Ottawa Lynx
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Ottawa Lynx 1993–2007 Ottawa, Ontario | |||||
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| Class-level | |||||
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| Previous | Triple-A (1993-2007) | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | International League (1993-2007) | ||||
| Division | North Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Previous |
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| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles | 1995 | ||||
| Division titles | 1995 | ||||
| Team data | |||||
Previous names | Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007) | ||||
Previous parks | Lynx Stadium (1993-2007) (formerly Ottawa Stadium pre-construction, and JetForm Park from 1999-2002) | ||||
The Ottawa Lynx were a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League (IL) from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos (1993–2002), Baltimore Orioles (2003–2006), and Philadelphia Phillies (2007). At the time, it was the only IL franchise based in Canada.
In late August 2006, the league approved the conditions to negotiate the sale of the team. The new owners moved the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania, beginning with the 2008 season, where it is known as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.[1] The team's move to Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania, has brought it within the Phillies' fan base region.
During the club's last years, it had difficulty attracting fans, which was one of several factors in the decision to relocate the team.
The Canadian-American (Can-Am) League placed a team in Ottawa, called the Rapidz, for the 2008 season. On September 29, 2008, the Rapidz ceased operations as the team declared bankruptcy.[2] After the initial ownership declared bankruptcy, the Can-Am league assumed ownership of the franchise, but suspended the team's operations in March 2009 prior to what would have been a second season.
History
In 1991, Ottawa businessman and then Ottawa 67's owner Howard Darwin was successful in applying to the IL for an expansion franchise to begin play in 1993, at a cost of $5 million. The Lynx became the second IL franchise to play in Ottawa, after the former Ottawa Giants and Ottawa Athletics of the 1950s. The application was contingent on the City of Ottawa building a baseball stadium for the team. The stadium was completed in time for the 1993 season.
The Lynx began play in 1993, serving as the top farm team for the Montreal Expos. The team won the International League championship in 1995, the only time it would do so. During this period, the Lynx featured such future Major League Baseball players as Rondell White, Cliff Floyd, Matt Stairs, Kirk Rueter, and F.P. Santangelo. The Lynx eventually retired two numbers: Santangelo's 24, and Jamey Carroll's 3.
In 2000, Darwin sold his shares in the team to Ray Pecor for $7 million. According to news reports, Pecor would lose $1 million annually on the team due to low attendance.[3]
In 2003, the Lynx were 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.[4] As a result, Montreal shifted its affiliation to the Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League. The Lynx's working agreement with the Orioles ended when the latter signed a Player Development Contract with the Norfolk Tides on September 25, 2006.[5]
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In 2006, the ball club was sold to Joe Finley and Craig Stein, while Pecor maintained a minority stake. 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).[6][7] 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.[8]
The team played its last game in Ottawa on September 3, 2007, losing to Syracuse 8-5. The Ottawa Lynx ultimately won exactly 1,000 games before leaving Ottawa.[9]
Titles
The Lynx won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the International League, once by defeating the Norfolk Tides in 1995.
Final 2007 roster
| Ottawa Lynx roster | |||||||||
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| Active roster | Coaches/Other | ||||||||
Starting Rotation
Bullpen
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
Trainers
Disabled and Inactive List
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Alumni
- Matt Stairs (1993) - Outfielder/designated hitter/first baseman for Montreal, Boston, Oakland, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Detroit, Texas, Toronto, Philadelphia, San Diego Padres, and Washington Nationals
- Rondell White (1993–94) - Outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, San Diego, Kansas City, Detroit, and Minnesota
- Kirk Rueter (1993–1996) - Pitcher for Montreal and San Francisco
- Cliff Floyd (1993; 1996) - First baseman/outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Florida, Boston, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays
- F.P. Santangelo (1993–95; 1998) - Outfielder/second baseman for Montreal, San Francisco, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland
- Curtis Pride (1993–95; 2001) - Outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, New York Yankees, and Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Ugueth Urbina (1995–96) - Pitcher for Montreal, Boston, Texas, Florida, Detroit, and Philadelphia
- José Vidro (1997–98) - Second baseman/third baseman/designated hitter for Montreal/Washington and Seattle
- Orlando Cabrera (1997–98; 2000) - Gold Glove Shortstop for Montreal, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants
- Javier Vázquez (1999) - Pitcher for Montreal, New York Yankees, Arizona, and Chicago White Sox
- Michael Barrett (2000) - Catcher for Montreal, Chicago Cubs and San Diego
- Jamey Carroll (2000–02) - Third baseman/shortstop/second baseman for Montreal/Washington, Cleveland Indians and Colorado
- Brandon Phillips (2002) - 2-time gold glover at second base for Cincinnati
- Rick Bauer (2003–05; 2007) - Pitcher for Baltimore and Texas
- Eli Whiteside (2005–06) - Catcher for Baltimore and San Francisco
- Adam Loewen (2006) - Baltimore Orioles Pitcher and Outfielder, Toronto Outfielder
- Hayden Penn (2006) - Pitcher for Baltimore and Florida
- Chris Coste (2007) - Houston Astros catcher
- Zack Segovia (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- J. D. Durbin (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- Clay Condrey (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- Mike Zagurski (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- Yoel Hernández (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- Brian Sanches (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- Kane Davis (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- Chris Roberson (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
- Fabio Castro (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
- Geoff Geary (2007) - Pitcher for Philadelphia and Houston
- John Ennis (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
References
- ↑ Topic Galleries - themorningcall.com
- ↑ "Ottawa Rapidz expected to file for bankruptcy". CTV News. 2008-09-30. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ↑ Brennan, Don (July 14, 2007). "Lynx to IronPigs isn't yet iron clad". Retrieved 2008-01-22.
- ↑ "Orioles sign affiliation with Ottawa," Baltimore Orioles press release, Tuesday, September 24, 2002.
- ↑ "Tides sign affiliation agreement with Baltimore Orioles," Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, September 25, 2006.
- ↑ "Lynx sold, set to leave Ottawa in 2008". CBC News. 2006-08-29. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ↑ "Lynx sold; franchise headed for Allentown". Ottawa Citizen. 2006-08-28. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ↑ "Lynx sue Ottawa for $10.75M over parking". The Ottawa Citizen. October 18, 2006.
- ↑ "box score of last game". Retrieved 2008-01-15.
External links
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