoughRiders' history.
September 7: Frisco swept in first round of 2007 playoffs
Frisco was defeated three games to none by San Antonio in the first round of the Texas League Playoffs.
September 12: Dave Anderson named Manager of the Year
Leading Frisco to the best record in the Texas League, first-year Manager Dave Anderson was named Texas League Manager of the Year, the first time a Frisco manager earned such an award.
October 6: Mandalay named Baseball Organization of the Year
Mandalay Baseball Properties, the owner and operator of the Frisco RoughRiders was named "Baseball Organization of the Year", by Ballpark Digest.
November 15: Frisco recognized as top Double-A franchise
The RoughRiders were named the 2007 Bob Freitas Award winner for Double-A minor league baseball by Baseball America.
2008 season
March 29: RoughRiders top Rangers in exhibition game
In this inaugural event, Frisco defeated the big league club in one of the last exhibition games before the regular season for both teams.
April 24: RoughRiders welcome 3,000,000th fan
May 18: Matt Harrison tosses no-hitter
Lefty starter Matt Harrison throws the first no-hitter at Dr Pepper Ballpark and second in franchise history.
June 10: RoughRiders secure playoff spot
Frisco clinches a playoff berth in the Texas League Playoffs with a First Half Championship, the second first-half title in the past two years.
July 7: Feliz debuts with 100 MPH fastball
Hard-throwing youngster Neftalí Feliz made his Double-A debut in Frisco with several pitches over 100 MPH.
August 13: Holland dominant in Double-A debut
Lefty Derek Holland struck out 10 in his Double-A debut.
August 28: Scott Little named '08 Texas League Manager of the Year
For the second consecutive season, a Frisco manager took home the award and only the second time a team won in back-to-back seasons with different managers.
September 1: Frisco clinches second-half title
For the first time in franchise history, the RoughRiders won both the first and second half titles with a combined record of 84-56.
September 5: RoughRiders win South Division
Frisco sweeps San Antonio and advances to the Championship Series to face Arkansas.
September 15: Frisco falls in final game of Championship Series
The RoughRiders were one win away from a Texas League Championship, but dropped the final game to Arkansas.
2009 season
April 2009: Rangers first-round draft pick starts season with Frisco
First baseman Justin Smoak, selected by the Rangers in the first round of the June 2008 draft, starts 50 games for the RoughRiders, hitting .328 with 6 home runs and 29 RBI.
June 16: Five RoughRiders selected to 73rd Texas League All-Star Game
Pitchers Jose Diaz and Kasey Kiker, as well as catcher Manuel Pina, outfielder Craig Gentry and first baseman Justin Smoak are all named All-Stars.
July 1: Dr Pepper Ballpark hosts 73rd Annual Texas League All-Star Game.
September 7: The 'Riders lose 3-0 in Midland to end the regular season and miss out on post-season play.
2010 season
April 8: Former Rangers' third baseman Steve Buechele makes his Frisco debut
Behind a strong outing from 'Riders starter Blake Beavan, Buechele earned his first victory as a Double-A manager, besting the Springfield Cardinals 2-1 on Opening Day.
June 19: 'Riders clinch First Half South Division Title
Tanner Roark earned the win pitching 5.1 innings as the RoughRiders topped the Corpus Christi Hooks 7-3 at Whataburger Field to win the First Half Title.
July 9: Two RoughRiders traded in Cliff Lee deal
Just hours before first pitch in Springfield, Missouri, the 'Riders learn that second baseman Matt Lawson and righthander Josh Lueke are part of the deal that also sent former 'Riders Blake Beavan and Justin Smoak to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for Cliff Lee and Mark Lowe.
August 28: Three Rangers rehab at Dr Pepper Ballpark
Cristian Guzmán, Ian Kinsler, and Nelson Cruz bat 1-2-3 for the 'Riders, but the club gets shutout by Midland 2-0 in front of 11,666 fans (second largest crowd at time of publication).
August 30: Blake Beavan Texas League Pitcher of the Year
After posting a 10-5 record and a 2.78 ERA over 17 starts, the former first round draft pick earns Texas League Pitcher of the Year honors. (At the time of the award, Beavan was pitching for Triple-A Tacoma).
September 11: Post-season comes to an end in Midland
The RoughRiders lose the best-of-five Divisional Round to the Midland RockHounds losing three games to one. The 2010 season ended on this night after a 9-4 loss to the 'Hounds in Midland.
2011 season
May 4: Leonys Martín signs with the Rangers
Signed to the second highest contract of its kind, the Cuban defector signed with the Rangers with a five-year major-league contract worth $15.5 million.
June 13: Nine 'Riders named Texas League All-Stars
Mike Bianucci, Leonys Martin, Jose Felix, Jose Ruiz, Tommy Mendonca, Renny Osuna, Adalberto Flores, Justin Miller, and Martin Perez.
June 30: Five millionth fan
The milestone of five million fans coming to Dr Pepper Ballpark took place during the game against the Springfield Cardinals. The RoughRiders won 7-6 after the game was tied heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.
August 1: Two RoughRiders traded in Mike Adams deal
Hours before the trade deadline, pitchers Robbie Erlin and Joe Weiland were traded to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Mike Adams.
August 10: Osuna breaks record
Second baseman Renny Osuna is the new 'Riders all-time hits leader passing Steve Murphy's record of 319 hits. Osuna finished the season with 153 hits bringing his career total with Frisco to 347 hits.
September 10: Post-season run ends
The RoughRiders lose the best-of-five Divisional Round to the San Antonio Missions losing three games to one. The 'Riders ended the regular season with 79 wins and 61 losses.
2012 season
April 4: Darvish dazzles at the "Doc"
Making his first pitching performance in the Metroplex since signing with Texas for $60 million (after the Rangers paid a $51.7 posting fee to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters), Yu Darvish strikes out top Frisco prospect Jurickson Profar to begin four scoreless innings in a 6-1 exhibition win over the RoughRiders at Dr Pepper Ballpark.
April 16: Buechele makes Frisco history
Frisco edges Arkansas 2-1 behind a superb outing by Justin Grimm (6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K) for the team's fourth straight win. The victory gives Steve Buechele his 155th win as manager of the RoughRiders, passing Tim Ireland for the most in team history.
May 19: Profar shows age is just a number
The youngest player in all of Double-A baseball, wunderkind shortstop Jurickson Profar extends his hit streak to 29 games in a 13-0 victory over San Antonio. The 19-year-old's streak would end the next night, but he would keep his on-base streak going until it reached 50 straight games (the longest such streak in Minor League Baseball for 2012) on June 2.
May 26: No stopping Loux
Former Texas A&M ace Barret Loux wins his tenth straight start to begin the season, establishing a new team record for consecutive victories.
June 3: Power surge sends Olt into overdrive
Power hitting prospect Mike Olt finishes his biggest homer binge of the season, blasting two home runs in a game for the third straight contest. Olt went on to lead the Texas League in home runs with 28 despite getting called up to the big leagues in early August.
June 14: Plenty of All-Stars and even bigger news
On the day that nine RoughRiders are named Texas League All-Stars, pitcher Justin Grimm learns that he will start for the Rangers in two days in front of a nationally televised audience. He goes on to strike out seven and allow three runs over six innings in a win over the Houston Astros.
July 31: Brigham becomes a Cubbie
The Rangers trade RoughRiders pitcher Jake Brigham to the Cubs in a deal that brings catcher Geovany Soto to Texas. Brigham would be traded back to Texas in the off-season for Barret Loux.
September 7: Tepesch cages Corpus
Nick Tepesch silences a raucous Whataburger Field crowd with a dominating effort at Corpus Christi as the 'Riders beat the Hooks 5-0 to sweep the South Division Championship Series 3-0.
September 15: Cardinals celebrate at Texas' expense... again
Less than 12 months after the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Rangers in the World Series, the Redbirds' Double-A affiliate finishes off another championship against a Texas-affiliated squad. The Springfield Cardinals squeak past Frisco 2-1 in Game 4 of the Texas League Championship Series for their first TL title.
Mascots
- Deuce
- Daisy
- Bull Moose
- Ted E Bear
- Brooks
Notable alumni
These players were once, or currently are, part of the RoughRiders (not including any rehab assignment) and have then succeeded to have a Major League appearance.
References
External links
- Frisco RoughRiders official website
- Texas League Official website
- Minor League Baseball's official RoughRider's website
- Mandalay Entertainment Group official website
- Unofficial RoughRider fan page
Source of article : Wikipedia
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