High Desert Mavericks
Encyclopedia
The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball
team in Adelanto, California
, USA
. Their Major League
parent club is the Seattle Mariners
. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League
and had been a farm team
of the Kansas City Royals
since 2005 before the switch. Prior to moving to Adelanto, the team was located in Riverside, California and was known as the Red Wave from 1988 to 1990.
The Mavericks play their home games at Stater Bros. Stadium
which opened in 1991 and seats 3,808 fans. The park is known to be an extreme hitter-friendly venue which tends to inflate home run
totals drastically. As a result, offensive statistics for High Desert players must be discounted for comparative purposes, while the reverse is the case for statistics accumulated by High Desert pitchers.
were in negotiations with the A-Advanced Carolina League
to transfer from the California League to the Carolina League.
On August 29, 2008, the same local newspaper that started the rumors of the Mavs' potential move then announced that the team would remain in Adelanto for at least the 2009 season. The team's status for 2010 was unknown. However, the Mavericks are now in negotiations with the town of Apple Valley, CA to play at their new Minor League Stadium. The Mavericks will finish their 2010 season at the Stater Brothers Stadium.
. The plan calls for a new stadium being built near the intersection of Bear Valley Road and Apple Valley Road, near Deep Creek. Along with the stadium, the town plans to install three public baseball fields that will back up to a nearby middle school and elementary school.
Town Manager Frank Robinson said he was approached by representatives from the Mavericks’ owner, Brett Sports & Entertainment, early this year. The Mavericks’ 20-year lease to play at Stater Bros. Stadium expires with the end of next season, and Adelanto has admittedly had a hard time keeping up with the field’s needed maintenance. Speculation that the Mavericks might leave the High Desert became rampant, as negotiations between the team and the city for a new lease dragged on.
If this stadium and entertainment center is approved, the first season at the stadium could start as early as 2011. The current plan is causing controversy due the possibility of heavily-increased traffic on an already busy road.
On December 9, 2009, the Apple Valley City Council struck down the proposal to build the new ballpark. This could essentially mean the end of the Mavericks' tenure in Adelanto after 2010.
, if a new ballpark is proposed and built there.
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 Adelanto, California
Adelanto, California
Adelanto is a city in San Bernardino County, California about northwest of Victorville. The population was 31,765 at the 2010 census, up from 18,130 at the 2000 census.-Name:...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Their 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...
parent club is the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
and had been a farm team
Farm team
In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...
of the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
since 2005 before the switch. Prior to moving to Adelanto, the team was located in Riverside, California and was known as the Red Wave from 1988 to 1990.
The Mavericks play their home games at Stater Bros. Stadium
Stater Bros. Stadium
Stater Bros. Stadium is a stadium in Adelanto, California. It is primarily used for baseball and is the home field of the High Desert Mavericks minor league baseball team. It holds 3,808 people....
which opened in 1991 and seats 3,808 fans. The park is known to be an extreme hitter-friendly venue which tends to inflate home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
totals drastically. As a result, offensive statistics for High Desert players must be discounted for comparative purposes, while the reverse is the case for statistics accumulated by High Desert pitchers.
Achievements
- The Mavericks are the only team in California League history to win championships in the years that their major league parent clubs came into existence.
- The Mavericks were the first team in California League history to have cheerleaders. The Maverick Girls would perform dance numbers on top of the dugouts in between innings.
- On June 28, 2009, the Mavericks performed two historic feats on one day. They combined with the Lake Elsinore StormLake Elsinore StormThe Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond...
to set a California LeagueCalifornia LeagueThe California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
record for combined runs scored (51) in a 33-18 loss, and outfielder James McOwen broke the California League record for longest hitting streak, hitting safely for the 36th straight game on the same day.
Notable High Desert Mavericks Alumni
- Rod BarajasRod BarajasRodrigo Richard Barajas is a Mexican American professional baseball catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball. He came up to the majors with the Arizona Diamondbacks in...
- Nick BierbrodtNick BierbrodtCleveland Indians and Texas Rangers. After playing for the Brother Elephants of the Chinese Professional Baseball League in , he returned to the United States the next year, joining the Long Beach Armada of the independent Golden Baseball League....
- Bruce BochyBruce BochyBruce Douglas Bochy is the manager of the San Francisco Giants. Prior to joining the Giants, Bochy had been the manager of the San Diego Padres for twelve seasons. Bochy is the only former Padres player to serve as the team's manager. He has participated in all five postseason appearances in...
(inaugural manager) - Craig BreslowCraig BreslowCraig Andrew Breslow is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics. He throws left-handed, and is considered a lefty specialist....
- Billy ButlerBilly Butler (baseball)Billy Ray Butler is a Major League Baseball Designated Hitter for the Kansas City Royals. He has also played first base, left field and right field...
- Howie ClarkHowie ClarkHoward Roddy Clark is a Major League Baseball utility player who is currently a free-agent. Clark made his Major League Baseball debut with the Baltimore Orioles in and has played at the major league level in parts of six seasons with the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins...
- Jack CustJack CustJohn Joseph "Jack" Cust III is an American professional baseball designated hitter and outfielder who is a free agent. Cust attended Immaculata High School in Somerville, New Jersey...
- Greg HalmanGreg HalmanGregory Anthony "Greg" Halman was a Dutch professional baseball outfielder. He played with the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball during the and seasons...
- Robby HammockRobby HammockRobert Wade Hammock is a retired Major League Baseball catcher.-Career:Hammock was drafted three times: in 1995 by the Florida Marlins, in 1997 by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and in 1998 by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He played five seasons at various minor league levels from to...
- J. J. Hardy
- Corey Hart
- J. P. Howell
- Shawn KelleyShawn KelleyShawn Andrew Kelley is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners. He attended Ballard High School, and later Austin Peay State University. Kelley was drafted by the Mariners in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. He made his professional debut in 2007, and later made his...
- Travis LeeTravis LeeTravis Lee is a former Major League Baseball first baseman.Lee graduated from Capital High School in Olympia, Washington in 1993, where he also played football. Being ambidextrous Lee played as a lefty in baseball and as a QB for the Capital High football team threw with his right...
- Cory LidleCory LidleCory Fulton Lidle was an Americanright-handed baseball pitcher who spent nine seasons in the major leagues with seven different teams. His twin brother Kevin Lidle also played baseball, as a catcher for several minor league teams...
- Javier LópezJavier LópezJavier Alfonso López is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the San Francisco Giants. López previously played for the Colorado Rockies , Arizona Diamondbacks , Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates . He is a left-handed specialist known for his sidearm delivery...
- Matt ManginiMatt ManginiMatthew Steven Mangini is an American professional baseball infielder who is a free agent...
- Matt MieskeMatt MieskeMatthew Todd Mieske is a former right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from to for the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros and Arizona Diamondbacks.-External links:...
- Brad NelsonBrad NelsonBradley John Nelson is a Minor League Baseball player who is currently in the Texas Rangers organization. He has played primarily first base and outfield. When he is not playing defensively he also serves as a designated hitter.-High school:Nelson played high school baseball at Bishop Garrigan...
- Vicente PadillaVicente PadillaVicente de la Cruz Padilla is a Major League Baseball pitcher, who is a free agent. Padilla previously pitched for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Philadelphia Phillies and Texas Rangers...
- Brad PennyBrad PennyBradley Wayne "Brad" Penny is a Major League starting pitcher. Penny has spent portions of his career with the Florida Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers....
- Michael PinedaMichael PinedaMichael Francisco Pineda is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Seattle Mariners...
- Stephen C. ReichStephen C. ReichMajor Stephen C. Reich was an American soldier and minor league baseball player who was killed in action while on a rescue mission in Afghanistan at age 34...
- Michael SaundersMichael SaundersMichael Edward Saunders is a Canadian Major League Baseball left fielder for the Seattle Mariners. He is a left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder...
- Junior SpiveyJunior SpiveyErnest Lee "Junior" Spivey, Jr. was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. In his five-year major league career, Spivey batted .270 with 48 home runs and 201 runs batted in in 457 games. He made the National League All-Star team in . He batted and threw right-handed.-Career:Spivey attended...
- Don WakamatsuDon WakamatsuWilbur Donald "Don" Wakamatsu is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. He was the manager of the Seattle Mariners for the season, as well as the majority of the season...
(managed Mavs in 1998, was California League Manager of the Year that year; first Asian-American MLB manager)
Possible departure from Adelanto
On August 2, 2008, a local newspaper reported that the Mavericks and the Bakersfield BlazeBakersfield Blaze
The Bakersfield Blaze are a minor league baseball team in Bakersfield, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and are a farm team of the Cincinnati Reds. The Bakersfield Blaze play their home games at Historic Sam Lynn Ballpark...
were in negotiations with the A-Advanced Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
to transfer from the California League to the Carolina League.
On August 29, 2008, the same local newspaper that started the rumors of the Mavs' potential move then announced that the team would remain in Adelanto for at least the 2009 season. The team's status for 2010 was unknown. However, the Mavericks are now in negotiations with the town of Apple Valley, CA to play at their new Minor League Stadium. The Mavericks will finish their 2010 season at the Stater Brothers Stadium.
Move to Apple Valley
On August 23, 2009, the local newspaper of the High Desert, The Victorville Daily Press, printed an article explaining the proposition of a Minor League baseball stadium being built in the neighboring city of Apple ValleyApple Valley, California
-Climate:*On average, the warmest month is July.*The highest recorded temperature was in 2002.*On average, the coolest month is December.*The lowest recorded temperature was in 1949.*The most precipitation on average occurs in February.-History:...
. The plan calls for a new stadium being built near the intersection of Bear Valley Road and Apple Valley Road, near Deep Creek. Along with the stadium, the town plans to install three public baseball fields that will back up to a nearby middle school and elementary school.
Town Manager Frank Robinson said he was approached by representatives from the Mavericks’ owner, Brett Sports & Entertainment, early this year. The Mavericks’ 20-year lease to play at Stater Bros. Stadium expires with the end of next season, and Adelanto has admittedly had a hard time keeping up with the field’s needed maintenance. Speculation that the Mavericks might leave the High Desert became rampant, as negotiations between the team and the city for a new lease dragged on.
If this stadium and entertainment center is approved, the first season at the stadium could start as early as 2011. The current plan is causing controversy due the possibility of heavily-increased traffic on an already busy road.
On December 9, 2009, the Apple Valley City Council struck down the proposal to build the new ballpark. This could essentially mean the end of the Mavericks' tenure in Adelanto after 2010.
Sale of Team
On November 29, 2010, High Desert Mavericks were sold to Main Street Baseball after more than a year on the open market. Rumors have the team possibly relocating to Chico, CaliforniaChico, California
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census...
, if a new ballpark is proposed and built there.