Bristol Pirates

Last updated
Bristol Pirates
Bristol Pirates.png Bristol Pirates cap.png
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassRookie (1969–2020)
League Appalachian League (1969–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles (6)
  • 1972
  • 1974
  • 1977
  • 1985
  • 1998
  • 2002
Division titles (3)
  • 1985
  • 1998
  • 2002
Team data
Name
  • Bristol Pirates (2014–2020)
  • Bristol White Sox (1995–2013)
  • Bristol Tigers (1969–1994)
BallparkBoyce Cox Field at DeVault Memorial Stadium (1969–2020)

The Bristol Pirates were a Minor League Baseball team in Bristol, Virginia, United States. They were a Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League.

Contents

The team played home games at DeVault Memorial Stadium. Opened in 1969, Devault Memorial Stadium held 2,000 fans. The team was previously affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, and a previous manager was retired Tigers manager Jim Leyland. They were a farm team of the Chicago White Sox from 1995 to 2013 as the Bristol White Sox.

The team was operated by a non-profit organization, Bristol Baseball, Incorporated (BBI). BBI had no full-time paid staff, instead relying on a volunteer board and general manager to keep and promote professional baseball in Bristol.

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. [1] [2] In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league, and the Pirates were replaced by a new franchise, the Bristol State Liners, in the revamped league designed for rising college freshmen and sophomores. [3]

Season-by-season records

Bristol Tigers (Appalachian League)
Year
RecordWin %Finish*ManagerPlayoffs
196934-34.5003rd South Bill Lajoie none
197026-31.4645th AL Al Lakeman none
197131-35.4703rd South Jim Leyland none
197240-28.5881st AL Joe Lewis League Champs
No playoffs
197324-45.3487th ALJoe Lewisnone
197452-17.7541st NorthJoe LewisLeague Champs
No playoffs
197537-31.5443rd SouthJoe Lewisnone
197635-32.5222nd SouthJoe Lewisnone
197743-26.6142nd ALJoe LewisLeague Champs
No playoffs
197835-34.5073rd ALJoe Lewisnone
197919-50.2756th ALJoe Lewisnone
198036-33.5222nd AL Tom Kotchman none
198129-41.4145th ALJoe Lewisnone
198228-36.4383rd South Boots Day none
198334-38.4723rd ALBoots Daynone
198437-33.5292nd South Hal Dyer none
198544-25.6381st AL Tom Burgess League Champs
No playoffs
198635-34.5073rd South Tom Gamboa
198720-49.2904th South Rick Magnante
198846-27.6302nd SouthRick MagnanteLost 1 game playoff
198928-39.4185th South Rubén Amaro, Sr.
199022-46.32410th AL Ken Cunningham
199122-44.3335th South Juan Lopez
199233-35.4853rd SouthMark Wagner
199328-39.4184th SouthRuben Amaro, Sr.
199427-36.4294th South Kevin Bradshaw
Bristol White Sox (Appalachian League)
199528-39.4184th South Chris Cron
199617-51.4504th South Nick Capra
199730-38.4414th WestNick Capra
199842-24.6361st WestNick CapraLeague Champs
199945-24.6522nd West Gary Pellant
200034-33.5074th South R.J. Reynolds
200138-26.5942nd South John Orton
200243-25.6321st South Nick Leyva League Champs
200333-33.5006th AL Jerry Hairston, Sr.
200427-38.4155th WestJerry Hairston, Sr.
200530-36.4552nd WestJerry Hairston, Sr.
200622-42.3445th WestNick Leyva
200725-43.3684th West Bobby Thigpen
200834-30.5313rd WestBobby Thigpen
200927-39.4094th West Ryan Newman
201032-36.4713rd WestRyan Newman
201124-44.3535th West Pete Rose Jr.
201219-46.2925th WestPete Rose Jr.
201320-45.3085th West Mike Gellinger
Bristol Pirates (Appalachian League)
201422-46.3245th West Edgar Varela
201529-36.4464th WestEdgar Varela
201625-43.3685th West Kory DeHaan
201717-49.2585th West Miguel Perez

Playoffs

Notable alumni

Related Research Articles

The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wooden bats, its season runs from June through August. The league is part of Major League Baseball and USA Baseball's Prospect Development Pipeline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluefield Blue Jays</span> Minor league baseball team

The Bluefield Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. The team played their home games at Bowen Field at Peters Park, a historic stadium in Bluefield's city park. The park, which straddles the West Virginia–Virginia state line, was operated by the West Virginia city; however, Bowen Field lies entirely within Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Quad Cities River Bandits</span> American Minor League baseball team

The Quad Cities River Bandits are a Minor League Baseball team of the Midwest League and the High-A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals. Their home games are played at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa, one of the Quad Cities.

Several different minor league baseball teams have called the city of Orlando, Florida home from 1919–2003. Most have played in the Florida State League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lakeland Flying Tigers</span> Minor league baseball team

The Lakeland Flying Tigers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Florida State League and the Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. They are located in Lakeland, Florida, and play their home games at Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Augusta GreenJackets</span> Minor League Baseball team

The Augusta GreenJackets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Carolina League and the Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. They play their home games at SRP Park in North Augusta, South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulaski Yankees</span> Minor league baseball team

The Pulaski Yankees were a minor league baseball team based in Pulaski, Virginia, United States. They were an Advanced Rookie League team in the Appalachian League. The team played its home games at Calfee Park. They were affiliated with several Major League Baseball teams, including the New York Yankees in their final season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingsport Mets</span> Minor league baseball team

The Kingsport Mets were a Minor League Baseball team of the Appalachian League from 1921 to 2020. They were located in Kingsport, Tennessee, and were last named for the team's major league affiliate, the New York Mets. The team played its home games at Hunter Wright Stadium which opened in 1995. The Mets previously played at Dobyns-Bennett High School. In 1983, while Dobyns-Bennett's field was being renovated, the team temporarily moved to Sarasota, Florida, and played in the Gulf Coast League as the Gulf Coast League Mets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle Rainiers</span> Minor league baseball team

The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels and, during 1919, the Seattle Purple Sox, were a Minor League Baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 to 1906 and 1919 to 1968. They were initially named for the indigenous Native American population of the Pacific Northwest, and changed their name after being acquired by the Rainier Brewing Company, which was in turn named for nearby Mount Rainier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greensboro Grasshoppers</span> Minor league baseball team

The Greensboro Grasshoppers are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greensboro, North Carolina. They are members of the South Atlantic League and are the High-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. They play their home games at First National Bank Field, which opened in 2005 and seats 7,499 fans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princeton Rays</span> Minor league baseball team

The Princeton Rays were a Minor League Baseball team in Princeton, West Virginia, operating as an Advanced Rookie-level team in the Appalachian League. The team was affiliated with several Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises, primarily the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Beaumont Exporters was the predominant name of a minor league baseball team located in Beaumont, Texas that played between 1920 and 1957 in the Texas League and the Big State League. Beaumont rejoined the Class AA Texas League (1983-1986) and evolved into today's Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnson City Cardinals</span> Minor league baseball team

The Johnson City Cardinals were a Minor League Baseball team based in Johnson City, Tennessee. The team was affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals organization from 1975 through 2020 and played in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. The team won 10 league championships, most recently in 2019. They played their home games at TVA Credit Union Ballpark. Before 1975, the team operated under several other names and affiliations.

The Reno Silver Sox were a minor league baseball team that existed on and off from 1947 to 1992. The team name is derived from the nickname of Nevada, the "Silver State". There was another baseball team known as the Reno Silver Sox who played in the Golden Baseball League. From part of the 1955 season to 1992, they played their home games at Moana Stadium. The 1961 Silver Sox were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.

Several minor league baseball teams have been based in Salinas, California and played in the California League.

The Wisconsin Rapids Twins were a Class A Minor League Baseball team that existed from 1963 to 1983, playing in the Midwest League. Affiliated with the Washington Senators (1963) and the Minnesota Twins (1964-1983), they were located in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, United States. They played their home games at Witter Field. The franchise evolved from the Wisconsin Rapids White Sox of the Wisconsin State League. For the 1984 season, the franchise became the Kenosha Twins, moving to Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The Williamsport Red Sox were a minor league baseball team, based in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The team began in 1964 as the Williamsport Mets a class-AA affiliate of the New York Mets, in the Eastern League, from 1964 through 1967. The club played all of its games at Williamsport's Bowman Stadium. Among the future major leaguers who played for the Williamsport Mets are: Jerry Koosman, Ken Boswell, Kevin Collins, Nolan Ryan and Jim Bethke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dubuque, Iowa minor league baseball</span> Minor league baseball team

Minor league baseball teams have operated in the city of Dubuque, Iowa under a variety of names in various leagues, playing in 52 seasons between 1879 and 1976. Dubuque teams were an affiliate of the Houston Astros (1975–1976), Kansas City Royals (1968), Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians (1961–1966), Pittsburgh Pirates (1959–1960) and Chicago White Sox (1954–1958).

The Arizona Complex League White Sox are a Rookie-level affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, competing in the Arizona Complex League of Minor League Baseball. The team plays its home games at Camelback Ranch in Phoenix, Arizona. The team is composed mainly of players who are in their first year of professional baseball either as draftees or non-drafted free agents from the United States, Canada, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol State Liners</span> Collegiate baseball team in Virginia

The Bristol State Liners are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bristol, Virginia. It is a member of the Appalachian League, a collegiate summer league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. The team is operated by a non-profit organization, Bristol Baseball, Incorporated (BBI). BBI had no full-time paid staff, instead relying on a volunteer board and general manager to keep and promote professional baseball in Bristol.

References

  1. "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  2. "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  3. "MLB, USA Baseball Announce New Format for Appalachian League". Major League Baseball. September 29, 2020. Retrieved September 29, 2020.