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Lethbridge Black Diamonds

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Lethbridge Black Diamonds
Minor league affiliations
Previous classesRookie Advanced
LeaguePioneer League (baseball)
DivisionNorth Division
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles none
Team data
Previous names
  • Black Diamonds (1996–1998)
  • Mounties (1992–1995)
Previous parks
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

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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

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1996

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  • 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

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Team roster 1996

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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

[edit]
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

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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

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See also

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References

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  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
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