Vancouver Canadians | |
---|---|
Minor league affiliations | |
Class | Triple-A (1978–1999) |
League | Pacific Coast League (1978–1999) |
Major league affiliations | |
Team |
|
Minor league titles | |
Class titles (1) | 1999 |
League titles (3) |
|
Conference titles (1) | 1999 |
Division titles (7) |
|
Team data | |
Name | Vancouver Canadians (1978–1999) |
Colors | Blue, red, white (1978–1992) Contents(1993–1999) |
Ballpark | Nat Bailey Stadium (1978–1999) |
The Vancouver Canadians were a Minor League Baseball team of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League from 1978 to 1999. They were located in Vancouver, British Columbia and played their home games at Nat Bailey Stadium.
Vancouver, a city with storied baseball history, had been without a professional team since the departure of the Vancouver Mounties in 1969. Harry Ornest secured the rights to a Triple-A Pacific Coast League franchise for the city called the Vancouver Canadians; they began play in 1978 as an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics.
The Canadians went 74–65 in their inaugural campaign, but missed the postseason two and a half games behind the Portland Beavers. Entering the 1979 season, the Canadians shifted their affiliation to the Milwaukee Brewers. Vancouver finished at the top of the North Division standings with a record of 79–68. The Canadians faced the Hawaii Islanders in the division series but lost in three games. The following year, they returned to the postseason but suffered the same fate, losing to Hawaii in the division series.
Vancouver returned to the postseason in 1985. The Canadians swept the Calgary Cannons in the division series and the Phoenix Giants in the finals to claim their first Pacific Coast League championship. In an effort to repeat as champions, Vancouver finished with the PCL's best regular-season record at 85–53. The Canadians defeated the Tacoma Tigers to win the division title, but lost the championship round to the Las Vegas Stars in a full five games.
In 1987, the Canadians shifted their affiliation to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The relationship lasted only one year after which the club signed a player development contract with the Chicago White Sox. In their first season with Chicago, the team returned to the postseason. Vancouver swept Portland in the division series. Facing Las Vegas, the Canadians lost the championship series in five games. In 1989, the Canadians earned a playoff entry and defeated Calgary to win the North Division title. Vancouver defeated the Albuquerque Dukes in the championship series to close out the decade as Pacific Coast League champions. In 1992, they won their fifth division title outlasting the Portland Beavers. The south division winner, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, outlasted Vancouver for the league championship in a series that went the full five games. Following the season, the White Sox transferred their Triple-A affiliation to Nashville.
Vancouver entered into a new player development contract with the California Angels in 1993. In their second year linked with the Angels, they won the division title besting the Salt Lake Gulls. The Canadians faced the Albuquerque Dukes in the championship series, but were denied, losing 3–2. The club made postseason appearances in 1995 and 1997, but lost 3 games to 1 in both series to Salt Lake and the Edmonton Trappers, respectively. After the 1998 season, the Angels ended their relationship with Vancouver and signed on with Salt Lake.
In the winter of 1998, Art Savage purchased the franchise and announced his intention to relocate the team. [1] Moreover, the Canadians and the Oakland Athletics, who had were the club's first affiliate in 1978, signed a new agreement. The season would be of significance for baseball in Vancouver. The club posted an 84–58 record to win the west division. Vancouver defeated Salt Lake to earn the Pacific Conference title. The Canadians advanced to the championship series to face the Oklahoma RedHawks. Vancouver took the series in four games to claim the club's third Pacific Coast League championship. [2] Resurrected in 1998, the Triple-A World Series pitted the Pacific Coast League's Canadians against their International League counterpart Charlotte Knights. With a young roster that included Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder, the Canadians and Knights traded wins through the first four games of the series. In the rubber match, Vancouver routed the Knights 16–2 to win the Triple-A World Series crown. [3] Terrance Long earned the series Most Valuable Player Award with a slash line of .429, 9 hits, and 10 runs batted in.
Despite a banner year, it would be Vancouver's last at the Triple-A level. After 22 seasons, the franchise moved south to Sacramento, California, where a new US$40 million ballpark awaited. Upon relocating to California's capital city, the team became the Sacramento River Cats. Vancouver would not be without baseball as the Southern Oregon Timberjacks of the Northwest League announced relocation to fill the void in Vancouver. [4] The Canadians name resumed as members of the Class A Short Season Northwest League and then in 2021 became part of the High-A West of Minor League Baseball MiLB affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays of the Major League Baseball MLB.
The Canadians played their home games at Nat Bailey Stadium.
Season | PDC | Division | Finish | Wins | Losses | Win% | Post-season | Manager | Attendance | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vancouver Canadians | ||||||||||
1978 | OAK | West | 3rd | 74 | 65 | .532 | Jim Marshall | 123,466 | ||
1979 | MIL | North | 1st | 79 | 68 | .537 | Lost to Hawaii in division series 2–1 | John Felske | 131,367 | |
1980 | MIL | North | 1st | 79 | 60 | .568 | Lost to Hawaii in division series 2–1 | Bob Didier | 150,758 | |
1981 | MIL | North | 5th | 56 | 76 | .424 | Lee Sigman | 127,161 | ||
1982 | MIL | North | 3rd | 72 | 72 | .500 | Dick Phillips | 158,767 | ||
1983 | MIL | North | 5th | 60 | 80 | .429 | Dick Phillips | 179,337 | ||
1984 | MIL | North | 2nd | 71 | 71 | .500 | Tony Muser | 147,599 | ||
1985 | MIL | North | 1st | 79 | 64 | .552 | Defeated Albuquerque in division series 3–0 Defeated Phoenix in championship series 3–0 | Tom Trebelhorn | 199,781 | |
1986 | MIL | North | 1st | 85 | 53 | .616 | Defeated Tacoma in division series 3–0 Lost to Las Vegas in championship series 3–2 | Terry Bevington | 231,819 | |
1987 | PIT | North | 3rd | 72 | 72 | .500 | Rocky Bridges | 338,614 | ||
1988 | CHW | North | 1st | 85 | 57 | .599 | Defeated Portland in division series 3–0 Lost to Las Vegas in championship series 3–1 | Terry Bevington | 386,220 | |
1989 | CHW | North | 2nd | 73 | 69 | .514 | Defeated Calgary in division series 3–0 Defeated Albuquerque in championship series 3–1 | Terry Bevington | 281,812 | |
1990 | CHW | North | 3rd | 74 | 67 | .525 | Marv Foley | 281,540 | ||
1991 | CHW | North | 5th | 49 | 86 | .363 | Rick Renick | 288,978 | ||
1992 | CHW | North | 2nd | 81 | 61 | .570 | Defeated Portland in division series 3–2 Lost to Colorado Springs in championship series 3–2 | Rick Renick | 333,564 | |
1993 | CAL | North | 2nd | 72 | 68 | .514 | Max Oliveras | 349,726 | ||
1994 | CAL | North | 1st | 77 | 65 | .542 | Defeated Salt Lake in division series 3–2 Lost to Albuquerque in championship series 3–2 | Don Long | 320,863 | |
1995 | CAL | North | 1st | 81 | 60 | .574 | Lost to Salt Lake in division series 3–1 | Don Long | 305,739 | |
1996 | CAL | North | 1st | 68 | 70 | .493 | Don Long | 334,800 | ||
Vancouver Canadians | ||||||||||
1997 | ANA | North | 3rd | 75 | 68 | .524 | Lost to Edmonton in division series 3–1 | Don Long | 303,148 | |
1998 | ANA | West | 4th | 53 | 90 | .371 | Mitch Seoane | 284,935 | ||
1999 | OAK | West | 1st | 84 | 58 | .592 | Defeated Salt Lake in conference series 3–2 Defeated Oklahoma in championship series 3–1 Defeated Charlotte in Triple-A World Series 3–2 | Mike Quade | 241,461 | |
Division winner | Conference champions | League champions | Class champions |
The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball (MLB).
The Pioneer Baseball League is a professional baseball league based in the Western United States. It operates as one of four Major League Baseball (MLB) Partner Leagues in the American independent baseball league system without MLB team affiliations. The league is contested by twelve teams from the Northern California and Rocky Mountains regions, who play a regular season split into two halves. The top two teams at the end of each half qualify for a postseason tournament that determines the overall champion.
The Nashville Sounds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers. They are located in Nashville, Tennessee, and are named for the city's association with the music industry, specifically the "Nashville sound", a subgenre of country music which originated in the city in the mid-1950s. The team plays their home games at First Horizon Park, which opened in 2015 on the site of the historic Sulphur Dell ballpark. The Sounds previously played at Herschel Greer Stadium from its opening in 1978 until the end of the 2014 season. They are the oldest active professional sports franchise in Nashville.
The Tacoma Rainiers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. They are located in Tacoma, Washington, and play their home games at Cheney Stadium, which opened in 1960. Tacoma has competed in the PCL since 1960, including the 2021 season when it was known as the Triple-A West. The team operated under several monikers before becoming the Rainiers in 1995.
The Las Vegas Aviators, formerly known as the Las Vegas 51s and Las Vegas Stars, are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are located in Summerlin South, Nevada, a community in Las Vegas. The Aviators play their home games at Las Vegas Ballpark, a 10,000-seat facility which opened in 2019. The team previously played at Cashman Field from 1983 to 2018.
The Iowa Cubs are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. They are located in Des Moines, Iowa, and are named for their Major League Baseball (MLB) affiliate. The Cubs have played their home games at Principal Park since 1992, which was named Sec Taylor Stadium from 1969 to 1991.
The Memphis Redbirds are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They are located in Memphis, Tennessee, and are named for their Major League Baseball affiliate. The Redbirds play their home games at AutoZone Park, which opened in 2000 and is located in Downtown Memphis. The team previously played at Tim McCarver Stadium in 1998 and 1999.
The Charlotte Knights are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They are located in Charlotte, North Carolina, and play their home games at Truist Field, which opened in 2014 and is located in Uptown Charlotte. The team previously played at Knights Park (1976–1988), Knights Castle (1989), and Knights Stadium (1990–2013).
The Vancouver Canadians are a Minor League Baseball (MiLB) team located in Vancouver, British Columbia. They are members of the Northwest League and are affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Canadians play their home games at Nat Bailey Stadium. They are currently the only MiLB team based in Canada.
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods. The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000.
The Salem-Keizer Volcanoes are a baseball team located in Keizer, Oregon, who are charter members of the Mavericks Independent Baseball League, a four-team league entirely based in the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area and playing all their home games at Volcanoes Stadium. From 1997 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's Northwest League as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. With the reorganization of baseball after the 2020 season, the Volcanoes were not offered a player development license with any Major League Baseball club, though the Volcanoes promised to continue play in 2021, a promise they kept in forming the Mavericks League.
The Triple-A World Series was an interleague postseason championship series between the league champions of the affiliated Triple-A leagues of Minor League Baseball to determine an overall champion of the classification held in 1983 and from 1998 to 2000.
The Vancouver Mounties were a high-level minor league baseball club based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that played in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) from 1956–62 and 1965–69. Its home field was Capilano Stadium. During the Mounties' first two seasons, 1956–57, the PCL still was a member of an experimental organized baseball ranking, the Open Classification, as it made a bid for Major League status. However, in 1958 the PCL reverted to Triple-A when the Dodgers and Giants moved to California.
The Phoenix Firebirds were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, from 1958 to 1959, and from 1966 to 1997. Before 1986, the team was known as the Phoenix Giants.
The Tucson Toros were a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States.
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons displaced the Calgary Expos, who played in the rookie level Pioneer League from 1977 until 1984. The team was previously known as the Salt Lake City Gulls before being relocated to Calgary. Following the 2002 season, the team moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they became the Isotopes.
The Reno Aces are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks. They are located in Reno, Nevada, and play their home games at Greater Nevada Field, which opened in 2009. The Aces have been members of the PCL since 2009, including the 2021 season in which it was known as the Triple-A West. They won the PCL championship in 2012 and 2022. Reno went on to win the Triple-A National Championship Game in 2012.
The Portland Beavers was the name of separate minor league baseball teams, which represented Portland, Oregon, in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The team was established in 1903, the first year of the PCL.