Midland RockHounds

Midland RockHounds Founded in 1972 Midland, Texas
Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Current	Double-A
Minor league affiliations
League	Texas League
Division	South Division
Major league affiliations
Current	Oakland Athletics (1999–present)
Previous	California / Anaheim Angels (1985–1998) Chicago Cubs (1972–1984)
Minor league titles
League titles (6)	1975* 2005 2009 2014 2015 2016
Division titles (4)	1975 2005 2009 2010
Second half titles (1)	2016 *Co-champions
Team data
Nickname	Midland RockHounds (1999–present)
Previous names	Midland Angels (1985–1998) Midland Cubs (1972–1984)
Colors	blue, gold, & white
Mascot	Rocky RockHound P.K. the Coyote[1]
Ballpark	Security Bank Ballpark (2002–present)
Previous parks	Christensen Stadium (1972–2001)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Miles Prentice & Bob Richmond
Manager	Fran Riordan
General Manager	Monty Hoppel

The Midland RockHounds are a minor league baseball team based in Midland, Texas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics major league club. The RockHounds play in Security Bank Ballpark, which opened in 2002 and seats 6,669 fans. The RockHounds have won six Texas League championships: in 1975 (co-champions with the Lafayette Drillers), 2005, 2009, 2014, 2015, and 2016.

History

The RockHounds were previously known as both the Midland Cubs (1972–1984) and Midland Angels (1985–1998). While Midland has been the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland A's since 1999, they were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs from 1972 to 1984, and then with the California Angels from 1985 to 1998.^[2]

The RockHounds have received numerous awards throughout their history. The Midland franchise under the Angels won the Texas League Organization of the Year in 1990 and 1994 and as the RockHounds in 2002. In 1995, Midland won Double-A Baseball's highest award, the Bob Frietas Award. General Manager Monty Hoppel has been named Executive of the Year with the franchise three times (1991, 1995, and 2002).^[3]

In 1995, Midland reached its first-ever playoff appearance as an affiliate of the Angels and their first playoff appearance overall in 20 years. It also became the first season that Midland accumulated more than 200,000 fans in a season, a feat repeated in 1996. The feat surprised many in Minor League Baseball as the Midland-Odessa area only has just over 200,000 residents total. The RockHounds moved into Security Bank Ballpark, part of the Scharbauer Sports Complex on the west side of Midland, in 2002. Since then, the RockHounds have averaged over 250,000 fans every season. Prior to that, their home had been what is now known as Christensen Stadium, in northeast Midland.

The Rockhounds won their first ever Texas League Championship in 2005. They shared the title with the Lafayette Drillers in 1975 as the Cubs. In 2006, they won the second-half championship of the South Division, but they lost to the eventual champion Corpus Christi Hooks in the division playoffs.^[4]

In 2007, the RockHounds won the John H. Johnson President's Award, Minor League baseball highest award for a franchise, making them the third Texas League franchise to do so after the El Paso Diablos and the Tulsa Drillers.^[5]

In 2009, the RockHounds won their second Texas League pennant, defeating the Northwest Arkansas Naturals three games to one in the Championship Series.^[6] In 2010, the RockHounds returned to the Texas League title game, but this time fell to the Naturals.

On the radio

The Midland Rockhounds have always had a play-by-play broadcast that has been available. KCRS (AM) had been the network to carry roughly 95% of the Rockhounds games since they debuted in 1972. Some afternoon games in 2008 didn't air on the radio due to contracts with Rush Limbaugh and others. For the 2009 season Gap Broadcasting announced the Rockhounds would have a new radio home, KFZX, also known as 102.1 Jack FM. For the 2010 season, the Rockhounds once again moved radio homes to KMRK 96.1 FM.^[7] In both cases Bob Hards remained the voice of the Rockhounds, a position he has currently heldfor 19 consecutive years.^[8] In 2013 the Rockhounds moved their games back to KCRS, though weekday day games would be preempted for talk shows that were already scheduled.

Notable players

Roster

References

External links

• Official Midland RockHounds website