Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings explained

Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
Founded:	1994
Disbanded:	2014
City:	Harlingen, Texas
Ballpark:	Harlingen Field
League:	United League Baseball (2013–2014)
Former Leagues:	North American League (2011–12) United League Baseball (2006–10) Central Baseball League (2002–03) Texas–Louisiana League (1994–2001)
Former Names:	Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings (1994–2003, 2006–07, 2009–2014) Harlingen WhiteWings (2008–2009)
Colors:	Black, white, grey
League Champs:	2 (2000, 2014)
Division Champs:	1 (2007)
Owner:	Reunion Sports Group
General Manager:	Doug Robinson
Manager:	Chris Paterson
Media:	Valley Morning Star
Website:	http://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
Season	League	Manager	Wins	Losses	Pct.	Result
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
1976	Gulf States League	Ted Uhlaender	32	40
1994	Texas-Louisiana League	Alan Ashby	40	48
1995	Texas-Louisiana League	Alan Ashby	53	46
1996	Texas-Louisiana League	John Pacella	50	48		Lost in 1st Round
1997	Texas-Louisiana League	Mike Brumley	39	53
1998	Texas-Louisiana League	Eddie Dennis	36	48
1999	Texas-Louisiana League	Eddie Dennis	45	38
2000	Texas-Louisiana League	Eddie Dennis	63	49		Won Championship (Amarillo) 3–1
2001	Texas-Louisiana League	George Scott	40	56
2002	Central Baseball League	John Harris	37	59
2003	Central Baseball League	John Harris	44	52
2006	United League Baseball	Eddie Dennis	38	52
2007	United League Baseball	Eddie Dennis	50	45		Lost Finals (Alexandria) 4–0
Harlingen WhiteWings
2008	United League Baseball	Al Gallagher	20	62
2009	United League Baseball	Eddie Dennis	39	41
2010	United League Baseball	Eddie Dennis	47	45		Lost Semifinals (Amarillo) 2–0
Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings
2011	North American League	Eddie Dennis	51	37		Won Semifinals (San Angelo) 4–0 Lost Finals (Edmonton) 4–1
2012	North American League	Eddie Dennis	51	44		Lost Semifinals (Edinburg) 2–0
2013	United League Baseball	Chris Paterson	32	43
2014	United League Baseball	Chris Paterson	50	27		Won 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

Kevin Griffin, C
Jorge Lugo, LHP

Past managers

Alan Ashby (1994–1995)
John Pacella (1996)
Mike Brumley (1997)
George Scott (2001)^[4]
"Dirty" Al Gallagher (2008)
Eduardo "Eddie" Dennis (1998–2000, 2006–07, 2009 – 2010)

External links

Notes and References

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