Constellation Energy League
ClassificationIndependent
SportBaseball
Founded2020
Ceased2020
No. of teams4
CountryUnited States
HeadquartersSugar Land, Texas
Venue(s)Constellation Field
Last
champion(s)		Sugar Land Skeeters[a]

The Constellation Energy League was an independent baseball league that operated in Texas during 2020 because of COVID-19 restrictions limiting travel, and as a way to create opportunities for minor league players.[1]

History

The league consisted of four teams,[2] each managed by a former Major League Baseball (MLB) player:[3]

Team Manager Roster
Eastern Reyes del Tigre Dave Eiland link
Sugar Land Lightning Sloths Greg Swindell link
Sugar Land Skeeters[b] Pete Incaviglia link
Team Texas Roger Clemens and son Koby Clemens link

The teams were made up of former MLB players as well as other minor league and independent professional players. Each team was scheduled to play 28 games, including seven-inning doubleheaders every weekend.[4] The league's season was planned to begin on July 3, but was pushed back to July 10 due to a spike in COVID-19 cases.[5] Even with the delay, the league began play two weeks before the start of the 2020 MLB season.[6]

All games were played at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, Texas.[7] Parking was included with ticket prices to limit staff and fan interactions and up to 1800 ticket-holders were seated in a socially distanced fashion within the 7500-seat stadium.[8] No games were canceled due to COVID-19 cases, and the league operated for five weeks without any positive COVID-19 test results.[9] Players received $1600 per month, with exposure to MLB teams being the main reason for playing; at least five players in the league were subsequently added to MLB rosters.[3]

Results and honors

The Sugar Land Skeeters finished with the best record in the four-team league.[10][11][a] A most-valuable player (MVP) was named for each team.[15]

Team Record Win pct. MVP (statistics)
Sugar Land Skeeters 17–11 .607 Dustin Peterson (.309/.400/.500 slash line)
Eastern Reyes Del Tigre 14–14 .500 Ford Proctor (.346/.500/.679 slash line)
Sugar Land Lightning Sloths 14–14 .500 Jamie Westbrook (18 RBIs, 5 home runs)
Team Texas 11–17 .393 Kody Clemens (.416 slugging percentage)

An all-star team was also named:[16]

Notes

  1. ^ a b Baseball reference sites, which appear to account for tie games differently, list Eastern Reyes del Tigre atop league standings.[12][13][14]
  2. ^ "The 2020 team does not necessarily reflect the 2019 Atlantic League roster that played under the same title."[4]

References

  1. ^ Marrion, Jack (2020-09-08). "Clemens earns Constellation Energy League all-star spot". Chron. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  2. ^ "Constellation Energy League Announces Team Names and Logos". Sugar Land Skeeters. 2020-07-02. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-05 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ a b Nightengale, Bob (September 5, 2020). "Indy baseball leagues have become 'life-savers'". USA Today. p. B1. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b Conlon, Paul (2020-07-22). "Sugar Land Skeeters: How the franchise re-invented itself in COVID-19 world". House of Houston. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  5. ^ "Constellation Energy League to Be Delayed to July 10". Sugar Land Skeeters. June 29, 2020. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ Southern, Joe (2020-07-15). "Constellation Energy League gets first five games under its belt". The Sealy News. Archived from the original on 2020-08-11. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  7. ^ "Skeeters Intend to Host Four-Team Pro Baseball League at Constellation Field". Sugar Land Skeeters. 2020-06-10. Archived from the original on September 12, 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-05 – via Wayback Machine.
  8. ^ "Tickets for Constellation Energy League to go on sale June 24". Atlantic League Professional Baseball. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  9. ^ Nightengale, Bob (September 5, 2020). "Indy baseball leagues have become 'life-savers' (cont'd)". USA Today. p. B2. Retrieved May 22, 2021 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Marrion, Jack (September 8, 2020). "Clemens earns Constellation Energy League all-star spot". Chron.com. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  11. ^ Dunsmore, Ryan (August 29, 2020). "Skeeters win Constellation Energy League title". Fort Bend Herald. Retrieved November 20, 2020.
  12. ^ "DakStats WebSync".
  13. ^ "2020 Constellation Energy League".
  14. ^ "2020 Constellation Energy League Standings". Stats Crew.
  15. ^ "Constellation Energy League Team MVPs". Sugar Land Skeeters. September 2, 2020. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
  16. ^ "Constellation Energy League All-Star Team". Sugar Land Skeeters. September 3, 2020. Archived from the original on September 21, 2020 – via Wayback Machine.
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