Sioux Falls Canaries
Encyclopedia
The Sioux Falls Pheasants are a professional baseball team based in Sioux Falls
, South Dakota
, USA
. The Pheasants are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
. Since the 1993 season, the Pheasants have played their home games at Sioux Falls Stadium
, commonly known as The Birdcage. Before the 2010 season, the team was called the Sioux Falls Canaries.
in 1924.
The longest-lived Canaries prior to the current team were founded in 1933 as part of the Nebraska State League
. They joined the Western League in 1939, then joined the original Northern League
when the Western League folded after the 1941 season. The Canaries played in the Northern League in 1942 and again from 1946-1953.
The city was without a Northern League franchise until 1966. Then the Sioux Falls Packers began play, and spent six seasons in the circuit until the league ceased operations following the 1971 campaign.
, the Rochester Aces, the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks, the Sioux City Explorers
and the Duluth-Superior Dukes.
On the field, the Canaries enjoyed their greatest successes in 1994 and 1996. Former major leaguer Pedro Guerrero batted .329 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs for the 1994 Canaries, as the team posted a 47-33 record. Sioux Falls was narrowly beat out by Sioux City in the first half of the season while the "Birds" finished four games out of first in the second half. Chris Powell batted a league-best .357, while Jamie Ybarra paced all league hurlers with 10 wins and 109 strikeouts.
In 1996, the Canaries overcame a 20-22 first half to the season and posted a 24-18 mark over the second half of the campaign. Even then, the team finished three games back of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
New ownership took over the club in 1998 and a steady diet of improvements have followed, including a new manager, new logo and identity system.
The Canaries posted an outstanding season in 2001, going 55-35 and gaining the team's first playoff berth since the league re-emerged in 1993. On July 11, 2001, the Canaries won the first-half title in the South Division in dramatic fashion on the final day of the half. Sioux Falls won 21-7 win over Duluth-Superior in the game that secured its first pennant and its first playoff appearance.
Team owners and city officials hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking in November 1999, kicking off a $5.6 million renovation to Sioux Falls Stadium
. The new Birdcage drew national attention on June 2, 2001, as USA Today
writer Mel Antonen wrote a feature story on the retrofit. The project drew praise for the integration of an existing facility with more modern elements. Sioux Falls Stadium now features nine luxury suites, a 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) home clubhouse, a group barbecue area and a video wall/scoreboard that features live and recorded video clips as well as animated pieces.
On September 29, 2005, the Canaries left the Northern League, along with the Lincoln Saltdogs
, the Sioux City Explorers
and the St. Paul Saints
to form the American Association for the 2006 season.
Sioux Falls struggled early on in the new league, but everything came together for the Canaries in 2008. They posted their best regular-season record ever at 60-36, and won the first-half North Division championship with a 31-17 mark. The Canaries opened the 2008 playoffs by sweeping rival Sioux City in three games, then took on Grand Prairie for the American Association championship. Sioux Falls took the best-of-5 series three games to one, earning the clinching win in dramatic fashion on a walkoff single in the bottom of the 12th. The Canaries became the first team other than Fort Worth to earn an AAIPB championship.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
, South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The Pheasants are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with 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...
. Since the 1993 season, the Pheasants have played their home games at Sioux Falls Stadium
Sioux Falls Stadium
Sioux Falls Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It originally opened in 1941 and was renovated in 2000. It holds 4,500 people....
, commonly known as The Birdcage. Before the 2010 season, the team was called the Sioux Falls Canaries.
Early Sioux Falls teams
Professional baseball in Sioux Falls dates back at least to 1902, when the original Canaries joined the Iowa-South Dakota League. That team and its league lasted just two seasons. Another team, known variously as the "Soos" as well as the Canaries, was a member of the Dakota League from 1920-1923, then moved to the short-lived Tri-State LeagueTri-State League
The Tri-State League was the name of five different circuits in American minor league baseball.-History:The first league of that name played for four years and consisted of teams in Ohio, Michigan and West Virginia....
in 1924.
The longest-lived Canaries prior to the current team were founded in 1933 as part of the Nebraska State League
Nebraska State League
The Nebraska State League was an American professional baseball league with five incarnations. At least, the name was adopted five times: in 1892, from 1910 to 1915, from 1922 to 1923, from 1928 to 1938 and from 1956 to 1959....
. They joined the Western League in 1939, then joined the original Northern League
Northern League (baseball, 1902-71)
This article refers to the original incarnations of the Northern League, which operated between 1902 and 1971. For the more recent league, see Northern League ...
when the Western League folded after the 1941 season. The Canaries played in the Northern League in 1942 and again from 1946-1953.
The city was without a Northern League franchise until 1966. Then the Sioux Falls Packers began play, and spent six seasons in the circuit until the league ceased operations following the 1971 campaign.
Current team
A handful of independent baseball pioneers revived the Northern League in 1993. Sioux Falls competed in a six-team league, joining the St. Paul SaintsSt. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, the Rochester Aces, the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks, the Sioux City Explorers
Sioux City Explorers
The Sioux City Explorers are a professional baseball team based in Sioux City, Iowa, in the United States. The Explorers are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.They were originally to be...
and the Duluth-Superior Dukes.
On the field, the Canaries enjoyed their greatest successes in 1994 and 1996. Former major leaguer Pedro Guerrero batted .329 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs for the 1994 Canaries, as the team posted a 47-33 record. Sioux Falls was narrowly beat out by Sioux City in the first half of the season while the "Birds" finished four games out of first in the second half. Chris Powell batted a league-best .357, while Jamie Ybarra paced all league hurlers with 10 wins and 109 strikeouts.
In 1996, the Canaries overcame a 20-22 first half to the season and posted a 24-18 mark over the second half of the campaign. Even then, the team finished three games back of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks.
New ownership took over the club in 1998 and a steady diet of improvements have followed, including a new manager, new logo and identity system.
The Canaries posted an outstanding season in 2001, going 55-35 and gaining the team's first playoff berth since the league re-emerged in 1993. On July 11, 2001, the Canaries won the first-half title in the South Division in dramatic fashion on the final day of the half. Sioux Falls won 21-7 win over Duluth-Superior in the game that secured its first pennant and its first playoff appearance.
Team owners and city officials hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking in November 1999, kicking off a $5.6 million renovation to Sioux Falls Stadium
Sioux Falls Stadium
Sioux Falls Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It originally opened in 1941 and was renovated in 2000. It holds 4,500 people....
. The new Birdcage drew national attention on June 2, 2001, as USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
writer Mel Antonen wrote a feature story on the retrofit. The project drew praise for the integration of an existing facility with more modern elements. Sioux Falls Stadium now features nine luxury suites, a 3000 square feet (278.7 m²) home clubhouse, a group barbecue area and a video wall/scoreboard that features live and recorded video clips as well as animated pieces.
On September 29, 2005, the Canaries left the Northern League, along with the Lincoln Saltdogs
Lincoln Saltdogs
The Lincoln Saltdogs are a professional baseball team based in Lincoln, Nebraska, in the United States. The Saltdogs are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, the Sioux City Explorers
Sioux City Explorers
The Sioux City Explorers are a professional baseball team based in Sioux City, Iowa, in the United States. The Explorers are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.They were originally to be...
and the St. Paul Saints
St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are a professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
to form the American Association for the 2006 season.
Sioux Falls struggled early on in the new league, but everything came together for the Canaries in 2008. They posted their best regular-season record ever at 60-36, and won the first-half North Division championship with a 31-17 mark. The Canaries opened the 2008 playoffs by sweeping rival Sioux City in three games, then took on Grand Prairie for the American Association championship. Sioux Falls took the best-of-5 series three games to one, earning the clinching win in dramatic fashion on a walkoff single in the bottom of the 12th. The Canaries became the first team other than Fort Worth to earn an AAIPB championship.
In popular culture
- While with the Canaries in 2002, Tyrone Pendergrass was interviewed and featured in an article in the September 4th, 2002 edition of the Christian Science Monitor, called "Mapping the American Spirit"
- On July 12, 2006, Jim Eriotes, 83, became the oldest person in professional baseball history to suit up, swinging at four pitches, before striking out. The Canaries beat the St. Joe's Blacksnakes 5-3.
Notable Canaries
- SS Orlando MillerOrlando MillerOrlando Miller Salmon , is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as a shortstop from 1994-97.Orlando Miller got his pro career started in the minor leagues in 1991...
- 2007 - P Pat MahomesPat MahomesPatrick Lavon Mahomes is a professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball from to for the Minnesota Twins, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, and Pittsburgh Pirates. He also pitched in two seasons in Nippon Professional...
- 2007 - OF Pedro Guerrero- 1993-94
- P Jamie Ybarra- 1994, 1996, 2001
- P Steve Howe- 1997
- OF Chad HermansenChad HermansenChad Bruce Hermansen is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.Hermansen played amateur ball as a shortstop at Green Valley High School of Henderson, Nevada, and the Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the first round of the June draft, with the tenth overall pick...
- 2006 - P Lee GuettermanLee GuettermanArthur Lee Guetterman is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from to for the Seattle Mariners, New York Yankees, New York Mets, and St. Louis Cardinals...
- 1997 - 3B Kim BatisteKim BatisteKimothy Emil Batiste is a former Major League Baseball player for the Philadelphia Phillies and San Francisco Giants , both of the National League. He was drafted in the third round of the amateur draft by the Phillies. His major league debut came in with the Phillies...
- 1998 - OF Edgard ClementeEdgard ClementeEdgard Alexis Velazquez Clemente is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent...
- 2005-06 - 1B Brian TraxlerBrian TraxlerBrian Lee Traxler was a United States Major League Baseball first baseman. He was an alumnus of the University of New Orleans....
- 1997, 2000 - P George SherrillGeorge SherrillGeorge Friederich Sherrill , also known as "The Brim Reaper", "Flat Breezy", and "Duckbill" , is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher, who is a free agent-College and independent baseball:Sherrill was not drafted after graduating from Austin Peay State...
- 2001 - IF Mike Busch- 2001
- OF Chris Powell-1994
External links
- Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants- Official Website
- nlfan.com Sioux Falls Canaries' Guide (Northern League '93-'05)
- aabfan.com Sioux Falls Canaries' Guide (American Association '06-)