The Long Beach Armada Professional Baseball Team played its first season in the summer of 2005. Long Beach (along with the San Diego Surf Dawgs, Chico Outlaws, Fullerton Flyers, Yuma Scorpions, Mesa Miners, Surprise Fighting Falcons and Japan Samuri Bears) was a charter member of the Golden Baseball League, an independent professional league founded to promote the game on the west coast. While the league has since expanded into new markets (St. George, Utah; Tucson, Arizona; Calgary, Albert; Edmonton, Alberta; Victoria, BC; and now Tijuana, Mexico), the Long Beach Armada has remained a constant not only in the league, but in the post-season.
In the team's first four seasons, the Armada have reached the playoffs three times, including a berth in the GBL Championship Series in 2007. Former MLB All-Star Darrel Evans managed the team from 2005-07 before former Dodgers World Series Co-MVP Steve Yeager captained the "Fleet" in 2008. The 2009 season brings former Triple-A skipper and perhaps the greatest switch-hitter of all time Garry Templeton to Long Beach as manager. Templeton - who managed in the GBL for the Fullerton/OC Flyers from 2005-07 - will look to take a team that finished one game away from the Championship Series and bring a title to Long Beach.
(read less)The Long Beach Armada Professional Baseball Team played its first season in the summer of 2005. Long Beach (along with the San Diego Surf Dawgs, Chico Outlaws, Fullerton Flyers, Yuma Scorpions, Mesa Miners, Surprise Fighting Falcons and Japan Samuri Bears) was a charter member of the Golden Baseball League, an independent professional league founded to promote the game on the west coast. While the league has since expanded into new markets (St. George, Utah; Tucson, Arizona; Calgary, Albert;...
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