St. Catharines Blue Jays
St. Catharines Blue Jays | |
---|---|
Minor league affiliations | |
Previous classes |
|
Previous leagues | New York–Penn League |
Major league affiliations | |
Previous teams | Toronto Blue Jays (1986–1999) |
Minor league titles | |
League titles | 1 (1986) |
Division titles | 1 (1986) |
Team data | |
Previous names |
|
Ballpark | George Taylor Field |
Previous parks | Community Park 1986–1999 |
Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Terrence O'Malley |
The St. Catharines Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team which played at Community Park in St. Catharines, Ontario. They were the Short-Season A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays in the New York–Penn League.[1]
History
[edit]The team began play in 1986 as the Blue Jays, though were later renamed the St. Catharines Stompers in 1995. The team left St. Catharines after the 1999 season to become the Queens Kings in 2000.[2]
On 4 July 2007, it was reported in the St. Catharines Standard the Stompers were going to return in the summer of 2008. Former team owner, Terrence O'Malley was quoted as saying: "the Stompers are back ... We'll be playing at Community Park beginning next summer."[3] This article prompted a number of responses, though, in the end this turned out to be only a satirical piece.
The Blue Jays won the New York-Penn league title in 1986.
![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/St._Catharines_Stompers_vs_Vermont_Expos_at_Community_Park_-_August_1995.jpg/220px-St._Catharines_Stompers_vs_Vermont_Expos_at_Community_Park_-_August_1995.jpg)
![](http://178.128.105.246/content-http-upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/St._Catharines_Stompers_at_Community_Park_Concessions_-_August_1995.jpg/220px-St._Catharines_Stompers_at_Community_Park_Concessions_-_August_1995.jpg)
Notable players
[edit]Player | Achievements | Year in St. Catharines |
---|---|---|
Pat Hentgen | 1993 World Series champion, 1996 AL Cy Young Award Winner, 3× All-Star, 2016 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame | 1986 |
Carlos Delgado | 2× All-Star, 2015 Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame | 1989 |
Jeff Kent | 5× All-Star, 2000 NL MVP | 1989 |
Vernon Wells | 3× All-Star | 1997 |
Managers
[edit]- Cloyd Boyer 1986
- Joe Lonnett 1987
- Eddie Dennis 1988
- Bob Shirley 1989
- Doug Ault 1990–1991
- Joe Cannon 1992–1995
As Stompers
- Rocket Wheeler 1996–1997
- Duane Larson 1998
- Eddie Rodriguez 1999
References
[edit]- ^ Nemeth, Mary (September 5, 1994). "Diamond in the Rough". Maclean’s Magazine. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Mawhood, Rod (November 24, 2020). "Did you know? Pat Hentgen's baseball career started in St. Catharines as a 17-year old". The Niagara Independent. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- ^ Potrecz, Bill (2007-07-04). "Stompers return a dream come true". St. Catharines Standard..
- ^ Potrecz, Bill (June 23, 2015). "Impressive list of former St. Catharines players". St. Catharines Standard. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
- Baseball teams established in 1986
- Baseball teams disestablished in 1999
- Defunct New York–Penn League teams
- Defunct baseball teams in Canada
- Sport in St. Catharines
- Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliates
- Baseball teams in Ontario
- 1986 establishments in Ontario
- 1999 establishments in Ontario
- Canadian baseball team stubs