Lethbridge Expos
Encyclopedia
The Lethbridge Expos arrived in Lethbridge, Alberta 65 years after the city had last hosted a professional baseball team. In their debut 1975 season the team went 35–37, third in the four-team Pioneer League, under manager Van Kelly
. Steve Ratzer
(3-4, 5 saves, 2.33 ERA) was third in the league in ERA and second in saves for a team that seemingly played in a high-offense environment (league-high 403 runs and 437 runs allowed). First baseman Ray Crowley was second in the league in average and hit .338/~.495/.543. He did not make the All-Star team, but two outfielders did – Andy Dyes (.324/~.393/.407, a league-high 58 RBI) and Andre Dawson
(.330/~.389/.553, the league leader with 99 hits, 166 total bases and 13 homers and presumably the slugging leader as well).
In 1976 Walt Hriniak
managed the team to a last-place (30-42) finish. They again led in runs (449) and allowed 434 (3rd), a positive run differential despite their bad record. Third baseman John Scoras (.370/~.449/.619) led the league in batting average, hits (101), total bases (169), homers (13) and RBI (63) and tied for the doubles lead (17) in winning a Triple Crown, the only one in the Pioneer League between 1961 and 1997. He was joined on the All-Star team by catcher Doug Simunic (.244/~.371/.413). David Palmer
(0-5, 7.20) had a horrible year but went on to the best major-league career from the team.
In 1977, the Lethbridge Expos of the Pioneer League began an affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers and became known as the Lethbridge Dodgers. The team was an instant success, going 44–26 and capturing a championship for manager Gail Henley in its first season. Michael Zournas hit 21 home runs to lead the league, James Nobles paced the circuit with 9 wins, and catcher Jesse Baez and second baseman Don LeJohn were All-Stars. Jim Lefebvre took over as the club's skipper the next season, and the team fell to fifth place with a 33–35 record. Still, pitcher Roberto Alexander won 9 games to lead the league and third baseman German Rivera made the All-Star team.
Henley returned as the team's manager in 1979, and the Dodgers responded by going 38–30 and capturing another league title. Richard Rodas won the pitching Triple Crown with 12 wins, a 1.12 ERA, and 148 strikeouts, and was joined by first baseman Greg Brock on the All-Star team. Henley remained with the club in 1980, and they posted a league-best 52–18 record and repeated as champs. Pitcher Charles Jones struck out a league-high 115 batters, and first baseman Greg Smith, designated hitter Audie Cole, and pitcher Curtis Reade were All-Stars.
Gary LaRocque replaced Henley at the helm in 1981, and the Dodgers dropped to 43–27, missing out on the playoffs. A bright spot for the team was pitcher Sid Fernandez, who struck out 128 and posted a 1.54 ERA. LaRocque's club fell to 25–45 the next season, and not one player made the All-Star team. Henley returned for a third go-round as manager in 1983, and the Dodgers improved to 39–31, narrowly missing out on the postseason. Shortstop Jeff Hamilton and second baseman Ken Harvey were All-Stars, and pitcher Derek Lee tied for the league lead with 9 wins. However, after the season, the Dodgers relocated to Idaho and became the Pocatello Gems.
The Pocatello Gems began play in the Pioneer League in 1984, when the Lethbridge Dodgers relocated to Pocatello, Idaho, and were members of the circuit for just two seasons. As an independent club in 1984, led by manager Ron Mihal, they posted the league's worst record (23-47). The next season they became an Oakland Athletics affiliate and improved slightly to 24–45 under manager Dave Hudgens, who led them to a third place finish out of four clubs in the Southern Division. One bright spot that year was the play of shortstop Walt Weiss, who made the league's 1985 All-Star team. However, after the season, the Gems franchise suspended operations.
This article is based on the "Lethbridge Expos" article at Baseball-Reference.com Bullpen. The Bullpen is a wiki, and its content is available under the GNU Free Documentation License
.
Van Kelly
Van Howard Kelly was a Major League Baseball player. He played for the San Diego Padres of the National League. Kelly only played in the 1969 and 1970 baseball seasons. In 111 games over two years, Kelly had 66 hits in 298 at-bats. He also hit 4 home runs and had a .221 batting average...
. Steve Ratzer
Steve Ratzer
Steven Wayne Ratzer is an American former Major League Baseball player. A pitcher, Ratzer played for the Montreal Expos from .-External links:...
(3-4, 5 saves, 2.33 ERA) was third in the league in ERA and second in saves for a team that seemingly played in a high-offense environment (league-high 403 runs and 437 runs allowed). First baseman Ray Crowley was second in the league in average and hit .338/~.495/.543. He did not make the All-Star team, but two outfielders did – Andy Dyes (.324/~.393/.407, a league-high 58 RBI) and Andre Dawson
Andre Dawson
Andre Nolan Dawson , nicknamed "The Hawk", is an American former center fielder and right fielder. During a 21-year baseball career, he played for four different teams, spending most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs .An 8-time National League All-Star, he was named the...
(.330/~.389/.553, the league leader with 99 hits, 166 total bases and 13 homers and presumably the slugging leader as well).
In 1976 Walt Hriniak
Walt Hriniak
Walter John Hriniak is a former catcher in American Major League Baseball who — despite a very brief MLB playing career and a batting average of only .253 — became one of the most prominent batting coaches in the game during the last two decades of the 20th century...
managed the team to a last-place (30-42) finish. They again led in runs (449) and allowed 434 (3rd), a positive run differential despite their bad record. Third baseman John Scoras (.370/~.449/.619) led the league in batting average, hits (101), total bases (169), homers (13) and RBI (63) and tied for the doubles lead (17) in winning a Triple Crown, the only one in the Pioneer League between 1961 and 1997. He was joined on the All-Star team by catcher Doug Simunic (.244/~.371/.413). David Palmer
David Palmer (baseball)
David William Palmer, Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1978-1989. Palmer would play for the Montreal Expos, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Detroit Tigers.-Early life:Palmer was a star pitcher for the Glens Falls High School...
(0-5, 7.20) had a horrible year but went on to the best major-league career from the team.
In 1977, the Lethbridge Expos of the Pioneer League began an affiliation with the Los Angeles Dodgers and became known as the Lethbridge Dodgers. The team was an instant success, going 44–26 and capturing a championship for manager Gail Henley in its first season. Michael Zournas hit 21 home runs to lead the league, James Nobles paced the circuit with 9 wins, and catcher Jesse Baez and second baseman Don LeJohn were All-Stars. Jim Lefebvre took over as the club's skipper the next season, and the team fell to fifth place with a 33–35 record. Still, pitcher Roberto Alexander won 9 games to lead the league and third baseman German Rivera made the All-Star team.
Henley returned as the team's manager in 1979, and the Dodgers responded by going 38–30 and capturing another league title. Richard Rodas won the pitching Triple Crown with 12 wins, a 1.12 ERA, and 148 strikeouts, and was joined by first baseman Greg Brock on the All-Star team. Henley remained with the club in 1980, and they posted a league-best 52–18 record and repeated as champs. Pitcher Charles Jones struck out a league-high 115 batters, and first baseman Greg Smith, designated hitter Audie Cole, and pitcher Curtis Reade were All-Stars.
Gary LaRocque replaced Henley at the helm in 1981, and the Dodgers dropped to 43–27, missing out on the playoffs. A bright spot for the team was pitcher Sid Fernandez, who struck out 128 and posted a 1.54 ERA. LaRocque's club fell to 25–45 the next season, and not one player made the All-Star team. Henley returned for a third go-round as manager in 1983, and the Dodgers improved to 39–31, narrowly missing out on the postseason. Shortstop Jeff Hamilton and second baseman Ken Harvey were All-Stars, and pitcher Derek Lee tied for the league lead with 9 wins. However, after the season, the Dodgers relocated to Idaho and became the Pocatello Gems.
The Pocatello Gems began play in the Pioneer League in 1984, when the Lethbridge Dodgers relocated to Pocatello, Idaho, and were members of the circuit for just two seasons. As an independent club in 1984, led by manager Ron Mihal, they posted the league's worst record (23-47). The next season they became an Oakland Athletics affiliate and improved slightly to 24–45 under manager Dave Hudgens, who led them to a third place finish out of four clubs in the Southern Division. One bright spot that year was the play of shortstop Walt Weiss, who made the league's 1985 All-Star team. However, after the season, the Gems franchise suspended operations.
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 35–37 | 3rd | Van Kelly Van Kelly Van Howard Kelly was a Major League Baseball player. He played for the San Diego Padres of the National League. Kelly only played in the 1969 and 1970 baseball seasons. In 111 games over two years, Kelly had 66 hits in 298 at-bats. He also hit 4 home runs and had a .221 batting average... |
|
| 1976 | 30–42 | 4th | Walt Hriniak Walt Hriniak Walter John Hriniak is a former catcher in American Major League Baseball who — despite a very brief MLB playing career and a batting average of only .253 — became one of the most prominent batting coaches in the game during the last two decades of the 20th century... |
|
| 1977 | 44–26 | 1st | Gail Henley Gail Henley Gail Curtice Henley is a former Minor League Baseball manager, who spent one season in the majors as a player with the 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates.-Minor League managing career:*Montgomery Rebels... |
League Champs |
| 1978 | 33–35 | 5th | Jim Lefebvre Jim Lefebvre James Kenneth Lefebvre is a former second baseman, third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Lefebvre, the 1965 National League Rookie of the Year, was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1962. In 1965, his rookie year, he hit .250 with 12 home runs and 69 RBI... |
|
| 1979 | 38–30 | 1st | Gail Henley Gail Henley Gail Curtice Henley is a former Minor League Baseball manager, who spent one season in the majors as a player with the 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates.-Minor League managing career:*Montgomery Rebels... |
League Champs |
| 1980 | 52–18 | 1st | Gail Henley Gail Henley Gail Curtice Henley is a former Minor League Baseball manager, who spent one season in the majors as a player with the 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates.-Minor League managing career:*Montgomery Rebels... |
League Champs |
| 1981 | 43–27 | 2nd | Gary LaRocque Gary LaRocque Gary LaRocque is a former Minor League Baseball player and manager. A graduate of the University of Hartford, he was an All-American shortstop and was picked in the 14th round of the 1975 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers... |
|
| 1982 | 25–45 | 3rd (tie) | Gary LaRocque Gary LaRocque Gary LaRocque is a former Minor League Baseball player and manager. A graduate of the University of Hartford, he was an All-American shortstop and was picked in the 14th round of the 1975 MLB Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers... |
|
| 1983 | 39–31 | 2nd | Gail Henley Gail Henley Gail Curtice Henley is a former Minor League Baseball manager, who spent one season in the majors as a player with the 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates.-Minor League managing career:*Montgomery Rebels... |
|
| 1984 | 23–47 | 4th | Ron Mihal | |
| 1985 | 24–45 | 3rd | Dave Hudgens Dave Hudgens David Mark Hudgens is an American former Major League Baseball first baseman and currently the hitting coach for the New York Mets. He played for the Oakland Athletics during the season... |
|
This article is based on the "Lethbridge Expos" article at Baseball-Reference.com Bullpen. The Bullpen is a wiki, and its content is available under the GNU Free Documentation License
GNU Free Documentation License
The GNU Free Documentation License is a copyleft license for free documentation, designed by the Free Software Foundation for the GNU Project. It is similar to the GNU General Public License, giving readers the rights to copy, redistribute, and modify a work and requires all copies and...
.