Tacoma Rainiers
Encyclopedia
The Tacoma Rainiers are a minor league baseball
team that plays in the Pacific Coast League
(PCL) (of which they are the current defending champions), and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners
. A team located in Tacoma, Washington
has been in the PCL every year since 1960, for the longest current active streak of membership in the league.
Tacoma's first team in the PCL was the Tacoma Tigers, who joined the league in 1904, having moved from Sacramento
after the 1903 season. The 1904 Tigers won Tacoma's first PCL pennant, finishing first in both halves of the split season schedule, seven games (annualized) over the runner-up Anaheim Angels. The 1905 Tigers won the first-half championship, then played so poorly in the second-half they moved back to Sacramento, finishing out the season as the Sacramento Solons
, and losing the postseason series to the Angels. The PCL would not return to Tacoma for another 55 years; however, another Tacoma Tigers franchise operated in the Western International League
from the 1930s until 1951.
The current franchise was founded in 1960 when the Phoenix Giants
, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants
, moved to Tacoma and became the Tacoma Giants. In 1965, the Giants decided to move the team back to Phoenix, but fortunately the Chicago Cubs
decided to move their affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees
, to Tacoma exactly the same year and renamed the team the Tacoma Cubs. For the next 19 years, the team mirrored the name of its parent major league club, being known through the years as the Tacoma Giants (1960–1965), Tacoma Cubs (1966–1971), Tacoma Twins (1972–1977), and Tacoma Yankees (1978). Subsequently, the team was known as the Tacoma Tugs (1979) and, once more, the Tacoma Tigers (1980–1994).
The team became associated with the nearby Seattle Mariners
in 1995, whose Triple-A team for the previous ten seasons had been the Calgary Cannons
. Tacoma adopted the Rainiers name in part as a tribute to the Seattle Rainiers
minor league teams that played in Seattle
from 1938 to 1964 in the PCL, and again from 1972 to 1976. The Tacoma Rainiers play their home games at Cheney Stadium
, which hosted the baseball portion of the 1990 Goodwill Games
. The Mariners' Safeco Field
is about 30 miles (48.3 km) to the north.
Oakland Athletics
power hitters Mark McGwire
, José Canseco
, and Jason Giambi
played for the Tacoma Tigers on their way to baseball stardom. Alex Rodriguez
also played for the team in their first year as the Rainiers in 1995, before becoming a superstar, as did baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal
.
In July 2006 the Rainiers were sold to the Dallas-based Schlegel Sports Group, giving pop star Nick Lachey
a one-third stake in the team.
The Rainiers are broadcast on KHHO
850 AM by play-by-play announcer Mike Curto.
. The Rainiers then dropped 2 straight games at SAFECO field, before winning Game 5 to advance to the PCL Championship Series against the Memphis Redbirds
.
Due to Safeco Field
not being available for the Championship Series and no other ball park in the Pacific Northwest meeting PCL requirements, the Rainiers were forced to play all games in the PCL Championship Series on the road. For Games 1 and 2 (the Rainiers' "Home" games) the team batted second against the "visiting" Memphis Redbirds
, although Autozone Park in Memphis, TN was the Redbird's home park. This fact was constantly brought up during the radio announcements during Games 1 and 2. Having a hostile crowd even in its home games, the Rainiers nonetheless swept the Redbirds in 3 games to win 2010 PCL Championship.
The Columbus Clippers
defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 12–6 on September 21, 2010, to win the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game in Oklahoma City
.
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 that plays in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
(PCL) (of which they are the current defending champions), and are the Triple-A affiliate of 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...
. A team located in Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma, Washington
Tacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
has been in the PCL every year since 1960, for the longest current active streak of membership in the league.
Tacoma's first team in the PCL was the Tacoma Tigers, who joined the league in 1904, having moved from Sacramento
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
after the 1903 season. The 1904 Tigers won Tacoma's first PCL pennant, finishing first in both halves of the split season schedule, seven games (annualized) over the runner-up Anaheim Angels. The 1905 Tigers won the first-half championship, then played so poorly in the second-half they moved back to Sacramento, finishing out the season as the Sacramento Solons
Sacramento Solons
The Sacramento Solons were a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. They played in the Pacific Coast League during several periods . The current Sacramento River Cats began play in 2000...
, and losing the postseason series to the Angels. The PCL would not return to Tacoma for another 55 years; however, another Tacoma Tigers franchise operated in the Western International League
Western International League
The Western International League was a mid- to higher-level circuit in American and Canadian minor league baseball. It operated in 1923, 1937-42, and 1946-54. In 1955, it changed its name to the Northwest League, and still operates today as a Short Season A loop under that name.The WIL consisted of...
from the 1930s until 1951.
The current franchise was founded in 1960 when the Phoenix Giants
Phoenix Firebirds
The Phoenix Firebirds, formerly the Phoenix Giants, were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Phoenix, Arizona, USA from 1958-1959, and 1966 until 1997....
, an affiliate of the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
, moved to Tacoma and became the Tacoma Giants. In 1965, the Giants decided to move the team back to Phoenix, but fortunately the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
decided to move their affiliate, the Salt Lake Bees
Salt Lake Bees
The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...
, to Tacoma exactly the same year and renamed the team the Tacoma Cubs. For the next 19 years, the team mirrored the name of its parent major league club, being known through the years as the Tacoma Giants (1960–1965), Tacoma Cubs (1966–1971), Tacoma Twins (1972–1977), and Tacoma Yankees (1978). Subsequently, the team was known as the Tacoma Tugs (1979) and, once more, the Tacoma Tigers (1980–1994).
The team became associated with the nearby 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...
in 1995, whose Triple-A team for the previous ten seasons had been the Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
. Tacoma adopted the Rainiers name in part as a tribute to the Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
minor league teams that played in Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
from 1938 to 1964 in the PCL, and again from 1972 to 1976. The Tacoma Rainiers play their home games at Cheney Stadium
Cheney Stadium
Cheney Stadium, in Tacoma, Washington, is the home field for the Tacoma Rainiers minor-league baseball team of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League. The stadium opened in 1960, and has a capacity of 9,600...
, which hosted the baseball portion of the 1990 Goodwill Games
Goodwill Games
The Goodwill Games was an international sports competition, created by Ted Turner in reaction to the political troubles surrounding the Olympic Games of the 1980s...
. The Mariners' Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
is about 30 miles (48.3 km) to the north.
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
power hitters Mark McGwire
Mark McGwire
Mark David McGwire , nicknamed "Big Mac", is an American former professional baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals. He is currently the hitting coach for the St...
, José Canseco
José Canseco
José Canseco Capas, Jr. is a Cuban-American professional baseball manager, outfielder, and designated hitter for the Yuma Scorpions of the North American League and former Major League Baseball player. He is the identical twin brother of former major league player and current teammate Ozzie Canseco...
, and Jason Giambi
Jason Giambi
Jason Gilbert Giambi is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.He was the American League MVP in 2000 while with the Oakland Athletics, and is a five-time All-Star who has led the American League in walks four times, in on base percentage...
played for the Tacoma Tigers on their way to baseball stardom. Alex Rodriguez
Alex Rodriguez
Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez is an American professional baseball third baseman with the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball. Known popularly by his nickname A-Rod, he previously played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and the Texas Rangers.Rodriguez is considered one of the best...
also played for the team in their first year as the Rainiers in 1995, before becoming a superstar, as did baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal
Juan Marichal
Juan Antonio Marichal Sánchez is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. Playing for the San Francisco Giants most of his career, Marichal was known for his high leg kick, pinpoint control and intimidation tactics, which included aiming pitches directly at the opposing batters'...
.
In July 2006 the Rainiers were sold to the Dallas-based Schlegel Sports Group, giving pop star Nick Lachey
Nick Lachey
Nicholas Scott "Nick" Lachey is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and television personality. Lachey rose to fame as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees. He later starred in the reality television series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica with his then-wife, Jessica Simpson. He has released...
a one-third stake in the team.
The Rainiers are broadcast on KHHO
KHHO
KHHO is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to Tacoma, Washington, USA, the station serves the Tacoma portion of the Seattle-Tacoma radio market. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel and features programing from Fox Sports Radio and Premiere Radio Networks...
850 AM by play-by-play announcer Mike Curto.
2010 Playoffs
The Rainiers went into playoffs with its home ballpark, Cheney Stadium, under construction. Displaced from its home field, Rainiers were forced to look for other venues to play its playoff home games. The first round of playoff game against Sacramento Rivercats saw the Rainiers winning 2 straight on the road, then coming "home" to the ball park of its parent club, the Seattle Mariners, at Safeco FieldSafeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
. The Rainiers then dropped 2 straight games at SAFECO field, before winning Game 5 to advance to the PCL Championship Series against the Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
.
Due to Safeco Field
Safeco Field
Safeco Field is a retractable roof baseball stadium located in Seattle, Washington. The stadium, owned and operated by the Washington-King County Stadium Authority, is the home stadium of the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball and has a seating capacity of 47,878 for baseball...
not being available for the Championship Series and no other ball park in the Pacific Northwest meeting PCL requirements, the Rainiers were forced to play all games in the PCL Championship Series on the road. For Games 1 and 2 (the Rainiers' "Home" games) the team batted second against the "visiting" Memphis Redbirds
Memphis Redbirds
The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a...
, although Autozone Park in Memphis, TN was the Redbird's home park. This fact was constantly brought up during the radio announcements during Games 1 and 2. Having a hostile crowd even in its home games, the Rainiers nonetheless swept the Redbirds in 3 games to win 2010 PCL Championship.
The Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
defeated the Tacoma Rainiers 12–6 on September 21, 2010, to win the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma city
Oklahoma City is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of Oklahoma.Oklahoma City may also refer to:*Oklahoma City metropolitan area*Downtown Oklahoma City*Uptown Oklahoma City*Oklahoma City bombing*Oklahoma City National Memorial...
.