Altoona Curve
Encyclopedia
The Altoona Curve are a minor league baseball
team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania
, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve
(but also alluding to the curveball
, a kind of pitch). The team, which plays in the Eastern League
, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
major-league club. The Curve play in Blair County Ballpark
, located in Altoona; it was opened in 1999 and seats 7,210 fans.
The Altoona Curve hosted the Eastern League All-Star Game at Blair County Ballpark on July 12, 2006, before a standing-room-only
crowd of 9,308.
and Tampa Bay
were both awarded major-league franchises in 1998. The addition of these two teams had a domino effect
through baseball with the expansion of not only the major leagues, but throughout minor-league baseball as well. With this expansion, AA baseball received two new teams to begin play in the 1999 season. The Erie SeaWolves
were already an established minor-league team with outstanding short-season attendance, and were quickly awarded one of the new franchises. The second spot in the new, larger Eastern League looked to be headed to Springfield, Massachusetts
, but city native Bob Lozinak, developer Tate DeWeese, and a group of Pennsylvania
lawmakers rallied to get the final spot, making a formal presentation to league officials on October 5, 1997. The proposal received unanimous support and Altoona won the other franchise.
Groundbreaking on Blair County Ballpark took place on March 7, 1998, and the franchise was formally awarded in April. In June of that year, the "Curve" nickname was selected over several other proposals, including Lake Monsters, Ridge Runners, and the Altoona Fish.
The next step for the start of the Altoona Curve was to find a major league affiliate. The Erie SeaWolves had already had several successful seasons in the Pirates' organization, as a short-season single-A affiliate. In the end, however, the Pirates chose Altoona for their AA affiliate.
The Altoona Curve began their first season on the road at the Reading Phillies
on April 9, 1999. Their first game was suspended by rain and completed the next day as part of a doubleheader. That first game was a 6–2 loss, but the Curve scored their first-ever victory in the second game, beating Reading 6–4. A few days later, on April 15, the Curve christened Blair County Ballpark by defeating the Bowie Baysox
6–1 in front of a crowd of 6,171.
On April 2, 2002, Lozinak and DeWeese sold the franchise to a collective headed by Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg
. Among the partners in the collective are Pittsburgh Steelers
running back Jerome Bettis
and NHL star Mario Lemieux
. The first season under new ownership was the most successful to date, performance-wise as well as economically. During August of that year, the Pirates signed on for another four-year development agreement through the 2006 season.
During the 2003 season, the Curve made the Eastern League playoffs for the first time, and followed that up with two more appearances in 2004 and 2005. Their performance on the field has led to increased numbers in the stands, and the Curve increased attendance for five consecutive years before dipping by just a few thousand in 2005.
Following the 2004 season, General Manager
Todd Parnell was honored as the Eastern League Executive of the Year, and the franchise won the Larry MacPhail Trophy for the best promotional effort (on and off the field) in all of Minor League Baseball.
On April 2, 2006, their fourth anniversary as owners, Greenberg and his group announced an additional four-year extension on the development agreement with the Pirates, keeping the Curve's affiliation intact through at least the 2010 season.
On December 2, 2008, Chuck Greenberg sold the Altoona Curve back to original owner and Altoona native Bob Lozinak.
On May 23, 2009, the Altoona Curve and Pittsburgh Pirates renewed their development agreement, which now runs through the 2014 season.
On September 18, 2010, the Curve defeated the Trenton Thunder
to clinch the franchise's first ever Eastern League Championship. The Curve won the series three games to one.
On September 29, 2010, just 11 days after winning the franchise's first Eastern League Championship, Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington decided to not resign Walbeck.
Through Memorial Day 2011 the Curve boasted the best attendance rates in all of Double-A baseball. Averaging 3,348 fans per night (22nd in Double-A baseball) from the second-smallest metropolitan market in Double-A baseball, the Altoona Curve draws some 2.63 percent of its market each night - well above the Double-A average of .48 percent. The next-most attended team is the Jackson Generals of Jackson, Tennessee
, which is attended by 1.71 percent of its market each night.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team based in Altoona, Pennsylvania
Altoona, Pennsylvania
-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...
, named after nearby Horseshoe Curve
Horseshoe Curve (Pennsylvania)
Horseshoe Curve is a famous railroad horseshoe curve in central Pennsylvania, near Altoona in the United States. Called an "engineering marvel", it was completed in 1854 by the Pennsylvania Railroad...
(but also alluding to the curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
, a kind of pitch). The team, which plays in the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
, is the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
major-league club. The Curve play in Blair County Ballpark
Blair County Ballpark
Blair County Ballpark is a 7,210-seat baseball-only stadium in Altoona, Pennsylvania that hosted its first regular season baseball game on April 15, 1999, as the tenants of the facility, the Altoona Curve defeated the Bowie Baysox, 6-1...
, located in Altoona; it was opened in 1999 and seats 7,210 fans.
The Altoona Curve hosted the Eastern League All-Star Game at Blair County Ballpark on July 12, 2006, before a standing-room-only
Standing room only
An event is described as standing room only when it is so well-attended that all of the chairs in the venue are occupied, leaving only flat spaces of pavement or flooring for other attendees to stand. Some venues issue standing-room-only tickets for a reduced cost since it can become very...
crowd of 9,308.
History
The Altoona Curve franchise began when ArizonaArizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
and Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are a Major League Baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in , the club has played at Tropicana Field...
were both awarded major-league franchises in 1998. The addition of these two teams had a domino effect
Domino effect
The domino effect is a chain reaction that occurs when a small change causes a similar change nearby, which then will cause another similar change, and so on in linear sequence. The term is best known as a mechanical effect, and is used as an analogy to a falling row of dominoes...
through baseball with the expansion of not only the major leagues, but throughout minor-league baseball as well. With this expansion, AA baseball received two new teams to begin play in the 1999 season. The Erie SeaWolves
Erie SeaWolves
The Erie SeaWolves are a minor league baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball club....
were already an established minor-league team with outstanding short-season attendance, and were quickly awarded one of the new franchises. The second spot in the new, larger Eastern League looked to be headed to Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
, but city native Bob Lozinak, developer Tate DeWeese, and a group of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
lawmakers rallied to get the final spot, making a formal presentation to league officials on October 5, 1997. The proposal received unanimous support and Altoona won the other franchise.
Groundbreaking on Blair County Ballpark took place on March 7, 1998, and the franchise was formally awarded in April. In June of that year, the "Curve" nickname was selected over several other proposals, including Lake Monsters, Ridge Runners, and the Altoona Fish.
The next step for the start of the Altoona Curve was to find a major league affiliate. The Erie SeaWolves had already had several successful seasons in the Pirates' organization, as a short-season single-A affiliate. In the end, however, the Pirates chose Altoona for their AA affiliate.
The Altoona Curve began their first season on the road at the Reading Phillies
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
on April 9, 1999. Their first game was suspended by rain and completed the next day as part of a doubleheader. That first game was a 6–2 loss, but the Curve scored their first-ever victory in the second game, beating Reading 6–4. A few days later, on April 15, the Curve christened Blair County Ballpark by defeating the Bowie Baysox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
6–1 in front of a crowd of 6,171.
On April 2, 2002, Lozinak and DeWeese sold the franchise to a collective headed by Pittsburgh attorney Chuck Greenberg
Chuck Greenberg (attorney)
Charles M. "Chuck" Greenberg is an American sports attorney and chairman and founder of the Greenberg Sports Group. Greenberg was managing partner of Rangers Baseball Express, LLC, which on August 5, 2010, won court approval to purchase the Texas Rangers, a Major League Baseball team, from Tom...
. Among the partners in the collective are Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
running back Jerome Bettis
Jerome Bettis
Jerome Abram "The Bus" Bettis is a retired American football halfback who played for the NFL's Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. Bettis is considered one of the best big backs ever because his footwork and power, and is currently fifth on the National Football League's all-time...
and NHL star Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux
Mario Lemieux, OC, CQ is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He is acknowledged to be one of the best players of all time. He played 17 seasons as a forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League between 1984 and 2006...
. The first season under new ownership was the most successful to date, performance-wise as well as economically. During August of that year, the Pirates signed on for another four-year development agreement through the 2006 season.
During the 2003 season, the Curve made the Eastern League playoffs for the first time, and followed that up with two more appearances in 2004 and 2005. Their performance on the field has led to increased numbers in the stands, and the Curve increased attendance for five consecutive years before dipping by just a few thousand in 2005.
Following the 2004 season, General Manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
Todd Parnell was honored as the Eastern League Executive of the Year, and the franchise won the Larry MacPhail Trophy for the best promotional effort (on and off the field) in all of Minor League Baseball.
On April 2, 2006, their fourth anniversary as owners, Greenberg and his group announced an additional four-year extension on the development agreement with the Pirates, keeping the Curve's affiliation intact through at least the 2010 season.
On December 2, 2008, Chuck Greenberg sold the Altoona Curve back to original owner and Altoona native Bob Lozinak.
On May 23, 2009, the Altoona Curve and Pittsburgh Pirates renewed their development agreement, which now runs through the 2014 season.
On September 18, 2010, the Curve defeated the Trenton Thunder
Trenton Thunder
The Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
to clinch the franchise's first ever Eastern League Championship. The Curve won the series three games to one.
On September 29, 2010, just 11 days after winning the franchise's first Eastern League Championship, Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington decided to not resign Walbeck.
Through Memorial Day 2011 the Curve boasted the best attendance rates in all of Double-A baseball. Averaging 3,348 fans per night (22nd in Double-A baseball) from the second-smallest metropolitan market in Double-A baseball, the Altoona Curve draws some 2.63 percent of its market each night - well above the Double-A average of .48 percent. The next-most attended team is the Jackson Generals of Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson, Tennessee
Jackson is a city in Madison County, Tennessee, United States. The total population was 65,211 at the 2010 census. Jackson is the primary city of the Jackson, Tennessee metropolitan area, which is included in the Jackson-Humboldt, Tennessee Combined Statistical Area...
, which is attended by 1.71 percent of its market each night.
Promotions
On "Awful Night," the first 1,000 fans received a photo of general manager Todd Parnell's gall bladder, and one lucky fan won Parnell's actual gall bladder.Notable alumni
- Infielder Pedro Alvarez
- Pitcher Bronson ArroyoBronson ArroyoBronson Anthony Arroyo , is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds and an aspiring musician. He has previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates between 2000 and 2002 and Boston Red Sox from 2003 to 2005...
- Infielder José Bautista
- Pitcher Joe BeimelJoe BeimelJoseph Ronald Beimel is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent.-Amateur career:...
- Pitcher Kris BensonKris BensonKristin James Benson is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Benson pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates from to , New York Mets from to , Baltimore Orioles in to , Texas Rangers in , and Arizona Diamondbacks in ....
- Pitcher Sean BurnettSean BurnettSean Richard Burnett is a relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first round in 2000 after leading Wellington High School to a 6A State Title in his senior year.Known for his change-up, remarkable control, presence,...
- Pitcher Matt CappsMatt CappsMatthew Dicus Capps , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He is a 2002 graduate of Alexander High School in Douglasville, where he lettered in football, basketball, cross-country and baseball before receiving a scholarship at LSU...
- Pitcher Dewon BrazeltonDewon BrazeltonDewon Cortez Brazelton is a professional baseball pitcher. He pitched all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball, and is currently a free agent....
- Infielder Jose Castillo
- Pitcher Brendan DonnellyBrendan DonnellyBrendan Kevin Donnelly is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He bats and throws right-handed.-Career:Donnelly was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 27th round of the 1992 amateur draft...
- Catcher Ryan DoumitRyan DoumitRyan Matthew Doumit is an American professional baseball catcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. He played the first seven years of his career for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Professional career:...
- Pitcher Zach DukeZach DukeZachary Thomas Duke is a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who currently plays for the Arizona Diamondbacks...
- Pitcher Mike González
- Pitcher Tom GorzelannyTom GorzelannyThomas Stephen Gorzelanny is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals.-Personal life:Tom grew up in Chicago, IL, graduating from Marist High School in 2000...
- Pitcher John GrabowJohn GrabowJohn William Grabow, nicknamed "Grabes" , is a Major League Baseball left-handed reliever....
- Pitcher Yoslan HerreraYoslan HerreraYoslan Herrera is a baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He is well known for his defection from Cuba.Herrera earned the nickname "The Pinata" from WPGB radio's Rocco Demaro.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
- Infielder Jeff KeppingerJeff KeppingerJeffrey Scott "Jeff" Keppinger is an American professional baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed. Known as a contact hitter, Keppinger has one of the lowest strikeout rates in Major League Baseball...
- Pitcher Brad LincolnBrad LincolnBrad Eric Lincoln is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Amateur career:...
- Pitcher Paul MaholmPaul MaholmPaul Gurner Maholm is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-Amateur career:Maholm is a graduate of Germantown High School in Germantown, Tennessee...
- Pitcher Ian SnellIan SnellIan Dante Snell is an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. From -, he went by the name Ian Oquendo, adopting the last name of his wife, and during the 2009 World Baseball Classic he went by Ian Davila-Snell, adopting his stepfather's surname...
- Pitcher John Van BenschotenJohn Van BenschotenJohn Wesley Van Benschoten is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Personal:...
- Pitcher Ryan VogelsongRyan VogelsongRyan Andrew Vogelsong is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the San Francisco Giants. In addition to an earlier stint with the Giants , he has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , and for Nippon Professional Baseball's Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes .-Amateur career:He graduated from Octorara...
- Pitcher Daniel MoskosDaniel MoskosDaniel Ross Moskos is an American baseball pitcher in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. A left-handed pitcher, Moskos was drafted with the 4th overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates....
- Pitcher Tony WatsonTony WatsonAnthony M. Watson is a left-handed relief pitcher currently on the Pittsburgh Pirates active roster....
- Catcher Ronny PaulinoRonny PaulinoRonny Leonel Paulino is a professional baseball player. He currently plays catcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball...
- Infielder Chris Shelton
- Infielder Steve PearceSteve Pearce (baseball)Steven Wayne Pearce is a Major League Baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates.-High school and college career:...
- Infielder Jack Wilson
- Infielder Neil WalkerNeil Walker (baseball)Neil Martin Walker is an American professional baseball second and third baseman with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball...
- Infielder Chase d'Arnaud
- Outfielder Rob MackowiakRob MackowiakRobert William Mackowiak is an American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He bats left-handed, throws right-handed, and is a utility player. During his Major League Baseball career, he has played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, San Diego Padres, and...
- Outfielder Andrew McCutchenAndrew McCutchenAndrew Stefan McCutchen is an American professional baseball outfielder with the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Early years:...
- Outfielder Nyjer MorganNyjer MorganNyjer Jamid Morgan nicknamed Tony Plush is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers....
- Outfielder Nate McLouthNate McLouthNathan Richard McLouth is a Major League Baseball player. Primarily a center fielder, McLouth bats from the left side and throws from the right. He is 5' 11" tall and weighs 185 pounds...
- Outfielder Jose TabataJose TabataJosé Nicolas Tábata is a professional baseball outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was an international signee of the New York Yankees and, by 2008, became the Yankees' No. 2 prospect...
- Utility Craig Wilson (first baseman)
- Utility Eric Fryer (baseball)Eric Fryer (baseball)Eric Joseph Fryer is an American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He played college baseball at Ohio State.-Professional career:...
Season records
(Place listed is finish in Southern Division from 1999–2009 and finish in Western Division from 2010–present)- 1999: 67–73 (6th), manager Marty Brown
- 2000: 74–68 (4th), manager Marty Brown
- 2001: 63–79 (5th), manager Dale SveumDale SveumDale Curtis Sveum is a former Major League Baseball player and the current manager of the Chicago Cubs.-Playing career:A talented athlete, Sveum was an All-State and All-American quarterback while attending Pinole Valley High School, in addition to being a fine baseball player...
- 2002: 72–69 (4th), manager Dale Sveum
- 2003: 78–63 (2nd), manager Dale Sveum
- 2004: 84–56 (1st), manager Tony BeasleyTony BeasleyTony Beasley is a baseball coach currently serving as the Manager of the Harrisburg Senators of the Double-A Eastern League.The 2008 season marked Beasley's 16th with the Pittsburgh organization...
- 2005: 77–65 (2nd), manager Tony Beasley
- 2006: 75–64 (2nd), manager Tim LeiperTim LeiperTimothy Joseph Leiper is an American professional baseball coach and manager. In , he will serve as the Florida Marlins' roving minor league defensive coordinator....
- 2007: 73–68 (3rd), manager Tim Leiper
- 2008: 65–77 (5th), manager Tim Leiper
- 2009: 62–80 (6th), manager Matt WalbeckMatt WalbeckMatthew Lovick Walbeck is a former right-handed Major League Baseball catcher who played from to for the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, Detroit Tigers, Anaheim Angels and Philadelphia Phillies...
- 2010: 82–60 (1st), manager Matt Walbeck
- 2011: 64-77 (6th), manager P.J. ForbesP. J. ForbesPatrick Joseph Forbes was a Major League Baseball infielder who played from 1998–2001, and is now a minor league baseball manager in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization....
Playoff appearances
- 2003 season: Lost to AkronAkron AerosThe Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...
3–1 in Southern Division Championship Series. - 2004 season: Defeated ErieErie SeaWolvesThe Erie SeaWolves are a minor league baseball team based in Erie, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers Major League Baseball club....
3–0 in Southern Division Championship Series; lost to New HampshireNew Hampshire Fisher CatsThe New Hampshire Fisher Cats are a minor league baseball team based in Manchester, New Hampshire. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays major-league club....
3–0 in Eastern League Championship Series. - 2005 season: Lost to Akron 3–2 in Southern Division Championship Series.
- 2006 season: Lost to Akron 3–2 in Southern Division Championship Series.
- 2010 season: Defeated HarrisburgHarrisburg SenatorsThe Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
3–1 in Western Division Championship Series; beat TrentonTrenton ThunderThe Trenton Thunder are an American Minor League Baseball team and are the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Thunder play in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League, and are the two-time defending league champions...
3–1 in the Eastern League Championship Series.