Surprise Fightin' Falcons
Encyclopedia
The Surprise Fightin' Falcons are an inactive professional baseball team based in Surprise, Arizona
. They played in the Arizona Division of the independent Golden Baseball League
, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball
or Minor League Baseball
. They played their homes games at the Surprise Recreation Campus
athletic facility, which includes a spring training ballpark called Surprise Stadium
.
, Fullerton Flyers
, Long Beach Armada
and San Diego Surf Dawgs
in California, the Mesa Miners
and Yuma Scorpions
in Arizona and a traveling team, the Japan Samurai Bears
that began play in May 2005. The league owns the naming rights to the team as well as the other seven original teams. In their only season, they finished 3rd in the Arizona Division with a 46-44 record. The team included the league's first ever MVP
, Desi Wilson, who during the year had a league record 30-game hitting streak. Outfielder Billy Brown hit a team high 14 home runs and won a gold glove. The team was managed by Ozzie Virgil, Jr.
and their mascot was Luke the Falcon.
The team, which played for one season, was based in the Arizona Division. Following the league suspending operations and relocation of the Miners in November 2005, the Fightin' Falcons were also dropped from the league partially to achieve a balance of six clubs instead of seven also because of no other teams being based in central Arizona, and the fact that game attendance averaged about 60 spectators per game, and extreme lack of team support.
in Mesa could reach agreement on a revenue sharing agreement for concessions sales at Miners games. The Miners were the only team in the league not to receive any funds from concessions sales at their games.
Should the Fightin' Falcons return to the league (which owns the rights to the team), they could be brought back as either an expansion or relocated team and there could be a push to have the team play at Surprise Stadium
, the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals
and Texas Rangers
and home of the Arizona Fall League
's Surprise Rafters
. That stadium is on the grounds of the Recreation Campus. But nothing is definitive. If not, the team name could be placed with an expansion team elsewhere.
The team cap logo and colors were being used by the Sonora Pilots
of the Arizona Winter League
, the GBL's instructional league. That team has since been replaced by Team Canada. The GBL owns the rights to the name, logos, uniforms and history of the Falcons.
Surprise, Arizona
Surprise is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. The population was 30,848 at the 2000 census; however, rapid growth has boosted the city's population to 117,517 at the 2010 census, an increase of 281%...
. They played in the Arizona Division of the independent Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
or Minor League Baseball
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
. They played their homes games at the Surprise Recreation Campus
Surprise Recreation Campus
The Surprise Recreation Campus is an athletic facility based in Surprise, Arizona. It features such amenities as Surprise Stadium , 12 baseball fields , and an multipurpose field...
athletic facility, which includes a spring training ballpark called Surprise Stadium
Surprise Stadium
Surprise Stadium is a baseball field located at the Surprise Recreation Campus athletic facility in Surprise, Arizona. The stadium was designed by HOK Sport, built in 2002 and holds 10,714 people. It is the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers and the home of the...
.
History
The Fightin' Falcons started as one of eight charter teams in the GBL along with the Chico OutlawsChico Outlaws
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California, in the United States. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
, Fullerton Flyers
Fullerton Flyers
The Fullerton Flyers are a professional baseball team based in Fullerton, California, in the United States. They are an independent franchise which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
, Long Beach Armada
Long Beach Armada
The Long Beach Armada was an independent professional baseball team based in Long Beach, California, in the United States. The Armada was a member of the North Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
and San Diego Surf Dawgs
San Diego Surf Dawgs
The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona. They played for two seasons in the now-defunct Golden Baseball League,...
in California, the Mesa Miners
Mesa Miners
The Mesa Miners are an independent professional baseball team that is based in Mesa, Arizona. They began as a member of the Arizona Division of the now-defunct Golden Baseball League in 2005...
and Yuma Scorpions
Yuma Scorpions
The Yuma Scorpions are a professional baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona, in the United States. The Scorpions are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League. From the 2005 season to the present, the Scorpions have played their home games at Desert Sun Stadium at the...
in Arizona and a traveling team, the Japan Samurai Bears
Japan Samurai Bears
The Japan Samurai Bears are a defunct traveling professional baseball team that played in the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. They were based in the Arizona Division...
that began play in May 2005. The league owns the naming rights to the team as well as the other seven original teams. In their only season, they finished 3rd in the Arizona Division with a 46-44 record. The team included the league's first ever MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
, Desi Wilson, who during the year had a league record 30-game hitting streak. Outfielder Billy Brown hit a team high 14 home runs and won a gold glove. The team was managed by Ozzie Virgil, Jr.
Ozzie Virgil, Jr.
Osvaldo José Virgil, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played with the Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves, and Toronto Blue Jays from 1980 to 1990. He was elected to the National League All-Star team twice in 1985 and 1987...
and their mascot was Luke the Falcon.
The team, which played for one season, was based in the Arizona Division. Following the league suspending operations and relocation of the Miners in November 2005, the Fightin' Falcons were also dropped from the league partially to achieve a balance of six clubs instead of seven also because of no other teams being based in central Arizona, and the fact that game attendance averaged about 60 spectators per game, and extreme lack of team support.
Rebirth
The GBL has stated publicly that they would reconsider the Arizona market (Surprise and Mesa) if the league, the city of Mesa and the concessionaire at HoHoKam ParkHoHoKam Park
HoHoKam Stadium also known as Dwight W. Patterson Field and formerly HoHoKam Park, is a park with a baseball stadium located at 1235 N Center St in Mesa, Arizona . The stadium was built in January 1997 and holds 13,074 people. It is the home of the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League...
in Mesa could reach agreement on a revenue sharing agreement for concessions sales at Miners games. The Miners were the only team in the league not to receive any funds from concessions sales at their games.
Should the Fightin' Falcons return to the league (which owns the rights to the team), they could be brought back as either an expansion or relocated team and there could be a push to have the team play at Surprise Stadium
Surprise Stadium
Surprise Stadium is a baseball field located at the Surprise Recreation Campus athletic facility in Surprise, Arizona. The stadium was designed by HOK Sport, built in 2002 and holds 10,714 people. It is the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals and the Texas Rangers and the home of the...
, the spring training home of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
and Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
and home of the Arizona Fall League
Arizona Fall League
The Arizona Fall League is an off-season league owned and operated by Major League Baseball which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes...
's Surprise Rafters
Surprise Rafters
The Salt River Rafters are a baseball team that plays in the West Division of the Arizona Fall League. They play their home games at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick near Scottsdale, Arizona....
. That stadium is on the grounds of the Recreation Campus. But nothing is definitive. If not, the team name could be placed with an expansion team elsewhere.
The team cap logo and colors were being used by the Sonora Pilots
Sonora Pilots
The Sonora Pilots are a professional independent baseball team based in Yuma, Arizona and represent Sonora, Mexico. They play in the International Division of the developmental Arizona Winter League, a short-season instructional winter league sanctioned by the North American League and they play...
of the Arizona Winter League
Arizona Winter League
The Arizona Winter League is the short-season instructional independent winter professional baseball league affiliated with the independent North American League...
, the GBL's instructional league. That team has since been replaced by Team Canada. The GBL owns the rights to the name, logos, uniforms and history of the Falcons.
Team Record
| Season | W | L | Win % | Place | Playoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 46 | 44 | .511 | 3rd, Arizona Division | No Playoff Berth. |