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Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons displaced the Calgary Expos, who played in the rookie level Pioneer League from 1977 until 1984. The team was previously known as the Salt Lake City Gulls before being relocated to Calgary. Following the 2002 season, the team moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they became the Isotopes.
The Cannons played 2,538 regular season games in Calgary, compiling a record of 1,225–1,308. They qualified for the playoffs five times: 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1991 as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, and 1998 as an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They reached the PCL Championship Series three times, in 1987, 1991, and 1998, though they never won a title.
More than 400 Major League players wore a Cannons jersey, including Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martínez, Danny Tartabull, and Jim Abbott. Two players pitched no-hitters with the Cannons: Frank Wills in 1985, and Erik Hanson in 1988. In 1985, Tartabull led all professional baseball players with 43 home runs.
Russ Parker had operated a rookie-level Pioneer League team, the Calgary Expos, since 1977. In 1983, the opportunity to move up to AAA presented itself when the Salt Lake City Gulls were put up for sale. In December 1983, Parker purchased an option to buy the Gulls with the intention of moving the team to Calgary for the 1985 season. The Pacific Coast League approved the sale in May 1984, and reconstruction of Foothills Stadium began. More than 500 names were submitted in a name the team contest. Five finalists were selected: Stallions, Outlaws, Stetsons, Chinooks, and Cannons. The Cannons name was selected by a panel of local media representatives. The name was unique, as at the time, no professional or collegiate team in North America used the name.
The Cannons began play in 1985 as the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Their first game was played April 11, 1985, against the Phoenix Giants. The Cannons won 6–2, led by Danny Tartabull's home run, the first in Cannons history. Following a 6–2 opening road-trip, Calgary's home opener was scheduled for April 19. It was snowed out, however, as were attempts to play the following two days. On their fourth attempt, the Cannons finally played their first home game on April 22 against the Tucson Toros. Parker threw the ceremonial first pitch out to Calgary's mayor, Ralph Klein. Led by Mickey Brantley's four-hit game, the Cannons won 7–6 to send the crowd of 4,313 who braved the near-freezing temperatures home happy.
The Cannons were a success at the gate, drawing 272,322 fans in 63 openings. The season was also a success on the field. The Cannons won the first half pennant in the North Division with a 37–32 record, earning a trip to the playoffs. The Cannons entered the North Division playoff series against the Vancouver Canadians without Tartabull, however, as he was recalled by the Mariners before the first game of the series. Tartabull's loss was significant, as he led all of professional baseball with 43 home runs. Calgary lost the best-of-five series to Vancouver in three games.
The first no-hitter by a Cannons pitcher was hurled by Frank Wills on May 31, 1985, against the Tacoma Tigers in a seven-inning game. Three years later, Erik Hanson pitched the second no-hitter in Cannons history on August 21, 1988, posting a 5–0 victory over the Las Vegas Stars. Hanson walked only one batter in the seven-inning game.
Calgary again made the playoffs in 1987, finishing atop the North Division second half standings with a record of 46–25. The Cannons' overall record of 84–57 would ultimately stand as the best record the team compiled in Calgary. The Cannons lost the first two games of the Northern Division Championship Series against the Tacoma Tigers on the road before returning to Calgary to sweep the final three games of the series. Parker described the game five victory as "the biggest moment in Calgary baseball history." The Cannons faced the Albuquerque Dukes in the Pacific Coast League Championship Series. After splitting the first two games in Calgary, the Cannons dropped the next two in Albuquerque as the Dukes won their fourth PCL championship in ten years.
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL) and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons displaced the Calgary Expos, who played in the rookie level Pioneer League from 1977 until 1984. The team was previously known as the Salt Lake City Gulls before being relocated to Calgary. Following the 2002 season, the team moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where they became the Isotopes.
The Cannons played 2,538 regular season games in Calgary, compiling a record of 1,225–1,308. They qualified for the playoffs five times: 1985, 1987, 1989, and 1991 as an affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, and 1998 as an affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. They reached the PCL Championship Series three times, in 1987, 1991, and 1998, though they never won a title.
More than 400 Major League players wore a Cannons jersey, including Alex Rodriguez, Edgar Martínez, Danny Tartabull, and Jim Abbott. Two players pitched no-hitters with the Cannons: Frank Wills in 1985, and Erik Hanson in 1988. In 1985, Tartabull led all professional baseball players with 43 home runs.
Russ Parker had operated a rookie-level Pioneer League team, the Calgary Expos, since 1977. In 1983, the opportunity to move up to AAA presented itself when the Salt Lake City Gulls were put up for sale. In December 1983, Parker purchased an option to buy the Gulls with the intention of moving the team to Calgary for the 1985 season. The Pacific Coast League approved the sale in May 1984, and reconstruction of Foothills Stadium began. More than 500 names were submitted in a name the team contest. Five finalists were selected: Stallions, Outlaws, Stetsons, Chinooks, and Cannons. The Cannons name was selected by a panel of local media representatives. The name was unique, as at the time, no professional or collegiate team in North America used the name.
The Cannons began play in 1985 as the AAA affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. Their first game was played April 11, 1985, against the Phoenix Giants. The Cannons won 6–2, led by Danny Tartabull's home run, the first in Cannons history. Following a 6–2 opening road-trip, Calgary's home opener was scheduled for April 19. It was snowed out, however, as were attempts to play the following two days. On their fourth attempt, the Cannons finally played their first home game on April 22 against the Tucson Toros. Parker threw the ceremonial first pitch out to Calgary's mayor, Ralph Klein. Led by Mickey Brantley's four-hit game, the Cannons won 7–6 to send the crowd of 4,313 who braved the near-freezing temperatures home happy.
The Cannons were a success at the gate, drawing 272,322 fans in 63 openings. The season was also a success on the field. The Cannons won the first half pennant in the North Division with a 37–32 record, earning a trip to the playoffs. The Cannons entered the North Division playoff series against the Vancouver Canadians without Tartabull, however, as he was recalled by the Mariners before the first game of the series. Tartabull's loss was significant, as he led all of professional baseball with 43 home runs. Calgary lost the best-of-five series to Vancouver in three games.
The first no-hitter by a Cannons pitcher was hurled by Frank Wills on May 31, 1985, against the Tacoma Tigers in a seven-inning game. Three years later, Erik Hanson pitched the second no-hitter in Cannons history on August 21, 1988, posting a 5–0 victory over the Las Vegas Stars. Hanson walked only one batter in the seven-inning game.
Calgary again made the playoffs in 1987, finishing atop the North Division second half standings with a record of 46–25. The Cannons' overall record of 84–57 would ultimately stand as the best record the team compiled in Calgary. The Cannons lost the first two games of the Northern Division Championship Series against the Tacoma Tigers on the road before returning to Calgary to sweep the final three games of the series. Parker described the game five victory as "the biggest moment in Calgary baseball history." The Cannons faced the Albuquerque Dukes in the Pacific Coast League Championship Series. After splitting the first two games in Calgary, the Cannons dropped the next two in Albuquerque as the Dukes won their fourth PCL championship in ten years.