The El Paso Chihuahuas (Class AAA; Pacific Coast League) will host the 2019 Triple-A All-Star Game at Southwest University Park. Full scheduling details for the July 2019 game will be revealed at a later date.
The game showcases the best players of Triple-A Baseball’s Pacific Coast and International Leagues. The multi-day event includes a number of major events, including the fan favorite Home Run Derby.
“We’re proud to have another opportunity to show off El Paso and Southwest University Park to a national audience as the host of the 2019 Triple-A Baseball All-Star Game,” said MountainStar Sports and El Paso Chihuahuas president, Alan Ledford. “This is a wonderful opportunity for Chihuahuas fans to see the next generation of future Major League stars right here in El Paso.”
Joining Ledford in the announcement are Josh Hunt, co-owner, vice chairman and CEO of MountainStar Sports Group; Pat O’Conner, president and CEO of Minor League Baseball; Branch Rickey, president of the Pacific Coast League; Randy Mobley, president of the International League; the Honorable Oscar Leeser, mayor of El Paso; Bryan Crowe, general manager of Destination El Paso; and Brad Taylor, general manager of the El Paso Chihuahuas.
“The Triple-A All-Star Game is a marquee event for all of Minor League Baseball,” said Minor League Baseball’s president and CEO Pat O’Conner. “To bring together the top caliber of players for this event makes it a showcase event. I can think of no better venue to play this game than in El Paso. What has happened in El Paso is no surprise given the first rate ownership, management and affiliation put together for the passionate fans in the region.”
“I am so enjoying this announcement because not only is it a showcase event we can bring to the City of El Paso but it shows off a magnificent organization in MountainStar Sports Group and the Chihuahuas, and an El Paso fan base also, to the rest of the country,” said the president of the Pacific Coast League, Branch Rickey. “On top of all that, it’s just such good fun and families will love it.”
The All-Star game is celebrating its 30th year in 2017 as the Tacoma Rainiers (Seattle Mariners) play host to the game that alternates annually between the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the International League (IL).
Started in 1988, the game features the International League vs. the Pacific Coast League. The International League has bested the PCL with a 12-7 record and alumni include Derek Jeter, Chipper Jones, Pedro Martinez and Mike Piazza to name a few.
“The International League is excited to be part of bringing the national spotlight on Triple-A Baseball back to El Paso and Southwest University Park,” said Randy Mobley, International League president. “The Chihuahuas operation and this ballpark represent all that is great about Minor League Baseball. The fans and corporate community of greater El Paso have earned the opportunity to host this game with their tremendous support during the past three seasons.”
This is the second Triple-A Baseball national event hosted at Southwest University Park. The Gildan Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game was played on September 22, 2015 with the Pacific Coast League’s Fresno Grizzlies (Houston Astros) defeating the Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Indians), 7-0.