Lethbridge Black Diamonds

The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a minor league baseball team located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.^[1] The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992–1995^[2] 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.^[3] 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 started playing in April 1998.^[3] The team played in the Pioneer League,^[4] which is a rookie league, with a shortened season, in Minor League Baseball.^[5] Their home stadium was Henderson Stadium.^[1] In 1999, the team was moved and became the Missoula Osprey.^[6]

Lethbridge Black Diamonds
1992–1998 Lethbridge, Alberta
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Rookie Advanced
League	Pioneer League (baseball)
Division	North Division
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Arizona Diamondbacks (1996–1998)
Minor league titles
League titles	none
Team data
Previous names	Black Diamonds (1996–1998) Mounties (1992–1995)
Previous parks	Henderson Stadium

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.^{[citation needed]} With manager Chris Speier, they led the league in defence/pitching, with 339 runs allowed which was 102 less than the number two place,^[7] and in offense, with 637 runs, which was 94 more than the next team in the league.^{[citation needed]} 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,^[8] 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.^{[citation needed]}

The last season the Black Diamonds were in Lethbridge they went 43-32 with manage Joe Almaraz. The team defeated Great Falls Dodgers 2 games to 1, then lost in the finals to Idaho Falls Braves.^[9]

Notable alumni

• Rod Barajas (1996)

• Alex Cintron (1997-1998)

• Jack Cust (1998)

• Chris Speier (1996) 3 x MLB All-Star

• Junior Spivey (1996) MLB All-Star

1996

• Kevin Sweeney^[10] – 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.^{[citation needed]}
• Vladimir Núñez – led the circuit in ERA by a full point^[11] and was voted top prospect in the league
• Nick Bierbrodt – rated #3 prospect in the league
• Larry Rodriguez^[12] – voted #4 prospect within the league

1997

• Jamie Puorto – was third in ERA^{[citation needed]}
• Jhensy Sandoval – named top prospect of the season^{[citation needed]}

Team roster 1996

	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Birthplace
Brad Allison	22	R	R	5 11.0	220	Nov 24 1973	Lexington KY US
Dallas Anderson	22	R	R	6 4.0	210	Feb 27 1974	Kindersley SK CA
Beau Baltzell	22	R	R	5 11.0	215	Aug 2 1973	Omaha NE US
Rod Barajas	20	R	R	6 2.0	250	Sep 5 1975	Ontario CA US
Justin Bice	21	R	R	6 3.0	210	Apr 17 1975	Renton WA US
Nick Bierbrodt	18	L	L	6 5.0	215	May 16, 1978	Tarzana CA US
Mike Boughton	21	S	R	6 3.0	180	Nov 8 1974	Syracuse NY US
Mark Chavez	23	R	R	5 11.0	185	May 1, 1973
Jason Conti	21	L	R	5 11.0	180	Jan 27 1975	Pittsburgh PA US
Jason Crews	22	R	R	6 2.0	205	Aug 28 1973	Fort Lauderdale FL US
Clay Crossan	22	R	R	6 1.0	175	Aug 30 1973	Portland OR US
Reggie Davis	21	R	R	5 11.0	215	Nov 12 1974	Austell GA US
Johnny Done	20	R	R	5 11.0	165	Nov 25 1975
Ryan Duffy	23	R	L	6 3.0	185	Jun 1 1973	Wallaceburg ON CA
Jamie Gann	21	R	R	6 3.0	191	May 1, 1975	Fort Leonard Wood MO US
Scott Glasser	20	R	R	6 1.0	170	Dec 9 1975	Anaheim CA US
Javier Gomez	22	R	R	6 1.0	195	Dec 10 1973
Brett Hardy	22	L	L	6 0.0	180	Dec 22 1973	Costa Mesa CA US
Ron Hartman	21	R	R	6 1.0	200	Dec 12 1974	Baltimore MD US
David Hayman	21	R	R	5 10.0	197	Jul 9 1974
Kirk Kinard	22	R	R	6 0.0	175	Mar 7 1974
Josh Kliner	23	S	R	5 11.0	180	Dec 27 1972
Jason Moore	20	R	R	6 3.0	240	Jul 16 1975	Charleston WV US
Ben Norris	18	L	L	6 3.0	185	Dec 6 1977	Austin TX US
Jose Nunez	20	R	R	5 8.0	180	Mar 4 1976	Brooklyn NY US
Vladimir Núñez	21	R	R	6 5.0	235	Mar 15 1975	La Habana La Habana CU
George Oleksik	22	R	R	6 4.0	210	Apr 19 1974	Cleveland OH US
Chip Rhea	22	S	R	6 1.0	190	Jul 24 1973
Larry Rodriguez	21	R	R	6 2.0	195	Sep 9 1974	Guanajay CU
Rob Ryan	23	L	L	5 11.0	190	Jun 24 1973	Havre MT US
Erik Sabel	21	R	R	6 3.0	193	Oct 14 1974	Lafayette IN US
Javier Samboy	21	L	L	6 2.0	160	Feb 13 1975
Junior Spivey	21	R	R	6 0.0	185	Jan 28 1975	Oklahoma City OK US
Mike Stoner	23	R	R	5 10.0	210	May 23, 1973	Shelbyville KY US
Kevin Sweeney	22	L	L	5 11.0	195	Mar 30 1974	Buffalo NY US
Joe Verplancke	21	R	R	6 2.0	200	May 11, 1975	Long Beach CA US

Team roster 1997

	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Birthplace
Dallas Anderson	23	R	R	6 4.0	210	Feb 27 1974	Kindersley SK CA
Jeff Andrews	22	R	R	6 3.0	190	Sep 1 1974	Newton MA US
Juan Bautista	18	R	R	6 1.0	165	Jul 20 1978	San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO
Matt Bell	19	R	R	6 5.0	208	Jan 8 1978	Okmulgee OK US
Chris Bloomer	22	R	R	6 4.0	215	May 6, 1975	St. Paul MN US
Ron Calloway	20	L	L	6 1.0	210	Sep 4 1976	San Jose CA US
Alex Cintrón	18	S	R	6 2.0	210	Dec 17 1978	Humacao PR
Steven Doherty	22	L	R	6 0.0	175	Sep 30 1974	Vancouver BC CA
John Fleming	19	R	R	6 3.0	190	Jan 20 1978	Riverside CA US
Reuben Fontanes	23	R	R	6 3.0	190	May 6, 1974	East Chicago IN US
Brian Fox	20	L	R	6 2.0	200	Mar 5 1977	Plano TX US
Miguel Frias	19	L	L	5 11.0	180	Dec 27 1977	Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO
Julio Guzman	21	R	R	6 3.0	205	Apr 28 1976	Jersey City NJ US
David Harper	22	R	R	6 3.0	185	Sep 14 1974	Grand Prairie TX US
David Haverstick	21	R	R	6 8.0	220	Jun 3 1976	St. Louis MO US
Bert Hudson	19	R	R	5 11.0	185	Oct 6 1977	Milton FL US
Jason Jensen	21	L	L	6 2.0	190	Nov 4 1975	Portland ME US
Charlie Jones	21	L	R	5 11.0	188	Feb 6 1976	Edina MN US
Keith Jones	21	R	R	6 2.0	190	Jan 30 1976	Whittier CA US
Eric Knott	22	L	L	6 0.0	188	Sep 23 1974	Harvey IL US
Wil Madera	20	L	L	6 1.0	170	Apr 13 1977	Ponce PR
Jared Martin	22	S	R	5 10.0	180	Mar 3 1975	Tallahassee FL US
Jason Martines	21	L	R	6 2.0	190	Jan 21 1976	Jackson MI US
Belvani Martinez	18	R	R	5 11.0	172	Dec 14 1978	Palenque DO
Josh McAffee	19	R	R	6 1.0	209	Nov 4 1977	Rock Springs WY US
Ben Norris	19	L	L	6 3.0	185	Dec 6 1977	Austin TX US
Abraham Nunez	20	S	R	6 3.0	210	Feb 5 1977	Bajos de Haina San Cristobal DO
Jamie Puorto	22	L	L	6 3.0	190	Jun 21 1975	Schenectady NY US
Jeremy Quire	22	R	R	6 2.0	205	Apr 8 1975	Anderson IN US
Jackie Rexrode	18	L	R	5 11.0	175	Sep 16 1978	Washington, D.C. US
Mike Rooney	21	R	R	6 1.0	175	Oct 6 1975	Suffern NY US
Jhensy Sandoval	18	R	R	6 0.0	200	Sep 11 1978	San Cristobal San Cristobal DO
Jeff Santa	22	R	L	6 0.0	175	Nov 16 1974	Newark OH US
Wyley Steelmon	21	L	R	6 3.0	225	Aug 29 1975	Enid OK US
Jamie Sykes	22	R	R	5 11.0	198	Jan 14 1975	Kankakee IL US
Jose Taveras	18	R	R	6 3.0	203	Apr 3 1979	San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO
Jeff Wilson	21	R	L	6 2.0	206	May 30, 1976	Columbia SC US

Team roster 1998

	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Birthplace
Scott Abeyta	21	L	L	6 0.0	190	Mar 14 1977	Vallejo CA US
Jeff Barndollar	21	R	R	6 4.0	195	Apr 29 1977	Long Beach CA US
Justin Beasley	22	R	R	6 1.0	215	Oct 13 1975	Wichita KS US
Jose Bido	19	R	R	6 2.0	188	Dec 20 1978	San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO
Jeff Brooks	18	R	R	6 5.0	235	Sep 4 1979	Mountain City TN US
Alex Cintrón	19	S	R	6 2.0	210	Dec 17 1978	Humacao PR
Darryl Conyer	18	L	L	5 10.0	200	Dec 10 1979	San Diego CA US
Jack Cust	19	L	R	6 1.0	245	Jan 16 1979	Flemington NJ US
Phil Davis	22	R	R	6 2.0	200	Sep 22 1975	Hanford CA US
Lance Downing	19	L	R	5 10.0	185	Mar 9 1979	Warren AR US
Brian Fox	21	L	R	6 2.0	200	Mar 5 1977	Plano TX US
Jody Fuller	21	R	R	6 3.0	225	Sep 12 1976	Huntingdon TN US
Paul Giambalvo	23	R	R	6 1.0	170	Mar 17 1975	Smithtown NY US
Antonio Guzman	20	R	R	5 11.0	165	Jan 11 1978	Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO
Julio Guzman	22	R	R	6 3.0	205	Apr 28 1976	Jersey City NJ US
Robby Hammock	21	R	R	5 10.0	185	May 13, 1977	Macon GA US
Adolfo Joseph	17	R	R	6 3.0	175	Oct 6 1980	HT
Justin Kees	20	R	R	6 1.0	190	Aug 5 1977	Danville IL US
Doug Kohl	18	R	R	6 4.0	210	Jul 9 1979	Newport Beach CA US
Mike Koplove	21	R	R	6 0.0	165	Aug 30 1976	Philadelphia PA US
Belvani Martinez	19	R	R	5 11.0	172	Dec 14 1978	Palenque DO
Josh McAffee	20	R	R	6 1.0	209	Nov 4 1977	Rock Springs WY US
Travis McCall	20	S	L	5 11.0	185	Dec 20 1977	West Covina CA US
Mike McCutcheon	20	L	L	5 11.0	170	Jul 5 1977	Honolulu HI US
Francisco Mendez	20	L	R	6 0.0	163	Jan 6 1978	Caborca Sonora MX
Hatuey Mendoza	18	R	R	6 1.0	170	Mar 16 1980	Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO
Steve Neal	21	L	L	6 2.0	255	Feb 14 1977	Pine Bluff AR US
Troy Niehaus	21	L	L	6 6.0	200	May 16, 1977	Ann Arbor MI US
Bret Prinz	21	R	R	6 3.0	185	Jun 15 1977	Chicago Heights IL US
Jim Rinne	21	R	R	6 3.0	215	Jul 29 1976	Lincoln NE US
Miguel Rodriguez	20	R	R	5 10.0	170	May 27, 1978	El Sombrero VE
Simon Sanchez	20	R	R	6 1.0	195	Mar 24 1978	San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO
Justin Santonocito	21	L	R	5 11.0	192	Dec 15 1976	Buffalo NY US
Dan Singletary	22	L	L	6 0.0	180	Aug 23 1975	Wayne NJ US
Seth Tate	21	R	R	6 0.0	185	Jan 7 1977	Tacoma WA US
Steve Verigood	22	R	L	6 6.0	195	Apr 13 1976	Columbia SC US
Paul Weichard	18	S	L	5 10.0	200	Nov 7 1979	Ringwood Victoria AU
Keith Wilson	24	R	R	6 0.0	200	Dec 31 1973	Phoenix AZ US

Players who played in the Major Leagues

• Jason Conti – Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers
• Rob Ryan (baseball) – Arizona Diamondback, Oakland Athletics
• Rod Barajas – Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers
• José Antonio Núñez – Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres
• Junior Spivey – Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers
• Vladimir Núñez – Arizona Diamondbacks, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves
• Erik Sabel – Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers
• Nick Bierbrodt – Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers
• Ron Calloway – Montreal Expos
• Alex Cintrón – Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals
• Eric Knott – Arizona Diamondbacks, Montreal Expos
• Abraham Núñez (outfielder) – Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals
• Jack Cust – Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners
• Robby Hammock – Arizona Diamondbacks
• Mike Koplove – Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians
• Bret Prinz – Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox

See also

• List of defunct baseball teams in Canada