| Lethbridge Black Diamonds | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Class | Rookie Advanced |
| League | Pioneer League |
| Division | North Division |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Team |
|
| Minor league titles | |
| League titles | none |
| Team data | |
| Name |
|
| Ballpark | Henderson 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
- Rod Barajas (1996)
- Alex Cintron (1997-1998)
- Jack Cust (1998)
- Chris Speier (1996) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Junior Spivey (1996) MLB All-Star
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
- Jamie Puorto – was third in ERA[citation needed]
- Jhensy Sandoval – named top prospect of the season[citation needed]
Players who played in the Major Leagues
- Jason Conti – Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers
- Rob Ryan (baseball) – Arizona Diamondback, Oakland Athletics
- Rod Barajas – Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers
- José Antonio Núñez – Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres
- Junior Spivey – Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers
- Vladimir Núñez – Arizona Diamondbacks, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves
- Erik Sabel – Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers
- Nick Bierbrodt – Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers
- Ron Calloway – Montreal Expos
- Alex Cintrón – Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals
- Eric Knott – Arizona Diamondbacks, Montreal Expos
- Abraham Núñez (outfielder) – Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals
- Jack Cust – Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners
- Robby Hammock – Arizona Diamondbacks
- Mike Koplove – Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians
- Bret Prinz – Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox
See also
References
- ^ a b Henderson Stadium at digitalballparks.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. Archived 07-01-10
- ^ Lethbridge Team History at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. Archived 07-01-10
- ^ a b D-Backs' minor league affiliate begins play tonight at google.com/newspaper, URL accessed November 11, 2011.
- ^ Pioneer League (Rookie) Encyclopedia and History at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. Archived 07-01-10
- ^ Minor League Baseball Rookie at wikipedia.org, URL accessed November 10, 2011.
- ^ Raising the Boys of Summer by Chad Dundas at missoulanews.bigskypress.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. Archived 07-01-10
- ^ 1996 Pioneer League Standings at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 9, 2011.
- ^ 1997 Pioneer League Standings at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011
- ^ Yearly Minor League Baseball Standing 1998 Playoffs at minorleaguebaseball.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011.
- ^ Kevin John Sweeney Stats Profile at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011
- ^ Vladimir Nunez Stats Profile at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011
- ^ Larry Rodriguez Stats Profile at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011
