Arizona Fall League

Infobox sports league

pixels = 200px
caption = Arizona Fall League logo
sport = Baseball
founded = 1992
motto =
teams = 6
country = USA
champion = Phoenix Desert Dogs
folded =
website = [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/index.jsp?sid=l119 Official website] The Arizona Fall League is a minor league baseball league which operates during the fall in Arizona, United States at five spring training complexes.

tructure

Each August, Major League Baseball clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will go to Arizona. Most are Double-A and Triple-A Minor League players. Each club can opt to send one player considered a Single-A player. Only one foreign player is allowed, but only if that player does not come from a region that participates in winter ball. The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game. Play begins shortly after the end of MLB's regular season in early October, and ends in mid-November.

The Arizona Fall League teams are not exclusive affiliates of any one team; instead, each Major League team provides six players who team up to fill the 30-man roster of each team. MLB teams also send coaches. The affiliations generally change every year.

Notable players

A number of famous ballplayers have had stints in the Arizona Fall League. In 1994, the league got worldwide attention as Michael Jordan's first professional baseball league, when he played for the Scottsdale Scorpions. Other notable ballplayers who have played in the Arizona Fall League include David Wright, Nomar Garciaparra, Albert Pujols, and Ryan Braun.

Current teams

Standings

East

West

Championship history

Hall of Fame

2001
*Nomar Garciaparra, 1994 Scottsdale Scorpions
*Derek Jeter, 1994 Chandler Diamondbacks
*Mike Piazza, 1992 Sun Cities Solar Sox
*Dusty Baker, 1992 Scottsdale Scorpions

2002
*Jason Giambi, 1994 Peoria Javelinas
*Jerry Manuel, 1994 Maryvale Saguaros

2003
*Shawn Green, 1993 Scottsdale Scorpions
*Todd Helton, 1996 Peoria Javelinas
*Mike Scioscia, 1997 Peoria Javelinas

2004
*Garret Anderson, 1993 Tempe Rafters
*Albert Pujols, 2000 Scottsdale Scorpions
*Tony Peña, 2000, Maryvale Saguaros

2005
*Troy Percival, 1992 Scottsdale Scorpions
*Terry Francona, 1994 Scottsdale Scorpions

2006
*Roy Halladay, 1998 Grand Canyon Rafters
*Grady Little, 1992 Grand Canyon Rafters
*Alfonso Soriano, 1998 Grand Canyon Rafters

2007
*Torii Hunter, 1998 Phoenix Desert Dogs
*Derrek Lee, 1995-96 Sun Cities Solar Sox
*Jermaine Dye, 1995 Sun Cities Solar Sox
*Ken Macha, 1994 Tempe Rafters

External links

* [http://www.minorleaguebaseball.com/app/index.jsp?sid=l119 Arizona Fall League Official Website]