Pensacola Pelicans to Join Central League

Published on January 12, 2004 under Central Baseball League (Central League) News Release

Independent baseball's landscape will change for the 2004 season with an announcement today that the Pensacola Pelicans, a member of the Southeastern League in 2002 and 2003, will join the Central Baseball League. The Pelicans are purchasing the Springfield-Ozark Mountain Ducks franchise of the Central League and moving it to Pensacola, Florida.

The Pelicans are owned by Quint and wife Rishy Studer. The Studers are Pensacola residents. Quint is president of The Studer Group, one of the nation's leading health care organizations. The CEO of the Pelicans is Tony Atchley. Bernie Carbo, former Boston Red Sox great, is expected to remain as field manager.

The Pelicans play in Pelican Park on the campus of the University of West Florida. Capacity of the facility is 2500. For the past two seasons the Pelicans have led the Southeastern League both in the standings and in attendance.

CBL Commissioner Miles Wolff commented, "We are very excited about having Pensacola in the Central League. It is a great city with great team ownership. We expect them to be one of the leading franchises in the league."

The Central Baseball League is an eight-team independent league with teams in Jackson, MS; Shreveport, LA; Ft. Worth, TX; San Angelo, TX; Amarillo, TX; Edinburg, TX; and Coastal Bend (Robstown), TX. This is the 11th season for the league. It was originally formed as the Texas-Louisiana League in 1994 and became the Central League in 2002.

Central Baseball League Stories from January 12, 2004

• Pensacola Pelicans to Join Central League - Central League

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