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.[2] The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992–1995[3] 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.[4] 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.[4] The team played in the Pioneer League,[5] which is a rookie league, with a shortented season, in Minor League Baseball.[6] Their home stadium was Henderson Stadium.[2] In 1999, the team was moved and became the Missoula Osprey.[7]

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,[8] 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,[9] 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.[1]

Notable alumni

1996

1997

Team roster 1996

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
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

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
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

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
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

See also

References

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