The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a minor league baseball team located in Lethbridge,

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, Canada.Henderson Stadium
at digitalballparks.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010

07-01-10 The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992–1995Lethbridge Team History
at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010
Archived
07-01-10 before becoming the Lethbridge Black Diamonds from 1996–1998. They were one of the first two farm clubs of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Only 16 months after Arizona was granted a major league baseball franchise, the first farm club — the Lethbridge Black Diamonds — took the field.D-Backs' minor league affiliate begins play tonight
at google.com/newspaper, URL accessed November 11, 2011. The team started playing two years before their parent club even played a game. The team played their first game in June 1996, whereas the

Arizona Diamondbacks The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. ...

started playing in April 1998. The team played in the Pioneer League,Pioneer League (Rookie) Encyclopedia and History
at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010
Archived
07-01-10 which is a rookie league, with a shortented season, in Minor League Baseball. Minor League Baseball Rookie at wikipedia.org, URL accessed November 10, 2011. Their home stadium was Henderson Stadium. In 1999, the team was moved and became the

Missoula Osprey The Missoula PaddleHeads are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Missoula, Montana, and play their home games at Ogren Par ...

.Raising the Boys of Summer
by Chad Dundas at missoulanews.bigskypress.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010
Archived
07-01-10

Team history

Within their first year, in 1996, the Lethbridge Black Diamonds had the best record going 50-22 before falling in the opening round of the playoffs. With manager

Chris Speier Christopher Edward Speier (born June 28, 1950) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop, most notably for the San Francisco Giants and the Montreal Expos. He is known by the nickname ...

, they led the league in defence/pitching, with 339 runs allowed which was 102 less than the number two place,1996 Pioneer League Standings
at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 9, 2011. and in offense, with 637 runs, which was 94 more than the next team in the league. The team drew in 49,124 fans that year. There were many All-Star players on the team the first year. The second season manager Tommy Jones led the team to a 39-33 record, which tied them for third in the league with the

Idaho Falls Braves Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyomi ...

,1997 Pioneer League Standings
at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011 but the Black Diamonds fell within the first round of the playoffs. During 1997, no player on the team made the All-Star team or lead the Pioneer League in any key stat. The last season the Black Diamonds were in Lethbridge they went 43-32 with manage Joe Almaraz. The team defeated

Great Falls Dodgers Great may refer to: Descriptions or measurements * Great, a relative measurement in physical space, see Size * Greatness, being divine, majestic, superior, majestic, or transcendent People * List of people known as "the Great" *Artel Great (born ...

2 games to 1, then lost in the finals to

.Yearly Minor League Baseball Standing 1998 Playoffs
at minorleaguebaseball.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011.

Notable alumni

Rod Barajas Rodrigo Richard Barajas (born September 5, 1975) is an American former professional baseball catcher and most recently catching and quality control coach for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). Barajas served as the interim manag ...

(1996) * Alex Cintron (1997-1998) *

Jack Cust John Joseph "Jack" Cust III (born January 7, 1979) is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego ...

(1998) *

(1996) 3 x MLB All-Star *

Junior Spivey Ernest Lee "Junior" Spivey Jr. (born January 28, 1975) is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball. In his five-year major league career, Spivey batted .270 with 48 home runs and 201 runs batted in in 457 games. He made the National Le ...

(1996) MLB All-Star

1996

* Kevin SweeneyKevin John Sweeney Stats Profile
at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011 – league MVP – who also led the Pioneer League in average, slugging, OBP, runs and walks which was 94 more than the next team in the league. * Vladimir Núñez – led the circuit in ERA by a full pointVladimir Nunez Stats Profile
at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011 and was voted top prospect in the league *

Nick Bierbrodt Nicholas Raymond Bierbrodt (born May 16, 1978) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He spent four seasons from 2001 to 2004 in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cleveland Indians and ...

– rated #3 prospect in the league * Larry RodriguezLarry Rodriguez Stats Profile
at thebaseballcube.com, URL accessed November 11, 2011 – voted #4 prospect within the league

1997

* Jamie Puorto – was third in ERA * Jhensy Sandoval – named top prospect of the season

Team roster 1996

Team roster 1997

Team roster 1998

Players who played in the Major Leagues

Jason Conti Stanley Jason Conti (; born January 27, 1975) is a former outfielder in Major League baseball. He spent five years in the major leagues with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers (ba ...

–

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since its inception, the team's home v ...

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. The Brewers are named for the city's association wi ...

, Texas Rangers * Rob Ryan (baseball) –

Arizona Diamondback The Arizona Diamondbacks (colloquially known as the D-backs) are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. The ...

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (often referred to as the A's) are an American professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West division. The t ...

–

, Texas Rangers,

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* José Antonio Núñez –

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* Vladimir Núñez –

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Erik Sabel Erik Sabel (born October 14, 1974) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for three seasons. He played for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999 and 2001 and the Detroit Tigers in 2002. Following his playing career, Sabel has been pit ...

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Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

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Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...

, Texas Rangers * Ron Calloway –

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos (french: link=no, Les Expos de Montréal) were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal, Montreal, Quebec. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They p ...

Alex Cintrón Alexander Cintrón (born December 17, 1978) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball infielder and current hitting coach for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox ...

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* Eric Knott –

Abraham Núñez (outfielder) Abraham Núñez (born February 5, 1977) is a Dominican former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played in MLB for the Florida Marlins (2002, 2004) and Kansas City Royals (2004). He is a switch-hitter and throws right-handed. Nunez played f ...

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* Robby Hammock –

Mike Koplove Michael Paul Koplove (; born August 30, 1976) is an American professional baseball scout and former player. He pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cleveland Indians. A sidearm relief pitcher, Koplove threw with a different arm angle t ...

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* Bret Prinz –

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one o ...

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References

{{Reflist Defunct Pioneer League (baseball) teams Sport in Lethbridge 1992 establishments in Alberta Baseball teams established in 1992 Defunct baseball teams in Canada Baseball teams in Alberta Arizona Diamondbacks minor league affiliates