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Updates to single season record holders, added Eastern League Season Leaders
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| Manager || Trip Keister || 2013
| Manager || Trip Keister || 2013
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{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible collapsed "
! colspan="4"| Suns South Atlantic League Season Leaders
|-
!Year
!Name
!Category
!Number
|-
|1994
|Ramirez, Angel
|Triples
|14
|-
|1995
|Ladd, Jeff
|On Base Percentage <br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|.454
|-
|1995
|Ladd, Jeff
|Slugging Percentage <br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|.563
|-
|1995
|Ladd, Jeff
|On Base Plus Slugging Percentage <br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|1.017
|-
|1996
|Solano, Fausto
|Plate Appearances
|617
|-
|1996
|Solano, Fausto
|Caught Stealing
|25
|-
|1996
|Whitlock, Mike
|Intentional Bases on Balls
|9
|-
|1997
|Glover, Gary
|Losses
|17
|-
|1997
| LaChappelle, Yan
|Fewest Hits per 9 Innings <br> (min 0.8 IP per team game)
|5.5
|-
|1997
|Lopez, Luis
|Batting Average<br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|.358
|-
|1997
|Lopez, Luis
|Hits
|180
|-
|1997
|Lopez, Luis
|On Base Percentage <br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|.430
|-
|1998
|Young, Michael
|Games Played
|140
|-
|1998
|Sneed, John
|Wins
|16
|-
|1998
|Sneed, John
|Winning Percentage <br> (min 1 decision per 10 team games
|.889 (16-2)
|-
|1999
|Nunez, Jorge
|Runs scored
|116
|-
|1999
|Nunez, Jorge
|Triples
|11
|-
|1999
|Lopez, Felipe
|Struck Out
|157
|-
|1999
|Casey, Joe
|Losses
|14 (Tied with one other)
|-
|1999
|Smith, Taylor
|Games Started
|28
|-
|1999
|Casey, Joe
|Games Started
|28
|-
|1999
|Smith, Taylor
|Innings Pitched
|171.1
|-
|1999
|Casey, Joe
|Hit Batsmen
|21
|-
|1999
|Casey, Joe
|Wild Pitches
|25
|-
|1999
|Smith, Taylor
|Batters Faced
|724
|-
|2000
|Sandoval, Marcos
|Home Runs Allowed
|20
|-
|2001
|Bonser, Boof
|Wins
|16
|-
|2001
|Bonser, Boof
|Fewest Hits Per 9 Innings <br> (min 0.8 IP per team game)
|6.1
|-
|2001
|Bonser, Boof
| Strikeouts Per 9 Innings <br> (min 0.8 IP per team game)
|12.0
|-
|2002
|Benavidez, Julian
|Struck Out
|148
|-
|2003
|Palmer, Matt
|Saves
|25
|-
|2003
|Valdez, Merken
|Strikeouts
|166
|-
|2003
|Valdez, Merken
|Strikeouts Per 9 Innings <br> (min 0.8 IP per team game)
|9.6
|-
|2004
|Alvarez, Timothy
|Saves
|22 (Tied with 1 other)
|-
|1994
|Sinnes, David
|Saves
|37 (tied with 1 other)
|-
|1998
|Andrews, Clayton
|Earned Run Average (ERA) <br> (min 0.8 IP per team game)
|2.28
|-
|2005
|Gomez, Carlos
|Stolen Bases
|64
|-
|2005
|Gomez, Carlos
|Caught Stealing
|24
|-
|2005
|Miramontes, Matthew
|Hit Batsmen
|19
|-
|2006
|Evans, Nick
|Games Played
|137
|-
|2008
|Kimball, Cole
|Hit Batsmen
|17
|-
|2009
|Norris, Derek
|Walks
|90
|-
|2009
|Norris, Derek
|On Base Percentage <br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|.413
|-
|2010
|Perez, Eury
|Stolen Bases
|64
|-
|2011
|Sanchez, Adrian
|At Bats
|538
|-
|2011
|Kelso, Blake
|Hits
|150
|-
|2011
|Grace, Matt
|Wins
|12
|-
|2012
|Skole, Matt
|Home Runs
|27
|-
|2012
|Skole, Matt
|Walks
|94
|-
|2012
|Skole, Matt
|On Base Percentage <br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|.438
|-
|2012
|Skole, Matt
|Slugging Percentage <br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|.574
|-
|2012
|Skole, Matt
|On Base Plus Slugging Percentage <br> (min 2.7 PA per team game)
|1.013
|-
|2013
|Renda, Tony
|Games Played
|135
|-
|2013
|Renda, Tony
|At Bats
|521
|-
|2013
|Renda, Tony
|Runs Scored
|99
|-
|2013
|Renda, Tony
|Doubles
|43
|-
|2014
|Difo, Wilmer
|Games Played
|136
|-
|2014
|Difo, Wilmer
|At Bats
|559
|-
|2014
|Bautista, Rafael
|Runs scored
|97
|-
|2014
|Difo, Wilmer
|Hits
|176
|-
|2014
|Bautista, Rafael
|Stolen Bases
|69
|-
|1993
|Santiago, Henry
|Triples
|12
|-
|1993
|Herrera, Jose
|Caught Stealing
|20
|-
|-
|}
|}

Revision as of 18:37, 13 October 2014

Hagerstown Suns
File:HagerstownSunsNew.jpg File:Suns.png
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassSingle-A (1993–present)
Previous classesDouble-A (1989[1]–1992)
Single-A (1981-1988)
LeagueSouth Atlantic League (1993–present)
DivisionNorthern Division
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
TeamWashington Nationals (2007–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 1981
Division titles 1981, 1986, 1994, 1998, 2005, 2013, 2014
Team data
NameHagerstown Suns
ColorsRed, white, blue
BallparkMunicipal Stadium
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Hagerstown Baseball, LLC
General managerChris Easom
ManagerPatrick Anderson

The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. The team, which plays in the South Atlantic League, is a Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans. The team mascot is "Woolie", a giant Woolly Bear Caterpillar.[3]

History

Early Teams

Cumberland Valley League, 1896

Professional baseball has been played in Hagerstown since the late nineteenth century. The Hagerstown Lions played for one season in the independent Cumberland Valley League during 1896. The league lasted began on June 19 and lasted until August 9, when it disbanded due to the disbandment of one of the teams, the Chambersburg Maroons, on August 7. The Lions finished the season in first place with a record of 26-12, three games ahead of Chambersburg. The Lions also dominated statistically, having the league leaders in runs (40 by Natty Nattress), hits (52 by William Graffius), wins by a pitcher (10 by Thomas Lipp), and winning percentage by a pitcher (.833 by Thomas Lipp, with a 10-2 record).[4] Lipp and another Lion, John Gochnaur, were the first Hagerstown players to make it to the major leagues.

Blue Ridge League / Middle Atlantic League, 1915–1931

In 1915, the class D Blue Ridge League was formed with its headquarters in Hagerstown.[5] The owner of the Hagerstown Blues was Charles Boyer, who until 1916 was also the president of the Blue Ridge League. Hagerstown fielded a team for the next 16 seasons. Throughout this time, they won five pennants and donned four different names: the Blues, the Terriers, the Champs and the Hubs. On August 15, 1916, Boyer sold his interest in the Hagerstown club to a group headed by Colonel J. C. Roulette.[6] Unfortunately, Roulette died late in 1918 during the worldwide influenza pandemic.[7] Richard Hartle took over as club president for the 1920 season and turned a $6,000 profit for the season.[8] On May 21, 1920, Hall of Fame pitcher Lefty Grove of Martinsburg made his minor league debut against the visiting Hagerstown team, losing 4-2. On June 11, Grove won his first minor league game, also against Hagerstown.[9] In 1922, D. Lee Staley became the president of the club.[10] In 1928, Raynor Lehr, leader of a successful vaudeville and acting troupe, purchased the Hagerstown franchise and assumed its $3,000 debt. In 1929, the team was again sold, this time to Baltimore businessman (and later major league baseball scout) Joe Cambria for $2,500. One of the innovations introduced by Cambria was night baseball, five years before major league baseball did the same. One month into the 1931 season, the Blue Ridge League disbanded. Cambria affiliated the club with the class C Middle Atlantic League, but later in the year moved the Hubs moved to Parkersburg, West Virginia. The Hagerstown players with the most major league experience during this era were Mike Mowrey (13 major league seasons), Frankie Pytlak (12 major league seasons), and Babe Phelps (11 major league seasons). Earle Mack, son of famous manager Connie Mack and later part owner of the Philadelphia Athletics, also played for Hagerstown.

Interstate League / Piedmont League, 1941–1955

Professional baseball returned to Hagerstown in 1941 when Owen Sterling moved his Sunbury Indians franchise to town and became a Detroit Tigers affiliate. The newly named Hagerstown Owls (Owen, Win, Luck and Sterling) joined the Class B Interstate League. Gene Raney purchased the team from Sterling in 1950, and the renamed Hagerstown Braves became an affiliate of the Boston Braves.

The team moved to the Piedmont League in 1953 and once again had a name and affiliation change. The new Washington Senators affiliate, the Hagerstown Packets, competed until the league disbanded after the 1955 season.

Carolina League

Hagerstown was without a professional team until 1981 when Lou Eliopulos purchased the Rocky Mount Pines Class A Carolina League franchise and moved them north to Hagerstown. The team was a co-op affiliate during 1981, with players supplied by several major league clubs to include the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles. The newly named Hagerstown Suns proceeded to win the Carolina League championship in their inaugural season. In 1982, the Suns began a long-term affiliation with the Baltimore Orioles. The Suns still hold several Carolina League one game individual and team records.[11]

  • Doubles: Dan Norman, 4 (May 14, 1986) shared with five others
  • Triples: Johnny Tutt, 3 (July 29, 1982) shared with two others
  • Grand slams: Dave Falcone, 2 (June 9, 1986) shared with two others
  • Runs batted in: Dave Falcone, 11 (June 9, 1986)
  • Stolen bases: Johnny Tutt, 5 (August 14, 1982) shared with three others
  • Most assists by a shortstop: Randy Strajek, 12 (June 16, 1988) shared with two others
  • Most double plays, both teams, extra innings: 10 (August 15, 1986) 5 for Hagerstown and 5 for Kinston in 11 innings
  • Most team assists, one game (nine innings): 24 (June 16, 1988) shared with one other team

Eastern League

In 1989, Hagerstown moved up to the Double-A Eastern League, taking over the Williamsport Bills franchise and again affiliating with the Orioles. (The Carolina League franchise would relocate just down Interstate 70 as the Frederick Keys, maintaining the Orioles' Class A affiliation.) Suns' fans would see some familiar faces on the '89 Suns as past players such as Leo Gomez, Pete Stanicek, Dave Bettendorf, Ken Dixon, and Brian Dubois returned. On offense, David Segui batted .324 with 1 homerun and 27 RBI's in 44 games in his second stint with Hagerstown after being promoted from Frederick. Leo Gomez would regain the power stroke he had in 1987 with the Suns by hitting 18 homeruns, a team leading total. Suns fans also saw the return of Steve Finley, who came back to Hagerstown via a rehabilitation assignment. In 11 games, Finley would bat .417 with 7 RBI's and 4 stolen bases. On the pitching side, Mike Linskey was the ace of the starting staff with 10 wins and a 2.81 ERA in 18 starts. Despite his dominance with the Suns, Linskey would never pitch in the major leagues. The Suns finished their first season in Double A 5 games under .500, and would finish 5th in the then 8 team Eastern League. They narrowly missed the playoffs by 3 games and were 24.5 games back of the 1st place, and eventual league champion, Albany-Colonie Yankees.[12]

The Suns failed to make the Eastern League playoffs in 1990. While they fell short of that quest, the Suns still had one of their more interesting years. Jack Voigt would contribute mightily to the offense as he batted .256 with a team leading 12 homeruns and 70 RBI's. That RBI total was just good enough for second on the Suns however, as Scott Meadows lead the team with 75 RBI's. Luis Mercedes batted a league leading .334. He also stole a team leading 38 bases. Three prominent Baltimore Orioles, Sam Horn, Brady Anderson, and Mike Devereaux, would make rehabilitation appearances. Anderson stood out the most among the group as he hit .382 in 9 games. The pitching staff was led by Anthony Telford, who went 10-2 with a 1.97 ERA in 13 starts for the Suns, completing 4 games. Another milestone in 1990 was the visit of George H. W. Bush to Municipal Stadium to attend a Hagerstown Suns baseball game. This visit was the first time a sitting President of the United States attended a minor league baseball game.[13]

After back to back losing seasons, the Suns returned to their winning ways in 1991, making their only Eastern League playoff appearance. They would finish in second place, only to lose to the eventual league champion Albany-Colonie Yankees in the first round. The offense got power from Paul Carey, who hit a team leading 12 home runs. The Suns also saw solid production from outfielder Rodney Lofton, who stole 56 bases and batted .284. The Sun's best all around hitter may have been 1st basemen Ken Shamberg, who hit .275 with 10 homeruns and a team best 82 RBI's in 114 games. Top prospect Arthur Rhodes led the pitching staff. Over the course of 19 starts, Rhodes would go 7-4 with a 2.70 ERA and strikeout 115 batters in 106.2 innings, while walking just 47. Rhodes also won the Eastern League Most Valuable Pitcher Award. He also made his Major League debut with the Orioles after being promoted directly from Hagerstown. The Suns also had 3 pitchers win 10 or more games: Stacey Burdick, Mike Oquist, and Patrick Leinin. Burdick was the leader in that group with 11, yet it was the last professional season that he pitched. Burdick went 29-17 combined between 3 stints with Hagerstown including time with the Carolina League franchise as well. Todd Stephen would lead the team in saves out of the bullpen with 17 and had a 2.12 ERA in 89 innings pitched. Much like the year before, Suns fans saw multiple rehabilitation assignments pass through as Kevin Hickey, Dave Johnson, Bob Milacki, Billy Ripken, and Glenn Davis each had stops in Hagerstown. All of this would add to what was by far the Suns best season in the AA Eastern League. The Suns also had their all-time highest attendance record, with 193,753 fans passing through the gate.

The team fell short of its quest for the Eastern League playoffs in 1992. Mel Wearing led the team with only 5 homeruns. Scott Meadows would hit .317 in 45 games with the Suns; this would prove to be his final year with the Orioles organization. Manny Alexander, the Suns' shortstop, hit .259 and stole a team-leading 43 bases. He did this at the age of 21, young for AA baseball. Perhaps the most noteworthy player is the Suns' lineup in 1992 was Chris Hoiles, who appeared on a rehabilitation assignment with the club. During his time in Hagerstown, Hoiles would .458 with 1 homerun and 5 RBI's in 7 games. The Suns' leader with 8 wins for the season was Jeff Williams. John O'Donoghue went 7-4 with a 2.24 ERA in 17 starts before a promotion to AAA Rochester. The Suns also had two Major League pitchers rehabilitate in Hagerstown: Jim Poole and Mark Williamson. The 1992 season would also complete a unique trifecta for the Suns. In this season, Don Buford would manage his son Damon. His other son, Don Jr., had played for the Suns in 1988 and 1989. Don Jr. tied the Suns record for stolen bases by a Suns with 77 in 1988 and would come back in 1989 to steal 30 more. Damon meanwhile, stole 41 bases in 1992 with the Suns. Damon would be the only one of the two sons to follow in his father's footsteps by playing in the major leagues. Finally, 1992 may be remembered because of the uncertainty that hung over the season. The Suns' and Keys' owners failed to claim an Eastern League expansion franchise for Bowie in 1993 (coinciding with the Florida Marlins' and Colorado Rockies' addition to the majors), they instead chose to move their existing franchise there as the Bowie BaySox.[14] It also ended Hagerstown's relationship with the Baltimore Orioles, which dated back to 1981. Unlike when the Carolina League team had left a few years earlier, there was no guarantee that another team would return to Hagerstown.


South Atlantic League

Hagerstown would not go without, though; Winston Blenckstone immediately relocated his Myrtle Beach Hurricanes franchise in the South Atlantic League to Hagerstown after the 1992 season and promptly renamed them the Suns.[15] The SAL Suns would be a Toronto Blue Jays affiliate until 2000, when a four-year partnership with the San Francisco Giants began under the new ownership of Andy Rayburn.

The Giants come to Hagerstown (2001-2004)

2001 brought on a lot of changes for the Hagerstown Suns. After eight seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, the team switched its parent club to the San Francisco Giants. The team was also sold to Andy Rayburn.[16] On the field, the Suns returned to their winning ways. The offense got power from Dan Trumble, who led the team with 26 home runs. Outfielder Jason Ellison put together a good season, as he batted .291 with a team leading 19 stolen bases in 130 games. Adam Shabala would post a solid .313 batting average in a span of 70 games. The pitching staff was the best that the Suns had since joining the South Atlantic League, as two pitchers won over 10 games. Boof Bonser tied the Suns' record for wins in a season with 16, while losing just 4 games. He also struck out 178 batters in 134 innings, earning him the South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Year. Another player with 10 plus wins was Jeff Clark. Clark would go 14-9 while posting a solid 3.65 Earned Run Average (ERA) in 27 games. The most impressive season for the Suns may have come out of the bullpen, as closer Jackson Markert put together a memorable year. Markert broke the Suns' save record by picking up 39 saves and posting a strong 2.82 ERA. His success was a big reason why the Suns advanced to the playoffs. After winning the Northern Division second half title, the Suns entered the playoffs, but come up short as Lexington swept them in two games.[17]

The Suns missed the playoffs in 2002, suffering a losing record. Tyler Von Schell led the Suns in home runs with 14. Julian Benavidez led the way in RBIs. Brandon Florence may have been the best all around hitter on the team with an batting average of .303, with 11 home runs and 63 RBIs in 109 games. On the pitching side, Anthony Pannone led the Suns with nine wins and led innings pitched with 168.2. Ryan Hannaman put together a nice season with a 2.80 ERA and 145 strikeouts in 131.2 innings. Suns' fans also saw a glimpse of what was to come with Francisco Liriano. Liriano would go 3-6, but had a 3.59 ERA and struck out 85 batters in 80 innings as an 18 year old. The Suns finished 20.5 games back of the first place, and eventual league champions Hickory Crawdads.[18] Mandalay Entertainment Group purchased the team from Andy Rayburn in 2002.[19]

While the team did not make the playoffs in 2003, they still managed to scrape together a winning season. The Suns' best power hitter in 2003 was Carlos Sosa, who led the team in both homeruns and RBI's with 10 and 63. Derin McMains hit a solid .289 in 54 games before he was promoted to High A San Jose. Brian Buscher would come to the Suns in the 2nd half and hit .275 in 54 games. The strength of the Suns in 2003 lied in their pitching staff, in which several pitchers had great seasons. Merkin Valdez went 9-5 with a 2.25 ERA in 26 starts. He also led the Suns in innings pitched with 156, and strikeouts with 166. Josh Habel led the team with 11 wins in 36 games, 16 of which were starts. Habel also managed to accumulate 127 strikeouts in 122 innings. Brian Stirm was also solid, as he went 8-5 with a 2.86 ERA in 17 games. Another noteworthy starters for the Suns in 2003 were Clay Hensley and Matt Cain. Hensley went 4-3 with 3.18 ERA in 12 starts before he was promoted to High A San Jose, but one start in particular was noteworthy. On May 3, 2003, Hensley threw the Suns’ only perfect game. He did this by retiring 21 consecutive batters in the second game of a double header against the Kannapolis Intimidators.[20] Meanwhile, Matt Cain went 4-4 in 14 starts with the Suns, while posting a strong 2.55 ERA. He managed to strikeout 90 batters in just 74 innings. In the bullpen, Matt Palmer would have a great season as he went 5-0 with a 1.20 ERA and 25 saves. The Suns pitching staff in 2003 stands out among the best in franchise history.[21]

2004 turned out to be one of the worst seasons for the Suns ever as they finished in last place in the South Atlantic League North Division, 34.5 games behind the eventual league champion Hickory Crawdads. In his short stay with the team, Nate Schierholtz proved to be the best hitter. He would bat .289 with 15 homeruns and 54 RBI's in just 59 games. Another productive hitter on the team that year was Travis Ishikawa. Ishikawa had the exact same home run and RBI total as Schierholtz, with a .257 average in 97 games. Both players would be promoted to High A San Jose before the season's end. Designated hitter Jason Columbus led the team in RBI's with 87. The Suns' leader in wins was Juan Serrato, who compiled 8 wins in 26 games, 21 of which were starts. The Suns' best all around pitcher in 2004 was reliever Joe Bateman. Bateman went 7-5 with a 2.14 ERA in 36 games. He picked up 81 strikeouts in just 70 innings of work before he was promoted to AA Norwich. One pitcher of note in the Suns bullpen was Brian Wilson. Wilson's numbers in Hagerstown were not impressive, 2-5 with a 5.34 ERA in 23 games and 3 starts. However, Wilson’s later major league performances earned him a spot in the Hagerstown Suns Hall of Fame.[22]

2005 and 2006 seasons: New York Mets farm team

Hagerstown once again changed affiliates in 2005, a two-year stint with the New York Mets. Minor league baseball teams are known for their promotions, and the Suns had one consistent with the cold weather that Hagerstown has early in the baseball season. The Suns unveiled their "Eskimo Day" promotion including giving every fan a free ice cube and granting free admission to fans indigenous to Alaska, Canada or any place where Eskimos are part of the culture. There was also a special contest for fans at the ballpark: guessing how long it would take a bucket of ice to melt.[23] On the field, the season began with seven game winning streak. On May 8, Hagerstown and Asheville combined for 35 runs in the Suns' 19–16 victory. Hagerstown broke a 16–16 tie with three runs in the 12th inning. The clubs set a South Atlantic League record with 20 extra-base hits, while the 41 hits—23 for Hagerstown—matched a league mark.[24] Also in May, Hagerstown committed seven errors in a game against Delmarva. In June, the Suns qualified for the playoffs in dramatic fashion. Pitcher Gaby Hernandez's 115-pitch no-hitter in a 1–0 win over the West Virginia Power on June 19 set up a one-game playoff between the Suns and Lexington Legends on June 25 for the first-half crown. Both teams completed the first half regular schedule with 42–28 records. In the one game playoff, the Suns defeated the Legends, 9–4, with Hernandez again taking the mound and the win.[25] The Suns slumped badly during the second half of the season, finishing last in the Northern Division. In September however, Hagerstown did manage to win the Northern Division by defeating the second half Northern Division champion Delmarva Shorebirds two games to one. The Suns were ultimately unsuccessful in their quest for the South Atlantic League championship, losing to the Kannapolis Intimidators three games to one.

Overall, the Suns had a losing season in 2006, with a 58–82 record. The Suns' prowess in promotions was recognized with the award of the The "Veeckie" Award from ESPN The Magazine for their "They even gave away the Kitchen Sink" kitchen sink giveaway promotion. The award, named after famous baseball promoter Bill Veeck, is given annually by the magazine to recognize the industry's top promotions each season. The Suns have received a "Veeckie" in three of the past five years. Previous winning promotions included the Guinness World Record for the Youngest Broadcaster ever (2002) and the Free Funeral Giveaway (2003), which was also selected as the Promotion of the Year by ESPN the Magazine and was named as one of the top five baseball promotions of all time by Sports Illustrated.[26] The most noteworthy event on the field was an 8–7 loss at Lakewood, a 22-inning marathon that took nearly a week and a half to complete. The game began on April 26, but was called in the 17th due to league rules that state an inning cannot be started after 12:30 a.m. It was finally completed on May 6, taking 7 hours and 47 minutes. The 22 innings bested the previous 21 inning South Atlantic League record.[27]

2007 and beyond: Affiliation with the Nationals

In 2007 the Suns became a member of the Washington Nationals farm system, a relationship that has been extended through 2016.[28] The Suns won few games as the talent-poor Nationals organization rapidly promoted Suns players with potential. Of four players selected for the South Atlantic league All-Star Game (Leonard Davis, Cory VanAllen, Mike Daniel and Chris Marrero), none actually played because they had been promoted to the Advanced-A Potomac Nationals by the time the actual game occurred.[29] In the promotions area, romance novelist Nora Roberts was honored with a Nora Roberts bobblehead on July 6.[30] Roberts is a resident of Washington County, Maryland, where Hagerstown is located and has been honored by the Suns several times.[31]

There were two significant milestones for the Suns organization in 2008. The first occurred on May 30, when the number 50 was retired in honor of in honor of South Atlantic League President Emeritus John Henry Moss. Along with the number-retiring ceremony, the Suns honored Moss with a bronze plaque placed in Municipal Stadium, highlighting his 50 years of service to the South Atlantic League.[32] 50 is only the third number retired by the Suns, the other two being 42 for Jackie Robinson and 24 for Willie Mays, who played his first minor league game in Hagerstown The second milestone occurred on November 13 when Hagerstown native and Suns Director of Business Operations Carol Gehr was selected as the Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year. The Rawlings Award honors an outstanding woman executive from either Major League or Minor League Baseball. Gehr was with the club in many capacities over a 25 year career spanning six different ownership groups.[33]

A bright spot to an otherwise dismal season in 2009 was the performance of catcher Derek Norris. He led the South Atlantic League with a .413 on-base percentage and 90 walks while being named the SAL's Most Outstanding Major League Prospect. He also finished among the top five in the South Atlantic League in homers (23), extra-base hits (53), RBIs (84), runs (78) and slugging percentage (.513). He was selected as the designated hitter to the Class A Topps/MiLB All-Star Team, which includes both Advanced-A and A level leagues.[34]

On July 15, 2010, Hagerstown players Steve Souza and J.R. Higley were suspended for using performance-enhancing drugs. Each received 50-game suspensions after testing positive for Methylphenidate and Ritalinic Acid, performance-enhancing substances in violation of the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.[35] Souza was a 2010 South Atlantic League All-Star. On the field, Eury Perez's four stolen bases in seven innings against Delmarva on August 19 was nominated as one of the Class A games of the year for 2010.[36] Finally, a new ownership group with local ties, Hagerstown Baseball, LLC, purchased the Suns in September 2010 for a reported 6.7 million dollars from Mandalay Sports Entertainment.[37] Mandalay used proceeds of the sale to purchase the Oklahoma City Redhawks AAA franchise. The new ownership group is led by Florida businessman and general manager of Polo Trace Country Club Bruce Quinn. Tony Dahbura, corporate vice president of Hub Labels in Hagerstown, Dr. Mitesh Kothari of Hagerstown, and Quinn's sister, Sheri, complete the group. Following the announcement of the new ownership, the Nationals renewed their affiliation with the Suns through 2012.

Bryce Harper playing for the South Atlantic League Suns in 2011.

Two number one draft picks dominated the news for the Hagerstown Suns in 2011. Bryce Harper, the overall first pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Rule 4 first year player draft, started the season with the Suns. Before he moved to the Double A Harrisburg Senators in mid-season, he played well enough to be selected for the South Atlantic League All-Star Game.[38] Later in the season, the 2009 overall first pick, Stephen Strasburg, pitched at Hagerstown on a rehabilitation assignment.[39]

2012 had a tragic beginning when Mitchell Akers, an 18-year-old high school senior who was working with the team, died on April 11. Sources within the league said he fell off the back of a John Deere Gator at Municipal Stadium and later died from his injuries.[40] On the field, 2012 proved to be a banner year for Suns third baseman Matt Skole. He led the South Atlantic League in home runs (27), bases on balls (94), on base percentage (.438) and slugging percentage (.574).[41] In addition, Skole was also elected as the Nationals Minor League Player of the Year and the South Atlantic League Player of the Year.[42] The Suns made the divisional playoffs; however, they were swept by the defending South Atlantic League champion Greensboro Grasshoppers two games to none.[43]

In 2013, Hagerstown led the South Atlantic League in the offensive categories of runs scored (692), runs batted in (608) and on base percentage (.341).[44] The Suns had several players named to the South Atlantic League Northern Division All-Star roster (Pedro Severino, Tony Renda, Brandon Miller, Dixon Anderson, Robert Benincasa, and Pedro Encarnacion), as well as coach Franklin Bravo and manager Tripp Keister.[45] The Suns again qualified for the divisional playoffs as the first half Northern Division champions. Improving over 2012, the Suns won the Northern Division championship, defeating the West Virginia Power two games to one. In the league championship, the Suns fell to the Savannah Sand Gnats three games to one. Another highlight was the selection of Tony Renda as the initial recipient of the Bob Boone award, granted to the Washington Nationals' minor league player "who best demonstrates the professionalism, leadership, loyalty, passion, selflessness, durability, determination and work ethic required to play the game the Washington Nationals way."[46]

Hagerstown began the 2014 season with a record of 31 wins and 8 losses, which was the highest winning percentage in the minor leagues. However, the team then went 13–18, finishing with a first half season record of 44–26. The Greensboro Grasshoppers shared the 44–26 record. However, because Greensboro defeated Hagerstown in three out of four games during the first half season, Greensboro was awarded the South Atlantic League Northern Division first half title. The second half season proved to be a repeat of the first half season. Once again, Greensboro and Hagerstown finished in a tie for first, this time with identical 43-27 records. The tie breaker system worked in the Suns' favor this time, because Hagerstown won five of seven games against Greensboro in the second half. Shining brightest among the Suns' everyday players in 2014 was SAL Most Valuable Player Wilmer Difo. The middle infielder led the SAL with 176 hits, placed second in the SAL with 49 stolen bases and was fourth in the SAL with 90 runs batted in. In addition, Difo was the recipient of the 2014 Bob Boone Award.[47] Fellow SAL End of Season All-Star Rafael Bautista led the league with with 69 steals. The pitching was also a team strength, led by Lucas Giolito who was honored as the league's top pitcher and top major league prospect.[48] The Suns improved their playoff performance in 2014 over 2013, but it was still not enough to claim the John Henry Moss Cup, symbolic of the South Atlantic League championship. The Suns swept the Northern Division championship series two games to none over the Greensboro Grasshoppers, but lost the South Atlantic Championship series three games to two to the Asheville Tourists.[49]

Relocation

Discussions concerning the relocation of the Hagerstown Suns to Virginia have been circulating since 2012.[50] That year a letter from the Washington Nationals was sent to Suns majority owner Bruce Quinn stating that Hagerstown’s 80-year-old Municipal Stadium was no longer up to Major League Baseball standards. This prompted the owner to begin looking for other options. Initially, Quinn began discussions with the Winchester Economic Development Authority to relocate the team to Winchester, Virginia, to begin play in 2014. The negotiations failed in part because of the refusal of the community to provide public funding for a new stadium. Not coincidentally, Suns fan attendance at home games fell to its lowest point in Suns history to that point, despite the team qualifying for the playoffs for the first time in seven years.[51]

In October 2013, the Suns formally applied to Minor League Baseball to relocate to Fredericksburg, Virginia for the 2015 season.[52] The Suns and their partners, New Jersey-based Diamond Nation and a Fredericksburg-area automotive company,[53] agreed to purchase a 38-acre stadium site inside the Fredericksburg city limits.[54] The facility was initially planned to be ready for the start of the 2015 season[55] at a cost of $29 million.[56] Though groundbreaking was scheduled for March 2014,[55] the land purchase wasn't completed by then and the parties have twice received 90-day extensions to complete the deal.[57][58] In April 2014, Hagerstown and the Suns agreed to a two-season lease extension on Municipal Stadium for 2015 and 2016 which can be voided by mutual agreement.[56]

History of Municipal Stadium

[59] The Hagerstown Suns Municipal Stadium boasts the honor of being one of the three oldest Minor League baseball stadiums in the country.

From 1915–1929, Hagerstown's minor league teams played at Willow Lane Park, where Bester Elementary School is now located. When the city made the decision to build the school, the need for a new stadium was urgent. The Field and Athletic Association was created to find land and build a stadium. The organization struck a deal with the city, leasing a tract of land for 99 years at $1 per year. Municipal Stadium was quickly built on the land in a mere six weeks, just in time for the first home game on May 8, 1930. Since then, the stadium has undergone two major renovations.

The first took place in 1981, when Minor League baseball returned to Hagerstown after a 26-year absence from the city. About $546,000 was put into the stadium overhaul, which included the installation of a public address system, stadium lights, underground electricity, and new seats and bleachers.

In 1995, $500,000 worth of improvements to the stadium were made, such as the installation of new seats, and upgrading the VIP section to include cup holders. The Sunset Grille and bar area was also added at this time.

The playing surface was renovated following the 2010 season. In addition, seating improvements and the installation of a state-of-the-art video board enhanced fans' experiences in 2011.

Major League Players Who Played for the Suns

List of Hagerstown Suns individual records

All-time individual season records

All-time team career leaders

Suns Team Records

Rivals

The Suns have an in-state rivalry with the Delmarva Shorebirds, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. This particular rivalry is also fueled by the regional rivalry between the two parent clubs.

Radio

Hagerstown Suns home games are broadcast online via streaming audio on the team's website. Away games are handled through the other team's media outlet.

Season-by-season record

Roster

Template:Hagerstown Suns roster

See also

References

  1. ^ "30 Teams in 30 Days 1989".
  2. ^ "30 Teams in 30 Days 1988". Hagerstown Suns Fan Club. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  3. ^ "2013 Mascot Mania".
  4. ^ Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball. Baseball America. 2007. p. 170.
  5. ^ "Team History". milb.com. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  6. ^ Ziegler, Mark. "1916: Growing Pains Lead to a Leadership Change". Boys of the Blue Ridge 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  7. ^ Ziegler, Mark. "1918: A Season Cut Short Due to War". Boys of the Blue Ridge 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  8. ^ Ziegler, Mark. "Class D, Blue Ridge League: 1920 – A Rebirth in the Post-War Era" (PDF). Boys of the Blue Ridge 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  9. ^ Ziegler, Mark. "1921 Blue Ridge League Summary" (PDF). Boys of the Blue Ridge 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  10. ^ Ziegler, Mark. "1922–Martinsburg Sluggers Rawlings and Wilson's Record Breaking Seasons Leave The Rest of the League "Blue" with Envy". Boys of the Blue Ridge 2014. Retrieved 8 October 2014.
  11. ^ "2014 Carolina League Media Guide and Record Book".
  12. ^ "30 Teams in 30 Days 1989". Hagerstown Suns Fan Club. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  13. ^ Goldberg, Stan (5 June 2011). "History Lesson: Memories of Bush's visit to Grove Stadium". Frederick News-Post. Frederick, Maryland. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  14. ^ Morgan, Jon (24 June 1992). "Bowie, Wilmington to get teams in minors shuffle". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  15. ^ Baker, Kent (16 September 1992). "Single-A team moves to Hagerstown; Blue Jays affiliate fills city's void". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
  16. ^ Greene, Julie (13 January 2001). "New Suns owner has passion for baseball". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  17. ^ Spedden, Zach (22 September 2010). "30 Teams in 30 Days: 1981". Hagerstown Suns Fan Club. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  18. ^ Spedden, Zach (22 September 2010). "30 Teams in 30 Days: 1982". Hagerstown Suns Fan Club. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  19. ^ Butki, Scott (6 December 2002). "New Suns owner has passion for baseball". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
  20. ^ "Hensley Achieves Perfection". Baseball America. 23 September 2010. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  21. ^ Spedden, Zach (22 September 2010). "30 Teams in 30 Days: 2003". Hagerstown Suns Fan Club. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  22. ^ Spedden, Zach (22 September 2010). "30 Teams in 30 Days: 2004". Hagerstown Suns Fan Club. Retrieved 25 September 2014.
  23. ^ Justic, Eric (28 September 2005). "Flashback: April in the South Atlantic League". mlb.com. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  24. ^ Justic, Eric (29 September 2005). "Flashback: May in the South Atlantic League". mlb.com. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  25. ^ "South Atlantic League Notebook for June 22, 2005".
  26. ^ "Suns cap season with ESPN 'Veeckie' award". milb.com. 19 September 2006. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  27. ^ Storm, Stephanie (8 May 2006). "South Atlantic League Notebook for the week ending May 6". milb.com. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
  28. ^ Lovelace, C.J. (August 29, 2014). "Nationals renew player-development contract with Suns". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved September 13, 2014.
  29. ^ "Davis joins Sally All-Stars". milb.com. 26 June 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  30. ^ "Hagerstown celebrates Nora Roberts". milb.com. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  31. ^ "Suns release 2007 promotional schedule". milb.com. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  32. ^ "Suns to honor John Henry Moss". milb.com. 29 May 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  33. ^ "Suns' Gehr is top Woman Executive of 2008". milb.com. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
  34. ^ "Topps, MiLB name Class A All-Stars". milb.com. 25 November 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  35. ^ "All-Star Souza banned for 50 games". milb.com. 15 July 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  36. ^ "Cast your ballot for MiLB's Top Games". milb.com. 25 October 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  37. ^ "Hagerstown Suns baseball team reportedly sold to investor group". Cumberland Times-News. Cumberland, Maryland. 18 September 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  38. ^ Driver, David (21 June 2011). "Duvall leads way at Sally All-Star Game". milb.com. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  39. ^ Marshall, Ashley (23 August 2011). "Lamb outduels Strasburg for Hickory". milb.com. Retrieved 18 May 2014.
  40. ^ Byler, Billy (14 April 2012). "Hagerstown Suns worker dies in accident". The Augusta Chronicle. Augusta, Georgia. Retrieved 22 May 2014.
  41. ^ "South Atlantic League 2012 Batting Leaders".
  42. ^ Wagner, James (7 September 2012). "Nationals minor leaguers of the year, Matt Skole and Nathan Karns, honored". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  43. ^ "South Atlantic League 2012 Playoffs". Retrieved 20 May 2014.
  44. ^ "South Atlantic League 2013 Team Batting".
  45. ^ "It's Power vs. Contact for SAL All-Stars".
  46. ^ "Nationals name OF Billy Burns & RHP Taylor Jordan Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year".
  47. ^ Emery, Mark (25 September 2014). "Nats' top prospect Giolito visits Washington". milb.com. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  48. ^ Ballew, Bill (2 September 2014). "South Atlantic League Playoff Preview". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  49. ^ "2014 Playoffs". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 14 September 2014.
  50. ^ Lovelace, C.J. (9 August 2012). "Looking doubtful Suns will move to Winchester". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved 27 April 2014.
  51. ^ "South Atlantic League Attendance". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball.
  52. ^ Freehling, Bill (1 October 2013). "Hagerstown Suns apply to relocate to Fredericksburg". Business Insider. Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  53. ^ Shok, Holly (6 November 2013). "Hagerstown City Council agrees to pay for upgrades to Municipal Stadium". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  54. ^ Freehling, Bill (21 October 2013). "Slavery museum gives up city land; stadium backers reach deal on Celebrate Virginia site". The News Desk. Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  55. ^ a b Freehling, Bill (3 January 2014). "Stadium groundbreaking planned for spring". The News Desk. Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  56. ^ a b Shok, Holly (23 April 2014). "Hagerstown Suns agree to city's terms on two-year lease extension". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  57. ^ Freehling, Bill (15 March 2014). "Baseball investors receive 90-day extension to buy land". Business Insider. Fredericksburg.com. Retrieved 6 April 2014.
  58. ^ Lovelace, C.J. (12 July 2014). "Fredericksburg grants another 90-day extension to Suns". The Herald-Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  59. ^ "History of Municipal Stadium".

Template:MLB Nationals franchise

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