The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a

minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

team located in

Lethbridge Lethbridge ( ) is a city in the province of Alberta, Canada. With a population of 106,550 in the 2023 Alberta municipal censuses, 2023 municipal census, Lethbridge became the fourth Alberta city to surpass 100,000 people. The nearby Canadian ...

Alberta Alberta is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province in Canada. It is a part of Western Canada and is one of the three Canadian Prairies, prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to its west, Saskatchewan to its east, t ...

, Canada. at digitalballparks.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. 07-01-10 The team was previously known as the

Lethbridge Mounties The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a minor league baseball team located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. at digitalballparks.com, URL accessed July 1, 2010. 07-01-10 The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992–1995

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 are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established ...

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 shortened season, in

Minor League Baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...

. 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 Pa ...

.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 landlocked state State most commonly refers to: * State (polity), a centralized political organization that regulates law and society within a territory **Sovereign state, a sovereign polity in international law, commonly ref ...

,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 (bo ...

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. Barajas served as the interim manager for the San Diego Padres after Andy Green (baseball), Andy Green's firing on September 21, 2019. As a play ...

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

Jack Cust John Joseph 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 Padre ...

(1998) *

(1996) 3 x MLB All-Star *

Junior Spivey Ernest Lee "Junior" Spivey Jr. (born January 28, 1975) is an American 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 Na ...

(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 Vladimir Núñez Zarabaza (born March 15, 1975) is a Cuban former professional baseball relief pitcher. He is currently the pitching coach for the Gulf Coast League Braves of the Gulf Coast League. He played in Major League Baseball for the Ari ...

– 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 –

Tampa Bay Rays The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...

Milwaukee Brewers The Milwaukee Brewers are an American professional baseball team based in Milwaukee. The Brewers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Di ...

, Texas Rangers *

Rob Ryan (baseball) Rob Ryan (born June 24, 1973) is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Oakland Athletics. He attended Washington State University where he played college baseball for the Cougars from 1993&n ...

–

Arizona Diamondback The Arizona Diamondbacks are an American professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. The Diamondbacks compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West Division. The franchise was established o ...

Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...

–

, Texas Rangers,

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National ...

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...

* José Antonio Núñez –

San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...

–

Florida Marlins The Miami Marlins are an American professional baseball team based in Miami. The Marlins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. The team plays its home games at LoanDepot Park. The ...

Colorado Rockies The Colorado Rockies are an American professional baseball team based in Denver. The Rockies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. Th ...

Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Eas ...

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. Career Following his playing career, Sabel ha ...

–

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 club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...

–

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) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...

, Texas Rangers * Ron Calloway –

Montreal Expos The Montreal Expos () were a Canadian professional baseball team based in Montreal. The Expos were the first Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise located outside the United States. They played in the National League (baseball), National League ...

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 ...

–

Chicago White Sox The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The club plays its ...

Washington Nationals The Washington Nationals are an American professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. They play their home games at Na ...

Eric Knott Eric James Knott (born September 23, 1974) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played Major League Baseball for two seasons. He pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 and the Montreal Expos in 2003, playing in 16 career ...

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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 ...

–

Kansas City Royals The Kansas City Royals are an American professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team ...

–

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. The Mariners compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West Division. The team joined the American ...

* Robby Hammock –

* Mike Koplove –

Bret Prinz Bret Randolph Prinz (born June 15, 1977) is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played with the Arizona Diamondbacks (–), New York Yankees (2003–), Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (), and Chicago White Sox (). He batted an ...

–

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...

Los Angeles Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, ...

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