The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico .
34-565: The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class D Rio Grande Association . The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs, hitting 10 dingers for the season. These Dukes folded that same year. Albuquerque was host to two other Class D minor-league teams (the Dons and the Albuquerque Cardinals , the latter for which Tingley Field
68-513: A Los Angeles-area television station, broadcast several games live from Albuquerque Sports Stadium during the players' strike that disrupted the season . The station even brought along Don Drysdale to be the announcer. In addition, when the 1981 players strike ended, the Dukes played an exhibition game against the Dodgers at Dodger stadium as a tune-up for the Dodgers, the Dukes won the game, 1–0. The game
102-692: A half seasons with the Blue Jays, playing in 320 games and hitting 66 home runs. He won the American League Player of the Week Award for the week of May 6, 2001. Mondesí was traded by the Blue Jays to the New York Yankees on July 1, 2002, for Scott Wiggins . He played in 71 games for the Yankees that season and another 98 in 2003, hitting .250 with 27 home runs and 92 RBI. He had 3 hits in 12 at-bats for
136-581: A history in Portland. San Diego took over the Beavers/Dukes, and Los Angeles took Las Vegas, renaming the team the Las Vegas 51s for the famed alleged UFO spaceport, Area 51 , near Las Vegas . The Dukes' logo depicted a smiling cartoon version of a Spanish conquistador . That, and the team name reflecting Spanish nobility , likely reflect New Mexico's history as the earliest center of Spanish colonization in
170-581: A league meeting held at El Paso, July 5, it was decided to close the league because of sustaining losses. The league featured multiple notable players and managers, including those who would attain major league experience and those who had major league experience. They include Kitty Brashear , Frank Huelsman (who led the league with ten home runs), Rudy Kallio , Stoney McGlynn and Herb Hall . Douglas and Las Cruces disbanded May 24. The league disbanded July 6. Ra%C3%BAl Mondes%C3%AD Raúl Ramón Mondesí Avelino (born March 12, 1971)
204-616: A meeting held at the Hotel Sheldon, at El Paso, Texas, February 18, 1915. On May 4 the league was officially accepted into the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues. Tucson hosted Opening day April 26, Tucson defeated Phoenix 10-2. Nearly a month into the season, May 24, the Douglas and Las Cruces teams were dropped from the league due to financial difficulties. The teams' records were 5-13 and 5-14 respectively. At
238-621: A right fielder, he posted a .976 fielding percentage playing at all three outfield positions. In May 2006, running on the ballot of the Dominican Liberation Party , Mondesi was elected to a seat in the Dominican Republic's Chamber of Deputies , representing his home province San Cristóbal . In November 2007, he switched sides, aligning himself with the Dominican Revolutionary Party after discrepancies with
272-635: Is a Dominican former politician and baseball player. Mondesí played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for 13 seasons, primarily for the Los Angeles Dodgers , and made his MLB debut with them in 1993. He was the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year in 1994, an MLB All-Star , and a two-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner. Known for his combination of power and speed, Mondesí twice achieved
306-715: Is named. Among the well-known players to have served with the Dukes are Mike Piazza , Paul Konerko , Pedro Martínez , Orel Hershiser , Kirk Gibson (on major league rehab assignment), Mike Marshall , John Wetteland , Darryl Strawberry (on major league rehab assignment), Eric Karros , Mike Maddux , Raúl Mondesí , Chan Ho Park , Mike Scioscia , Dave Stewart , Rick Sutcliffe , Fernando Valenzuela , José Vizcaíno , Sid Bream , Rick Rhoden , Steve Sax , Greg Gagne , Eric Young , Mickey Hatcher , Tim Wallach (on major league rehab assignment), Davey Lopes , Steve Yeager , Tom Paciorek , José Offerman , Larry Hisle , Éric Gagné , Todd Hollandsworth , and Paul Lo Duca . One of
340-572: The 30–30 club . He led MLB right fielders in assists in three separate seasons over the course of his career. After baseball, Mondesí began a career in politics, gaining election to the Dominican Chamber of Deputies in 2006. In 2010, he became mayor of San Cristóbal in the Dominican Republic , serving a six-year term. In 2017, Mondesí was sentenced to eight years in prison on corruption charges arising from his mayoral tenure. Mondesí
374-624: The Cincinnati Reds . He was two for twelve in the 1996 National League Division Series against the Atlanta Braves , with two doubles. In 1997, he hit .310 with 30 homers, 88 RBI, and 32 steals becoming the first Dodger player in history to join the 30–30 club . He also won his second Rawlings Gold Glove Award and finished 15th in voting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award . In 1999, he again joined
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#1732848945423408-567: The Colorado Rockies . The Isotopes play at Isotopes Park , the completely renovated stadium that now stands at the site of the Dukes former home field, Albuquerque Sports Stadium . This award-winning stadium opened in 2003 and is shared with the University of New Mexico Lobos baseball team, hosting approximately 100 home games each year, as well as New Mexico United soccer team. Rio Grande Association The Rio Grande Association
442-550: The 30–30 club with 33 homers and 36 steals, though his average had dipped to .253. On November 8, 1999, Mondesí was traded by the Dodgers (along with Pedro Borbón Jr. ) to the Toronto Blue Jays for Shawn Green and minor league player Jorge Nunez. He only played in 96 games during his first season in Toronto after he tore ligaments in his right elbow during a game on July 21, which required season-ending surgery. He played two and
476-614: The Dukes began play in the Class A Western League as an affiliate of the New York Giants (now San Francisco Giants). In 1958 they switched to being the Cincinnati Reds affiliate, but the Western League folded at the end of the season. The Dukes returned to Albuquerque in 1960, playing as an affiliate for the Kansas City Athletics (now Oakland Athletics) in the Class D Sophomore League . In 1962 Kansas City management moved
510-699: The Dukes left Albuquerque in 2000, no replacement team had been found. In 2003, the Calgary Cannons were moved to Albuquerque as the Albuquerque Isotopes , a Triple-A affiliate of the Florida Marlins at the time. In 2009, the Isotopes became an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers , reuniting Albuquerque's relationship with the Dodgers from 2009 until 2014. Since 2015, they have been the Triple-A affiliate of
544-638: The Dukes name was revived and the team moved up to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League . The Dodgers transferred the Spokane Indians to Albuquerque after the 1971 season. Ironically, that franchise was a charter member of the PCL in 1903 as the original Los Angeles Angels , who had been displaced by the Dodgers in 1958 to spend the next 14 years in Spokane. With future Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda at
578-532: The Dukes, hitting .280 with 12 homers and 13 steals. He made his MLB debut for the Dodgers on July 19, 1993, against the Philadelphia Phillies , hitting a single to center field as a pinch hitter in seventh inning against David West for his first major league hit. He hit his first home run, a two-run shot off Bob Scanlan in the 13th inning of a game against the Chicago Cubs on July 31. He returned to
612-640: The Week (April 30 and July 5), he won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award and was selected to the 1995 Major League Baseball All-Star Game . He flew out to right field in his one at-bat in the All-Star game. He also competed in the Home Run Derby . Overall, he hit .285 with 26 home runs, 88 RBI, and 14 stolen bases. He had two hits in nine at-bats for the Dodgers in the 1995 National League Division Series loss to
646-649: The Yankees in the 2002 American League Division Series against the Anaheim Angels . The Yankees traded Mondesí on July 29, 2003, to the Arizona Diamondbacks for David Dellucci , Bret Prinz and minor leaguer John Prowl. In 45 games with the Diamondbacks, he hit .302 with eight home runs. Mondesí signed as a free agent with the Pittsburgh Pirates on February 24, 2004. By May he was talking of leaving
680-659: The disabled list. He was released by the Angels in July for not showing up for his rehab therapy. The Atlanta Braves signed Mondesí in 2005; he appeared in 41 games with the team before the Braves released him on May 31. In 1525 games over 13 seasons, Mondesí recorded a .273 batting average (1589-for-5814) with 909 runs , 319 doubles , 49 triples , 271 home runs , 860 RBI , 229 stolen bases , 475 walks , .331 on-base percentage , and .485 slugging percentage . Defensively, although primarily
714-407: The government over humanitarian aid to be given to his province after Tropical Storm Noel . He was elected mayor of his hometown on May 16, 2010, for a six-year term. In September 2017, Mondesi was sentenced to eight years in prison and ordered to pay a $ 1.3 million fine for corruption and mishandling of public funds during his term as mayor of San Cristóbal. In 2024, Mondesi was re-sentenced to
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#1732848945423748-491: The helm, the Dukes amassed a 92–58 record and won the PCL championship, the first of eight for the franchise. That 1972 team, featuring future big leaguers Charlie Hough , Davey Lopes , Ron Cey , Larry Hisle , Tom Paciorek , and Von Joshua (among others). Much of that team, including Lasorda, helped the Dodgers win pennants in 1977, 1978 and 1981, and a World Series in 1981. The 1981 club, powered by sluggers Mike Marshall and Candy Maldonado and managed by Del Crandall ,
782-602: The minors after the August 6 games, but was back with the Dodgers for good in September. He appeared in 42 games that season for the Dodgers, hitting .291 with four home runs. Mondesí made the Dodgers opening day roster in 1994 and played in 112 games, hitting .306 with 16 homers, 56 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. He was selected as the National League Rookie of the Year . In 1995, he was twice selected as National League Player of
816-512: The most popular players in Dukes history was Brian Traxler , who only played 14 games in the major leagues. In 1954, Albuquerque native and future United States Senator Peter V. Domenici earned an education degree at New Mexico State University and signed on with the Dukes for whom he pitched for one year. Among the managers of the Dukes were Lasorda, Del Crandall , Bill Russell, Kevin Kennedy , Rick Dempsey , Terry Collins and Mike Scioscia. When
850-458: The present-day United States. It is generally believed that the city of Albuquerque was named in honor of Don Francisco Fernández de la Cueva , viceroy of New Spain from 1653 to 1660. One of de la Cueva's aristocratic titles was Duke of Alburquerque , referring to the Spanish town of Alburquerque. Thus, the moniker "Dukes" commemorated the original Duke of Alburquerque, for whom the city of Albuquerque
884-409: The team for personal reasons, involving a legal dispute, in the Dominican Republic. He left the team on May 11, 2004, and his contract was terminated a week later. The Anaheim Angels signed Mondesí on May 30, 2004. The deal was investigated by Major League Baseball , but the Angels were cleared of any wrongdoing. Shortly after Mondesí signed with the Angels, he tore his quadriceps and was placed on
918-640: The team to the Double-A Texas League , but dropped the team at the end of the season. The Los Angeles Dodgers began what would be a 47-year relationship with the club in 1963, and changed the name to the Albuquerque Dodgers in 1965. In 1969, the team moved from Tingley Field to the Albuquerque Sports Stadium , a fully modern facility on the south edge of town, near the UNM area. In 1972,
952-554: Was a Class D minor baseball league that lasted for less than one season, 1915. The league initially consisted of six teams based in Texas , Arizona and New Mexico : the Albuquerque Dukes , Douglas Miners , El Paso Mackmen , Las Cruces Farmers , Phoenix Senators and Tucson Old Pueblos . By May 24, the Miners and Farmers had disbanded and on July 6, the league disbanded. The league
986-521: Was also a dominant team, winning both halves of the South Division with a 94–38 record and sweeping the Tacoma Rainiers to win their third league title. Their .712 winning percentage was the second-best in PCL history at the time. The 1981 Dukes were recognized as the eleventh best minor league baseball team of all time , and the only team in the top 20 to play after 1943. During that season, KTLA ,
1020-550: Was built) before the Dukes returned in 1942, this time with the Class D West Texas–New Mexico League . The Dukes went 24-30, but withdrew from competition in June of that year. The league was silent from 1943 to 1945 due to World War II, but play resumed in 1946 with the Dukes returning to the league, which was reclassified as Class C. In 1955 the West Texas–;New Mexico League stepped up one more level, to Class B. In 1956
1054-692: Was founded by John McCloskey , who also founded the Texas League . Each team that appeared in the Rio Grande Association was the first professional baseball team to come out of their respective cities, often predating their successors by many years. For example, after its appearance in the Association, Phoenix and Tucson did not again have a professional team until 1928; El Paso until 1930; Albuquerque until 1932; Douglas until 1948 and Las Cruces until 2010. The league officially started after
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1088-795: Was originally signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1988 out of the Dominican Republic . With the Great Falls Dodgers in 1990, he hit .303 with 30 stolen bases and was selected to the Pioneer League All-Star team. In 1991, he played in 21 games with the Bakersfield Dodgers , 53 games with the San Antonio Missions , and 2 with the Albuquerque Dukes hitting .277 with 8 home runs and 18 stolen bases. In 1992, he played 18 games with San Antonio and 35 with Albuquerque, hitting .296. He spent all of 1993 with
1122-485: Was televised in Albuquerque on KNAT-TV 23. In the early 1990s, future stars such as Mike Piazza , Pedro Martínez , John Wetteland , Raúl Mondesí , Paul Konerko , and many more came through on their way to 'The Show.' The team won PCL titles in 1990 and '94, and posted the PCL's best overall record in 1991. By then, however, the Dukes were growing dissatisfied with their longtime home, Albuquerque Sports Stadium . It
1156-744: Was the oldest facility in the PCL, and was increasingly in disrepair. In 2000, the Lozinak family, absentee owners who resided in Maryland, sold the franchise to an interest group in Portland, Oregon . Following that season, the Dukes were moved and renamed the Portland Beavers . The Dodgers traded Triple-A franchises with the San Diego Padres , who had the Las Vegas Stars franchise as an affiliate, but who had
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