South Georgia Waves
Encyclopedia
The South Georgia Waves was a Low-A class minor league baseball
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 Albany
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...

, Georgia for one season before relocating to Columbus, Georgia
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...

 where they operated under the same name for the 2003 season before being rebranded the Columbus Catfish
Columbus Catfish
The Columbus Catfish were a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia. They were a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and were an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays since September 29, 2006. The Catfish relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the 2009 season.The Catfish played home...

. The Waves were members of the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The 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...

 and 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 Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...

.

Franchise history

South Georgia's mascot was a blue creature named "Crash", who was brought over when the franchise moved from Wilmington
Wilmington Waves
The Wilmington Waves were a minor league baseball team in Wilmington, North Carolina. They were a Low-A class team that played in the South Atlantic League, and were a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the franchise’s only year in Wilmington. They played all of their home games at Brooks...

. According to Crash’s baseball card for the 2001 Wilmington Waves, Crash was born on November 11, 2000 in Wilmington, North Carolina. Crash made his first appearance at the Westfield Shoppingtown Independence Mall with Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...

. Also, Crash’s favorite things were baseball, the beach, dancing, playing with water guns, and his park buddy, the Wilmington Waves’ head groundskeeper.

Nine days before the 2003 season was to begin the Waves moved from Albany
Albany, Georgia
Albany is a city in and the county seat of Dougherty County, Georgia, United States, in the southwestern part of the state. It is the principal city of the Albany, Georgia metropolitan area and the southwest part of the state. The population was 77,434 at the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the...

 to Columbus
Columbus, Georgia
Columbus is a city in and the county seat of Muscogee County, Georgia, United States, with which it is consolidated. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 189,885. It is the principal city of the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, which, in 2009, had an estimated population of 292,795...

. This was due in part because of disputes between the team owner David Hellerhttp://www.walb.com/Global/story.asp?s=1078068&clienttype=printable and the city of Albany, in regards to a baseball stadium deal. http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/South_Georgia_Waves

Originally, the team was going to be bought by both Cal Ripken, Jr.
Cal Ripken, Jr.
Calvin Edwin "Cal" Ripken, Jr. , nicknamed "Iron Man", is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and third baseman. He played his entire 21-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles ....

 and Don Mattingly
Don Mattingly
Donald Arthur "Don" Mattingly is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Nicknamed "The Hit Man" and "Donnie Baseball", he played his entire 14-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...

, where the two would move the franchise north to Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...

, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

 prior to the 2004 season. http://www.ballparkdigest.com/news/new_evansville_ballpark.htm However, the deal fell through and Heller renamed the team the Columbus Catfish
Columbus Catfish
The Columbus Catfish were a minor league baseball team in Columbus, Georgia. They were a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, and were an affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays since September 29, 2006. The Catfish relocated to Bowling Green, Kentucky for the 2009 season.The Catfish played home...

.http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/business-beat/2008/265720.html

List of South Georgia Waves players in the MLB

All players are listed in alphabetical order by surname.
  • Edwin Bellorín
    Edwin Bellorín
    Edwin Daniel Bellorín Morales is an American Association of Independent Professional Baseball catcher for the Wichita Wingnuts organization-Career:...

  • Francisco Cruceta
    Francisco Cruceta
    Francisco Alberto Cruceta is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher and former starting pitcher for the Samsung Lions in the Korea Baseball Organization.-Los Angeles Dodgers:...

  • Joselo Díaz
    Joselo Díaz
    Joselo Soriano Díaz is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently with the independent Long Island Ducks....

  • Víctor Díaz
    Víctor Díaz
    Víctor Israel Díaz is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent....

  • Franklin Gutiérrez
    Franklin Gutiérrez
    Franklin Rafael Gutiérrez , nicknamed "Guti" & "Death To Flying Things", is a Major League Baseball center fielder for the Seattle Mariners...

  • Eric Hull
    Eric Hull
    Eric Eugene Hull is a former Major League Baseball pitcher.After attending Selah High School and Yakima Valley Community College, Hull attended the University of Portland. As a senior in , he earned All-West Coast Conference second-team honors for the second straight season after leading the...

  • Edwin Jackson
    Edwin Jackson
    Edwin Jackson is an American professional baseball pitcher.-Early life:Jackson's father, Edwin Jackson, Sr., a military cook, was stationed in Germany at the time of his birth. Jackson is one of 27 major league players who were born in Germany...

  • Franquelis Osoria
    Franquelis Osoria
    Franquelis Antonio Osoria is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent....


Year-by-year record

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
2002 75-63 5th Scott Little
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