El Paso Diablos - Team History - From Sun Kings To Diablos

From Sun Kings To Diablos

In 1974, Jim Paul bought the team, creating what is arguably the golden age of El Paso baseball. The name was changed from the Sun Kings to the Diablos; Paul also held numerous promotions and promoted a lively, fan-friendly atmosphere at the ballpark. The Diablos became the first Double A team to ever draw 300,000 fans. The Dodgers’ partnership with the Diablos ended in 1974, after which the Diablos resumed their affiliation with the Angels from 1974 until 1981 (the Dodgers' AA affiliate moved to San Antonio). In 1978 the Diablos completed a 9 game winning streak to back-door the TL Western Division Championship and then swept the Jackson Mets in a best of 5 series to claim the Texas League banner. During that 12 game winning streak, the San Diego Chicken (renamed the Famous Chicken) made his debut outside the San Diego region by performing in the final regular game of the season before a sold out stadium. It was the catalyst to relaunch his career during his hiatus from San Diego due to court injunctions that prevented him from performing for the Padres. Among the many Diablos who played in the Major Leagues include Willie Mays Aikens, Carney Lansford, Ken Schrom, Brian Harper, Danny Goodwin, Floyd Rayford, Ken Landreaux, Mark Clear, Mike Witt, Daryl Sconiers and Tom Brunansky.

In 1980, the Diablos began airing all of their baseball games on radio station KTSM AM-1380, with current UTEP football announcer Jon Teicher as one of its first play-by-play announcers.

In 1981, the Diablos became an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, a relationship which lasted until 1999. Tony Muser was the manager for the first two seasons.

Also in 1981, Texaco installed a $70,000 electronic scoreboard at Dudley Field. The Diablos won the Texas League Pennant in 1986. In 1988, the Diablos also had a young prospect named Gary Sheffield.

However, as the decade continued, the old Dudley Dome was showing its age. It became apparent that the team would need a new facility, as the city was expanding and the area around the Dudley Dome was becoming increasingly destitute. Construction began in the growing Northeast area of El Paso on a new facility, with the stadium completed in time for the 1990 season. In 1989. the Diablos said farewell to the Dudley Dome, their home of 65 years, and greeted their new ballpark, Cohen Stadium, named after the Cohen brothers, who had returned to El Paso to work for the club. Both Cohen brothers died within 6 months of each other in El Paso in 1988. The Dudley Dome continued to have tenants however, hosting the El Paso Patriots Soccer Club before its current tenant, the El Paso Scorpions Rugby Club. The Dome was finally demolished on November 5, 2005.

In 1990, Cohen Stadium opened to the public, becoming an immediate success for the team. That same year, it became the only minor league ballpark to grace the cover of National Geographic. The Diablos won the Texas League pennant again in 1994 and remained competitive for several years after.

In 1999, the Diablos ended their relationship with Brewers, and soon agreed to become the Double A affiliate for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Around the same time, Paul, after years of building the Diablos into the model franchise, sold the team to Brett Sports and Entertainment, a sports conglomerate headed by former major leaguer George Brett.

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