Orleans Cardinals
Encyclopedia
The Orleans Firebirds are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Orleans, Massachusetts
. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League
and plays in the league's Eastern Division.
Orleans currently plays its home games at Eldredge Park and has been among the league leaders in attendance in recent years. The Firebirds are owned and operated by the non-profit Orleans Athletic Association, and like other Cape League teams, are funded through merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games such as fifty-fifty raffles.
The Firebirds finished the 2007 season in a third place tie in the Eastern Division with 47 points, only six points away from a playoff berth. Orleans has won two Cape Cod Baseball League Championships in the 21st century, most recently in 2005 when they defeated the Bourne Braves
two games to one in the championship series. The team was originally known as the Orleans Cardinals but in October 2008, Orleans announced they would be changing their team name for the 2009 season in response to the licensing agreement between the CCBL and Major League Baseball
.
in both 1970 and 1971.
Orleans would fall in the championship series two more times in 1974 and 1981 before finally winning their first title in the modern era in 1986. That year, manager John Castleberry led the Cardinals to the best record in the league in the regular season. Orleans would sweep their semi-final series against the Chatham Athletics
and eliminate the two-time defending Cape League champion Cotuit Kettleers
two games to none in the championship series.
In the 1990s, Orleans would win another Cape League title in 1993 and make the playoffs on five other occasions. Their Eastern Division Regular Season Championship in 1994 was their only regular season crown until 2002.
Orleans has seen tremendous success in the 21st century, making the championship series three times, and winning the title twice, in 2003 and 2005.
For the 2009 season the team changed its name from the Orleans Cardinals to the Orleans Firebirds, following an agreement between the Cape League and Major League Baseball
which stated that if a CCBL team shared a nickname with an MLB team that they would have to obtain their uniforms through an MLBP-licensed vendor. Wanting to maintain their independence and longstanding relationship with local vendors, the Orleans team has changed its name. Although their name is now Firebirds, the fans still cheer "Lets Go Cardinals" at games, and the announcer still says Cardinals a few times every game instead of Firebirds to get the crowd fired up.
Orleans, Massachusetts
Orleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. Barnstable County is coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census....
. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
and plays in the league's Eastern Division.
Orleans currently plays its home games at Eldredge Park and has been among the league leaders in attendance in recent years. The Firebirds are owned and operated by the non-profit Orleans Athletic Association, and like other Cape League teams, are funded through merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games such as fifty-fifty raffles.
The Firebirds finished the 2007 season in a third place tie in the Eastern Division with 47 points, only six points away from a playoff berth. Orleans has won two Cape Cod Baseball League Championships in the 21st century, most recently in 2005 when they defeated the Bourne Braves
Bourne Braves
The Bourne Braves are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bourne, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Bourne currently plays its home games at Doran Park in the town of Bourne...
two games to one in the championship series. The team was originally known as the Orleans Cardinals but in October 2008, Orleans announced they would be changing their team name for the 2009 season in response to the licensing agreement between the CCBL and Major League Baseball
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...
.
The Pre-Modern Era
Orleans has fielded a team since the early days of the Cape League. In the final fifteen years of the Pre-Modern Era, Orleans won a total of seven league championships, including back to back titles in 1949 and 1950, and again in 1952 and 1953. Their title in 1957 had been their most recent title up until 1986, when the then-Cardinals broke a nearly thirty year championship drought.The Modern Era
The early part of the modern era for the Cardinals were plagued with the team's inability to break through in the playoffs. Despite qualifying for the post-season eleven times between 1967 and 1985, the team was unable to win any league crowns. Orleans made the playoffs four consecutive times from 1969 to 1972, but was eliminated in the semi-finals in 1969 and 1972 and lost in the championship series to the Falmouth CommodoresFalmouth Commodores
The Falmouth Commodores are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Falmouth currently plays its home games at Arnie Allen Diamond at Guv Fuller Field, one of 6 ballparks in...
in both 1970 and 1971.
Orleans would fall in the championship series two more times in 1974 and 1981 before finally winning their first title in the modern era in 1986. That year, manager John Castleberry led the Cardinals to the best record in the league in the regular season. Orleans would sweep their semi-final series against the Chatham Athletics
Chatham Athletics
The Chatham Anglers, more commonly referred to as the Chatham A's and formerly the Chatham Athletics, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Chatham, MA. Prior to the 2009 season, the team changed its name to the Chatham Anglers due to Major League Baseball Properties' trademark of...
and eliminate the two-time defending Cape League champion Cotuit Kettleers
Cotuit Kettleers
The Cotuit Kettleers are a collegiate summer baseball team based in the village of Cotuit, which is in the southwest corner of the town of Barnstable. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Cotuit currently plays its home games at Lowell Park...
two games to none in the championship series.
In the 1990s, Orleans would win another Cape League title in 1993 and make the playoffs on five other occasions. Their Eastern Division Regular Season Championship in 1994 was their only regular season crown until 2002.
Orleans has seen tremendous success in the 21st century, making the championship series three times, and winning the title twice, in 2003 and 2005.
For the 2009 season the team changed its name from the Orleans Cardinals to the Orleans Firebirds, following an agreement between the Cape League and Major League Baseball
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...
which stated that if a CCBL team shared a nickname with an MLB team that they would have to obtain their uniforms through an MLBP-licensed vendor. Wanting to maintain their independence and longstanding relationship with local vendors, the Orleans team has changed its name. Although their name is now Firebirds, the fans still cheer "Lets Go Cardinals" at games, and the announcer still says Cardinals a few times every game instead of Firebirds to get the crowd fired up.
Famous alumni
- Russ AdamsRuss AdamsRuss Moore Adams is a former Major League Baseball player who played for the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and New York Mets organizations. Adams bats left-handed and throws with his right hand....
2001 - Aaron BooneAaron BooneAaron John Boone is a former Major League Baseball infielder whose famous home run off Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield won the 2003 American League Championship Series for the New York Yankees. He played for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, Florida Marlins, Washington...
1993 - Andrew BrackmanAndrew BrackmanAndrew Warren Brackman is an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. He signed a four-year, $4.55 million-dollar deal with $3.35-million signing bonus as the New York Yankees' first-round choice of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft...
2006 - Emmanuel BurrissEmmanuel BurrissEmmanuel "Manny" Allen Burriss is a Major League Baseball second baseman for the San Francisco Giants. He is a switch-hitter who throws right-handed and has played second base, shortstop, and third base.-Early life:...
2005 - Brett CecilBrett CecilBrett Aarion Cecil is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball. Cecil was drafted as the 38th overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Blue Jays...
2005 - Jeff ConineJeff ConineJeffrey Guy Conine is a former Major League Baseball first baseman/outfielder who played several years with the Florida Marlins. Previously, Conine played with the Kansas City Royals , Florida Marlins , Baltimore Orioles , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Reds , and New York Mets . He batted and...
1986 - Nomar GarciaparraNomar GarciaparraAnthony Nomar Garciaparra is a former Major League Baseball player. After playing parts of 9 seasons as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, he played third base, first base, and designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics, first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and...
1993 - Tyler GreenTyler GreenTyler Scott Green , is a retired professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1993-1998.-External links:...
2006 - 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....
1994 - Lance NiekroLance NiekroLance William Niekro is a former Major League Baseball player, nephew of Phil Niekro, and son of Joe Niekro. Niekro currently serves as an assistant coach at Florida Southern College....
1999–2000 - Jay PaytonJay PaytonJason Lee "Jay" Payton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has played for the New York Mets , Colorado Rockies , San Diego Padres , Boston Red Sox , Oakland Athletics Baltimore Orioles and the Colorado Rockies in 2010. He bats and throws right-handed. Payton is an opposite-field...
1992–93 - Ryan PerryRyan PerryRyan Keith Perry is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. At the end of 2008 Baseball America named him the Tigers second best prospect, behind Rick Porcello.-Baseball career:...
2007 - Josh SatinJosh SatinJoshua Satin is an American second baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball, who also plays first base and third base.He was a First Team College All American at the University of California, Berkeley...
2006 - Michael SchwimerMichael SchwimerMichael Fredarick Schwimer is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.The 6' 8" closer was drafted by the Phillies in 2008, out of the University of Virginia...
2007 - J.T. Snow 1988
- Mark TeixeiraMark TeixeiraMark Charles Teixeira , nicknamed "Tex" is an American Major League Baseball player for the New York Yankees. Mostly a first baseman, he has also played third base and in the outfield...
1999 - Frank ThomasFrank Thomas (AL baseball player)Frank Edward Thomas, Jr. , nicknamed "The Big Hurt", is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter and first baseman....
1988 - Ben SheetsBen SheetsBen M. Sheets is an American baseball starting pitcher who is currently a free agent. He is a four-time All-Star, but has been hampered with injury problems throughout his career.-Prep and college:...
1999 - Matt WietersMatt WietersMatthew Richard Wieters is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Baltimore Orioles. Wieters was drafted 5th overall in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Wieters played college baseball for Georgia Tech, and his agent is Scott Boras. Wieters is a tall athletic hitter, standing 6 feet...
2006 - Danny ValenciaDanny ValenciaDaniel Paul Valencia is a third baseman for the Minnesota Twins.In high school, he was all-county three times and all-state twice. In college, he was Southern Conference Freshman of the Year, second-team all-conference, and on his all-regional team...
2006