| Tucson Sidewinders Founded in 1969 Tucson, Arizona |
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| Class titles | 2006 | ||
| League titles | 1991, 1993, 2006 | ||
| Conference titles | 2006 | ||
| Division titles | 1973, 1991, 1993, 2006 | ||
| Owner(s)/Operated by: SK Baseball LLC | |||
| Manager: Bill Plummer | |||
| General Manager: Rick Parr | |||
The Tucson Sidewinders (1998-present) are a minor league baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona. Champions Major League Baseball The most notable part of the 1969 season were the Miracle Mets World Series: New York Mets Tucson (ˈtuːsɒn is the seat of Pima County Arizona, United States, located 118 miles (188 km) southeast The Pacific Coast League (PCL is a Minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona. The Milwaukee Brewers are a Major League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which plays in the Central Division of the National League The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. The Texas Rangers are an American professional baseball team based in Arlington Texas, United States, representing the Dallas-Ft The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. Tucson Electric Park (TEP is a stadium in Tucson Arizona. It was home to the Tucson Sidewinders. Hi Corbett Field is a Baseball field located in Tucson Arizona. William Francis Plummer (born March 21, 1947 in Oakland CA) was a Catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and the Part of the History of baseball series Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of Professional baseball leagues in North Tucson (ˈtuːsɒn is the seat of Pima County Arizona, United States, located 118 miles (188 km) southeast The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks major-league club. The Pacific Coast League (PCL is a Minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona. The Sidewinders play in Tucson Electric Park, located on the south side of Tucson. Tucson Electric Park (TEP is a stadium in Tucson Arizona. It was home to the Tucson Sidewinders. In June 2007, Jay Zucker of Tucson Baseball LLC announced the sale of the Tucson Sidewinders to SK Baseball LLC for $15 M. SK Baseball is planning to relocate the team to Sierra Nevada Stadium in Reno, Nevada for the 2009 season. Sierra Nevada Stadium is a Baseball stadium currently under construction in Reno Nevada.
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From 1969-1997 the Tucson Toros were Tucson's Triple-A baseball club, playing at Hi Corbett Field in midtown Tucson. The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson Arizona, in the United States. Tucson (ˈtuːsɒn is the seat of Pima County Arizona, United States, located 118 miles (188 km) southeast Hi Corbett Field is a Baseball field located in Tucson Arizona. Part of the old 10-team configuration of the Pacific Coast League, the Toros won the PCL Championship in 1991 and 1993. The Toros were preceded by a number of other Tucson teams between 1915 and 1958, such as the Tucson Cowboys and the Tucson Lizards.
After the MLB expansion that added the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, the Toros moved to Fresno, California as the Fresno Grizzlies. The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona. Phoenix (ˈfiːˌnɪks O'odham Skikik, Yavapai Wasinka, Western Apache Fiinigis, Navajo Hoozdo, The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball franchise based in St California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The Fresno Grizzlies are a Minor league baseball team based in Fresno California. The Phoenix Firebirds relocated to Tucson, briefly became the Tucson Toros (1997), and then became the Sidewinders (1998), the Triple-A affiliate of the new Diamondbacks. The Phoenix Firebirds were the minor league baseball team of Phoenix Arizona, until 1997. This was accomplished by what amounted to a "swap" in ownership in 1997, with Firebirds owner Martin Stone purchasing the Toros and Toros owner Rick Holtzman receiving interest in the Firebirds. The Tucson team retained management and staff primarily from the Toros, and traces its history from the Toros rather than the Firebirds. [1]
The Phoenix Firebirds had played from 1958 through 1997 as an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Year 1958 ( MCMLVIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division. The franchise joined the Pacific Coast League as a charter member in 1903 as the San Francisco Seals, relocating to Phoenix when the major league New York Giants moved to San Francisco. Year 1903 ( MCMIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar or a Common year starting For the professional hockey team see San Francisco Seals (hockey. The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in, that currently play in the National League West Division. The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city Seals alumni include Joe DiMaggio. Joseph Paul DiMaggio, born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio Jr ( November 25, 1914 &ndash March 8, 1999) nicknamed Joltin' Joe
The Tucson Toros had been affiliated with the Chicago White Sox (1969-1972), the Oakland Athletics (1973-1976), the Texas Rangers (1977-1979), the Houston Astros (1980-1996), and the Milwaukee Brewers (1997 only, with one Diamondbacks prospect, Travis Lee, playing with them by special arrangement). The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Oakland Athletics are a professional baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Texas Rangers are an American professional baseball team based in Arlington Texas, United States, representing the Dallas-Ft The Houston Astros are a Professional baseball team based in Houston Texas. The Milwaukee Brewers are a Major League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which plays in the Central Division of the National League Travis Lee (born on May 26, 1975 in San Diego California) is a former major league First baseman. [1] At the time of the change in venue and affiliations (1998), a new Tucson team name, the "Sidewinders" was chosen after a name the team contest was held.
With the coming of the Diamondbacks, a new ballpark was needed for spring training in Tucson, since the Colorado Rockies used Hi Corbett Field. Tucson Electric Park was built, and became the spring training site for the both the D'backs and the Chicago White Sox. The Chicago White Sox are a professional Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. It also became home to the Tucson Sidewinders in 1998. This ended minor league baseball history at Hi Corbett Field. Many changes took place between 1997 and 1999 - a new name, new affiliation, newly expanded league, new owner, new general manager and new venue - resulting in disgruntled fans and lower than expected attendance. Financial arrangements between team owners and Pima County were also the subject of criticism. Pima County is a county in the south central region of the US [2] Since purchasing the team in 2000, owner Jay Zucker has attempted to improve the situation with a variety of promotions, including weekly fireworks. These efforts have met with limited success.
The team has been very successful as a supplier of major league-quality players to the Arizona Diamondbacks. Many individual Sidewinders have performed admirably in mid-season call-ups, sometimes returning to the major league club time and again as needed. This has earned the Sidewinders the nickname "Baby 'Backs. "
In 2006, the Tucson Sidewinders won the Pacific Coast League championship, and afterwards defeated the Toledo Mud Hens 5-2 in the Bricktown Showdown for the Triple-A baseball championship at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor league baseball team located in Toledo Ohio. The Bricktown Showdown is a single championship game held annually between the league champions of the International League (IL and Pacific Coast League (PCL AT&T Bricktown Ballpark opened in 1998 in downtown Oklahoma City 's Bricktown district Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the US state of Oklahoma.
1997 - Martin Stone, a businessman, land speculator and former owner of the Phoenix Firebirds,[2] purchases the Tucson Toros from Rick Holtzman. The Phoenix Firebirds were the minor league baseball team of Phoenix Arizona, until 1997. The Tucson Toros have a one year player development contract with the Milwaukee Brewers, filling the gap between the end of the Toros' contract with Houston and the beginning of the team's affiliation with the expansion Diamondbacks. The Milwaukee Brewers are a Major League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which plays in the Central Division of the National League Diamondbacks prospect Travis Lee plays in Tucson for part of the season. Travis Lee (born on May 26, 1975 in San Diego California) is a former major league First baseman. Toros owner Stone persuades the Pima County Board of Supervisors to approve a lease on Tucson Electric Park (then under construction) that protects the team owner from a portion of the team's financial losses at taxpayer expense. [3]
1998 - The renamed Tucson Sidewinders begin their affiliation with the Arizona Diamondbacks, playing at Tucson Electric Park. A new mascot is also introduced, Sandy Sidewinder, a snake with arms. The old mascot, Tuffy the Toro, is phased out.
1999 - In May, longtime Toros general manager Mike Feder is fired from the Sidewinders by team owner Stone. A local uproar ensues in support of Feder. He is replaced by Jack Donovan. [4]
2000 - Before the 2000 baseball season, broadcasting entrepreneur Jay Zucker purchases the Sidewinders from Martin Stone, reportedly for about $7 to $8 million, after Stone is diagnosed with prostate cancer. Zucker loses over $200,000 in his first season as owner. Feder returns as GM.
2001 - Feder leaves prior to the season to take a role as Regional Marketing Director for the NFL's New Orleans Saints. Todd Woodford returns to Tucson as general manager after spending a year with the PCL's Salt Lake franchise.
2002 - Rick Parr becomes the team's general manager. Despite the parent club's World Series win the previous year, the Sidewinders report 268,807 total attendance for the season, an average of 3,895 per game. Tucson Electric Park has a capacity of 11,000.
2003 - Tucson Sidewinders prospects earn the nickname "Baby 'Backs" with their relative youth and frequent call-ups to the major league club.
2006 - The team finishes the regular season 91-53, the best in AAA baseball for 2006 and a new franchise record. Team manager Chip Hale is named PCL Manager of the Year. Walter William "Chip" Hale (born December 2, 1964, in San Jose California) was a Major League Baseball designated hitter third baseman After defeating the Salt Lake Bees 3-1 in a best-of-five PCL Pacific Conference Championships series, the Sidewinders win the Pacific Coast League Championship Series in three straight games versus the Round Rock Express. The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League (PCL Minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City Utah. The Round Rock Express is a Minor league baseball franchise based in Round Rock Texas. They then defeat the International League champion, the Toledo Mud Hens, 5-2 in a one-game playoff in Oklahoma City for the unofficial AAA title. The International League ( IL) is a Minor league baseball league which operates in the eastern United States. The Toledo Mud Hens are a Minor league baseball team located in Toledo Ohio. Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the US state of Oklahoma. Despite this feat, the Sidewinders still suffered from dwindling fan attendance and a general lack of interest from the Tucson market.
2007 and beyond - After the 2006 season, the Sidewinders renew their player development contract with the Diamondbacks for another two years. Manager Chip Hale is promoted to the Diamondbacks coaching staff as their new third base coach. Bill Plummer, the former manager of the Diamondbacks' former Double-A affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies, takes over as skipper for the Sidewinders in 2007. William Francis Plummer (born March 21, 1947 in Oakland CA) was a Catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and the The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville Tennessee metropolitan area. Randy Johnson pitches the home opener as part of a brief rehab stint with the Sidewinders, and picks up a win for the team in his second outing on April 20. For other people named Randy Johnson see Randy Johnson (disambiguation Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963 in Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. The Sidewinders have a win-loss record of 28-23 as of May 29, for second place standing in the Pacific South division of the PCL. Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian defeats the Sassanid army in the Battle of Ctesiphon, under the walls of the Hampered by low attendance and concerns over the location and playing field maintenance at Tucson Electric Park, Tucson Baseball LLC sold the Tucson Sidewinders to SK Baseball LLC for $15 M in June 2007. Tucson Electric Park (TEP is a stadium in Tucson Arizona. It was home to the Tucson Sidewinders. SK Baseball is planning to relocate the team to Reno, NV for the 2009 season.
Some notable players to don a Toros or Sidewinders uniform:
Several players listed were "Tucson" players only by virtue of being sent down to AAA for rehab after an injury. Bob Kelly "Bobby" Abreu /aˈbreʲu/ (nicknamed El Comedulce) (born March 11 1974 in Turmero Aragua State, Venezuela) is a Major League Brian James Anderson (born April 26, 1972 in Ashtabula Ohio) is a former Major League Baseball Pitcher. Ronald "Ronnie" Belliard (born April 7 1975 in Bronx, New York) is a Second baseman of Dominican descent Craig Alan Biggio (born December 14, 1965 in Smithtown, New York) is a former Major League Baseball player who played his entire career Kenneth Gene Caminiti ( April 21, 1963 – October 11, 2004) was an American Third baseman in Major League Baseball Alexander Cintrón (born December 17, 1978 in) is a Major League Baseball Infielder who is currently a Shortstop for the Craig John Counsell (born August 21, 1970 in South Bend Indiana) is a Major League Baseball Infielder who plays for the David Michael Dellucci (born October 31, 1973 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) is an Outfielder for the Cleveland Indians Stephen Oris Drew (born March 16, 1983 in Hahira, Georgia) is a Shortstop in Major League Baseball who plays for the Erubiel Durazo Cárdenas (born January 23, 1974 in Hermosillo, Sonora) is a Mexican Baseball player who is currently Michael Lee Fetters (born December 19, 1964 in Van Nuys, California) is a former Major League Baseball Relief pitcher who Philip Mason Garner (born April 30, 1949, in Jefferson City, Tennessee) is a former Infielder in Major League Baseball Edgar Gerardo González Elizondo (born February 23 1983 in Monterrey, Nuevo León, México) is a Major League Baseball player with the Luis Emilio Gonzalez (born September 3, 1967 in Tampa Florida) nicknamed " Gonzo ", is a Major League Baseball Outfielder Jason Alan Grimsley (born August 7, 1967 in Cleveland Texas) was best known as a professional Relief pitcher. Conor Sims Jackson (nicknamed Co-Jack, Throw-Jack, Action or Schooner Jinx) (born May 7, 1982 in Austin Texas This article is about the baseball player see also Geoff Jenkins (climatologist. For other people named Randy Johnson see Randy Johnson (disambiguation Randall David Johnson (born September 10, 1963 in Todd Barton Jones (born April 24, 1968 in Marietta Georgia) is a former Relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Jeffrey Daniel Juden (born January 19, 1971 in Salem Massachusetts) is a former Major League Baseball player Darryl Andrew Kile ( December 2 1968 – June 22 2002) born in Garden Grove California, was an American right-handed Byung-Hyun Kim (born January 19, 1979 in Kwangsan-Ku Songjungdong South Korea) a Travis Lee (born on May 26, 1975 in San Diego California) is a former major league First baseman. Kenneth Lofton (born May 31, 1967 in East Chicago Indiana) is a veteran Major League Baseball Outfielder. Leo Mazzone (born October 16, 1948 in Keyser West Virginia) is a former Pitcher in Minor league baseball and coach in Major Mark Tremell McLemore (born October 4 1964 in San Diego California) is a former Second baseman and Utility player in Major League Joseph "Joe" Mikulik, born October 30 1963 in Weimar Texas, is a former Minor league baseball player and the current manager of the Asheville Damian Donald Miller (born October 13 1969 in La Crosse Wisconsin) is a former Major League Baseball Catcher who most recently played Melvin Mora (born February 2, 1972 in Agua Negra, Yaracuý State, Venezuela) affectionately nicknamed Melmo or Phillip Joseph Nevin (born January 19, 1971 in Fullerton California) is a former Major League Baseball player Carlos Josè Quentin (born August 28, 1982 in Bellflower California) is an Outfielder who plays for the Chicago White Sox Richard Shane Reynolds (born March 26, 1968 in Bastrop Louisiana) is a former Starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played Reginald Laverne Sanders (born December 1, 1967 in Florence South Carolina) is a former Right fielder in Major League Baseball. Curtis Montague Schilling (born November 14 1966 in) is an American Major League Baseball Pitcher. Ernest Lee "Junior" Spivey Jr (born January 28, 1975 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma) is a Second baseman, formerly in Major League Chad Austin Tracy (born May 22, 1980 in Charlotte North Carolina) is a Third baseman in Major League Baseball who plays with David Scott Veres (born October 19, 1966, in Montgomery, Alabama) is a former professional Baseball player who pitched in the Óscar Eduardo Villarreal (born November 22, 1981 in San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico) is a Major League Baseball Fernando Viña (pronounced VEEN-ya (born April 16, 1969 in Sacramento California) is a retired Cuban - American Major League William "Billy" Edward Wagner (born July 25, 1971 in Tannersville, Virginia) is an American professional Baseball Donnell Lee Wall (born July 11, 1967 in Potosi, Missouri) is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues primarily Matthew Derrick "Matt" Williams (born November 28, 1965 in Bishop California) is a former Major League Baseball Third baseman Anthony Darrell Womack (born September 25 1969 in Danville Virginia) is a former Second baseman and Shortstop in Major League
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The name "Sidewinders" refers to both a snake indigenous to Arizona and pitchers with a particular style of throwing. William Jennings "Billy" Buckner (born August 27, 1983 in Decatur Georgia) is a Major League Baseball Pitcher for the Jonathan Thomas Coutlangus (born October 21, 1980 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida) is an American Baseball Pitcher Douglas N "Doug" Davis (born September 21, 1975 in Sacramento California) nicknamed "Double D" is an American baseball player Emiliano Ricardo Fruto (born June 6, 1984 in Cartagena Colombia) is a Pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Juan Carlos Gutiérrez (born July 14, 1983 in Puerto la Cruz Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball Pitcher for the Arizona Yusmeiro Alberto Petit (born November 22, 1984 in Maracaibo, Venezuela) is a Starting pitcher in Major League Baseball James Connor Robertson (born September 10, 1981 in Tuscaloosa Alabama) is a Right-handed Major League Baseball Pitcher Leonel Rosales (born May 29, 1981 in Los Angeles California) is a Major League Baseball Relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks Esmerling Vasquez (born November 7, 1983 in Tenares, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball Pitcher who is currently Wilkin Castillo (born June 1, 1984 in Baní, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball Third baseman who plays for Emilio Jose Bonifacio Rosario (born April 23, 1985 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) is a Major League Baseball Second Chad Austin Tracy (born May 22, 1980 in Charlotte North Carolina) is a Third baseman in Major League Baseball who plays with Javier Jose Brito (born March 25, 1983 in Puerto La Cruz Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball First baseman who is currently with Christopher Trotman "Trot" Nixon (born April 11, 1974 in) is a Major League Baseball Outfielder for the New York Mets Trent Carl Wayne Oeltjen (born February 28, 1983) is an Australian baseball player Timothy Raines Jr (born August 31, 1979 in Memphis Tennessee) is an Outfielder who plays in the Arizona Diamondbacks organization Alexander Rafael Romero Galban (born September 9, 1983 in Maracaibo, Venezuela) is a Major League Baseball Outfielder William Francis Plummer (born March 21, 1947 in Oakland CA) was a Catcher for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and the Joel Randolph Youngblood III (born August 28, 1951 in Houston Texas) was a Major League Baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds, Michael Everett Arch Parrott (born December 6, 1954 in Oxnard, California) is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major The Arizona Diamondbacks (also referred to as the D-backs) are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix Arizona. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Events 1252 - Pope Innocent IV issues the Papal bull Ad exstirpanda, which authorizes but also limits the Common names sidewinder horned rattlesnake sidewinder rattlesnake more. In Baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the Pitcher's mound toward the Catcher to begin each play with the goal of Since a Diamondback rattlesnake is also common in Arizona, the Tucson team's name is now more in line with that of the parent club than the alliterative name "Tucson Toros. Common names: western diamondback rattlesnake Texas diamond-back more. " Nevertheless, many fans seem to miss the old club name with its long history. For a few seasons on Tuesdays, the Sidewinders reverted back to throwback "Toros nights," wearing the old Toros pinstriped uniforms. 2005 was the last season that Tucson held "Toros Tuesdays. " However, Tuffy the Toro continues to make cameo appearances at the ballpark, joining the latest Tucson mascot, Sandy Sidewinder. The team still has the occasional Toros-related promotions, such as a giveaway of replica Toros hats. [1]
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| Baseball | PCL: Tucson Sidewinders, GBL: Yuma Scorpions |
| Basketball | ABA: Prescott Valley Rhinos |
| Football | AIFA: Arizona Adrenaline, NWFA: Arizona Wildfire, IWFL: Tucson Monsoon |
| Hockey | CHL: Arizona Sundogs |
| Rugby | ARU: Camelback Rugby Club • Northern Arizona Rugby Football Club • Old Pueblo Lions Rugby Football Club • Tucson Magpies Rugby Football Club • Yuma Rugby Football Club |
| College athletics (NCAA Division I) |
Arizona • Northern Arizona |