San Diego Surf Dawgs

Independent baseball team
name = San Diego Surf Dawgs
founded = 2005
city = San Diego, California

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cap
current league = Arizona Winter League
current division =
past league = Golden Baseball League
currentname = San Diego Surf Dawgs (2005-2006, 2008-present)
* Sonora Surf Dawgs (2007, AWL)
pastnames =
colors = Columbia Blue, Navy Blue, Gold
color box|lightblue color box|navy color box|gold
ballpark = Desert Sun Stadium
pastparks = Tony Gwynn Stadium
leaguechamps = 1 (GBL, 2005)
divisionchamps = 1 (GBL California, 2005)
owner = Golden Baseball League
manager = Terry Kennedy (GBL version)
Cory Snyder (AWL version)
gm =
media = The San Diego Union-Tribune, [http://www.yumasun.com The Yuma Sun]
website = http://www.goldenbaseball.com/SanDiego www.goldenbaseball.com/SanDiego

The San Diego Surf Dawgs are a professional baseball team based in San Diego, California, that currently play in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and played in the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball "or" Minor League Baseball. Their now-former home stadium is named after former Padres great Tony Gwynn, and is located on the campus of San Diego State University. They currently play at Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona as part of the AWL, but are rumored to rejoin the GBL in 2009.

Team history

Golden Baseball League (2005-2006)

The Surf Dawgs were one of the eight original GBL charter teams that began play in 2005 along with the Chico Outlaws, Fullerton Flyers and Long Beach Armada in California; Mesa Miners, Surprise Fightin' Falcons and Yuma Scorpions in Arizona and the traveling Japan Samurai Bears. They were known for playing in the same city as a Major League Baseball team, the National League's San Diego Padres.

The signing of Rickey Henderson gave the team national exposure. (Henderson had also played for the Padres at one point in his career.) Former first-round draft pick Matt Wheatland is among five San Diegans on the roster.

The 2005 team won the first ever GBL California Division title, and on Labor Day weekend 2005 they won the inaugural GBL Championship tournament, coming back on the last day to win two games.

The team again made news in June 2006 by signing former Major League player José Canseco. He made his debut on July 3, 2006 and struck out 4 times. Prior to the game, the "" author looked like the Bash Brother of old during batting practice, knocking multiple pitches out of the park. After playing in one game with the Surf Dawgs, Canseco requested to be traded to a team closer to his home in Los Angeles [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2509719 Canseco seeks, receives trade for personal reasons] (ESPN.com, July 5, 2006)] and was sent to the Long Beach Armada.

The Surf Dawgs became the fourth franchise of the GBL to be deactivated on February 8, 2007. A published report in The San Diego Union-Tribune stated the team had suspended operations for financial reasons. [ [http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/20070208-9999-1s8dawgs.html Baseball Surf Dawgs won't play in '07] ("San Diego Union-Tribune", February 8, 2007)] But the league disputes that because they still own the rights to the team.

Arizona Winter League (2007-present)

The team joined the Arizona Winter League as the Sonora Surf Dawgs in January of 2007 [ [http://www.yumazone.com/Arizona_Winter_League.htm Yuma Zone AWL baseball] ] , but reverted back to San Diego for the 2008 season. During the AWL regular season, they are managed by Cory Snyder, who also manages the GBL's St. George RoadRunners.

eason-by-season records

Golden Baseball League:

Arizona Winter League:

Rebirth?

Though the Surf Dawgs play in the Arizona Winter League, there has been talk about a possible return of the team to the GBL by 2009. They are currently looking for a more suitable stadium after having issues regarding Tony Gwynn Stadium. Some say their best bet is to play at a ballpark in Chula Vista, California, which was to have hosted the Tijuana Toros in 2005 and is waiting for a GBL team to occupy. [ [http://www.stammer.eu/chula_vista_california_en.html Stammer.eu : Chula Vista, California] ] An announcement could come as early as October.

References

External links

* [http://www.sdsurfdawgs.com San Diego Surf Dawgs]
* [https://www.sedonamg.com/sandiegosecure/Store/ San Diego Surf Dawgs Surf Shop] (Team Store)
* [http://www.sdkennelclub.com The San Diego Kennel Club, the Surf Dawgs official booster club]