St. Paul Saints
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| St. Paul Saints | |
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| Founded | 1993 |
| League | Northern League 1993-2005 American Association 2006-present |
| Team History | St. Paul Saints 1993-present |
| Ballpark | Midway Stadium |
|---|---|
| Based in | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Team Colors | Black, White, Aubergine |
| Owner | Marv Goldklang Mike Veeck Bill Murray |
| Manager | George Tsamis |
| Championships | 4 1993, 1995, 1996, 2004 |
| Division Titles | 4 1997, 2000, 2003, 2006 |
| Mascot | This Year's Pig & Mudonna |
St. Paul Saints is the name of three different minor league baseball teams that have been based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The team that currently bears that name is an "independent" team not affiliated with any Major League Baseball franchise. Founded in 1993, today's Saints were a Northern League team through 2005. In 2006 the team was a founding member of the modern American Association. The Saints play at Midway Stadium.
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[edit] St. Paul Saints (1993-)
Today's St. Paul Saints were formed in 1993 in the Northern League, one of several so-called independent leagues—i.e., not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Saints are known for promotions that are over-the-top even by the standards of minor-league baseball. The principal owner, Mike Veeck, is the son of legendary major-league owner Bill Veeck, who was best-known for outrageous promotions as owner of the St. Louis Browns and Chicago White Sox. Comedian and actor Bill Murray is also a part owner.
The St. Paul Saints won four championships in the Northern League: 1993, 1995, 1996, and 2004. The most recent championship was arguably one of the Saints most memorable games. In the desicive Game 5 at St. Paul's Midway Stadium, St. Paul trailed the Schaumburg Flyers 6-3 entering the bottom of the ninth. A leadoff double and two quick outs had the Flyers on the edge of their seat. A double by the Saints' second basemen, and it was 6-4. The next batter sent a base hit up the middle and it was 6-5. 3 consecutive singles later and it was knotted up at 6. A walk to load the bases and a new pitcher set the stage for Marc Mirizzi. On a 1-1 pitch, Mirrizi struck a cannon to left field, just fair, for a grand-slam, walk-off championship clinching home run to win it for the Saints 10-6.
In spite of considerable naysaying at their inception, the Saints have been one of the most successful teams in the Northern League and all of independent baseball. For much of their history the team played to packed houses at Midway Stadium. In 2002-2004, the Saints saw severely reduced attendance, owing partially to renewed interest in the major-league Minnesota Twins, who won the 2002, 2003, and 2004 American League Central Division championships. In spite of an initially cool, if not outright hostile, reception the Saints and their MLB neighbor (less than 10 miles away) have worked together for several years in hopes of increasing support for the sport of baseball (for their mutual benefit).
The Saints have figured prominently in the creation of modern independent baseball. They were featured in a couple books ("Rebel Baseball" by Steve Perlstein, 1993; "Slouching Toward Fargo" by Neal Karlen, 1998) and a cable network series ("Baseball Minnesota," FX Network, 1996-97). Mike Veeck wrote a book that covered the mantra "Fun is Good" (2005) and describes the business approach he has used for many years.
A major factor in the continued success of the Saints in the face of the Twins' presence is the fact that Midway Stadium, the Saints' home field, is an open-air facility; many Twins fans have bemoaned the unfairness of being forced to go indoors to watch a baseball game on a warm Minnesota summer evening. Another is the love of tailgating by fans in the Twin Cities metropolitan area - the Metrodome, situated in the middle of downtown Minneapolis, has little space available for tailgating.
On September 29, 2005, the Saints left the Northern League, along with the Lincoln Saltdogs, Sioux City Explorers and the Sioux Falls Canaries to found the American Association for the 2006 season.
[edit] Notable promotions
In an attempt to gain publicity in a metropolitan area that hosts four major pro sports teams and a major college program, the Saints have grabbed headlines numerous times for their unique promotions.[1]
- In April 2006, the Saints announced that rubber boats would be given out during a May 27, 2006 game, ostensibly to honor 30th anniversary of the television show The Love Boat. However, details of the promotion indicate that it is intended as a jab at the 2005 boat scandal involving the Minnesota Vikings, where several members of the team were allegedly involved in illicit behavior on a private cruise. The promotional rubber boats use the same color as the Vikings uniforms (purple and yellow) and are named Minnetonka Queen (a reference to Lake Minnetonka, where the cruise took place).[1]
- In August 2003, the Saints held "Randy Moss Hood Ornament Night", poking fun at the Viking's wide receiver Randy Moss. Earlier that year, Moss was involved in an incident where he bumped a traffic control officer with his car while he attempted to make a turn.[1]
- During the 2002 Major League Baseball labor negotiations, the Saints gave away seat cushions with pictures of commissioner Bud Selig on one side and player's association Executive Director Donald Fehr on the other.[1]
- In 2002, in response to Selig's controversial decision to end the MLB All-Star Game in a 7-7 tie, the Saints gave out neckties (or "ties") with Bud Selig's image.[1]
[edit] Fast facts
- Founded: 1993 (Northern League inaugural team)
- Home ballpark: Midway Stadium (formerly: Municipal Stadium)
- Uniform colors: Blue, Cream, and Maroon (2003 to present; originally Black & White '93-'02)
- Cap Logo design: StP script similar to the St. Louis Cardinals
- Uniform design: Saints in script ('93-'02 was similar to original American Association version)
- Northern League Champions: 1993, 1995, 1996, 2004
- Division Champions (AA North): 2006
[edit] Notable Former Saints Players
- Leon "Bull" Durham (1993-1994, formerly with the Chicago Cubs)
- Minnie Miñoso (1993, 2003, former Negro League player)
- Kevin Millar (1993, formerly with the Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox, and currently playing for the Baltimore Orioles)
- Rey Ordoñez (1993, signed by and played for the New York Mets)
- Darryl Motley (1995, formerly with the Kansas City Royals)
- Darryl Strawberry (1996, formerly with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees)
- Jack Morris (1996, formerly with the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins)
- J. D. Drew (1997-1998, signed by the St. Louis Cardinals currently playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers)
- Matt Nokes (1998, formerly with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees)
- Ila Borders (1997, first woman to pitch in a men's professional baseball league)
[edit] St. Paul Saints (1884-1899)
As described in Lee Allen's book, The American League Story (Putnam, 1962), the team began as the Sioux City franchise in a minor league called the Western League. The WL had reorganized itself in November, 1893, with Ban Johnson as President. Johnson, a Cincinnati-based reporter, had been recommended by his friend Charles Comiskey, former major league star with the St. Louis Browns in the 1880s, who was then managing the Cincinnati Reds. After the 1894 season, when Comiskey's contract with the Reds was up, he decided to take his chances at ownership. He bought the Sioux City team and transferred it to St. Paul, where it enjoyed some success over the next 5 seasons.
In 1900, the Western League changed its name to the American League. It was still officially a minor league, a part of the National Agreement and an underling of the National League. The NL actually gave permission to the AL to put a team in Chicago, and on March 21, 1900, Comiskey moved his St. Paul club to the south side, where they became the Chicago White Sox.
[edit] St. Paul Saints (1900-1960)
Another team called the Saints played minor league baseball as the farm club of the Brooklyn Dodgers in St. Paul until 1960. That team played in the American Association along with its crosstown rivals the Minneapolis Millers (farm club of the New York Giants). Both teams were folded by Major League Baseball when the Minnesota Twins came to town in 1961. Lexington Park served as the home stadium for most of those years.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Rovell, Darren (April 17, 2006). Another last laugh for the St. Paul Saints. ESPN.com. Retrieved on 2006-04-18.
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- nlfan.com Saints Guide (Northern League '93-'05)
- aabfan.com Saints Guide (American Association '06-)
[edit] League References
- aabfan.com - yearly league standings & awards (American Association)
- nlfan.com - yearly league standings & awards (Northern League)
| American Association | ||
| North Division: Lincoln Saltdogs | St. Joe Blacksnakes | St. Paul Saints | Sioux City Explorers | Sioux Falls Canaries South Division: Coastal Bend Aviators | El Paso Diablos | Fort Worth Cats | Pensacola Pelicans | Shreveport Sports |
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