Lethbridge Black Diamonds

Lethbridge Black Diamonds
Minor league affiliations
ClassRookie Advanced
LeaguePioneer League
DivisionNorth Division
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles none
Team data
Name
  • Lethbridge Black Diamonds (1996–1998)
  • Lethbridge Mounties (1992–1995)
BallparkHenderson Stadium

The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a minor league baseball team located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.[1] The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992–1995[2] before becoming the Lethbridge Black Diamonds from 1996–1998. They were one of the first two farm clubs of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Only 16 months after Arizona was granted a major league baseball franchise, the first farm club — the Lethbridge Black Diamonds — took the field.[3] The team started playing two years before their parent club even played a game. The team played their first game in June 1996, whereas the Arizona Diamondbacks started playing in April 1998.[3] The team played in the Pioneer League,[4] which is a rookie league, with a shortened season, in Minor League Baseball.[5] Their home stadium was Henderson Stadium.[1] In 1999, the team was moved and became the Missoula Osprey.[6]

Team history

Within their first year, in 1996, the Lethbridge Black Diamonds had the best record going 50-22 before falling in the opening round of the playoffs.[citation needed] With manager Chris Speier, they led the league in defence/pitching, with 339 runs allowed which was 102 less than the number two place,[7] and in offense, with 637 runs, which was 94 more than the next team in the league.[citation needed] The team drew in 49,124 fans that year. There were many All-Star players on the team the first year.

The second season manager Tommy Jones led the team to a 39-33 record, which tied them for third in the league with the Idaho Falls Braves,[8] but the Black Diamonds fell within the first round of the playoffs. During 1997, no player on the team made the All-Star team or lead the Pioneer League in any key stat.[citation needed]

The last season the Black Diamonds were in Lethbridge they went 43-32 with manage Joe Almaraz. The team defeated Great Falls Dodgers 2 games to 1, then lost in the finals to Idaho Falls Braves.[9]

Notable alumni

1996

  • Kevin Sweeney[10] – league MVP – who also led the Pioneer League in average, slugging, OBP, runs and walks which was 94 more than the next team in the league.[citation needed]
  • Vladimir Núñez – led the circuit in ERA by a full point[11] and was voted top prospect in the league
  • Nick Bierbrodt – rated #3 prospect in the league
  • Larry Rodriguez[12] – voted #4 prospect within the league

1997

Players who played in the Major Leagues

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Henderson Stadium at digitalballparks.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. Archived 07-01-10
  2. ^ Lethbridge Team History at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. Archived 07-01-10
  3. ^ a b D-Backs' minor league affiliate begins play tonight at google.com/newspaper, URL accessed November 11, 2011.
  4. ^ Pioneer League (Rookie) Encyclopedia and History at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. Archived 07-01-10
  5. ^ Minor League Baseball Rookie at wikipedia.org, URL accessed November 10, 2011.
  6. ^ Raising the Boys of Summer by Chad Dundas at missoulanews.bigskypress.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. Archived 07-01-10
  7. ^ 1996 Pioneer League Standings at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 9, 2011.
  8. ^ 1997 Pioneer League Standings at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011
  9. ^ Yearly Minor League Baseball Standing 1998 Playoffs at minorleaguebaseball.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011.
  10. ^ Kevin John Sweeney Stats Profile at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011
  11. ^ Vladimir Nunez Stats Profile at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011
  12. ^ Larry Rodriguez Stats Profile at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethbridge_Mounties