Cats join American Association
Published on October 24, 2005 under American Association (AA)
Fort Worth Cats News Release
The Fort Worth Cats today have announced that they will play in the 10-team American Association beginning in 2006, joining several of the nation's top Independent teams in the formation of a new league with a historic name.
The Cats, the 2005 Central Baseball League champions, had been in the Central League since 2002. They will be joined in the new venture by El Paso, Shreveport, Pensacola and Coastal Bend.
St. Paul, Sioux Falls, Sioux City and Lincoln left the Northern League last month to join the American Association.
"The Cats are pleased to be a part of the American Association," said Cats owner Carl Bell. "I am excited about the future of baseball in Fort Worth. With the growing popularity of Independent minor league baseball in the country and in Texas, the future is bright for the Cats."
The league's 10th team is expected to be announced within the next month.
The original American Association operated from 1902-1962 and again from 1969-1997 as a Triple-A League. The Cats were members of the American Association from 1959-1963. St. Paul was in the league from 1902-1960.
Both teams' history includes stints in the Brooklyn Dodgers' minor league system. Cats' manager Wayne Terwilliger, who recently retired following three seasons as the Fort Worth skipper, also served as the Saints' first base coach from 1995-2002.
Miles Wolff, commissioner of the Can-Am League and veteran minor-league executive has been named the commissioner of the American Association.
"These clubs are a great addition to the American Association," said Wolff. "It's an exciting day for the league and an exciting day for independent baseball. "
Wolff helped establish the Northern League in 1993, the first modern independent league. He also owned the Durham Bulls in the 1980s and was later president and publisher of Baseball America for 18 years.
American Association Stories from October 24, 2005
- Pelicans Join American Association of Professional Baseball - Pensacola Pelicans
- Diablos join American Association - El Paso Diablos
- Saltdogs welcome new teams to league - Lincoln Saltdogs
- American Association expands by five teams - AA
- American Association expands by five teams - AA
- Cats join American Association - Fort Worth Cats
- Aviators tab Chad Tredaway as director of baseball operations for 2006 - Coastal Bend Aviators
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