Photograph courtesy of El Paso Chihuahuas Just when things seemed to get going for the El Paso Texans, they would suddenly
find themselves on shaky ground. The depression had arrived and people couldn't
afford to spend their money on entertainment such as a ballgame. The league disbanded
by the end of July and wasn't to be seen again for 5 years until 1937 when
the Az-Tex or AZ-Mex League (the league would change names based on how many
Mexican teams were playing) was finally able to |
re-organize itself. When the league returned in 1937 it would featured only 4 ballparks....
Albuquerque's Tingley Field, Bisbee's Warren Ballpark, Tucson's Hi Corbett
Field and here at the Dudley Dome. The Texans now back on the field, featured
a stronger team than in the past, of future Washington Senators' Milo Candidi
(league leading 21-7, 4.23) who was all of 19 and Ken Manning, who set new
records for doubles with 41, along with 14 3B and 5 HR and a .341 batting
average. James Nicholson's 10 HR (27 2B, .324) also led the league. These three
local heros, shot the Texans straight to 1st place with a 73-49 (.598) record.
In the finals, Albuquerque would face off against El Paso who were looking to
start the newly organized AZ-Tex League in the right direction and after 6 games
it was tied 3-3. The final game against Albuquerque proved fatal however as
El Paso lost the final game, ending a terrific season on a sour note. Undaunted,
the Texans returned in 1938 behind Walter Stewart who took the all time Wins
lead with a fantastic 24-12 record and a league leading 270 strikeouts. At the
plate meanwhile, Eddie Goddard (36 2B, 17 3B, .347) set a new Dudley Field record
in triples and Frank Falconi was right behind him with 26 2B, 15 HR and a .353.
The combination of excellent pitching and superb hitting led the Texans to
2nd place (.515) and another playoff berth. This time they would need to take
on 1st place Bisbee who were easily just as talented and proved it by again deadlocking
the finals at 3 games to 3. This time however, it would be the Texans
who would hold on in that final game to take home their 2nd Championship in their
4th full professional season. It had become immediately apparent that the Texans
were going to be the to beat every season. |