TEXARKANA, TEXAS (August 17, 2008) In a season which found all four teams in the Continental Baseball League spending time in first place during the regular season, it now comes down to the one-week playoff session to determine which team will win the coveted Ferguson Jenkins CBL Championship trophy.The first round of the playoffs begins Monday night in Texarkana, a best 2-out-of-3 series between the host Gunslingers and the Corpus Christi Beach Dawgs, the league’s first half champion. The winner of this series advances to the league title series in Texas City to face the Bay Area Toros, which clinched a first round bye by virtue of having the best overall season record. The title series, also a best 2-out-of-3 set, will be played at Robinson Stadium in Texas City beginning on Friday night, August 22, and continuing Saturday evening and Sunday evening, if necessary.
Last season’s inaugural winner, the McKinney Blue Thunder, won’t be involved in the playoffs this time around. The team which relocated from Tarrant County to McKinney finished in fourth place during the regular 72-game season despite spending time in first place during the opening weeks of the campaign. Texarkana, which got off to starts of 0-6 and 2-9, rebounded well after Chris McKnight took over for manager Steve Trout in early June. The Gunslingers rode the offense of CBL batting leader Anthony Edwards during June, July and August. Edwards also led the CBL in RBI, runs, hits, triples and total bases.
At one point in late July, the Gunslingers had the best overall record in the league until a late season burst by the Bay Area Toros, winners of 12 of 13 games during one stretch during the past two weeks, allowed the Toros to clinch the best mark overall and a first round bye.
Despite finishing in third place after winning the first half title, Corpus Christi played well against the Gunslingers, finishing with a 14-8 mark in head-to-head competition, including a 7-5 record at George Dobson Field in Texarkana. The Gunslingers, however, did fare well overall at home, posting a 23-14 mark heading into Sunday night’s final regular season game. Texarkana also led the league in home attendance and is expected to have a good turnout for the first round playoff competition.
“This has been an exciting season in the CBL and the league was very well-balanced in that all four of our teams were in first place at some point during the summer,” said CBL league operations director Bob Ibach, who along with CBL commissioner Ron Baron started the independent league in 2007. “Last year we had a team like Bay Area which had a horrible start, yet finished strong and made it into the championship game against the Blue Thunder before they lost.
“Manager Jim Bolt and general manager Mike Pede of the Toros are to be commended for taking that franchise to another level this season, and for an exciting and strong stretch run in late July and August to finish on top and earn a bye into the championship series which they’ll host.”
The CBL is looking to add two, and perhaps four, new franchises for the 2009 season. Baron was extremely pleased by the progress made by Bay Area in its second season, and the warm enthusiasm displayed in Texarkana under the ownership of Frank Snyder. Texarkana had been without professional baseball since 1954 until the Gunslingers began playing in that city in May.
“Frank has done a first class job in promoting baseball in Texarkana, and we’re very encouraged by the response from fans in that city. After a bumpy start on the field, the Gunslingers have turned it around,” noted Baron. “It’s gonna be a fun series to watch this week with the Beach Dawgs because those two teams have gone at it pretty hard all season.”
Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins, who starred several years with the Texas Rangers and was inducted into Cooperstown in 1991 after a 284-win career, lent his name to the CBL Trophy and the league is honored by that association.
“We’re proud to have Fergie associated with our league trophy and with our independent league,” said Ibach, a former front office member of the Chicago Cubs who was with that franchise at the close of Jenkins’ career. “Fergie has always been a first class act, and he has spent a lot of his time during the past 25 years helping out youngsters through the Fergie Jenkins Foundation that he has established.
“I know he’s probably thrilled to see how our league this season has evolved into a pitcher’s league, quite a reversal from our inaugural year in 2007 when the hitters seemed to rule.”
Jenkins, born in Canada, was recognized by his native country in 2007 with the Order of Canada Award. Jenkins played for the Texas Rangers in 1974-75 and again from 1978-1981. He began his career with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1965-66, and then played for the Chicago Cubs from 1966-1973 and again in his final two seasons in the big leagues from 1982-83. He also pitched for the Boston Red Sox in 1976-77.
“Having Fergie Jenkins’ name associated with our league trophy really adds prestige and stature to our championship series,” said Baron. “Whatever team wins the title, that team will forever linked to one of the greatest pitchers in major league baseball history.”
For more information on the Continental Baseball League, visit the league’s website at www.CBLproball.com
Ferguson Jenkins Continental Baseball League
2008 Championship Series
Schedule of Games
First Round (best 2 of 3) at George Dobson Field, Texarkana
Monday, August 18: 7:05 p.m. Corpus Christi at Texarkana
Tuesday, August 19: 7:05 p.m. Corpus Christi at Texarkana
Wednesday, August 20: 7:05 p.m. Corpus Christi at Texarkana (if necessary)
Championship Series (best 2 of 3) at Robinson Stadium, Texas City
Friday, August 22: 6:35 p.m. winner of first round at Bay Area Toros
Saturday, August 23: 6:35 p.m. winner of first round at Bay Area Toros
Sunday, August 24: 6:35 p.m. winner of first round at Bay Area Toros (if necessary)
Previous CBL Champions:
2007: Tarrant County Blue Thunder (manager, Curtis Wilkerson)
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