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Fullerton Flyers

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Fullerton Flyers

The Fullerton Flyers were a professional baseball team based in Fullerton, California, in the United States. They were an independent franchise, not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. The team played from 2005 to 2010 and their home stadium was at "The Station" at Goodwin Field, which is also the home field for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.

The Flyers were an original charter team of the Golden Baseball League. After the collapse of that league, they were scheduled to join the new independent North American League, but sat out the 2011 season as they negotiated plans for a new stadium with the city of Fullerton. Those stadium plans never materialized.

In May 2012, they announced they were joining the American West Baseball League (AWBL) and would play in 2013, but they left the league before it was to start.

The team was original owned by the Golden Baseball League and its primary owners Diamond Sports & Entertainment. They were then sold to the Orange County Group, led by investor and actor James Denton, in 2007 and renamed the Orange County Flyers. They were then sold to Western Sports & Entertainment Group on November 23, 2011, and went back to the Fullerton Flyers. Following the folding of the NAL, they were then sold on April 13, 2012, to Godfather Media, which also owned the Yuma Panthers (now the Yuma Desert Rats). However, when Godfather Media owner Michael Cummings resigned as C.E.O. of the league, the team's franchise ownership reverted to the previous owners, Western Sports & Entertainment Group, based out of the Los Angeles area.

The Flyers were one of the original eight GBL charter teams that started in 2005 along with the Chico Outlaws, Long Beach Armada and San Diego Surf Dawgs in California; Mesa Miners, Surprise Fightin' Falcons and Yuma Scorpions in Arizona and the traveling Japan Samurai Bears (who played in the Arizona Division).

The team officially unveiled its name and logo on January 27, 2005, at Fullerton Train Station. On the same day, they introduced their new general manager, Fullerton native Ed Hart. Hart ran the team for the first three seasons.

The Flyers clinched their first playoff spot ever by winning the second-half division title in 2006. However, they ultimately lost the GBL championship to the Reno Silver Sox, 3 games to 1. First baseman Peanut Williams was named the 2006 GBL Most Valuable Player and hit a league record 20 home runs for the season. RHP Chris Jakubauskas was named the league's Pitcher of the Year for the 2006 season.

The Flyers were sold on March 21, 2007, to an investment group called the Orange County Group. One of the investors was James Denton, part of the cast of Desperate Housewives. The sale of the Flyers made them the first Golden Baseball League team to ever be sold to a private investment group. On March 28, 2007, they changed their name to the Orange County Flyers, but kept their team colors (blue and orange).

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