Lubbock Crickets
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The Lubbock Crickets were the first minor league baseball team to play in Lubbock, Texas after a 39-year hiatus.[citation needed] The Crickets joined the Texas-Louisiana League in 1995 as the first team not known as the Lubbock Hubbers.[citation needed] The team was named after Buddy Holly's band, The Crickets.[1]
The Crickets started off strong, going 31-19 in the first half of '95 season.[citation needed] They fell to 22-28 in the second half, but then beat the Amarillo Dillas in the playoffs and the Alexandria Aces in the finals.[citation needed] The Crickets finished the '95 season with an overall record of 53-47, while also winning the league championship.[2] Managed by Greg Minton, Lubbock had one All-Star, shortstop Rouglas Odor. Odor was added to the team midseason and hit .287. Third baseman Frank Bolick (.355) was second in the TLL average while the staff was led by Frank DiPino (9-5, 12 Sv, 3.39).[citation needed]
1996
The Crickets went 27-23 in the first half of the '96 season, and 32-17 in the second half, finishing with an overall record of 59-40.[2] Lubbock beat the Rio Grande Valley WhiteWings in two games in the first round of the playoffs, but lost the championship game to the Abilene Prairie Dogs. Minton's team included several All-Stars: utility player Mike Hardge (.303, 28 SB), starting pitcher Steve Duda (11-8, 3.76) and starting pitcher Ron Gerstein (14-4, 3.56).[citation needed] 1st Baseman Chris Norton batted .380 with 15 home runs.[citation needed]
1997
In 1997 The Crickets struggled under new manager Glenn Sullivan, finishing with a record of 38-50.[2] Mike Hardge was again named to the All-Star team as a utility player.