The Edinburg Roadrunners were a professional baseball team based in Edinburg, Texas, in the United States. The Roadrunners were a member of the United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. They played in United League Baseball from 2006 to 2010 and the North American League from 2011 to 2012.[citation needed] They played their home games at Edinburg Stadium. The city refused to extend a lease for the 2014 season and with nowhere to play the team shut down.
History
The Edinburg Roadrunners started play in the Texas–Louisiana League in 2001, an independent baseball league not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. All games were played at Edinburg Stadium. They won the league title that year, which was the last before a rebranding led to the league being known as the Central Baseball League. They won the 2004 title in a sweep. The league disbanded in 2005, with half of the teams (Fort Worth Cats, Shreveport-Bossier Sports, Pensacola Pelicans, Coastal Bend Aviators, and El Paso Diablos) electing to join the American Association of Professional Baseball while the other half (Alexandria Aces, Amarillo Dillas, Laredo Broncos, Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings and San Angelo Colts) joined to make United League Baseball. However, the Roadrunners had folded prior to the league closing. In its place would be a new team in Edinburg christened the Edinburg Coyotes.The Coyotes began their existence by winning a historic 17 games without a loss, a minor league record, completing over 5 series before finally losing to the San Angelo Colts. The Coyotes went on to win the inaugural United League regular season title before losing to the Alexandria Aces in the league championship. After spending its first three seasons as the Coyotes, United League Baseball at a press conference on April 30, 2009 announced the franchise would become the Edinburg Roadrunners, named after the prior popular ball club, including its team logo and mascot.
The Roadrunners played 2009 and 2010 in the ULB before moving on to the North American League in 2011, where they played two seasons. They played one final season in 2013 with the United League. In their final season (consisting of a six-team league that saw two teams fold), they won the championship.
Major League players
Managers
- Chad Tredaway (2001–04)
- Vince Moore (2004–05)
- Steve Maddock (2011)
All-Stars
2001
- Scott Fowler, RHP (Rookie of the Year)
- Sergio Guerrero, 2B
- Ryan Harris, RHP
- Chad Tredaway, Manager (Manager of the Year)
2002
- Pedro Cervantes, RP
- Scott Green, RHP
- Steve Shirley, 3B (Rookie of the Year)
- Chad Tredaway, Manager (Manager of the Year)
2003
2004
- Anthony Angel, 2B
- Pedro Flores, LHP
- Ryan Harris, RHP
- Ryan Lehr, IF
- Eric Montoya, RHP
- Ryan Webb, OF
2005
- Matt Spencer, OF
- Steve Wilkerson, P
Major League players
Connections with current Edinburg Roadrunners
Connections between the original and current Edinburg Roadrunners include the same name, logo, colors, mascot Rowdy the Roadrunner, manager Vince Moore, CBL/ULB All-Star Eric Gonzalez, Pitcher Pedro Flores, and playing at Edinburg Baseball Stadium. The Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings have been a rival of both teams.
