Columbia Blowfish
Encyclopedia
| Columbia Blowfish | |
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| Founded | 2006 |
| Home Field | Capital City Stadium Capital City Stadium Capital City Stadium is a stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Originally built in 1927, it is primarily used for baseball and was the home for more than 20 years of the Capital City Bombers... |
| Based in | Columbia, South Carolina Columbia, South Carolina Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan... |
| Colors | Red and Blue |
| League | Coastal Plain League Coastal Plain League The Coastal Plain League is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952. The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997... |
| League Titles | None |
| Head Coach | Lee Gronkiewicz Lee Gronkiewicz Lee Matthew Gronkiewicz is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Lee played for 8 seasons in the minor leagues. He played in the MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is the current head coach of the Columbia Blowfish and the pitching coach for University of South Carolina Lancaster. Lee is... |
| Dir. of Baseball Operations | Sal Aiello |
The Columbia Blowfish are an amateur baseball
Amateur baseball in the United States
Amateur baseball is a form of baseball in which the players either are not paid for playing, or receive only a modest stipend or employment arranged by the team's boosters...
team in the Coastal Plain League
Coastal Plain League
The Coastal Plain League is a wood-bat collegiate summer league, featuring college players from throughout the nation. The league takes its name from a Class D minor league baseball league which operated in the same area from 1937 to 1952. The modern league was formed with six teams in 1997...
, a collegiate summer baseball league. The team plays its home games at the Capital City Stadium
Capital City Stadium
Capital City Stadium is a stadium in Columbia, South Carolina, United States. Originally built in 1927, it is primarily used for baseball and was the home for more than 20 years of the Capital City Bombers...
(often nicknamed "The Cap") in Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
. The Blowfish first started competing in the Coastal Plain League during the 2006 season and finished with a twenty-two win and thirty loss record in their first season. During their first year in existence, the Blowfish led the league in attendance by drawing over 46,000 fans to "The Cap."
The team's first head coach, Tim Medlin, was fired during the 2009 season and replaced by former major leaguer
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...
Lee Gronkiewicz
Lee Gronkiewicz
Lee Matthew Gronkiewicz is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. Lee played for 8 seasons in the minor leagues. He played in the MLB for the Toronto Blue Jays. He is the current head coach of the Columbia Blowfish and the pitching coach for University of South Carolina Lancaster. Lee is...
, a University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
alumnus.
The Blowfish replaced the Capital City Bombers when professional baseball left Columbia after the 2004 season.
Columbia baseball history
Since 1892 Columbia has fielded teams in various minor leagues, including:- Columbia Senators-1892-South Atlantic League
- Columbia Skyscrapers-1904-South Atlantic LeagueSouth Atlantic LeagueThe 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...
- Columbia Gamecocks-1905-1910-South Atlantic League
- Columbia Commies-1911-South Atlantic League
- Columbia Comers-1912, 1914-1917, 1919-1923, 1925-1930-South Atlantic League
- Columbia Sandlappers-1934-Piedmont LeaguePiedmont LeagueThe Piedmont League was a minor league baseball league that operated from 1920 through 1955. The league operated principally in the Piedmont plateau region in the eastern United States.- Former :...
- Columbia Senators-1936-1937-South Atlantic League
- Columbia Reds-1938-1941, 1946-1954, 1960-1961-South Atlantic League
- Columbia Gems-1955-1959-South Atlantic League
- Columbia MetsColumbia MetsLocated in Columbia, South Carolina, the Columbia Mets were affiliated with the New York Mets from 1983 to 1992. A member of the South Atlantic League, they became the Capital City Bombers in 1993. They played in Capital City Stadium.-Year by Year Record:...
-1983-1992-South Atlantic League - Capital City Bombers-1993-2004-South Atlantic League
Summer college teams:
- Columbia Blowfish-2006-present-Coastal Plain League
The Blowfish hosted the 2007 Coastal Plain League All-Star Game.
Notable Columbia Baseball Alumni
- Goose GoslinGoose GoslinLeon Allen "Goose" Goslin was a left fielder in Major League Baseball known for his powerful left-handed swing and dependable clutch hitting. He played 18 seasons with the Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns, and Detroit Tigers, from until...
- Lloyd WanerLloyd WanerLloyd James Waner , nicknamed "Little Poison", was a Major League Baseball center fielder. His small stature at 5'9" and 132 lb made him one of the smallest players of his era. Along with his brother, Paul Waner, he anchored the Pittsburgh Pirates outfield throughout the 1920s and 1930s...
- Ted KluszewskiTed KluszewskiTheodore Bernard "Big Klu" Kluszewski was a Major League first baseman from 1947 through 1961. He batted and threw left-handed.-Career:...
- Joe AdcockJoe AdcockJoseph Wilbur "Billy Joe" Adcock was an American first baseman and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball, best known for his years with the powerful Milwaukee Braves teams of the 1950s, whose career included numerous home run feats...
- Frank RobinsonFrank RobinsonFrank Robinson , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He played from 1956–1976, most notably for the Cincinnati Reds and the Baltimore Orioles. He is the only player to win league MVP honors in both the National and American Leagues...
- Randy MyersRandy MyersRandall Kirk Myers is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. During a 14-year baseball career, he pitched from 1985-1998 for the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays.-Career:Myers first began his major league career with...
- Gregg Jeffries
- Dave MagadanDave MagadanDavid Joseph Magadan is a former Major League Baseball first and third baseman and current Red Sox Hitting Coach. He is the cousin and godson of former manager, Lou Piniella.-Amateur playing career:...
- Anthony Young
- Todd HundleyTodd HundleyTodd Randolph Hundley is a former Major League Baseball catcher and outfielder. He is the son of former Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley...
- José Reyes
- David Wright
- Scott KazmirScott KazmirScott Edward Kazmir is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. Kazmir made his Major League debut with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004 when he was only 20 years old and at one time held many of the franchise's career pitching records...