Jump to content

Lehigh Valley IronPigs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Silvercoindinerman (talk | contribs) at 12:54, 1 October 2012. The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassTriple-A (1993–Present)
LeagueInternational League (1993-Present)
DivisionNorth Division
Major league affiliations
TeamPhiladelphia Phillies (2007-Present)
Previous teamsBaltimore Orioles (2003-2006)
Minor league titles
League titles 1995
Division titles 1995
Team data
NameLehigh Valley IronPigs (2008–Present)
Previous names
Ottawa Lynx (1993–2007)
BallparkCoca-Cola Park (2008–Present)
Previous parks
Ottawa Baseball Stadium (1993–2007)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
LV Baseball, L.P. (Joseph Finley and Craig Stein-principal owners, Ray Pecor-minority owner)
General managerKurt Landes
ManagerRyne Sandberg

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs are a minor league baseball team that plays in the International League. The IronPigs are the Triple-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. The team plays their home games at Coca-Cola Park, which is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The brand new Coca-Cola Park, which opened in 2008, seats up to 8,100, with a capacity of 10,000, and cost $50.25 million to complete.[1]

The Lehigh Valley IronPigs were founded in 1993 in Ottawa, Ontario as the Ottawa Lynx. The team previously played at Ottawa Baseball Stadium in Ottawa from 1993–2007 before moving to Allentown to become the IronPigs. The team was affiliated with the Montreal Expos from 1993–2002 and the Baltimore Orioles from 2003–2006. The team became a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate in 2007 which was the team's last season playing in Ottawa and also the team's last season as the Ottawa Lynx.

While based in Ottawa, the team was the only International League franchise based in Canada at the time and the team was the second International League franchise to play in the city of Ottawa after the former Ottawa Giants/Athletics of the 1950's. The team also was the fifth International League franchise to play in Canada after the Winnipeg Whips. The team played 15 seasons in Ottawa. Now based in Allentown, the team is the second affiliated baseball franchise and the fourth professional baseball franchise to play in the Lehigh Valley area. The last affiliated baseball team in the Lehigh Valley before the IronPigs was the Allentown Red Sox and the last professional baseball team in the Lehigh Valley before the IronPigs was the Allentown Ambassadors.

The IronPigs name is a reference to pig iron, used in the manufacturing of steel, for which the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania is world-renowned. Pig iron is raw iron melted down to make steel. Pig iron is the product of smelting iron ore with coke and limestone in a blast furnace. The iron was called pig iron, because it ran into a row of molds, said to resemble a row of iron pigs.

History

Playing in Ottawa (1993-2007)

International League expands to Ottawa

File:Ottawa Lynx.jpg
Ottawa Baseball Stadium, the team's former stadium located in Ottawa.
Cliff Floyd played for the team while the team was known as the Ottawa Lynx.

In 1991, Ottawa businessman and then Ottawa 67's owner Howard Darwin was successful in applying to the International League for an expansion franchise to begin play in 1993, at a cost of $5 million. After the International League granted Howard Darwin an expansion team for Ottawa, Darwin would then own the franchise under the name Ottawa Triple A Baseball, Inc. The application was contingent on the City of Ottawa building a baseball stadium for the team. The new stadium was completed in time for the 1993 season.

Ottawa Lynx primary logo

Playing as the Ottawa Lynx

The team began play as the Ottawa Lynx in 1993. The team became the second International League franchise to play in Ottawa and the team also became fifth International League franchise to play in Canada. The last International League team to play in Ottawa was the former Ottawa Giants/Athletics of the 1950's (this team is now known as the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees). The last International League team to play in Canada was the Winnipeg Whips. The team also became the top farm team for the Montreal Expos. The team won the International League championship in 1995. During this period, the team featured such future Major League Baseball players such as Rondell White, Cliff Floyd, Matt Stairs, Kirk Rueter, and F.P. Santangelo. The team eventually retired two numbers: Santangelo's 24, and Jamey Carroll's 3.

In 2000, Darwin sold the team to Ray Pecor for $7 million under the name Ottawa Lynx Company. According to news reports, Pecor would lose $1 million annually on the team due to low attendance.[2]

In 2003, the team was not given any assurances from either the Montreal Expos or Major League Baseball on the long term future of the Expos. They became the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles on September 24, 2002.[3] As a result, Montreal shifted its affiliation to the Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League.

Also in 2003, there were rumors that the Lynx were going to relocate to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. However, the Orioles, the team's parent club shifted their interest to Allentown because of its proximity to the Mid-Atlantic after the city of Harrisburg did not upgrade Metro Bank Park to AAA standards. The Orioles were not the only MLB club interested in having their top affiliate in Allentown as the Philadelphia Phillies were also looking into putting their Triple-A affiliation in Allentown.

In late August 2006, the league approved the conditions to negotiate the sale of the team. The team was then sold to Joe Finley and Craig Stein under the name LV Baseball, L.P. Ray Pecor maintained a minority stake, thus, he became part of LV Baseball, L.P. as a minority owner of the team and having his ownership name Ottawa Lynx Company be dissolved.[4] Finley and Stein declared their intention to move the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the 2008 season, where a new stadium was set to begin construction that September (now built as Coca-Cola Park).[5] [6] [7] The reason for the relocation was because the team had difficulty attracting fans in Ottawa. Originally, Finley and Stein were actively pursuing their interest in bringing a Single-A franchise to Allentown back in 2003.

The team's affiliation with the Orioles ended and the Orioles shifted their Triple-A affiliation to Norfolk, Virginia by signing a Player Development Contract with the Norfolk Tides on September 25, 2006.[8]

The owners, facing a lawsuit from the City of Ottawa if they moved the Lynx, filed a lawsuit against the City of Ottawa on October 17, 2006, seeking $10.75 million in damages claiming that the city failed to provide enough parking spaces, which, the team alleged, was a violation of its lease.[9]

In 2007, the Philadelphia Phillies decided to fully pursue their interest in help bringing professional baseball back to Allentown with Joe Finley and Craig Stein. The Lynx became the new Triple-A affiliate of the Phillies with the Phillies signing a one-year Player Development Contract (PDC) with the team while Coca-Cola Park was being constructed for the team to move there. The Lynx were originally going to relocate to Allentown as a Orioles affiliate. The Philadelphia Phillies previous Triple-A affiliate before affiliating with the Lynx was the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons who played their home games at PNC Field in Moosic, Pennsylvania. The Red Barons were affiliated with the Phillies from 1987–2006 (the team was based in Maine in 1987 and 1988 seasons as the Maine Guides/Phillies). The Red Barons became affiliated with the New York Yankees starting in 2007 and the Red Barons were renamed Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in 2007 as well. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team played under the name “Red Barons” from 1989-2006. The Phillies shifted their affiliation to Ottawa after having their Triple-A affiliation in the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre region for 18 seasons was because they were unhappy with the local management that owned the team while they were known as the Red Barons. The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre team's origins trace back to 1919 when the team was known as the Reading Coal Barons, playing in city of Reading, Pennsylvania at the time.

During the 2007 season, Finley and Stein announced that the Lynx will be renamed "Lehigh Valley IronPigs" and unveiled the team's new logos and uniforms. The Lynx launched the IronPigs website during the 2007 season while still playing in Ottawa. The team played its last game in Ottawa on September 3, 2007, losing to Syracuse 8-5.[10] After the 2007 season, the team relocated to Allentown for the 2008 season.

For the 2008 season, the Lynx were replaced by the Ottawa Rapidz of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, but that team declared bankruptcy on September 29, 2008 after their first season of play. The Can-Am league assumed ownership of the Rapidz, but the Rapidz folded in March 2009 under the name Ottawa Voyageurs. [11] Currently, the Ottawa Fat Cats of the semi-professional Intercounty Baseball League is Ottawa's current baseball team. The Fat Cats began play in 2010.

Playing in Lehigh Valley (2008-Present)

Preparing to play in the Lehigh Valley

View from the outdoor press box at Coca-Cola Park, the team's current stadium in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Michael Schwimer

After the completion of the new Coca-Cola Park, the team finally relocated to the Lehigh Valley area in 2008 after serving fifteen consecutive seasons in Ottawa. The team was renamed “Lehigh Valley IronPigs”. The team's new name was a reference to pig iron, used in the manufacturing of steel, for which the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania is world-renowned. The Phillies resigned the Player Development Contract with the team and the team maintained their affiliation with the Phillies. The relocation of the team from Ottawa to Allentown was extremely well received, since the Phillies have a large fan base in the Allentown area. The move to Allentown will permit Phillies' players to rehab in Allentown without significant transportation time as compared to Ottawa (Allentown is 60 miles (97 km) north of Philadelphia). The name IronPigs was well received by the fans in the Lehigh Valley.

The relocation of the team from Ottawa to Allentown brought professional baseball back to Lehigh Valley for the first time since 2003 which was five years ago. The relocation of the team to Allentown also brought affiliated baseball back to Lehigh Valley for the first time since 1960 which was 48 years ago. The last professional baseball team to play in the Lehigh Valley before the IronPigs was the Allentown Ambassadors of the Northeast League who played at Bicentennial Park in Allentown until that team was disbanded in 2004. The last affiliated baseball team to play in the Lehigh Valley before the IronPigs was the Allentown Red Sox of Eastern League who played at Breadon Field (later called Max Hess Stadium) from 1958–1960. The Allentown Red Sox relocated to Johnstown, Pennsylvania after the 1960 season. Breadon Field was located on the site where the Lehigh Valley Mall stands today. [12][13] The Lehigh Valley was also going to be home to the Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball who relocated from Newburgh, New York in 1999, but their new stadium near Easton, Pennsylvania called the Lehigh Valley Multi-Purpose Sport Complex was not built because the project to build the stadium was terminated. After the termination of the new stadium, the Black Diamonds became the Pennsylvania Road Warriors traveling team.

Playing as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs

The team opened their first game as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on March 30, 2008, by hosting an exhibition game at Coca-Cola Park against the Phillies. The team opened their inaugural 2008 season as the IronPigs on April 3 against their Northern Divison rivals (the Phillies' previous Triple-A affiliate before affiliating with the IronPigs in 2007 while based in Ottawa), the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at PNC Field. The team got off to a miserable start, with an 11-game losing streak. On April 14, 2008, the team broke the streak, defeating the Richmond Braves 3–1 at their new home stadium Coca-Cola Park. The win was both the team's first home win and their first ever as the IronPigs. Early on in the season Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino made a rehab start with the IronPigs. In July 2008, Phillies starter Brett Myers pitched a few games for the team after running up a dismal 3–9 record in the first part of the season.

In 2009, former Phillies' pitchers Kyle Kendrick and J. C. Romero pitched for the team. Kendrick was assigned to the IronPigs after failing to make the Phillies starting roster for 2009. Romero pitched for the IronPigs in May 2009 following a 50-game suspension for failing Major League Baseball's substance abuse policy, after he tested positive for the use of androstenedione.

On July 14, 2010, Coca-Cola Park hosted the Triple-A All-Star Game, and the game was broadcast on the MLB Network. On July 7, 2010, left-handed pitcher J.A. Happ started a rehab assignment with the IronPigs. On July 29, 2010, Happ was traded to the Houston Astros for right-handed pitcher Roy Oswalt. Relief pitcher Michael Schwimer had a 1.35 ERA and held batters to a .080 batting average with runners in scoring position.[14] The team finished in fifth place in the International League North Division with a record of 58–86.[15] The IronPigs finished the 2010 season ranked first among all affiliated Minor League Baseball teams in average attendance per home game.

On April 7, 2011, the Iron Pigs won their season opener against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees at Coca-Cola Park, registering the first win-loss percentage above .500 in the team's history.[16] Before he was promoted to the majors, All-Star closer Michael Schwimer was 9–1 with a 1.88 ERA, and 10 saves, with 86 strikeouts in 67.0 innings (averaging 11.6 strikeouts per 9 innings).[17][18][19][20]

In September 2011, the IronPigs made it to the Governors' Cup finals, losing to the Columbus Clippers three games to one.[21] The team's 2011 regular season record of 80-64 was the best in its four year history.

Logos and uniforms

Awards and honors

International League Most Valuable Pitcher

Baseball America Minor League Manager of the Year

See: Baseball America#Minor League Baseball awards

Alumni

Matt Stairs played for the team while the team was known as the Ottawa Lynx.
Javier Vázquez played for the team while the team was known as the Ottawa Lynx.
Brandon Phillips played for the team while the team was known as the Ottawa Lynx.
Jake Diekman
Domonic Brown
John Mayberry, Jr.
Vance Worley

Ottawa Lynx

Lehigh Valley IronPigs

Season By Season Records

Season By Season Records in Ottawa

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1993 73-69 5th Mike Quade Lost in 1st round
1994 70-72 6th Jim Tracy
1995 72-70 5th Pete Mackanin League Champs
1996 60-82 10th Pete Mackanin
1997 54-86 10th Pat Kelly
1998 69-74 10th Pat Kelly
1999 59-85 13th Jeff Cox
2000 53-88 13th Jeff Cox (38-54) / Rick Sweet (15-34)
2001 68-76 7th (t) Stan Hough
2002 80-61 3rd Tim Leiper
2003 79-65 3rd Gary Allenson Lost in 1st round
2004 66-78 11th (t) Tim Leiper
2005 69-75 9th (t) Dave Trembley
2006 74-69 8th Dave Trembley
2007 55-88 14th John Russell

Season By Season Records in Lehigh Valley

Season League Division Regular Season Postseason Awards
Finish W L Win% GB
2008 IL North 6th 55 89 .382 33.0
2009 IL North 3rd 71 73 .493 11.5
2010 IL North 5th 58 86 .403 29.5
2011 IL North 2nd 80 64 .556 2.0 L Governors' Cup Finals
2012 IL North 3rd 75 68 .524 8.5
Total IL North XX 339 380 .471 XX

* – Current season. These statistics reflect games played through the end of the 2012 Regular Season.

Roster

Current Roster

Lehigh Valley IronPigs roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


Manager

  • 28 Anthony Contreras

Coaches

60-day injured list

7-day injured list
* On Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated September 25, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • International League
 → Philadelphia Phillies minor league players

Final Roster as the Ottawa Lynx in 2007

Ottawa Lynx roster
Active roster Coaches/Other
Starting Rotation

Bullpen

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

Manager
  • John Russell

Coaches

Trainers

Disabled and Inactive List


* - On Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster

Mascot

On December 1, 2007, the IronPigs selected "PorkChop" as the name of their mascot from 7,300 submitted names. On December 2, 2007, the name was changed to Ferrous, derived from the chemical name for iron, because of complaints from the local Puerto Rican population, who alleged that "Pork Chop" was a racist term, despite the name being submitted by a young girl who lived in the Lehigh Valley area.[24] The current mascots for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs are Ferrous and FeFe. Ferrous wears the number 26, which is the atomic number for iron. FeFe is named after the abbreviation for iron, Fe.[25]

Broadcast coverage

The Iron Pigs' home radio booth at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

The IronPigs broadcasts all 72 of its home games on television, a rarity for a minor league team. Local cable outlet Service Electric TV2 carries the IronPigs games, covering most of the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. In addition, TV2 feeds the telecasts to Blue Ridge Cable TV-13 for broadcast to other areas in the eastern part of the state. In addition, select Saturday night home games are telecast on WFMZ-TV 69, which serves the Lehigh Valley as well as the northern Philadelphia market and western New Jersey. All 144 IronPigs games are also broadcast on WEEX, an Easton, Pennsylvania-based ESPN Radio affiliate. Former in-game reporter Meredith Marakovits is now an anchor for SportsNet New York (SNY), sideline reporter for the Philadelphia 76ers on Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, contributor for WFAN (660 AM) radio in New York, N.Y.

Television

Radio

See also

References

  1. ^ Isherwood, Darryl R. (October 25, 2008). "Stadium's final cost hits $50.25 million". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. Retrieved October 25, 2008.
  2. ^ Brennan, Don (July 14, 2007). "Lynx to IronPigs isn't yet iron clad". Retrieved 2008-01-22.
  3. ^ "Orioles sign affiliation with Ottawa," Baltimore Orioles press release, Tuesday, September 24, 2002.
  4. ^ http://www.onesource.com/free/Raymond-Pecor/People/Profile/18896-1000003
  5. ^ "Lynx sold, set to leave Ottawa in 2008". CBC News. 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  6. ^ "Lynx sold; franchise headed for Allentown". Ottawa Citizen. 2006-08-28. Retrieved 2010-03-01. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Topic Galleries - themorningcall.com
  8. ^ "Tides sign affiliation agreement with Baltimore Orioles," Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, September 25, 2006.
  9. ^ "Lynx sue Ottawa for $10.75M over parking". The Ottawa Citizen. October 18, 2006.
  10. ^ "box score of last game". Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  11. ^ "Ottawa Rapidz expected to file for bankruptcy". CTV News. 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  12. ^ "Eastern League History". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved July 28, 2007. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)[dead link]
  13. ^ Dan, Sheehan (July 1, 2005). "Will baseball be very, very good to the Valley with a AAA team?". The Morning Call. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved July 28, 2007. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ "Michael Schwimer patiently waiting his turn". The Morning Call. August 6, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  15. ^ Standings 2010 Season
  16. ^ International League Statistics
  17. ^ Matt Gelb (August 18, 2011). "Phillies' Schwimer adjusting to big leagues". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  18. ^ David Murphy (August 18, 2011). "Schwimer called up after Polanco placed on DL". Philadelphia Daily News. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  19. ^ "Phillies Officially Call Up Michael Schwimer". Philadelphia Sports Daily. August 17, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  20. ^ "Madson logs inning of rehab work". Philadelphia Daily News. July 14, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  21. ^ "'Pigs Fall to Clippers in Governors' Cup Finals", MinorLeagueBaseball.com, September 16, 2011.
  22. ^ "Cloyd Honored as IL's Most Valuable Pitcher". Lehigh Valley IronPigs official website. Minor League baseball. August 28, 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-09.
  23. ^ Schuler, Jeff (December 5, 2011). "2011 Minor League Manager Of The Year: Ryne Sandberg: Sandberg forges new path as top manager". Baseball America. Retrieved 2011-12-09. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  24. ^ IronPigs Hear More Complaints In 'PorkChop' Mascot Name Flap – Sports News Story – WCAU | Philadelphia
  25. ^ Ferrous and FeFe – IronPigsBaseball.com


Template:MLB Phillies franchise

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lehigh_Valley_IronPigs&oldid=515458209"