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The Tucson Sidewinders (1998-present) are a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club. The Sidewinders play in Tucson Electric Park, located on the south side of Tucson.
For 28 years the Tucson Toros were an icon in the old pueblo bringing excitement and family fun to Hi Corbett Field. From 1969-97 the Toros were a Triple-A team in the Pacific Coast League winning the PCL Championships in 1991 and 1993.
After the MLB expansion that added the Arizona Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Toros were named to be the Triple-A club of the D'backs. The name was changed to "Sidewinders" after a "name the team" contest was held. The name is now more in line with the Diamondbacks as a result. For a few seasons on Tuesdays, the Sidewinders reverted back to throwback "Toros nights," wearing the old beloved Toros pinstriped uniforms. 2005 was the last season that Tucson held "Toros Tuesdays." However, Tuffy the Toro continues to make cameo appearances at the ballpark, joining the latest Tucson mascot: Sandy the Sidewinder.
With the coming of the Diamondbacks, a new ballpark was needed for spring training in Tucson, since the Colorado Rockies used Hi Corbett Field. Tucson Electric Park was built and became the spring training site for the both the D'backs and the Chicago White Sox. It also became home to the Tucson Sidewinders in 1998. This ended minor league baseball history at Hi Corbett Field, and broke a lot of hearts. Fans liked the idea of having a major league baseball team in Arizona, but the new stadium, new owner and new team name didn't sit well with some fans, resulting in low attendance records. However, the team has been very successful in recent years as a supplier of major league-quality players to the injury-prone Diamondbacks. Many individual Sidewinders have performed admirably in mid-season call-ups, sometimes returning to the major league club time and again as needed. This has earned the Sidewinders the nickname "Baby 'Backs."
See also
External link
"Tucson Sidewinders"