Lethbridge Black Diamonds
Minor league baseball team
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
Team roster 1996
Age
B
T
Ht
Wt
DoB
Birthplace
Brad Allison
22
R
R
5 11.0
220
Nov 24 1973
Lexington KY US
Dallas Anderson
22
R
R
6 4.0
210
Feb 27 1974
Kindersley SK CA
Beau Baltzell
22
R
R
5 11.0
215
Aug 2 1973
Omaha NE US
Rod Barajas
20
R
R
6 2.0
250
Sep 5 1975
Ontario CA US
Justin Bice
21
R
R
6 3.0
210
Apr 17 1975
Renton WA US
Nick Bierbrodt
18
L
L
6 5.0
215
May 16, 1978
Tarzana CA US
Mike Boughton
21
S
R
6 3.0
180
Nov 8 1974
Syracuse NY US
Mark Chavez
23
R
R
5 11.0
185
May 1, 1973
Jason Conti
21
L
R
5 11.0
180
Jan 27 1975
Pittsburgh PA US
Jason Crews
22
R
R
6 2.0
205
Aug 28 1973
Fort Lauderdale FL US
Clay Crossan
22
R
R
6 1.0
175
Aug 30 1973
Portland OR US
Reggie Davis
21
R
R
5 11.0
215
Nov 12 1974
Austell GA US
Johnny Done
20
R
R
5 11.0
165
Nov 25 1975
Ryan Duffy
23
R
L
6 3.0
185
Jun 1 1973
Wallaceburg ON CA
Jamie Gann
21
R
R
6 3.0
191
May 1, 1975
Fort Leonard Wood MO US
Scott Glasser
20
R
R
6 1.0
170
Dec 9 1975
Anaheim CA US
Javier Gomez
22
R
R
6 1.0
195
Dec 10 1973
Brett Hardy
22
L
L
6 0.0
180
Dec 22 1973
Costa Mesa CA US
Ron Hartman
21
R
R
6 1.0
200
Dec 12 1974
Baltimore MD US
David Hayman
21
R
R
5 10.0
197
Jul 9 1974
Kirk Kinard
22
R
R
6 0.0
175
Mar 7 1974
Josh Kliner
23
S
R
5 11.0
180
Dec 27 1972
Jason Moore
20
R
R
6 3.0
240
Jul 16 1975
Charleston WV US
Ben Norris
18
L
L
6 3.0
185
Dec 6 1977
Austin TX US
Jose Nunez
20
R
R
5 8.0
180
Mar 4 1976
Brooklyn NY US
Vladimir Núñez
21
R
R
6 5.0
235
Mar 15 1975
La Habana La Habana CU
George Oleksik
22
R
R
6 4.0
210
Apr 19 1974
Cleveland OH US
Chip Rhea
22
S
R
6 1.0
190
Jul 24 1973
Larry Rodriguez
21
R
R
6 2.0
195
Sep 9 1974
Guanajay CU
Rob Ryan
23
L
L
5 11.0
190
Jun 24 1973
Havre MT US
Erik Sabel
21
R
R
6 3.0
193
Oct 14 1974
Lafayette IN US
Javier Samboy
21
L
L
6 2.0
160
Feb 13 1975
Junior Spivey
21
R
R
6 0.0
185
Jan 28 1975
Oklahoma City OK US
Mike Stoner
23
R
R
5 10.0
210
May 23, 1973
Shelbyville KY US
Kevin Sweeney
22
L
L
5 11.0
195
Mar 30 1974
Buffalo NY US
Joe Verplancke
21
R
R
6 2.0
200
May 11, 1975
Long Beach CA US
Team roster 1997
Age
B
T
Ht
Wt
DoB
Birthplace
Dallas Anderson
23
R
R
6 4.0
210
Feb 27 1974
Kindersley SK CA
Jeff Andrews
22
R
R
6 3.0
190
Sep 1 1974
Newton MA US
Juan Bautista
18
R
R
6 1.0
165
Jul 20 1978
San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO
Matt Bell
19
R
R
6 5.0
208
Jan 8 1978
Okmulgee OK US
Chris Bloomer
22
R
R
6 4.0
215
May 6, 1975
St. Paul MN US
Ron Calloway
20
L
L
6 1.0
210
Sep 4 1976
San Jose CA US
Alex Cintrón
18
S
R
6 2.0
210
Dec 17 1978
Humacao PR
Steven Doherty
22
L
R
6 0.0
175
Sep 30 1974
Vancouver BC CA
John Fleming
19
R
R
6 3.0
190
Jan 20 1978
Riverside CA US
Reuben Fontanes
23
R
R
6 3.0
190
May 6, 1974
East Chicago IN US
Brian Fox
20
L
R
6 2.0
200
Mar 5 1977
Plano TX US
Miguel Frias
19
L
L
5 11.0
180
Dec 27 1977
Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO
Julio Guzman
21
R
R
6 3.0
205
Apr 28 1976
Jersey City NJ US
David Harper
22
R
R
6 3.0
185
Sep 14 1974
Grand Prairie TX US
David Haverstick
21
R
R
6 8.0
220
Jun 3 1976
St. Louis MO US
Bert Hudson
19
R
R
5 11.0
185
Oct 6 1977
Milton FL US
Jason Jensen
21
L
L
6 2.0
190
Nov 4 1975
Portland ME US
Charlie Jones
21
L
R
5 11.0
188
Feb 6 1976
Edina MN US
Keith Jones
21
R
R
6 2.0
190
Jan 30 1976
Whittier CA US
Eric Knott
22
L
L
6 0.0
188
Sep 23 1974
Harvey IL US
Wil Madera
20
L
L
6 1.0
170
Apr 13 1977
Ponce PR
Jared Martin
22
S
R
5 10.0
180
Mar 3 1975
Tallahassee FL US
Jason Martines
21
L
R
6 2.0
190
Jan 21 1976
Jackson MI US
Belvani Martinez
18
R
R
5 11.0
172
Dec 14 1978
Palenque DO
Josh McAffee
19
R
R
6 1.0
209
Nov 4 1977
Rock Springs WY US
Ben Norris
19
L
L
6 3.0
185
Dec 6 1977
Austin TX US
Abraham Nunez
20
S
R
6 3.0
210
Feb 5 1977
Bajos de Haina San Cristobal DO
Jamie Puorto
22
L
L
6 3.0
190
Jun 21 1975
Schenectady NY US
Jeremy Quire
22
R
R
6 2.0
205
Apr 8 1975
Anderson IN US
Jackie Rexrode
18
L
R
5 11.0
175
Sep 16 1978
Washington, D.C. US
Mike Rooney
21
R
R
6 1.0
175
Oct 6 1975
Suffern NY US
Jhensy Sandoval
18
R
R
6 0.0
200
Sep 11 1978
San Cristobal San Cristobal DO
Jeff Santa
22
R
L
6 0.0
175
Nov 16 1974
Newark OH US
Wyley Steelmon
21
L
R
6 3.0
225
Aug 29 1975
Enid OK US
Jamie Sykes
22
R
R
5 11.0
198
Jan 14 1975
Kankakee IL US
Jose Taveras
18
R
R
6 3.0
203
Apr 3 1979
San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO
Jeff Wilson
21
R
L
6 2.0
206
May 30, 1976
Columbia SC US
Team roster 1998
Age
B
T
Ht
Wt
DoB
Birthplace
Scott Abeyta
21
L
L
6 0.0
190
Mar 14 1977
Vallejo CA US
Jeff Barndollar
21
R
R
6 4.0
195
Apr 29 1977
Long Beach CA US
Justin Beasley
22
R
R
6 1.0
215
Oct 13 1975
Wichita KS US
Jose Bido
19
R
R
6 2.0
188
Dec 20 1978
San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO
Jeff Brooks
18
R
R
6 5.0
235
Sep 4 1979
Mountain City TN US
Alex Cintrón
19
S
R
6 2.0
210
Dec 17 1978
Humacao PR
Darryl Conyer
18
L
L
5 10.0
200
Dec 10 1979
San Diego CA US
Jack Cust
19
L
R
6 1.0
245
Jan 16 1979
Flemington NJ US
Phil Davis
22
R
R
6 2.0
200
Sep 22 1975
Hanford CA US
Lance Downing
19
L
R
5 10.0
185
Mar 9 1979
Warren AR US
Brian Fox
21
L
R
6 2.0
200
Mar 5 1977
Plano TX US
Jody Fuller
21
R
R
6 3.0
225
Sep 12 1976
Huntingdon TN US
Paul Giambalvo
23
R
R
6 1.0
170
Mar 17 1975
Smithtown NY US
Antonio Guzman
20
R
R
5 11.0
165
Jan 11 1978
Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO
Julio Guzman
22
R
R
6 3.0
205
Apr 28 1976
Jersey City NJ US
Robby Hammock
21
R
R
5 10.0
185
May 13, 1977
Macon GA US
Adolfo Joseph
17
R
R
6 3.0
175
Oct 6 1980
HT
Justin Kees
20
R
R
6 1.0
190
Aug 5 1977
Danville IL US
Doug Kohl
18
R
R
6 4.0
210
Jul 9 1979
Newport Beach CA US
Mike Koplove
21
R
R
6 0.0
165
Aug 30 1976
Philadelphia PA US
Belvani Martinez
19
R
R
5 11.0
172
Dec 14 1978
Palenque DO
Josh McAffee
20
R
R
6 1.0
209
Nov 4 1977
Rock Springs WY US
Travis McCall
20
S
L
5 11.0
185
Dec 20 1977
West Covina CA US
Mike McCutcheon
20
L
L
5 11.0
170
Jul 5 1977
Honolulu HI US
Francisco Mendez
20
L
R
6 0.0
163
Jan 6 1978
Caborca Sonora MX
Hatuey Mendoza
18
R
R
6 1.0
170
Mar 16 1980
Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO
Steve Neal
21
L
L
6 2.0
255
Feb 14 1977
Pine Bluff AR US
Troy Niehaus
21
L
L
6 6.0
200
May 16, 1977
Ann Arbor MI US
Bret Prinz
21
R
R
6 3.0
185
Jun 15 1977
Chicago Heights IL US
Jim Rinne
21
R
R
6 3.0
215
Jul 29 1976
Lincoln NE US
Miguel Rodriguez
20
R
R
5 10.0
170
May 27, 1978
El Sombrero VE
Simon Sanchez
20
R
R
6 1.0
195
Mar 24 1978
San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO
Justin Santonocito
21
L
R
5 11.0
192
Dec 15 1976
Buffalo NY US
Dan Singletary
22
L
L
6 0.0
180
Aug 23 1975
Wayne NJ US
Seth Tate
21
R
R
6 0.0
185
Jan 7 1977
Tacoma WA US
Steve Verigood
22
R
L
6 6.0
195
Apr 13 1976
Columbia SC US
Paul Weichard
18
S
L
5 10.0
200
Nov 7 1979
Ringwood Victoria AU
Keith Wilson
24
R
R
6 0.0
200
Dec 31 1973
Phoenix AZ US
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