Oklahoma City RedHawks

The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. The RedHawks play in Bricktown Ballpark, located in the Bricktown Entertainment District in downtown Oklahoma City.

The team was originally known as the Oklahoma City 89ers from 1962 to 1997 when the team played at All Sports Stadium (now demolished) at the state fairgrounds. The original name made reference to the Land Run of 1889, which led to the founding of Oklahoma City. Following the 1997 season, they became the Oklahoma RedHawks. After the 2008 season, the team added "City" to their name. The minor renaming was accompanied by new logos and a new color scheme.^[1]

History

Oklahoma City previously had a different minor league team, the Oklahoma City Indians. The Oklahoma City 89ers began play in 1962 as a minor league affiliate of the Houston Colt .45's (later the Houston Astros). In 1973, a three-year connection with the Cleveland Indians was established. A later affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies lasted from 1976 until 1982.

In 1983, the Texas Rangers became the parent club, a relationship that would continue as the 89ers adopted new colors and uniforms along with the nickname "RedHawks" in 1998 in connection with the move to the newly-built RedHawks Ballpark. Crowds are consistently large at the park and the RedHawks have been very competitive with the exception of a couple of seasons.

On September 14, 2010, the Texas Rangers ownership announced that they were moving their Triple-A affiliation to the Round Rock Express (formerly the Astros' AAA affiliate).^[2] On September 15 the Redhawks were sold to Mandalay Baseball Properties, which also owns or operates five other minor league baseball teams, and is part of the Mandalay Entertainment conglomerate chaired by entertainment industry executive Peter Guber. On September 20, Mandalay entered into a formal agreement for the Redhawks to become the Astros' new AAA affiliate.^[3][4]

Notable former players

• Hank Blalock, third-baseman/first-baseman
• Francisco Cordero, pitcher
• Nelson Cruz, outfielder
• Doug Davis, pitcher
• R.A. Dickey, pitcher
• Justin Duchscherer, pitcher
• Scott Feldman, pitcher
• Travis Hafner, first-baseman/designated hitter
• Gabe Kapler, outfielder
• Ian Kinsler, second-baseman
• Mitch Moreland, first-baseman/outfielder
• Jarrod Saltalamacchia, catcher
• Justin Smoak, first-baseman
• Edinson Volquez, pitcher

Roster

See also

• Current and former players (2009—)
• Former players (1998—2008)
• Former players (1962—1997)

References

External links

• Oklahoma City RedHawks official site
• Justin Smoak named 2009 International Senior Athlete of the Year. Cassandra Sedgman, "Paul Hyham IBAF 2009 Umpire of the Year". Baseball Australia, 7 December 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-07. See: International Baseball Federation#Awards and Texas Rangers award winners and league leaders#Minor-league system.