Bluefield Blue Jays
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Bluefield Blue Jays Founded in 1937 Bluefield, West Virginia | |||||
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| Class-level | |||||
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| Current | Advanced Rookie (1963–present) | ||||
| Previous |
Class D- (1957–1962)
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| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | Appalachian League (1946–1955, 1957–present) | ||||
| Division | East Division | ||||
| Previous leagues |
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| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Toronto Blue Jays (2011–present) | ||||
| Previous |
Baltimore Orioles (1958–2010)
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| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles | 14 (1949, 1950, 1954, 1957, 1962, 1963, 1967, 1970, 1971, 1982, 1992, 1996, 1997, 2001) | ||||
| Division titles | 11 (1971, 1974, 1976, 1982, 1992, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2011) | ||||
| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Bluefield Blue Jays (2011–present) | ||||
| Previous names |
Bluefield Orioles (1958–2010)
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| Colors | Blue, White | ||||
| Ballpark | Bowen Field (1946–1955, 1957–present) | ||||
| Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Bluefield Baseball Club, Inc. | ||||
| Manager | Dennis Holmberg | ||||
| General manager | Jeff Gray | ||||
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball team of the Rookie Appalachian League representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia, affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays.[1] The team plays their home games at Bowen Field, a historic stadium (opened in 1939) in Bluefield's city park. The park, which straddles the West Virginia–Virginia state line, is operated by the West Virginia city; however, Bowen Field lies entirely within Virginia.
History
On August 28, 2010, Andy MacPhail, then-president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles announced that Baltimore was ending their affiliation with Bluefield and the Appalachian League, effective at the end of the 2010 Appalachian League season.[2][3] Bluefield's fifty-three season affiliation with the Orioles, which lasted from 1958 to 2010, is the oldest continuous affiliation with the same major league franchise in Minor League Baseball.[3]
The Orioles were sometimes known as the "Baby Birds" or the "Baby O's," a reference to their major league parent club. One of the best known players to have played in Bluefield is Cal Ripken, Jr., who played with Bluefield in 1978 when he was 17 years old. Another famous former Baby Bird is Boog Powell, who played there in 1959, also as a 17-year-old.
In August 2013, outfielder Kevin Pillar became the first alumnus of the team to play in the major leagues for Toronto.[4]
Roster
| Bluefield Blue Jays roster | ||||
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| Players | Coaches/Other | |||
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager Coaches
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References
- ↑ "Blue Jays fly into Bluefield to replace the Orioles". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. September 7, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2010.
- ↑ "Orioles leaving Bluefield". Bluefield Daily Telegraph. August 28, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Orioles out of Bluefield". Orioles Insider: Baltimore Sun. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
- ↑
External links
- Official Site of Minor League Baseball – Bluefield Blue Jays Homepage
- Bluefield Blue Jays at Appalachian League site
- Announcement of Blue Jays replacing the Orioles
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| Toronto Blue Jays franchise | |||
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| Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Rookie |
| Buffalo Bisons | New Hampshire Fisher Cats |
Dunedin Blue Jays Lansing Lugnuts Vancouver Canadians |
Bluefield Blue Jays GCL Blue Jays DSL Blue Jays |
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