Québec Capitales

Québec Capitales
File:Quebec Capitales cap.PNG Team logo Cap insignia
Information
League	Frontier League
Location	Quebec City
Ballpark	Stade Canac
Founded	1999
League championships	(7) 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017
Division championships	(4) 2002, 2004, 2005, 2017
Colours	Navy blue, gold, white
Mascot	Capi the Lion
Ownership	Jean Tremblay, Pierre Tremblay, Marie-Pierre Simard
Manager	Patrick Scalabrini
Media	Le Journal de Québec Le Soleil
Website	capitalesdequebec.com

The Québec Capitales (French: Les Capitales de Québec) are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Capitales have been members of the Frontier League since the 2020 season after a merger between the Can-Am League and the Frontier League in October 2019. Since the 1999 season, the Capitales have played their home games at Stade Canac.

The team was established in 1999 as a member of the independent Northern League. Their mascot is Capi the Lion.

History of baseball in Quebec City

Québec City has been home to many baseball teams. The Québec Athletics played in the Québec Provincial League during the 1940 season, and in the Canadian-American League from 1941 to 1942. The Québec Alouettes followed as a member of the Canadian-American League from 1946 to 1948. The Quebec Braves played from 1949 to 1950, as they too were part of the Canadian-American League, and from 1950 to 1951 in the Provincial League. The Québec Indians played in the Provincial League from 1958 to 1970. The Québec Carnavals were the AA affiliate of the Montreal Expos from 1971 through 1975, as members of the Eastern League. In 1976, the team changed its name to the Québec Metros and continued to play until 1977.

Quebec Capitales

Capitales game at Stade Canac in July 2019.

In 1999, the Capitales joined the Northern League (East Division) as an expansion team. The Capitales are one of two Canadian teams in the league, the other being the Trois-Rivieres Aigles. As of 2019, the Capitales are the most successful team in the Can-Am League on and off the field, having won the League championship more times (7) than any other team and being among the tops in attendance every season averaging over 3,000 fans per game since 2001. Since 2000, the Capitales have made the playoffs 16 times.

In 2006, the Capitales won their first championship in team history. Although the team had the second-worst record in team history they still qualified for last postseason spot with a 44–44 record. They defeated the top seed North Shore Spirit in dramatic come from behind fashion winning the last two games to win the series 3 games to 2. In the championship series, the Capitales took a 2 games to none advantage before the Brockton Rox came back to even the series. In the final and decisive game, the Capitales defeated the Rox on their home field by coming from behind and won by a score of 5–4 to win the Can-Am League Championship 3 games to 2.

Jonathan de Marte on the mound during a Quebec Capitales game, August 2019

In 2009 the Capitales became the first franchise in the reborn Can-Am League to win multiple championships and the fourth team in the entire history of the Northeast/Can-Am League to win more than one championship (joining the New Jersey Jackals, who won two Northeast League and two Northern League championships, the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, who won the first Northeast League Championship and one Northern League Championship, and the Adirondack Lumberjacks, who won one Northeast League and one Northern League championship). The Capitales won the 2nd half regular-season championship and finished the season with the 3rd best overall record (53-41). The Capitales eliminated the Brockton Rox 3 games to 1 in the opening round. In a rematch of the 2005 championship, the Capitales got revenge by eliminating the Worcester Tornadoes 3 games to 1. In 2010, the Capitales obtained a second consecutive championship, passing by the Pittsfield Colonials 3 games to 1. In 2011, the Capitales won their third championship in a row (fourth in all) by defeating the New Jersey Jackals 4 games to 1. In 2012, the team again defeated the Jackals 4 games to 1, thus winning their fourth championship in a row. A fifth championship in a row materialized in 2013, the Capitales defeating again the New-Jersey Jackals 4 games to 3. In 2017, the Capitales captured their seventh championship in franchise history by sweeping the Rockland Boulders 3–0.

In 2020, the Capitales moved to the Frontier League following the merger of the Can-Am League with the Frontier League. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extended closure of the Canada–United States border, the league announced that the Capitales (along with the Trois-Rivières Aigles) would be unable to compete for the 2020 season (which was later cancelled). The club later announced they intended to organize a separate league in Québec for the summer as an alternative, but these plans were eventually scrapped by both clubs.

Season-by-season record

Records as of September 3, 2019

Season	League	Division	Regular season				Post-season
			Wins	Losses	Win%	Finish
1999	Northern	North	43	43	.500	3rd	Did not qualify
2000	Northern	North	48	37	.565	2nd	Lost Opening round (Adirondack Lumberjacks) 3–1
2001	Northern	North	44	47	.484	2nd	Did not qualify
2002	Northern	North	52	38	.578	1st	Lost Opening round (Adirondack Lumberjacks) 3–2
2003	Northeast	North	49	40	.551	3rd	Lost Opening round (North Shore Spirit) 3–0
2004	Northeast	North	58	34	.630	1st	Lost Opening round (North Shore Spirit) 3–2
2005	Can-Am	North	59	33	.552	1st	Won Opening round (Brockton Rox) 3–0 Lost Championship (Worcester Tornadoes) 3–0
2006	Can-Am	none	44	44	.500	1st	Won Opening round (North Shore Spirit) 3–2 Won Championship (Brockton Rox) 3–2
2007	Can-Am	none	49	45	.521	5th	Did not qualify
2008	Can-Am	none	58	36	.617	1st	Won Opening round (Atlantic City Surf) 3-1 Lost Championship (Sussex Skyhawks) 3–0
2009	Can-Am	none	53	41	.563	3rd	Won Opening round (Brockton Rox) 3–1 Won Championship (Worcester Tornadoes) 3–1
2010	Can-Am	none	57	37	.606	1st	Won Opening round (New Jersey Jackals) 3–0 Won Championship (Pittsfield Colonials) 3–1
2011	Can-Am	none	64	26	.711	1st	Won Opening round (Brockton Rox) 3–0 Won Championship (New Jersey Jackals) 3-1
2012	Can-Am	none	66	34	.660	1st	Won Championship (New Jersey Jackals) 4–1
2013	Can-Am	none	56	42	.571	1st	Won Championship (New Jersey Jackals) 4–3
2014	Can-Am	none	46	50	.479	3rd	Did not qualify
2015	Can-Am	none	54	42	.563	2nd	Lost Opening Round (New Jersey Jackals) 3–2
2016	Can-Am	none	56	44	.560	3rd	Lost Opening Round (Rockland Boulders) 3–2
2017	Can-Am	none	65	35	.650	1st	Won Opening Round (Sussex County Miners) 3–0 Won Championship (Rockland Boulders) 3–0
2018	Can-Am	none	58	44	.569	2nd	Won Opening Round (Rockland Boulders) 3–1 Lost Championship (Sussex County Miners) 3–1
2019	Can-Am	none	36	59	.379	6th	Did not qualify

Logos and uniforms

Andrew Scheer with Capitales mascot, Capi the Lion

The official colours of the Québec Capitales are navy blue and gold. The primary logo consists of a white baseball diamond with navy blue pinstripes. The "Capitales" wordmark is superimposed over the diamond in navy blue outlined in gold. The wordmark is underlined by a navy blue ribbon with the word "Québec" centred on it in white, with the French word "de" centred in between. A navy blue fleur-de-lis is centred above the wordmark, with a stylized depiction of home plate centred below.

The Québec Capitales uniforms are traditional in design. The caps are navy blue throughout with the scripted "Q" cap logo centred on the front in gold with a white centre incorporating a navy blue fleur-de-lis and red baseball threading. The home jerseys are white with navy blue pinstripes, with the "Capitales" cursive script wordmark centred across in navy blue with gold outline. The alternate jersey is navy blue with gold piping with the cap logo centred on the left-side chest.

Rivalries

Over the years, the Capitales have had several rivalries. One significant rivalry is against the New Jersey Jackals. They have both won four league championships in their histories. The Capitales defeated the Jackals three times in the championship series, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

The Capitales also have a rivalry with the Trois-Rivières Aigles. This is because both teams are geographically in the same province of Quebec.

Another rivalry was against the Ottawa Voyageurs. Even though the Voyageurs played in the Can-Am League for only two seasons, it was still a significant rivalry due to both teams playing in the same country and the closeness of both provinces of Ontario and Quebec. When the Ottawa Champions were formed in 2015, this sparked another rivalry for the Capitales.

Current roster

Québec Capitales roster

Active (24-man) roster				Coaches/Other
Pitchers -- Andrew Case  2 Sean Cruz -- Nick Economos 27 Lachlan Fontaine 34 Karl Gélinas -- Marc-Andre Habeck -- Ben Hoffman 11 Reilly Hovis -- Frank Moscatiello 12 Dany Paradis-Giroux -- Codie Pavia -- Jake Polancic -- Daniel Procopio 40 David Richardson -- Joe Rivera -- Marshall Shill		Catchers -- Ruben Castro Infielders 39 Brandon Fischer -- David Glaude 37 Jesse Hodges 43 Yordan Manduley Outfielders 48 Jhalan Jackson -- Jonathan Lacroix -- Riley Pittman  1 David Salgueiro		Manager  5 Patrick Scalabrini Coaches 34 Karl Gélinas (Pitching coach) 25 Tim Smith (Hitting coach) Disabled list ‡ Inactive list § Suspended list Roster updated January 29, 2021 Transactions

Attendance

As of August 7, 2017

Season	Games	Total	Average
2010	45	147,978	3,288
2011	49	149,330	3,048
2012	49	152,663	3,116
2013	47	141,396	3,008
2014	42	121,305	2,888
2015	51	130,510	2,559
2016	53	146,946	2,773
2017	41	111,296	2,715

Quick facts

Current uniform colours: White with navy pinstripes for home games and grey for away games. The home with the word "Capitales" across the front and number on the back. Navy blue hats with the letter "Q" with fleur-de-lis superimposed over a baseball. Alternate uniforms are navy blue with the "Q" cap logo centred on the left chest.

Current logo design: The word "Capitales" in script in navy blue with gold outline superimposed over a white baseball diamond with navy blue pinstripes.

Current mascot: Capi (1999-present).

Current Broadcasters: Radio: François Paquet for home games and select road games

Current Radio Station: CHYZ-FM 94.3

See also

• List of baseball teams in Canada

External links

• Official website

Achievements
Preceded by Worcester Tornadoes 2005	Can-Am League Champions Québec Capitales 2006	Succeeded by Nashua Pride 2007
Preceded by Sussex Skyhawks 2008	Can-Am League Champions Québec Capitales 2009	Current holder