The San Diego Surf Dawgs are an independent professional baseball team representing San Diego, California, that played for two seasons in the Golden Baseball League, based out of San Ramon, California, and then later in the short-season instructional Arizona Winter League and Arizona Summer League, based out of Yuma, Arizona, which was not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. They were owned by Diamond Sports & Entertainment, previous owners of the GBL and primary investors in the North American League. In November 2022, it was announced the Surf Dawgs franchise will be revived as part of a west coast expansion of the Federal Baseball League.
Quick Facts Team logo, Cap insignia ...
San Diego Surf Dawgs |
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League | Federal Baseball League |
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Location | San Diego, California |
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Ballpark | 2023 venue unknown |
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Founded | 2005 |
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Folded | 2011 (reforming for 2023) |
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League championships | 1 (GBL, 2005; ASL, 2010) |
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Division championships | 1 (GBL California, 2005) |
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Former name(s) |
- San Diego Surf Dawgs (2005–06, 2008–present)
- Sonora Surf Dawgs (2007, AWL)
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Former league(s) | |
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Former ballparks | |
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Colors | Columbia blue, navy blue, gold, white |
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Ownership | 2023 ownership group unknown |
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Media | The San Diego Union-Tribune, Yuma Sun |
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Website | www.goldenbaseball.com/sandiego |
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Their home stadiums included Tony Gwynn Stadium, named after former San Diego Padres great Tony Gwynn and located on the campus of San Diego State University, and then Desert Sun Stadium in Yuma, Arizona, as part of the AWL and ASL. They were the inaugural GBL Champions in 2005 managed by former Tucson Padres manager Terry Kennedy. They were awarded the 2010 ASL Championship.
Arizona Winter League (2007–present)
The team joined the Arizona Winter League as the Sonora Surf Dawgs in January 2007,[2] but reverted to San Diego for the 2008 season. During the AWL regular season, they are managed by Cory Snyder, who also manages the GBL's St. George RoadRunners. In 2008, they were placed in the new American Division for the 2009 season along with the Blythe Heat, Palm Springs Chill and Yuma Scorpions.
The Surf Dawgs participated in a Lucha & Baseball exhibition game on June 25, 2009, along with some professional wrestlers against the Tucson Toros, which they won 8-3.[3]
Arizona Summer League (2009–2011)
The Surf Dawgs became a charter team of the new Arizona Summer League in June 2009. They played alongside the El Centro Imperials and Canada Miners in 2009 and then the Long Beach Armada and Bisbee Miners in 2010. They replaced the San Luis Atleticos and Yuma Scorpions, who were originally scheduled to play in the league, but were dropped prior to the start of the inaugural season. They began play on July 2. The Surf Dawgs, instead of the Scorpions, have become the first team to have played in all three leagues within the GBL system.[citation needed]
They were awarded the ASL Championship in 2010 and 2011.[citation needed]
Possible GBL return
The GBL has mentioned the possibility of the Surf Dawgs return to the league for 2010. The team still does not have a suitable ballpark to play on, but the league website is saying that it should change by 2010.[4] The team's official website was temporarily shut down in late June 2009, possibly for revamping as the team is expected to return according to the league. But the website returned in August.[citation needed]
Federal Baseball League and Return
In 2022, the Federal Baseball League announced a west coast expansion with a division of six tentative host cities: Fresno, Riverside, San Diego, Sonoma, Fullerton, and Stockton. In November 2022, it was announced the Surf Dawgs franchise will be revived for the FBL, with venue and ownership yet to be announced.