Colorado Springs Sky Sox
Encyclopedia
The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball
team in Colorado Springs, Colorado
. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League
(PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league
Colorado Rockies
. The Sky Sox won the PCL title in 1992 and again in 1995.
Originally, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox
in the Western League
from 1950–1958, when the league folded. The Sky Sox's nickname originated with their affiliation with the White Sox.
The Pikes Peak
region was without professional baseball for thirty years until 1988, when the Hawaii Islanders
of the PCL relocated to Colorado Springs and became the second incarnation of the Sky Sox. From 1988–1992 the Sky Sox were the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians
. When Denver
was awarded a major league franchise for the 1993 season, the new Colorado Rockies
arranged for the Sky Sox to become their top farm team. Through the 2011 season, the Sky Sox have been the only Triple-A affiliate of the Rockies.
During their first season, the Sky Sox moved from Spurgeon Stadium (in Memorial Park) to the brand new Sky Sox Stadium, now known as Security Service Field
. The ballpark, on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, originally cost $3.7 million to build and seats 8,500 spectators. In recent years, the Sky Sox have invested over $8 million on ballpark renovations which included a new video scoreboard, redesigned entrance plaza, new picnic facility and banquet hall. It is the highest professional ballpark in North America
; its natural grass field sits at 6531 feet (1,990.6 m) above sea level.
On 22 October 2008 the Sky Sox unveiled a new logo, uniforms, and color scheme.
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 in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. The Sky Sox won the PCL title in 1992 and again in 1995.
Originally, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the Western League
Western League (defunct minor league)
The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
from 1950–1958, when the league folded. The Sky Sox's nickname originated with their affiliation with the White Sox.
The Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak
Pikes Peak is a mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County in the United States of America....
region was without professional baseball for thirty years until 1988, when the Hawaii Islanders
Hawaii Islanders
The Hawaii Islanders were a AAA minor league baseball team, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1961 through 1987. The Islanders were originally an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. They played their home games at Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu's Aloha Stadium...
of the PCL relocated to Colorado Springs and became the second incarnation of the Sky Sox. From 1988–1992 the Sky Sox were the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. When Denver
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
was awarded a major league franchise for the 1993 season, the new Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
arranged for the Sky Sox to become their top farm team. Through the 2011 season, the Sky Sox have been the only Triple-A affiliate of the Rockies.
During their first season, the Sky Sox moved from Spurgeon Stadium (in Memorial Park) to the brand new Sky Sox Stadium, now known as Security Service Field
Security Service Field
Security Service Field, formerly known as Sky Sox Stadium, is a professional baseball stadium on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The stadium is the home of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, the AAA-level affiliate of the Colorado Rockies Major League Baseball team...
. The ballpark, on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, originally cost $3.7 million to build and seats 8,500 spectators. In recent years, the Sky Sox have invested over $8 million on ballpark renovations which included a new video scoreboard, redesigned entrance plaza, new picnic facility and banquet hall. It is the highest professional ballpark in North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
; its natural grass field sits at 6531 feet (1,990.6 m) above sea level.
On 22 October 2008 the Sky Sox unveiled a new logo, uniforms, and color scheme.
Notable alumni
- Sandy Alomar, Jr.Sandy Alomar, Jr.Santos "Sandy" Alomar, Jr., or in the Spanish-language naming system Santos Alomar Velázquez , is a former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the San Diego Padres , Cleveland Indians , Chicago White Sox and , Colorado Rockies , Texas Rangers , Los Angeles Dodgers , and New York Mets...
- Garrett AtkinsGarrett AtkinsGarrett Bernard Atkins is a Major League Baseball first baseman who is currently a Free Agent. He bats and throws right-handed....
- Brad AusmusBrad AusmusBradley David "Brad" Ausmus is a former All Star catcher in Major League Baseball, and currently a special assistant for the San Diego Padres....
- Albert BelleAlbert BelleAlbert Jojuan Belle is a former American Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Baltimore Orioles...
- Vinny CastillaVinny CastillaVinicio "Vinny" Castilla Soria is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played his best years with the Colorado Rockies and Atlanta Braves...
- Joe GirardiJoe GirardiJoseph Elliott Girardi is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the New York Yankees. During a 15-year playing career, he played from 1989–2003 for the Chicago Cubs, the Colorado Rockies, the New York Yankees, and St. Louis Cardinals...
- Carlos GonzalezCarlos González (baseball)Carlos Eduardo González is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Colorado Rockies.-Minor leagues:...
- Brad HawpeBrad HawpeBradley Bonte Hawpe is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman.-High school and college:...
- Todd HeltonTodd HeltonTodd Lynn Helton is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Colorado Rockies. He is a five-time All-Star, four-time Silver Slugger, four-time National League Player of the Month, and three-time Gold Glove winner....
- Matt HollidayMatt HollidayMatthew Thomas Holliday , nicknamed "Big Daddy", is an American Major League Baseball left fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals. Holliday was originally drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the seventh round of the 1998 Major League Baseball Draft.Holliday is a five-time All-Star and Silver Slugger...
- Ubaldo JimenezUbaldo JimenezUbaldo Jiménez García is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He pitched the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies history on April 17, 2010, against the Atlanta Braves.-Colorado Rockies :...
- Doug JonesDoug JonesDoug Jones is the name of:* Doug Jones , American film actor* Doug Jones , American heavyweight boxer* Doug Jones , American MLB relief pitcher...
- Gabe KaplerGabe KaplerGabriel "Gabe" Stefan Kapler is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.He has played portions of 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Tampa Bay Rays...
- Juan PierreJuan PierreJuan D'Vaughn Pierre is an outfielder in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats and throws left-handed....
- Scott PodsednikScott PodsednikScott Eric Podsednik is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently in the Philadelphia Phillies organization. Podsednik led the major leagues in stolen bases in with 70.-Minor leagues:...
- Jim ThomeJim ThomeJames Howard "Jim" Thome is a Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies. He is the eighth player to hit 600 home runs in the major leagues. He is widely considered a future Hall of Famer.-Cleveland Indians :...
- Mike HargroveMike HargroveDudley Michael Hargrove is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. He is currently employed as an advisor with the Cleveland Indians....
(Manager) - Charlie ManuelCharlie ManuelCharles Fuqua Manuel, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball outfielder and current Major League Baseball manager of the Philadelphia Phillies...
(Manager)