Cape Fear Crocs
Encyclopedia
The Cape Fear Crocs were a minor league baseball team in Fayetteville
, North Carolina
. They were a low-A class team that played in the South Atlantic League
, and were a farm team of the Montreal Expos
for the franchise’s entire tenure as the Cape Fear Crocs. They played all of their home games at J. P. Riddle Stadium, which was home to the Fayetteville Generals
, the previous franchise before Cape Fear. Even though the Crocs were a perennial playoff team during their time in the SAL, poor attendance figures proved too much to bear for the struggling franchise. Prior to the 2001 season, the Cape Fear Crocs were sold, moved north, and officially became the Lakewood BlueClaws
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/145356/.
Their mascot was, fittingly, the Cape Fear Croc http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/public_info/news_releases/2000/March/Easter%20Fun%20for%20Free__032900.html.
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Fayetteville is a city located in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is the county seat of Cumberland County, and is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a U.S. Army post located northwest of the city....
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. They were a low-A class team that played in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
, and were a farm team of the Montreal Expos
Montreal Expos
The Montreal Expos were a Major League Baseball team located in Montreal, Quebec from 1969 through 2004, holding the first MLB franchise awarded outside the United States. After the 2004 season, MLB moved the Expos to Washington, D.C. and renamed them the Nationals.Named after the Expo 67 World's...
for the franchise’s entire tenure as the Cape Fear Crocs. They played all of their home games at J. P. Riddle Stadium, which was home to the Fayetteville Generals
Fayetteville Generals
The Fayetteville Generals were a minor league baseball team located in Fayetteville, North Carolina.They were part of the South Atlantic League between 1987 and 1996. They were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers throughout their entire existence. Prior to the 1997 season, the Generals were renamed...
, the previous franchise before Cape Fear. Even though the Crocs were a perennial playoff team during their time in the SAL, poor attendance figures proved too much to bear for the struggling franchise. Prior to the 2001 season, the Cape Fear Crocs were sold, moved north, and officially became the Lakewood BlueClaws
Lakewood BlueClaws
The Lakewood BlueClaws are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the South Atlantic League, a Class Single-A baseball league. The team plays their home games at FirstEnergy Park located in Lakewood Township, New Jersey...
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/145356/.
Their mascot was, fittingly, the Cape Fear Croc http://www.co.cumberland.nc.us/public_info/news_releases/2000/March/Easter%20Fun%20for%20Free__032900.html.
List of Cape Fear Crocs players in the MLB
- All players are listed in alphabetical order by their surname, with the year(s) they played for Cape Fear in parentheses.
- Matt Blank (1998)
- Milton Bradley (1998)
- Nate FieldNate FieldNathan Patrick Field is a professional baseball scout for the Boston Red Sox — a member of Boston's professional scouting department — and a former relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed.-Collegiate career:Field played college baseball at Fort Hays State...
(1999) - Bryan Hebson (1998–1999)
- Jorge JulioJorge JulioJorge Dandys Julio Tapia is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher who is currently pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He previously played for the Baltimore Orioles from 2001–2005, New York Mets and Arizona Diamondbacks in 2006, and the Florida Marlins in 2007 before being traded...
(1998) - Yovanny Lara (1998)
- Cliff LeeCliff LeeClifton Phifer "Cliff" Lee is a Major League Baseball left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Lee has also played for the Cleveland Indians, the Seattle Mariners, and the Texas Rangers....
(2000) - Henry MateoHenry MateoHenry Antonio Mateo Valera is a professional baseball infielder. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball from 2001–06, and part of the 2010 season in Chinese Professional Baseball League...
(1998) - Guillermo MotaGuillermo MotaGuillermo Reynoso Mota is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He stands tall and weighs . He throws and bats right-handed. Mota has played for the Montreal Expos, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Florida Marlins, the Cleveland Indians, the New York Mets, the Milwaukee Brewers and the San...
(1997) - Talmadge Nunnari (1997–1998)
- Christian ParkerChristian ParkerChristian Michael Parker is a former American baseball player. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 4th round of the 1996 amateur draft. Parker has played in one Major League Baseball game during his career, which came on April 6, 2001...
(1997) - Valentino PascucciValentino PascucciValentino Martin Pascucci is a Major League Baseball Player in the New York Mets organization. He bats and throws right-handed.-Career:...
(2000) - Brandon PhillipsBrandon PhillipsBrandon Emil Phillips is a second baseman for Major League Baseball's Cincinnati Reds. The Raleigh, North Carolina native was selected in the second round of the 1999 draft by the former Montreal Expos after signing a letter of intent to play both baseball and football at the University of Georgia...
(2000) - Simon PondSimon PondSimon Emilio Pond is a former Canadian first baseman, third baseman, and outfielder in Major League Baseball. He was originally selected by the Montreal Expos in the 8th round of the 1994 amateur draft , and played in the Expos' farm system until 2000, when he was traded to the Cleveland Indians...
(1997) - Wilkin RuanWilkin RuanWilkin Chal Ruan is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Career:Known primarily for his speed, Ruan was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Montreal Expos on November 15,...
(1999–2000) - Brian SchneiderBrian SchneiderBrian Duncan Schneider is an American Major League Baseball catcher.-Early life:Schneider was born in Jacksonville, Florida to Peter and Karen Schneider...
(1997–1998) - Jim Serrano (1998)
- J.D. Smart (1998)
- Scott StricklandScott StricklandScott Michael Strickland is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is currently a free agent.Strickland was selected by the Montreal Expos in the 10th round of the 1997 MLB Draft out of the University of New Mexico...
(1997–1998) - Andy TracyAndy TracyAndrew Michael Tracy is a Major League Baseball first baseman. He is an alumnus of Bowling Green State University....
(1997) - Wilson ValdézWilson ValdézWilson Antonio Valdez is a Major League Baseball utility infielder for the Philadelphia Phillies.-Early career:Valdez was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Montreal Expos on February 4, 1997...
(2000) - Tim YoungTim Young (baseball)Timothy R. Young is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played in part of two seasons with the Montreal Expos and Boston Red Sox . He also played one season in Japan for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp . He batted and threw left-handed...
(1997)
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 66-74 | 9th | Phil Stephenson | Lost in South Atlantic League Quarterfinals to the Charleston Alley Cats, 2-0 |
| 1998 | 80-61 | 4th | Luis Dorante | Lost in South Atlantic League Quarterfinals to the Greensboro Bats, 2-0 |
| 1999 | 75-65 | 5th | Frank Kremblas | Won South Atlantic League Quarterfinals over the Hagerstown Suns Hagerstown Suns The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans.... , 2-0 Won South Atlantic League Semifinals over the Capital City Bombers, 2-1 Lost in South Atlantic League Finals to the Augusta Greenjackets Augusta GreenJackets The Augusta GreenJackets are a minor league baseball team that plays in Augusta, Georgia, as a Class A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants. Lake Olmstead Stadium has been the home of the GreenJackets since the 1995 season, although Augusta has fielded a team in the South Atlantic League since 1988... , 2-1 |
| 2000 | 64-74 | 10th | Bill Masse | |