Bluefield Orioles
Encyclopedia
The Bluefield Blue Jays are a minor league baseball
team of the Rookie Appalachian League
representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia
, and Bluefield, Virginia
. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays
. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field
, a historic stadium (opened in 1939) in Bluefield's city park. The park, which straddles the West Virginia–Virginia state line, is operated by the West Virginia city; however, Bowen Field lies entirely within Virginia.
, president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles
announced that Baltimore was ending their affiliation with Bluefield and the Appalachian League, effective at the end of the 2010 Appalachian League season. Bluefield's fifty-three season affiliation with the Orioles, which lasted from 1958 to 2010, is the oldest continuous affiliation with the same major league franchise in Minor League Baseball.
The Orioles were sometimes known as the "Baby Birds" or the "Baby O's," a reference to their major league parent club. One of the best known players to have played in Bluefield is Cal Ripken, Jr.
, who played with Bluefield in 1978 when he was 17 years old. Another famous former Baby Bird is Boog Powell
, who played there in 1959, also as a 17-year-old.
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 of the Rookie Appalachian League
Appalachian League
The Appalachian League is a Rookie-class minor league that began play in 1937 with one year of inactivity in 1956. From 1937 to 1962, it was a Class D League. Teams are located in the Appalachian regions of Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia and Tennessee...
representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia
Bluefield, West Virginia
Bluefield is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 10,447 at the 2010 census. It is also the core city of the Bluefield WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,342.-Geography & Climate:...
, and Bluefield, Virginia
Bluefield, Virginia
Bluefield is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, along the Bluestone River. The population was 5,078 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578...
. Beginning in 2011, Bluefield will be affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
. The team plays their home games at Bowen Field
Bowen Field
Bowen Field is a stadium in Bluefield, Virginia, United States. Primarily used for baseball, it is the home field of the Bluefield Blue Jays minor league baseball team, and of the Bluefield College baseball team...
, a historic stadium (opened in 1939) in Bluefield's city park. The park, which straddles the West Virginia–Virginia state line, is operated by the West Virginia city; however, Bowen Field lies entirely within Virginia.
History
On August 28, 2010, Andy MacPhailAndy MacPhail
Andy MacPhail is the former president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles. He was the president/CEO of the National League Chicago Cubs from September 9, 1994 until October 1, 2006...
, president of baseball operations for the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
announced that Baltimore was ending their affiliation with Bluefield and the Appalachian League, effective at the end of the 2010 Appalachian League season. Bluefield's fifty-three season affiliation with the Orioles, which lasted from 1958 to 2010, is the oldest continuous affiliation with the same major league franchise in Minor League Baseball.
The Orioles were sometimes known as the "Baby Birds" or the "Baby O's," a reference to their major league parent club. One of the best known players to have played in Bluefield is Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....
, who played with Bluefield in 1978 when he was 17 years old. Another famous former Baby Bird is Boog Powell
Boog Powell
John Wesley Powell is a former major league first baseman who played for the Baltimore Orioles , Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, who played there in 1959, also as a 17-year-old.