::: SOUTHWESTERN LEAGUE :::

Professional & Semi-Pro - USA & Mexico - League & Team Infomation

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September 1, 2009

DOUGLAS, ARIZONA - For some people what happened here 51 years ago has never been heard of. For others, the memory is like that of a fairy tale.
      In 1958, The Douglas Copper Kings accomplished what no other team in Major League or Minor League baseball ever has. All nine starters hit homeruns. Yes, you read that correctly. All nine starters for the Copper Kings sent the horsehide deep over the fence at a game in Chihuahua, Mexico.
      No team has ever gotten close to having all nine starters hit home runs. The Cincinnati Reds were able to hit eight homeruns in a game, but not by their starters, during the 1999 season but that was with pinch hitters. Douglas did it like no other.
It was August 19th, 1958 and the Copper Kings were playing in Chihuahua during the Class C Arizona-Mexico League. The Copper Kings were not known as a power hitting team but baseball is not necessarily about power but about defense and pitching as well.
      Defense had little to do with this game as the Copper Kings routed Chihuahua by a score of 22-8. Not an unusual score for the day, seems most games like that would just appear as a line score except for the local paper. BUT, this one was special.
      So special in fact that upon their return to Douglas, they were dubbed the “Douglas Nine”, complete with a picture in the local media. The picture had all of the starters in it and the heading read, “The Case of the Murdered Horsehide”. Imagine that, accused and guilty of driving the ball. The article and picture quickly made those involved heroes of sorts, but no one knew how long that record would stand.
      As if playing in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization wasn’t enough to get you noticed back in the day, this team had to do something so special that baseball has never seen it repeated. Actually, the chances of it being repeated decrease every season as the modern day player has become so specialized that pitchers rarely make contact, except for a select few, and weak hitting infielders are common place so long as they are able to be slick fielders.
      While the names may be forgotten by some, the feat will never be forgotten by baseball. The “Douglas Nine” who accomplished the unthinkable were by position; (Pitcher) Bob Clear; (Catcher) Rich Binford; (1st Base) Dutch Van Burkleo; (2nd Base) Luis Torres; (SS) Don Pulford; (3rd Base) Darrel McCall; (Left Field) Ron Wilkins; (Center Field) Andy Prevedello; and (Right Field) Fred Filipelli.
Of the 131 homeruns hit during that season, 9 of those were the most memorable.
      Will the new “Miner League” be able to make lighting strike again? That will not be known until the 2011 season finishes. But, one thing is for sure. These Nine Men and the legendary name they were give of the “Douglas Nine”, shall be the name that the newest semi-professional team in Douglas, Arizona will carry for the upcoming season.   “The Douglas Nine” is back.

CAN HISTORY REPEAT ITSELF IN DOUGLAS?