Huntsville Stars: Difference between revisions
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|uniformlogo = HuntsvilleStarsCapLogo2008.PNG |
|uniformlogo = HuntsvilleStarsCapLogo2008.PNG |
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|class level = Double-A |
|class level = Double-A |
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|league = [[Southern League ( |
|league = [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]] |
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|majorleague = [[Milwaukee Brewers]] (1999–2014)<br>[[Oakland Athletics]] (1985–1998) |
|majorleague = [[Milwaukee Brewers]] (1999–2014)<br>[[Oakland Athletics]] (1985–1998) |
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|nickname = Huntsville Stars |
|nickname = Huntsville Stars |
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The '''Huntsville Stars''' were a [[Minor League Baseball]] team that played in [[Huntsville, Alabama]], from 1985 to 2014. They competed in the [[Southern League ( |
The '''Huntsville Stars''' were a [[Minor League Baseball]] team that played in [[Huntsville, Alabama]], from 1985 to 2014. They competed in the [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]] as the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] affiliate of [[Major League Baseball]]'s [[Oakland Athletics]] from 1985 to 1998 and [[Milwaukee Brewers]] from 1999 to 2014. The Stars played their home games at [[Joe W. Davis Stadium]] and were named for the [[space industry]] with which Huntsville is economically tied ([[NASA]] conducts operations at the nearby [[Marshall Space Flight Center]]).<ref name="blogo"/> |
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The team began play in 1985 after a Southern League franchise operating in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], as the [[Nashville Sounds]], was transferred to Huntsville. They remained in the city for 30 years before being relocated to [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], where they became known as the [[Biloxi Shuckers]], after the 2014 season. |
The team began play in 1985 after a Southern League franchise operating in [[Nashville, Tennessee]], as the [[Nashville Sounds]], was transferred to Huntsville. They remained in the city for 30 years before being relocated to [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], where they became known as the [[Biloxi Shuckers]], after the 2014 season. |
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== History == |
== History == |
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=== Coming to Huntsville === |
=== Coming to Huntsville === |
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[[File:1984 Nashville Larry Schmittou.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|[[Larry Schmittou]] moved his [[Southern League ( |
[[File:1984 Nashville Larry Schmittou.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.9|[[Larry Schmittou]] moved his [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]] franchise from [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] to [[Huntsville, Alabama|Huntsville]], becoming the Stars in 1985.|alt=A black and white portrait of a smiling man]] |
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In July 1984, [[Larry Schmittou]], president of the [[Nashville Sounds]] of the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[Southern League ( |
In July 1984, [[Larry Schmittou]], president of the [[Nashville Sounds]] of the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[Southern League (1964–2020)|Southern League]], and other members of the team's ownership group purchased the [[Evansville Triplets]] of the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[American Association (20th century)|American Association]] with plans to move the franchise from [[Evansville, Indiana]], to Nashville for the 1985 season.<ref name=AAAsale>{{cite news|last=Bibb|first=John|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/30950801/big_leagues_next_schmittou/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Big Leagues Next: Schmittou|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=July 12, 1984|access-date=April 25, 2019|page=1-F}}</ref> The Southern League wanted Schmittou to surrender his franchise to the league, but he had plans to relocate the team instead.<ref name=Woody101-102>{{cite book |last=Woody |first=Larry |date=1996 |title=Schmittou: A Grand Slam in Baseball, Business, and Life |location=Nashville |publisher=Eggmann Publishing Company |isbn=1-886371-33-4|pages=101–102}}</ref> He wanted to send Nashville's existing Southern League franchise to Evansville to continue as the Triplets at Double-A. However, a combination of the league's disapproval of the move and the City of Evansville being unwilling to upgrade [[Bosse Field]] resulted in a move to [[Huntsville, Alabama]].<ref name=Woody101-102/> The city, led by Mayor [[Joe W. Davis]], agreed to build a brand new 10,000-seat multipurpose stadium which lured the franchise to town where it began play in 1985 as the Huntsville Stars.<ref name=Woody101-102/> The Triple-A Sounds carried on the history of the Double-A team that preceded it, while the Stars were established as an entirely new franchise.<ref name=Woody101-102/> Schmittou and several other Sounds shareholders owned the Stars, while [[Don Mincher]], a Huntsville native and 12-year veteran of the major leagues, operated the team as its [[General Manager (baseball)|General Manager]].<ref name=Woody101-102/> |
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=== Oakland Athletics (1985–1998) === |
=== Oakland Athletics (1985–1998) === |
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The Huntsville Stars became the Double-A affiliate of the [[Oakland Athletics]]. [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]] [[Brad Fischer]] guided the franchise to win the First Half Western Division title in their inaugural season. They then defeated the [[Knoxville Blue Jays]], 3–1, in the Western Division finals on the way to winning their first [[List of Southern League champions|Southern League championship]] in their first season by defeating the [[Charlotte O's]], 3–2.<ref name=SLchamps>{{Cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20070221&content_id=41270988&fext=.jsp&sid=l111&vkey|title=Southern League Past Champions|work=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball| |
The Huntsville Stars became the Double-A affiliate of the [[Oakland Athletics]]. [[Manager (baseball)|Manager]] [[Brad Fischer]] guided the franchise to win the First Half Western Division title in their inaugural season. They then defeated the [[Knoxville Blue Jays]], 3–1, in the Western Division finals on the way to winning their first [[List of Southern League champions|Southern League championship]] in their first season by defeating the [[Charlotte O's]], 3–2.<ref name=SLchamps>{{Cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20070221&content_id=41270988&fext=.jsp&sid=l111&vkey|title=Southern League Past Champions|work=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref> [[Outfielder]] [[Jose Canseco]] was selected as the [[Southern League Most Valuable Player]] (MVP).<ref name=SLawards>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20131118&content_id=64005622&fext=.jsp&sid=l111&vkey#mvps|title=Southern League Award Winners|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=April 28, 2020}}</ref> |
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[[File:Jose Canseco 1989 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|[[Outfielder]] [[Jose Canseco]] won the 1985 [[Southern League MVP Award]].|alt=A baseball player in green and white]] |
[[File:Jose Canseco 1989 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.9|[[Outfielder]] [[Jose Canseco]] won the 1985 [[Southern League MVP Award]].|alt=A baseball player in green and white]] |
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In 1986, the Stars hosted the [[Southern League All-Star Game]] at [[Joe W. Davis Stadium]] on July 23. A team of Southern League All-Stars was defeated by the Nashville Sounds, 4–2. Huntsville [[catcher]] [[Terry Steinbach]] won the game's MVP Award.<ref>{{cite |
In 1986, the Stars hosted the [[Southern League All-Star Game]] at [[Joe W. Davis Stadium]] on July 23. A team of Southern League All-Stars was defeated by the Nashville Sounds, 4–2. Huntsville [[catcher]] [[Terry Steinbach]] won the game's MVP Award.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49234515/sounds-silence-stars/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Sounds Silence Stars|work=The Greenville News|location=Greenville|date=July 24, 1986|page=3D}}</ref> The 1986 Stars repeated with another first half title and won the Western Division against the [[Knoxville Blue Jays]], 3–1. They were defeated in the finals, however, by the [[Columbus Astros]], 3–2.<ref name=SLchamps/> Steinbach won the league's MVP Award.<ref name=SLawards/> In 1987, they reached the postseason for the third consecutive season by winning the second half of the season, but fell to the [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–0, in the Western Division finals. The 1988 club finished with a 59–85 (.410) record, the lowest in franchise history. |
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The 1989 Stars returned to the playoffs having won the second half, but were again defeated by Birmingham in the division finals, 3–1. Manager [[Jeff Newman (baseball)|Jeff Newman]] was selected for the [[Southern League Manager of the Year Award]].<ref name=SLawards/> The team missed the postseason in both 1990 and 1991. In 1991, Huntsville hosted the first [[Double-A All-Star Game]] on July 10. A team of [[American League]]-affiliated All-Stars defeated a team of [[National League]]-affiliated All-Stars, 8–2.<ref>{{cite |
The 1989 Stars returned to the playoffs having won the second half, but were again defeated by Birmingham in the division finals, 3–1. Manager [[Jeff Newman (baseball)|Jeff Newman]] was selected for the [[Southern League Manager of the Year Award]].<ref name=SLawards/> The team missed the postseason in both 1990 and 1991. In 1991, Huntsville hosted the first [[Double-A All-Star Game]] on July 10. A team of [[American League]]-affiliated All-Stars defeated a team of [[National League (baseball)|National League]]-affiliated All-Stars, 8–2.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49387116/rays-mahomes-all-star-mvp/|via=Newspapers.com|title=SL Sets First All-Star Tilt|work=The Orlando Sentinel|location=Orlando|date=July 11, 1991|page=B-4}}</ref> On August 3, 1992, [[pitcher]]s [[Dana Allison]], [[Roger Smithberg]], and Todd Revering combined to pitch a 10-inning, 1–0 [[no-hitter]] against Birmingham.<ref name=SLnohit>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/southern/history/no-hitter-list|title=Southern League All-Time No-Hitters|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> The [[Chattanooga Lookouts]] won both halves of the 1992 season, but Huntsville qualified for the postseason with the second-best overall record in the Western Division. They were defeated by the Lookouts, 3–1, in the division series. [[First baseman]] [[Marcos Armas]] was the MVP of 1992's Double-A All-Star Game. On June 13, 1993, [[Tanyon Sturtze]] no-hit Chattanooga, 5–0.<ref name=SLnohit/> |
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Following the 1993 season, Larry Schmittou sold the Stars to Don Mincher and a group of Huntsville investors for an asking price between US$3.5 million and $4 million.<ref>{{cite |
Following the 1993 season, Larry Schmittou sold the Stars to Don Mincher and a group of Huntsville investors for an asking price between US$3.5 million and $4 million.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49826942/schmittou-sells-stars/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Schmittou Sells Stars|work=The Tennessean|location=Nashville|date=November 13, 1993|access-date=April 29, 2020|page=3C}}</ref> After missing the playoffs in 1993, the Stars won the 1994 first half and then defeated Chattanooga for the Western Division title, 3–1. Huntsville won its second Southern League championship, 3–1, against the [[Carolina Mudcats (1991–2011)|Carolina Mudcats]]. Manager of the Year [[Gary Jones (manager)|Gary Jones]]' 1994 club set a franchise record with their 81–57 (.587) season.<ref name=SLawards/> |
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<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:HuntsvilleStars.png|thumb|right|upright=0.9|The Stars' original logo, used from 1985 to 2007]] --> |
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The Stars did not return to the postseason until 1997. They won the second half before beating the [[Mobile BayBears]], 3–2, to win the Western Division before ultimately losing the championship to the [[Greenville Braves]], 3–2. [[Right fielder]] [[Ben Grieve]] was the league MVP, and [[shortstop]] [[Mike Coolbaugh]] won MVP honors at that summer's Double-A All-Star Game. The 1998 team qualified for the playoffs with the second-best record behind Mobile, which had won both halves, but was swept, 3–0, by the BayBears in the Western Division finals. |
The Stars did not return to the postseason until 1997. They won the second half before beating the [[Mobile BayBears]], 3–2, to win the Western Division before ultimately losing the championship to the [[Greenville Braves]], 3–2. [[Right fielder]] [[Ben Grieve]] was the league MVP, and [[shortstop]] [[Mike Coolbaugh]] won MVP honors at that summer's Double-A All-Star Game. The 1998 team qualified for the playoffs with the second-best record behind Mobile, which had won both halves, but was swept, 3–0, by the BayBears in the Western Division finals. |
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After the 1998 season, the Oakland Athletics transferred their Double-A affiliation to the [[Midland RockHounds]] of the [[Texas League]].<ref>{{cite |
After the 1998 season, the Oakland Athletics transferred their Double-A affiliation to the [[Midland RockHounds]] of the [[Texas League]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49829525/defrancesco-assigned-to-midland-as/|via=Newspapers.com|title=DeFrancesco Assigned To Midland as First RockHounds Field Manager|work=The Odessa American|location=Odessa |date=November 19, 1998|access-date=April 29, 2020|page=3D}}</ref> Through 14 years with the Athletics, the Stars had amassed a record of 1,029–961 (.517). |
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=== Milwaukee Brewers (1999–2014) === |
=== Milwaukee Brewers (1999–2014) === |
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After the Stars and Athletics parted ways, Huntsville became the Double-A affiliate of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]].<ref>{{cite |
After the Stars and Athletics parted ways, Huntsville became the Double-A affiliate of the [[Milwaukee Brewers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49829491/brewers-move-to-huntsville/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Brewers Move To Huntsville|work=Ironwood Daily Globe|location=Ironwood |date=September 16, 1998|access-date=April 29, 2020|page=10}}</ref> The Stars struggled in their first two seasons of the new affiliation, failing to win any half of the seasons. |
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In 2000, Mincher became Interim President of the Southern League when President Arnold Fielkow left for the [[National Football League]]. At the conclusion of the 2000 season, Mincher and his group put the Stars up for sale once again. He resigned from his position as President of the Stars, and the Southern League removed the "interim" tag to make him league president for 2001. Pulling double duty until the team was sold, Mincher desired to keep the Stars in Huntsville. The group waded through countless offers to buy the Stars looking to find the right investors who would commit to keeping the team in the [[Tennessee Valley]]. Early in 2001, Mincher found his man in New York attorney [[Miles Prentice]] who also owned the Midland RockHounds, served as a Director for the Texas League, and was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Minor League Baseball. Prentice promised to keep the team in Huntsville despite several offers for new stadiums in various locales. |
In 2000, Mincher became Interim President of the Southern League when President Arnold Fielkow left for the [[National Football League]]. At the conclusion of the 2000 season, Mincher and his group put the Stars up for sale once again. He resigned from his position as President of the Stars, and the Southern League removed the "interim" tag to make him league president for 2001. Pulling double duty until the team was sold, Mincher desired to keep the Stars in Huntsville. The group waded through countless offers to buy the Stars looking to find the right investors who would commit to keeping the team in the [[Tennessee Valley]]. Early in 2001, Mincher found his man in New York attorney [[Miles Prentice]] who also owned the Midland RockHounds, served as a Director for the Texas League, and was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Minor League Baseball. Prentice promised to keep the team in Huntsville despite several offers for new stadiums in various locales. |
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[[File:Corey Hart 2008.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|[[Third baseman]] [[Corey Hart (baseball)|Corey Hart]] won the 2003 [[Southern League MVP Award]].|alt=A baseball player in navy and gray]] |
[[File:Corey Hart 2008.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|[[Third baseman]] [[Corey Hart (baseball)|Corey Hart]] won the 2003 [[Southern League MVP Award]].|alt=A baseball player in navy and gray]] |
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The Stars returned to the playoffs in 2001. Winning the First Half Western Division title, the team went on to win the division against Birmingham, 3–2. The [[September 11 attacks]] prompted the cancellation of the championship series before it could begin. Both Huntsville and the Eastern Division champion [[Jacksonville Suns]] were declared co-champions. [[Third baseman]] Dave Gibralter won the MVP Award for that summer's Double-A All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite |
The Stars returned to the playoffs in 2001. Winning the First Half Western Division title, the team went on to win the division against Birmingham, 3–2. The [[September 11 attacks]] prompted the cancellation of the championship series before it could begin. Both Huntsville and the Eastern Division champion [[Jacksonville Suns]] were declared co-champions. [[Third baseman]] Dave Gibralter won the MVP Award for that summer's Double-A All-Star Game.<ref>{{cite news |last=Point |first=Michael |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49440816/end-may-be-near/ |via=Newspapers.com |title=A Night of Fireworks |work=Austin American-Statesman |location=Austin |date=July 12, 2001 |page=C1}}</ref> |
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In 2003, the first-half champion Stars won the Western Division versus Birmingham, 3–2, but lost in the Southern League championship series to Carolina, 3–2. Third baseman [[Corey Hart (baseball)|Corey Hart]] won the Southern League MVP Award, and manager [[Frank Kremblas]] was the league's Manager of the Year.<ref name=SLawards/> Missing the playoffs in 2004 and 2005, they made another championship attempt in 2006, winning the second half, defeating Chattanooga, 3–0, for the Northern Division title, but losing the league crown to the [[Montgomery Biscuits]], 3–1. In 2007, Stars manager [[Don Money]] was named the Southern League's Manager of the Year.<ref name=SLawards/> Also in 2007, the team captured the division title, beating the [[Tennessee Smokies]], 3–2, but were again defeated by Montgomery in the finals, 3–2. |
In 2003, the first-half champion Stars won the Western Division versus Birmingham, 3–2, but lost in the Southern League championship series to Carolina, 3–2. Third baseman [[Corey Hart (baseball)|Corey Hart]] won the Southern League MVP Award, and manager [[Frank Kremblas]] was the league's Manager of the Year.<ref name=SLawards/> Missing the playoffs in 2004 and 2005, they made another championship attempt in 2006, winning the second half, defeating Chattanooga, 3–0, for the Northern Division title, but losing the league crown to the [[Montgomery Biscuits]], 3–1. In 2007, Stars manager [[Don Money]] was named the Southern League's Manager of the Year.<ref name=SLawards/> Also in 2007, the team captured the division title, beating the [[Tennessee Smokies]], 3–2, but were again defeated by Montgomery in the finals, 3–2. |
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To start the 2008 season, the Stars set a new team record for best start, by sweeping their first series with the [[Mississippi Braves]], 5–0.<ref>Pollock |
To start the 2008 season, the Stars set a new team record for best start, by sweeping their first series with the [[Mississippi Braves]], 5–0.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pollock |first=Brett |date=April 7, 2008 |title=Stars Start Season With Series Sweep |url=https://www.milb.com/news/gcs-382048 |access-date=2024-09-16 |website=MiLB.com |language=en}}</ref> On April 26, 2008, the Stars turned their second [[triple play]] in franchise history, the last coming in 2002. [[David Welch (baseball)|David Welch]] pitched a 7-inning no-hitter against Chattanooga on June 2, 2008.<ref name=SLnohit/> The Stars won the 2009 first half title but lost the Northern Division to Tennessee, 3–1. Sub-.500 teams from 2010 to 2013 failed to reach the playoffs, the longest postseason drought in team history. During this stretch, however, [[Wily Peralta]] won the 2011 [[Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher Award]] and first baseman [[Hunter Morris]] won the 2012 MVP Award.<ref name=SLawards/> On August 2, 2012, [[Jimmy Nelson (baseball)|Jimmy Nelson]], Dan Merklinger, R. J. Seidel, Darren Byrd, and [[Brandon Kintzler]] pitched a combined no-hitter against Chattanooga, a 3–1 win.<ref name=SLnohit/> Merklinger [[base on balls|walked]] four batters in the fifth inning for the only Lookouts run of the game.<ref>{{cite web|last=Dykstra|first=Sam|url=http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120803&content_id=36039968&vkey=news_l111&fext=.jsp&sid=l111|title=Nelson, Huntsville No-Hit Chattanooga|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324231954/http://www.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120803&content_id=36039968&vkey=news_l111&fext=.jsp&sid=l111|archive-date=March 24, 2016|access-date=April 30, 2020}}</ref> |
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Prior to the 2014 season, an ownership group based in [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], led by Ken Young purchased the team with the intention of relocating the club.<ref>{{cite |
Prior to the 2014 season, an ownership group based in [[Biloxi, Mississippi]], led by Ken Young purchased the team with the intention of relocating the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/49832193/groundbreaking-set-for-biloxi-stadium/|via=Newspapers.com|title=Groundbreaking Set for Biloxi Stadium|work=Clarion-Ledger|location=Jackson|date=January 18, 2014|access-date=April 29, 2020|page=10A}}</ref> The Stars played the 2014 season in Huntsville, while a new ballpark was built in Biloxi. In their 30th and final season in Huntsville, the Stars won the first half title, but lost in the Northern Division series to Chattanooga, 3–2. Over 16 years as a Brewers affiliate, Huntsville compiled a record of 1,083–1,138 (.488). The franchise's composite record over their entire 30-year run stood at 2,112–2,099 (.502). |
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Because of delays in the construction of Biloxi's [[MGM Park]], the [[Biloxi Shuckers]], as the team was named, played their first 54 games on the road, including 15 at Joe Davis Stadium in April and May 2015 before their June 6 home opener in Biloxi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/documents/0/3/2/307019032/2019_Media_Guide.pdf|title=Shuckers Firsts|work=2019 Biloxi Shuckers Media Guide|publisher=Minor League Baseball| |
Because of delays in the construction of Biloxi's [[MGM Park]], the [[Biloxi Shuckers]], as the team was named, played their first 54 games on the road, including 15 at Joe Davis Stadium in April and May 2015 before their June 6 home opener in Biloxi.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.milb.com/documents/0/3/2/307019032/2019_Media_Guide.pdf|title=Shuckers Firsts|work=2019 Biloxi Shuckers Media Guide|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=April 27, 2020|pages=127–128}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Reichard|first=Kevin|url=https://ballparkdigest.com/2015/02/06/shuckers-to-begin-season-on-road-in-huntsville/|title=Shuckers to Begin Season on Road, in Huntsville|website=Ballpark Digest|date=February 6, 2015|access-date=April 27, 2020}}</ref> |
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==Season-by-season results== |
==Season-by-season results== |
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| 6–3 |
| 6–3 |
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| .667 |
| .667 |
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| style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Tennessee Smokies|Knoxville Blue Jays]], 3–1<br />Won [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Charlotte Knights|Charlotte O's]], 3–2''<ref name=2019SLMG>{{cite web|url=https://indd.adobe.com/view/2814d890-2f9e-49d6-8e79-7105a741023e|title=League Records (1964–present)|work=2019 Southern League Media Guide|publisher=Southern League| |
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Tennessee Smokies|Knoxville Blue Jays]], 3–1<br />Won [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Charlotte Knights|Charlotte O's]], 3–2''<ref name=2019SLMG>{{cite web|url=https://indd.adobe.com/view/2814d890-2f9e-49d6-8e79-7105a741023e|title=League Records (1964–present)|work=2019 Southern League Media Guide|publisher=Southern League|access-date=April 20, 2020|pages=134–139}}</ref> |
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| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
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| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=1ff40205|title=1985 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=1ff40205|title=1985 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
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!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 1986<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 1986<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
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| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Tennessee Smokies|Knoxville Blue Jays]], 3–1''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Columbus Astros]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Tennessee Smokies|Knoxville Blue Jays]], 3–1''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Columbus Astros]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
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| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
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| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=3510e998|title=1986 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=3510e998|title=1986 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
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!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 1987<br/>* |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 1987<br/>* |
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| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| ''Won Second Half Western Division title''<br/>Lost Western Division title vs. [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–0<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| ''Won Second Half Western Division title''<br/>Lost Western Division title vs. [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–0<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
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| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
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| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=5264c4ea|title=1987 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=5264c4ea|title=1987 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
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!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1988 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1988 |
||
Line 163: | Line 161: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=48c4a768|title=1988 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=48c4a768|title=1988 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 1989<br/>* |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 1989<br/>* |
||
Line 176: | Line 174: | ||
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| ''Won Second Half Western Division title''<br/>Lost Western Division title vs. [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–1<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| ''Won Second Half Western Division title''<br/>Lost Western Division title vs. [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–1<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=32974135|title=1989 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=32974135|title=1989 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1990 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1990 |
||
Line 189: | Line 187: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=d38bb439|title=1990 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=d38bb439|title=1990 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1991 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1991 |
||
Line 202: | Line 200: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=3acb56df|title=1991 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=3acb56df|title=1991 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 1992<br/>* |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 1992<br/>* |
||
Line 215: | Line 213: | ||
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| Lost Western Division title vs. [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], 3–1<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| Lost Western Division title vs. [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], 3–1<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=33d8f3e6|title=1992 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=33d8f3e6|title=1992 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1993 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1993 |
||
Line 228: | Line 226: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=2ddd0da2|title=1993 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=2ddd0da2|title=1993 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFE6BD"| 1994<br/>{{‡|alt=League champions}} {{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFE6BD"| 1994<br/>{{‡|alt=League champions}} {{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
||
Line 241: | Line 239: | ||
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], 3–0<br />Won [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Carolina Mudcats (1991–2011)|Carolina Mudcats]], 3–1''<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], 3–0<br />Won [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Carolina Mudcats (1991–2011)|Carolina Mudcats]], 3–1''<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=19c1af65|title=1994 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=19c1af65|title=1994 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1995 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1995 |
||
Line 254: | Line 252: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=83a01857|title=1995 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=83a01857|title=1995 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1996 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1996 |
||
Line 267: | Line 265: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=32a6b613|title=1996 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=32a6b613|title=1996 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 1997<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 1997<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
||
Line 280: | Line 278: | ||
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won Second Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Mobile BayBears]], 3–2''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Greenville Braves]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won Second Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Mobile BayBears]], 3–2''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Greenville Braves]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=14e83c75|title=1997 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=14e83c75|title=1997 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 1998<br/>* |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 1998<br/>* |
||
Line 293: | Line 291: | ||
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| Lost Western Division title vs. [[Mobile Bay Bears]], 3–0<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| Lost Western Division title vs. [[Mobile Bay Bears]], 3–0<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
| [[Oakland Athletics]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=aebcd381|title=1998 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=aebcd381|title=1998 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1999 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 1999 |
||
Line 306: | Line 304: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=6477ac68|title=1999 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=6477ac68|title=1999 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2000 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2000 |
||
Line 319: | Line 317: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=5ccf90e3|title=2000 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=5ccf90e3|title=2000 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFE6BD"| 2001<br/>{{‡|alt=League champions}} {{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#FFE6BD"| 2001<br/>{{‡|alt=League champions}} {{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
||
Line 332: | Line 330: | ||
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–2<br />[[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Jacksonville Suns]] canceled due to [[September 11 attacks]].<br />Both teams are declared co-champions.''<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#FFE6BD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–2<br />[[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Jacksonville Suns]] canceled due to [[September 11 attacks]].<br />Both teams are declared co-champions.''<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=97ab7268|title=2001 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=97ab7268|title=2001 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2002 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2002 |
||
Line 345: | Line 343: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=b1519fb7|title=2002 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=b1519fb7|title=2002 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 2003<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 2003<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
||
Line 358: | Line 356: | ||
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–2''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Carolina Mudcats (1991–2011)|Carolina Mudcats]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won First Half Western Division title<br/>Won Western Division title vs. [[Birmingham Barons]], 3–2''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Carolina Mudcats (1991–2011)|Carolina Mudcats]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=fce78458|title=2003 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=fce78458|title=2003 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2004 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2004 |
||
Line 371: | Line 369: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=d311ab51|title=2004 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=d311ab51|title=2004 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2005 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2005 |
||
Line 384: | Line 382: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=dd976477|title=2005 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=dd976477|title=2005 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 2006<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 2006<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
||
Line 397: | Line 395: | ||
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won Second Half Northern Division title<br/>Won Northern Division title vs. [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], 3–0''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Montgomery Biscuits]], 3–1<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won Second Half Northern Division title<br/>Won Northern Division title vs. [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], 3–0''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Montgomery Biscuits]], 3–1<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=19b7d10a|title=2006 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=19b7d10a|title=2006 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 2007<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#DDFFDD"| 2007<br/>{{†|alt=Division champions}} * |
||
Line 410: | Line 408: | ||
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won First and Second Half Northern Division titles<br/>Won Northern Division title vs. [[Tennessee Smokies]], 3–2''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Montgomery Biscuits]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#DDFFDD"| ''Won First and Second Half Northern Division titles<br/>Won Northern Division title vs. [[Tennessee Smokies]], 3–2''<br />Lost [[List of Southern League champions|SL championship]] vs. [[Montgomery Biscuits]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=6d1668eb|title=2007 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=6d1668eb|title=2007 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2008 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2008 |
||
Line 423: | Line 421: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=fbb1cab0|title=2008 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=fbb1cab0|title=2008 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 2009<br/>* |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 2009<br/>* |
||
Line 436: | Line 434: | ||
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| ''Won First Half Northern Division title''<br/>Lost Northern Division title vs. [[Tennessee Smokies]], 3–1<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| ''Won First Half Northern Division title''<br/>Lost Northern Division title vs. [[Tennessee Smokies]], 3–1<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=b157bd2f|title=2009 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=b157bd2f|title=2009 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2010 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2010 |
||
Line 449: | Line 447: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=ebd4f50e|title=2010 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=ebd4f50e|title=2010 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2011 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2011 |
||
Line 462: | Line 460: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=eb42cf1f|title=2011 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=eb42cf1f|title=2011 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2012 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2012 |
||
Line 475: | Line 473: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=ee8b6c63|title=2012 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=ee8b6c63|title=2012 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2013 |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"| 2013 |
||
Line 488: | Line 486: | ||
| — |
| — |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=83863286|title=2013 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=83863286|title=2013 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
||
|- |
|- |
||
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 2014<br/>* |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center; background-color:#D0E7FF"| 2014<br/>* |
||
Line 501: | Line 499: | ||
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| ''Won First Half Northern Division title''<br/>Lost Northern Division title vs. [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
| style="background-color:#D0E7FF"| ''Won First Half Northern Division title''<br/>Lost Northern Division title vs. [[Chattanooga Lookouts]], 3–2<ref name=2019SLMG/> |
||
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
| [[Milwaukee Brewers]] |
||
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=f29337a8|title=2014 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference| |
| <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=f29337a8|title=2014 Southern League|website=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
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|- class="sortbottom" |
|- class="sortbottom" |
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!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|'''Totals''' |
!scope="row" style="text-align:center"|'''Totals''' |
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[[File:Joe W Davis Stadium 2013 030.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|[[Joe W. Davis Stadium]] in 2013|alt=A view from the left field seats of the field and seating bowl at the stadim. Dark green seats stretch from behind first base, behind home plate, to third base.]] |
[[File:Joe W Davis Stadium 2013 030.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|[[Joe W. Davis Stadium]] in 2013|alt=A view from the left field seats of the field and seating bowl at the stadim. Dark green seats stretch from behind first base, behind home plate, to third base.]] |
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For the entirety of their 30-year history in Huntsville, the Stars played at [[Joe W. Davis Stadium]]. The ballpark, which opened in 1985, had a seating capacity of 10,200 in 2010 and 13 skyboxes.<ref name=pilgrimage>{{cite web |title=Joe Davis Stadium |first=Graham |last=Knight |url=https://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/minors/huntsville.html |website=Baseball Pilgrimages |date=June 9, 2010 | |
For the entirety of their 30-year history in Huntsville, the Stars played at [[Joe W. Davis Stadium]]. The ballpark, which opened in 1985, had a seating capacity of 10,200 in 2010 and 13 skyboxes.<ref name=pilgrimage>{{cite web |title=Joe Davis Stadium |first=Graham |last=Knight |url=https://www.baseballpilgrimages.com/minors/huntsville.html |website=Baseball Pilgrimages |date=June 9, 2010 |access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref><ref name="mg2010">{{cite web|url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/documents/2010/04/09/9174802/4/2010HSVStarsMediaGuide.pdf |publisher=Huntsville Stars |title=2010 Media Guide |access-date=April 29, 2020 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110134923/http://www.milb.com/documents/2010/04/09/9174802/4/2010HSVStarsMediaGuide.pdf |archive-date=November 10, 2012|page=47}}</ref> |
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==Achievements== |
==Achievements== |
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*'''5''' – [[Don Mincher]], general manager (1985–2001) and owner (1994–2001), Retired June 6, 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080606&content_id=412217&vkey=news_t559&fext=.jsp&sid=t559 |title=Stars Retire No. 5 in Honor of Mincher |website=Huntsville Stars |publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=June 6, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117154931/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080606&content_id=412217&vkey=news_t559&fext=.jsp&sid=t559|archive-date=January 17, 2011|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
*'''5''' – [[Don Mincher]], general manager (1985–2001) and owner (1994–2001), Retired June 6, 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080606&content_id=412217&vkey=news_t559&fext=.jsp&sid=t559 |title=Stars Retire No. 5 in Honor of Mincher |website=Huntsville Stars |publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=June 6, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117154931/http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080606&content_id=412217&vkey=news_t559&fext=.jsp&sid=t559|archive-date=January 17, 2011|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
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*'''42''' – [[Jackie Robinson]], Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/specials/baseball/robinson-0416-smith.html |title=A Grand Tribute to Robinson and His Moment | |
*'''42''' – [[Jackie Robinson]], Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/specials/baseball/robinson-0416-smith.html |title=A Grand Tribute to Robinson and His Moment |access-date=October 11, 2008 |last=Smith |first=Claire |date=April 16, 1997 |work=The New York Times |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071201170117/http://www.nytimes.com/specials/baseball/robinson-0416-smith.html |archive-date=December 1, 2007}}</ref> |
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=== Hall of Famers === |
=== Hall of Famers === |
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Five people associated with the Stars have been inducted in the [[Southern League Hall of Fame]].<ref name=SLHOF>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/southern/history/hall-of-fame|title=Southern League League Hall of Fame|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball| |
Five people associated with the Stars have been inducted in the [[Southern League Hall of Fame]].<ref name=SLHOF>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/southern/history/hall-of-fame|title=Southern League League Hall of Fame|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|access-date=February 14, 2020}}</ref> [[Don Mincher]], general manager from 1985 to 2000 and part owner from 1994 to 2000,<ref name=DMincher>{{cite web|last=Aaron|first=Marc C|url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/99e6da06|title=Don Mincher|work=Society for American Baseball Research|access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> and Rosemary Hovatter, who worked as an administrative assistant and box office employee from 1985 to 2014,<ref>{{cite web|last=McCarter|first=Mark|url=https://www.al.com/sports/2014/05/rosemary_hovatter_represents_h.html|title=Rosemary Hovatter Represents Huntsville Stars in First Southern League Hall of Fame Class|work=Advance Local|date=May 20, 2014|access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> were inducted in the inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 2014.<ref name=SLHOF/> [[Second baseman]]/[[shortstop]] [[Scott Brosius]], inducted in 2015, played for the Stars in 1989 and 1990,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=brosiu001sco|title=Scott Brosius Minor League Statistics and History|work=Baseball-Reference|publisher=Sports Reference|access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref> and led the Southern League in his second season with 162 [[hit (baseball)|hits]], 274 [[total base]]s, and 39 [[double (baseball)|doubles]], earning him a spot on the 1990 postseason all-star team.<ref name=SLHOF/> He went on to an 11-year MLB career, winning three [[World Series]] and the 1998 [[World Series MVP Award]] with the [[New York Yankees]].<ref name=SLHOF/> Larry Schmittou, who helped bring baseball to Huntsville in 1985 and was part owner of the Stars from 1985 to 1993, was inducted in 2016.<ref name=SLHOF/> [[Sports commentator|Broadcaster]] Curt Bloom, the team's Director of Broadcasting in 1991, was inducted in 2018.<ref name=2018class>{{cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/milb/news/southern-league-2018-hall-of-fame-class-267881758|title=Southern League Announces 2016 HOF Class|website=Southern League|publisher=Minor League Baseball|date=March 5, 2018|access-date=April 29, 2020}}</ref> |
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== Notable former players == |
== Notable former players == |
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*[[Lorenzo Cain]] |
*[[Lorenzo Cain]] |
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*[[José Canseco]] |
*[[José Canseco]] |
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*[[Ozzie Canseco]] |
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*[[Eric Chavez]] |
*[[Eric Chavez]] |
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*[[Nelson Cruz]] |
*[[Nelson Cruz]] |
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*[[Jason Giambi]] |
*[[Jason Giambi]] |
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*[[Ben Grieve]] |
*[[Ben Grieve]] |
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*[[Tony Gwynn |
*[[Tony Gwynn Jr.]] |
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*[[Bill Hall (infielder)|Bill Hall]] |
*[[Bill Hall (infielder)|Bill Hall]] |
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*[[Mitch Haniger]] |
*[[Mitch Haniger]] |
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*[[Jonathan Lucroy]] |
*[[Jonathan Lucroy]] |
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*[[Mark McGwire]] |
*[[Mark McGwire]] |
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*[[Brad Nelson]] |
*[[Brad Nelson (baseball)|Brad Nelson]] |
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*[[Charlie O'Brien]] |
*[[Charlie O'Brien]] |
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*[[Manny Parra]] |
*[[Manny Parra]] |
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*[[Walt Weiss]] |
*[[Walt Weiss]] |
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*[[Wally Whitehurst]] |
*[[Wally Whitehurst]] |
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*[[Steve Woodard]] |
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{{div col end}} |
{{div col end}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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*{{cite web |url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/about/page.jsp?ymd=20070221&content_id=180329&vkey=about_l111&fext=.jsp&sid=l111 |publisher=Southern League |title=Southern League Champions |date=August 3, 2007 | |
*{{cite web |url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/about/page.jsp?ymd=20070221&content_id=180329&vkey=about_l111&fext=.jsp&sid=l111 |publisher=Southern League |title=Southern League Champions |date=August 3, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2007}} |
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{{reflist|refs= |
{{reflist|refs= |
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<ref name="blogo">{{cite web|url=http://www.bushleaguefactor.com/baseball/teams/!bt.asp?team=hnt |publisher=Bush League Factor |title=Huntsville Stars |date=June 20, 2009 | |
<ref name="blogo">{{cite web|url=http://www.bushleaguefactor.com/baseball/teams/!bt.asp?team=hnt |publisher=Bush League Factor |title=Huntsville Stars |date=June 20, 2009 |access-date=May 21, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129023723/http://www.bushleaguefactor.com/baseball/teams/%21bt.asp?team=hnt |archive-date=January 29, 2010 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> |
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}} |
}} |
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[[Category:Baseball teams established in 1985]] |
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 1985]] |
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[[Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2014]] |
[[Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2014]] |
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[[Category:Defunct Southern League ( |
[[Category:Defunct Southern League (1964–present) teams]] |
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[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates]] |
[[Category:Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates]] |
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[[Category:Oakland Athletics minor league affiliates]] |
[[Category:Oakland Athletics minor league affiliates]] |
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[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Alabama]] |
[[Category:Professional baseball teams in Alabama]] |
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[[Category:Sports in Huntsville, Alabama]] |
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Huntsville, Alabama]] |
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[[Category:1985 establishments in Alabama]] |
[[Category:1985 establishments in Alabama]] |
Latest revision as of 01:25, 16 September 2024
Huntsville Stars | |||||
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Minor league affiliations | |||||
Class | Double-A | ||||
League | Southern League | ||||
Major league affiliations | |||||
Team | Milwaukee Brewers (1999–2014) Oakland Athletics (1985–1998) | ||||
Minor league titles | |||||
League titles (3) |
| ||||
Division titles (8) |
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First-half titles (8) |
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Second-half titles (5) |
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Team data | |||||
Name | Huntsville Stars | ||||
Colors | Blue, red, gray, white | ||||
Mascot | Homer the Polecat (1995–2014) | ||||
Ballpark | Joe W. Davis Stadium |
The Huntsville Stars were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Huntsville, Alabama, from 1985 to 2014. They competed in the Southern League as the Double-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics from 1985 to 1998 and Milwaukee Brewers from 1999 to 2014. The Stars played their home games at Joe W. Davis Stadium and were named for the space industry with which Huntsville is economically tied (NASA conducts operations at the nearby Marshall Space Flight Center).[1]
The team began play in 1985 after a Southern League franchise operating in Nashville, Tennessee, as the Nashville Sounds, was transferred to Huntsville. They remained in the city for 30 years before being relocated to Biloxi, Mississippi, where they became known as the Biloxi Shuckers, after the 2014 season.
Over the course of playing in 4,211 regular season games and compiling a win–loss record of 2,112–2,099, Huntsville reached the postseason on 14 occasions, winning 13 half-season titles, 10 division titles, and 3 Southern League championships. They won their first league championship in their inaugural 1985 season as an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They won a second with Oakland in 1994 and a third in 2001 with the Milwaukee Brewers.
History
[edit]Coming to Huntsville
[edit]In July 1984, Larry Schmittou, president of the Nashville Sounds of the Double-A Southern League, and other members of the team's ownership group purchased the Evansville Triplets of the Triple-A American Association with plans to move the franchise from Evansville, Indiana, to Nashville for the 1985 season.[2] The Southern League wanted Schmittou to surrender his franchise to the league, but he had plans to relocate the team instead.[3] He wanted to send Nashville's existing Southern League franchise to Evansville to continue as the Triplets at Double-A. However, a combination of the league's disapproval of the move and the City of Evansville being unwilling to upgrade Bosse Field resulted in a move to Huntsville, Alabama.[3] The city, led by Mayor Joe W. Davis, agreed to build a brand new 10,000-seat multipurpose stadium which lured the franchise to town where it began play in 1985 as the Huntsville Stars.[3] The Triple-A Sounds carried on the history of the Double-A team that preceded it, while the Stars were established as an entirely new franchise.[3] Schmittou and several other Sounds shareholders owned the Stars, while Don Mincher, a Huntsville native and 12-year veteran of the major leagues, operated the team as its General Manager.[3]
Oakland Athletics (1985–1998)
[edit]The Huntsville Stars became the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Manager Brad Fischer guided the franchise to win the First Half Western Division title in their inaugural season. They then defeated the Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–1, in the Western Division finals on the way to winning their first Southern League championship in their first season by defeating the Charlotte O's, 3–2.[4] Outfielder Jose Canseco was selected as the Southern League Most Valuable Player (MVP).[5]
In 1986, the Stars hosted the Southern League All-Star Game at Joe W. Davis Stadium on July 23. A team of Southern League All-Stars was defeated by the Nashville Sounds, 4–2. Huntsville catcher Terry Steinbach won the game's MVP Award.[6] The 1986 Stars repeated with another first half title and won the Western Division against the Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–1. They were defeated in the finals, however, by the Columbus Astros, 3–2.[4] Steinbach won the league's MVP Award.[5] In 1987, they reached the postseason for the third consecutive season by winning the second half of the season, but fell to the Birmingham Barons, 3–0, in the Western Division finals. The 1988 club finished with a 59–85 (.410) record, the lowest in franchise history.
The 1989 Stars returned to the playoffs having won the second half, but were again defeated by Birmingham in the division finals, 3–1. Manager Jeff Newman was selected for the Southern League Manager of the Year Award.[5] The team missed the postseason in both 1990 and 1991. In 1991, Huntsville hosted the first Double-A All-Star Game on July 10. A team of American League-affiliated All-Stars defeated a team of National League-affiliated All-Stars, 8–2.[7] On August 3, 1992, pitchers Dana Allison, Roger Smithberg, and Todd Revering combined to pitch a 10-inning, 1–0 no-hitter against Birmingham.[8] The Chattanooga Lookouts won both halves of the 1992 season, but Huntsville qualified for the postseason with the second-best overall record in the Western Division. They were defeated by the Lookouts, 3–1, in the division series. First baseman Marcos Armas was the MVP of 1992's Double-A All-Star Game. On June 13, 1993, Tanyon Sturtze no-hit Chattanooga, 5–0.[8]
Following the 1993 season, Larry Schmittou sold the Stars to Don Mincher and a group of Huntsville investors for an asking price between US$3.5 million and $4 million.[9] After missing the playoffs in 1993, the Stars won the 1994 first half and then defeated Chattanooga for the Western Division title, 3–1. Huntsville won its second Southern League championship, 3–1, against the Carolina Mudcats. Manager of the Year Gary Jones' 1994 club set a franchise record with their 81–57 (.587) season.[5]
The Stars did not return to the postseason until 1997. They won the second half before beating the Mobile BayBears, 3–2, to win the Western Division before ultimately losing the championship to the Greenville Braves, 3–2. Right fielder Ben Grieve was the league MVP, and shortstop Mike Coolbaugh won MVP honors at that summer's Double-A All-Star Game. The 1998 team qualified for the playoffs with the second-best record behind Mobile, which had won both halves, but was swept, 3–0, by the BayBears in the Western Division finals.
After the 1998 season, the Oakland Athletics transferred their Double-A affiliation to the Midland RockHounds of the Texas League.[10] Through 14 years with the Athletics, the Stars had amassed a record of 1,029–961 (.517).
Milwaukee Brewers (1999–2014)
[edit]After the Stars and Athletics parted ways, Huntsville became the Double-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.[11] The Stars struggled in their first two seasons of the new affiliation, failing to win any half of the seasons.
In 2000, Mincher became Interim President of the Southern League when President Arnold Fielkow left for the National Football League. At the conclusion of the 2000 season, Mincher and his group put the Stars up for sale once again. He resigned from his position as President of the Stars, and the Southern League removed the "interim" tag to make him league president for 2001. Pulling double duty until the team was sold, Mincher desired to keep the Stars in Huntsville. The group waded through countless offers to buy the Stars looking to find the right investors who would commit to keeping the team in the Tennessee Valley. Early in 2001, Mincher found his man in New York attorney Miles Prentice who also owned the Midland RockHounds, served as a Director for the Texas League, and was the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Minor League Baseball. Prentice promised to keep the team in Huntsville despite several offers for new stadiums in various locales.
The Stars returned to the playoffs in 2001. Winning the First Half Western Division title, the team went on to win the division against Birmingham, 3–2. The September 11 attacks prompted the cancellation of the championship series before it could begin. Both Huntsville and the Eastern Division champion Jacksonville Suns were declared co-champions. Third baseman Dave Gibralter won the MVP Award for that summer's Double-A All-Star Game.[12]
In 2003, the first-half champion Stars won the Western Division versus Birmingham, 3–2, but lost in the Southern League championship series to Carolina, 3–2. Third baseman Corey Hart won the Southern League MVP Award, and manager Frank Kremblas was the league's Manager of the Year.[5] Missing the playoffs in 2004 and 2005, they made another championship attempt in 2006, winning the second half, defeating Chattanooga, 3–0, for the Northern Division title, but losing the league crown to the Montgomery Biscuits, 3–1. In 2007, Stars manager Don Money was named the Southern League's Manager of the Year.[5] Also in 2007, the team captured the division title, beating the Tennessee Smokies, 3–2, but were again defeated by Montgomery in the finals, 3–2.
To start the 2008 season, the Stars set a new team record for best start, by sweeping their first series with the Mississippi Braves, 5–0.[13] On April 26, 2008, the Stars turned their second triple play in franchise history, the last coming in 2002. David Welch pitched a 7-inning no-hitter against Chattanooga on June 2, 2008.[8] The Stars won the 2009 first half title but lost the Northern Division to Tennessee, 3–1. Sub-.500 teams from 2010 to 2013 failed to reach the playoffs, the longest postseason drought in team history. During this stretch, however, Wily Peralta won the 2011 Southern League Most Outstanding Pitcher Award and first baseman Hunter Morris won the 2012 MVP Award.[5] On August 2, 2012, Jimmy Nelson, Dan Merklinger, R. J. Seidel, Darren Byrd, and Brandon Kintzler pitched a combined no-hitter against Chattanooga, a 3–1 win.[8] Merklinger walked four batters in the fifth inning for the only Lookouts run of the game.[14]
Prior to the 2014 season, an ownership group based in Biloxi, Mississippi, led by Ken Young purchased the team with the intention of relocating the club.[15] The Stars played the 2014 season in Huntsville, while a new ballpark was built in Biloxi. In their 30th and final season in Huntsville, the Stars won the first half title, but lost in the Northern Division series to Chattanooga, 3–2. Over 16 years as a Brewers affiliate, Huntsville compiled a record of 1,083–1,138 (.488). The franchise's composite record over their entire 30-year run stood at 2,112–2,099 (.502).
Because of delays in the construction of Biloxi's MGM Park, the Biloxi Shuckers, as the team was named, played their first 54 games on the road, including 15 at Joe Davis Stadium in April and May 2015 before their June 6 home opener in Biloxi.[16][17]
Season-by-season results
[edit]League | The team's final position in the league standings |
---|---|
Division | The team's final position in the divisional standings |
GB | Games behind the team that finished in first place in the division that season |
‡ | League champions |
† | Division champions |
* | Postseason berth |
Season | Division | Regular season | Postseason | MLB affiliate | Ref. | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record | Win % | League | Division | GB | Record | Win % | Result | ||||
1985 ‡ † * |
Western | 78–66 | .542 | 4th | 2nd | 1+1⁄2 | 6–3 | .667 | Won First Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–1 Won SL championship vs. Charlotte O's, 3–2[18] |
Oakland Athletics | [19] |
1986 † * |
Western | 78–63 | .553 | 1st | 1st | — | 5–4 | .556 | Won First Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Knoxville Blue Jays, 3–1 Lost SL championship vs. Columbus Astros, 3–2[18] |
Oakland Athletics | [20] |
1987 * |
Western | 74–70 | .514 | 3rd | 1st | — | 0–3 | .000 | Won Second Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–0[18] |
Oakland Athletics | [21] |
1988 | Western | 59–85 | .410 | 10th | 5th | 22+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Oakland Athletics | [22] |
1989 * |
Western | 82–61 | .573 | 2nd | 2nd | 6 | 1–3 | .250 | Won Second Half Western Division title Lost Western Division title vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–1[18] |
Oakland Athletics | [23] |
1990 | Western | 79–65 | .549 | 3rd | 1st | — | — | — | — | Oakland Athletics | [24] |
1991 | Western | 61–83 | .424 | 9th (tie) | 4th (tie) | 16+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Oakland Athletics | [25] |
1992 * |
Western | 81–63 | .563 | 3rd | 2nd | 9+1⁄2 | 1–3 | .250 | Lost Western Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–1[18] | Oakland Athletics | [26] |
1993 | Western | 71–70 | .504 | 6th (tie) | 4th | 6+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Oakland Athletics | [27] |
1994 ‡ † * |
Western | 81–57 | .587 | 1st | 1st | — | 6–1 | .857 | Won First Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–0 Won SL championship vs. Carolina Mudcats, 3–1[18] |
Oakland Athletics | [28] |
1995 | Western | 70–74 | .486 | 6th | 3rd | 13+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Oakland Athletics | [29] |
1996 | Western | 66–74 | .471 | 7th | 5th | 15+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Oakland Athletics | [30] |
1997 † * |
Western | 77–62 | .554 | 1st | 1st | — | 5–5 | .500 | Won Second Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Mobile BayBears, 3–2 Lost SL championship vs. Greenville Braves, 3–2[18] |
Oakland Athletics | [31] |
1998 * |
Western | 72–68 | .514 | 3rd | 2nd | 14 | 0–3 | .000 | Lost Western Division title vs. Mobile Bay Bears, 3–0[18] | Oakland Athletics | [32] |
1999 | Western | 64–77 | .454 | 8th | 5th | 20 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [33] |
2000 | Western | 64–75 | .460 | 9th (tie) | 5th | 16+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [34] |
2001 ‡ † * |
Western | 75–63 | .543 | 4th | 3rd | 4 | 3–2 | .600 | Won First Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–2 SL championship vs. Jacksonville Suns canceled due to September 11 attacks. Both teams are declared co-champions.[18] |
Milwaukee Brewers | [35] |
2002 | Western | 70–69 | .504 | 5th | 4th | 8+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [36] |
2003 † * |
Western | 75–63 | .543 | 2nd | 1st | — | 5–5 | .500 | Won First Half Western Division title Won Western Division title vs. Birmingham Barons, 3–2 Lost SL championship vs. Carolina Mudcats, 3–2[18] |
Milwaukee Brewers | [37] |
2004 | Western | 65–75 | .464 | 8th | 4th | 8+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [38] |
2005 | Northern | 60–79 | .432 | 8th | 4th | 23 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [39] |
2006 † * |
Northern | 67–71 | .486 | 6th | 4th | 13 | 4–3 | .571 | Won Second Half Northern Division title Won Northern Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–0 Lost SL championship vs. Montgomery Biscuits, 3–1[18] |
Milwaukee Brewers | [40] |
2007 † * |
Northern | 75–62 | .547 | 3rd | 1st | — | 5–5 | .500 | Won First and Second Half Northern Division titles Won Northern Division title vs. Tennessee Smokies, 3–2 Lost SL championship vs. Montgomery Biscuits, 3–2[18] |
Milwaukee Brewers | [41] |
2008 | Northern | 73–67 | .521 | 4th | 2nd | 7 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [42] |
2009 * |
Northern | 63–75 | .457 | 9th | 4th | 7 | 1–3 | .250 | Won First Half Northern Division title Lost Northern Division title vs. Tennessee Smokies, 3–1[18] |
Milwaukee Brewers | [43] |
2010 | Northern | 67–73 | .479 | 6th | 3rd | 19+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [44] |
2011 | Northern | 64–73 | .467 | 8th | 4th | 17+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [45] |
2012 | Northern | 65–74 | .468 | 8th | 4th | 13+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [46] |
2013 | Northern | 59–79 | .428 | 8th (tie) | 4th | 17 | — | — | — | Milwaukee Brewers | [47] |
2014 * |
Northern | 77–63 | .550 | 4th | 1st | — | 2–3 | .400 | Won First Half Northern Division title Lost Northern Division title vs. Chattanooga Lookouts, 3–2[18] |
Milwaukee Brewers | [48] |
Totals | — | 2,112–2,099 | .502 | — | — | — | 44–46 | .489 | — | — | — |
Affiliation | Regular season | Postseason | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Record | Win % | Appearances | Record | Win % | |
Oakland Athletics (1985–1998) | 1,029–961 | .517 | 8 | 24–25 | .490 |
Milwaukee Brewers (1999–2014) | 1,083–1,138 | .488 | 6 | 20–21 | .488 |
Totals | 2,112–2,099 | .502 | 14 | 44–46 | .489 |
Ballpark
[edit]For the entirety of their 30-year history in Huntsville, the Stars played at Joe W. Davis Stadium. The ballpark, which opened in 1985, had a seating capacity of 10,200 in 2010 and 13 skyboxes.[49][50]
Achievements
[edit]Retired numbers
[edit]- 5 – Don Mincher, general manager (1985–2001) and owner (1994–2001), Retired June 6, 2008[51]
- 42 – Jackie Robinson, Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997.[52]
Hall of Famers
[edit]Five people associated with the Stars have been inducted in the Southern League Hall of Fame.[53] Don Mincher, general manager from 1985 to 2000 and part owner from 1994 to 2000,[54] and Rosemary Hovatter, who worked as an administrative assistant and box office employee from 1985 to 2014,[55] were inducted in the inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 2014.[53] Second baseman/shortstop Scott Brosius, inducted in 2015, played for the Stars in 1989 and 1990,[56] and led the Southern League in his second season with 162 hits, 274 total bases, and 39 doubles, earning him a spot on the 1990 postseason all-star team.[53] He went on to an 11-year MLB career, winning three World Series and the 1998 World Series MVP Award with the New York Yankees.[53] Larry Schmittou, who helped bring baseball to Huntsville in 1985 and was part owner of the Stars from 1985 to 1993, was inducted in 2016.[53] Broadcaster Curt Bloom, the team's Director of Broadcasting in 1991, was inducted in 2018.[57]
Notable former players
[edit]- John Axford
- Tim Belcher
- Mike Bordick
- Michael Brantley
- Ryan Braun
- Scott Brosius
- Greg Cadaret
- Lorenzo Cain
- José Canseco
- Ozzie Canseco
- Eric Chavez
- Nelson Cruz
- Alcides Escobar
- Prince Fielder
- Yovani Gallardo
- Jason Giambi
- Ben Grieve
- Tony Gwynn Jr.
- Bill Hall
- Mitch Haniger
- J. J. Hardy
- Corey Hart
- Ramón Hernández
- Tim Hudson
- Stan Javier
- Darren Lewis
- Jonathan Lucroy
- Mark McGwire
- Brad Nelson
- Charlie O'Brien
- Manny Parra
- Wily Peralta
- Luis Polonia
- Jean Segura
- Ben Sheets
- Terry Steinbach
- Adam Stern
- Miguel Tejada
- Todd Van Poppel
- Carlos Villanueva
- Rickie Weeks
- Walt Weiss
- Wally Whitehurst
- Steve Woodard
References
[edit]- "Southern League Champions". Southern League. August 3, 2007. Retrieved August 3, 2007.
- ^ "Huntsville Stars". Bush League Factor. June 20, 2009. Archived from the original on January 29, 2010. Retrieved May 21, 2010.
- ^ Bibb, John (July 12, 1984). "Big Leagues Next: Schmittou". The Tennessean. Nashville. p. 1-F. Retrieved April 25, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d e Woody, Larry (1996). Schmittou: A Grand Slam in Baseball, Business, and Life. Nashville: Eggmann Publishing Company. pp. 101–102. ISBN 1-886371-33-4.
- ^ a b "Southern League Past Champions". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Southern League Award Winners". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- ^ "Sounds Silence Stars". The Greenville News. Greenville. July 24, 1986. p. 3D – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "SL Sets First All-Star Tilt". The Orlando Sentinel. Orlando. July 11, 1991. p. B-4 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ a b c d "Southern League All-Time No-Hitters". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ "Schmittou Sells Stars". The Tennessean. Nashville. November 13, 1993. p. 3C. Retrieved April 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "DeFrancesco Assigned To Midland as First RockHounds Field Manager". The Odessa American. Odessa. November 19, 1998. p. 3D. Retrieved April 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Brewers Move To Huntsville". Ironwood Daily Globe. Ironwood. September 16, 1998. p. 10. Retrieved April 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Point, Michael (July 12, 2001). "A Night of Fireworks". Austin American-Statesman. Austin. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Pollock, Brett (April 7, 2008). "Stars Start Season With Series Sweep". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Dykstra, Sam. "Nelson, Huntsville No-Hit Chattanooga". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 24, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
- ^ "Groundbreaking Set for Biloxi Stadium". Clarion-Ledger. Jackson. January 18, 2014. p. 10A. Retrieved April 29, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Shuckers Firsts" (PDF). 2019 Biloxi Shuckers Media Guide. Minor League Baseball. pp. 127–128. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (February 6, 2015). "Shuckers to Begin Season on Road, in Huntsville". Ballpark Digest. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "League Records (1964–present)". 2019 Southern League Media Guide. Southern League. pp. 134–139. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ "1985 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1986 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1987 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1988 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1989 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1990 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1991 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1992 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1993 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1994 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1995 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1996 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1997 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1998 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "1999 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2000 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2001 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2002 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2003 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2004 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2005 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2006 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2007 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2008 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2009 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2010 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2011 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2012 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2013 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2014 Southern League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Knight, Graham (June 9, 2010). "Joe Davis Stadium". Baseball Pilgrimages. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "2010 Media Guide" (PDF). Huntsville Stars. p. 47. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2012. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ "Stars Retire No. 5 in Honor of Mincher". Huntsville Stars. Minor League Baseball. June 6, 2008. Archived from the original on January 17, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
- ^ Smith, Claire (April 16, 1997). "A Grand Tribute to Robinson and His Moment". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 1, 2007. Retrieved October 11, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e "Southern League League Hall of Fame". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
- ^ Aaron, Marc C. "Don Mincher". Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ McCarter, Mark (May 20, 2014). "Rosemary Hovatter Represents Huntsville Stars in First Southern League Hall of Fame Class". Advance Local. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Scott Brosius Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
- ^ "Southern League Announces 2016 HOF Class". Southern League. Minor League Baseball. March 5, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Baseball teams established in 1985
- Baseball teams disestablished in 2014
- Defunct Southern League (1964–present) teams
- Milwaukee Brewers minor league affiliates
- Oakland Athletics minor league affiliates
- Professional baseball teams in Alabama
- Sports clubs and teams in Huntsville, Alabama
- 1985 establishments in Alabama