PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHEN CARROLL El Paso returned to their familiar Sun Kings moniker again and all seemed right with the world... with the exception of the fact that the Angels did not have the Dodgers farm system. Still, despite the fact that they would finish 2 games under .500, the 1973 El Paso Sun Kings would break the Dudley record for fielding the most All-Stars in one season. In the 50 years since this stadium was built, it had promoted 15 future MLB All-Stars. In 1973 alone, they would field |
4 on the same roster bringing that magical number to 19. The All Star roster included:
Sid Monge (7-11, 4.59), Dave Chalk (.293, who hit .353 for the Angels in
1975), Bruce Bochte (32 2B, 10 HR, .319) and future 3 time All-Star Frank Tanana
who put up the best pitching numbers in El Paso in decades with his 16-6, 2.71.
El Paso continued to improve on the field in 1974 but under an all new identity.
The California Angels decided to change the name of the team (it's 4th name
change in 4 years) and leave the old Sun Kings name behind for the rest of this
team's existance (even though they just switched back to it the season before).
Their new name would carry until their final days of their Double-A and independent
baseball existence... the El Paso Diablos. All-Star Sid Monge returned
to the all new Diablos and put up an impressive 14-5, 4.64 while John Balaz (53
2B, 22 HR, 111 RBI, .324) and Dan Briggs (13 HR, .352, 216 AB) joined future
All-Star Jerry Remy... the 20th All-Star produced by the Dudley Dome who hit .338
with 34 2B and 21 SB. The Diablos would make it all the way to the finals this
time behind 76 wins only to lose to the Victoria Toros. The Diablos took a step
back in 1975 losing 71 games (to 62 wins) but were back in the hunt in 1976
with a 77 win season thanks in part to Willie Mays Aikens whose 24 2B, 30 HR,
117 RBI, .317 season was the best offensive performance in nearly a decade. Fred
Frazier meanwhile batted .369 in 309 At Bats. The big change came on the mound
where John Caneira (15-4, 4.53) and Robert Nolan (15-3, 3.66) became the first
two dual 15 game winners on the same roster since El Paso joined the Texas League.
While the Diablos failed to make the post-season, they would find themselves
in competition in 1977 behind a 77 win 2nd place season due to the bat of future
All-Stars Ken Landreaux (17 2B, 16 HR, .354, 209 At Bats) and Carney Lansford
(17 2B, 18 HR, 94 RBI, .332). Ken Landreaux would combine for a total of .357
with 27 HR and 116 RBI's on the season after being promoted to Triple-A, making
him the only Minor League Player of the Year Award Winner (across all leagues
and all levels) of any El Paso player in history. Ken Schrom would also make
10 appearances (1-0, 2.00) before going on to become an All-Star for the Cleveland
Indians. The 78 wins would get the Diablos into the finals where they would
unfortunately lose to the Arkansas Travelers again. The third time however would
be the charm as El Paso came back with an 80 win season in 1978 against only
55 losses thanks to 4 20+ HR hitters. Bobby Clark led the brigade with 25 2B,
31 HR, 111 RBI and a .316. Behind him was William Ewing (37 2B, 25 HR, 106 RBI,
.305), Danny Goodwin (25 HR and a huge .360), and James Peters (20 HR, .284).
Future All-Star closer Mark Clear (4-2, 2.42) was supurb on the mound.
The Diablos slugged their way through the finals for their 2nd Texas League Championship
of the decade and their 9th overall. |