St. Paul Saints

This article is about the current baseball team. For the other uses, see St. Paul Saints (disambiguation).
St. Paul Saints
Team logo Cap insignia
League American Association (North Division)
Location Saint Paul, Minnesota
Ballpark CHS Field
Year founded 1993
Nickname(s) The Saints
League championships 4 (1993, 1995, 1996, 2004)
Division championships 5 (1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2015)
Former league(s)
Colors Blue, black, white
              
Ownership Goldklang Group
Manager George Tsamis
General Manager Derek Sharrer
Media Sean Aronson
Website www.saintsbaseball.com

The St. Paul Saints are an American professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 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 Saints played their home games at Midway Stadium starting in 1993, when the modern-day team started as a member of the Northern League. In 2006 the team was a founding member of the modern American Association. The team started playing in the new CHS Field in 2015.[1]

Before the arrival of the Minnesota Twins in 1961, there was a long history of minor-league baseball teams called the St. Paul Saints, as well as their crosstown rivals the Minneapolis Millers. One incarnation of the Saints participated in the Union Association, a short-lived major league, in 1884. A second incarnation was active in the Western League from 1894 to 1899, and became a forerunner of the modern Chicago White Sox. The third and most long-lived incarnation of the Saints was active in the American Association from 1915 to 1960.

History

The current inception of the St. Paul Saints was formed in 1993 in the Northern League, one of several independent leagues not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Saints are known for promotions that are sometimes over-the-top even by the standards of minor league baseball. In this regard, Mike Veeck, formerly the team's principal owner and still owner of a large interest in the team, is seen as following in the footsteps of his father Bill Veeck, who was famous for conceiving outlandish promotions as an owner of the Major League teams the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox. The current majority owner, Marvin Goldklang, also owns a stake in four other minor league baseball teams: the Fort Myers Miracle, Sioux Falls Pheasants, Hudson Valley Renegades, and Charleston RiverDogs. Comedian and actor Bill Murray is also a part owner.

Despite the considerable naysaying at their inception, the Saints became one of the most successful teams in the Northern League and all of independent baseball. In 2002–2004, the Saints saw severely reduced attendance, owing partially to renewed interest in the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball, who won the 2002, 2003, and 2004 American League Central Division championships. In spite of an initially cool, if not outright hostile reception, the Saints and their Major League neighbor (less than 10 miles away) have worked together for several years to promote the sport of baseball.

The Saints have figured prominently in the creation of modern independent baseball. The team has been featured in books ("Rebel Baseball" by Steve Perlstein, 1993; "Slouching Toward Fargo" by Neal Karlen, 1998) and a cable network series ("Baseball, Minnesota", FX Network, 1996–97). Mike Veeck wrote a book that covered the mantra "Fun is Good" (2005) and describes the business approach he has used for many years.

In a tradition started in the team's first year, the Saints pig brings out game balls and receives a snack between innings.

On September 29, 2005, the Saints left the Northern League, along with the Lincoln Saltdogs, Sioux City Explorers, and the Sioux Falls Pheasants to start the American Association for the 2006 season.

In June 2009 the Saints began a push to build a new stadium in Downtown Saint Paul. The proposed 7,500 seat stadium would be located in the Lowertown neighborhood near a planned maintenance facility for the METRO Green Line light rail. The city of Saint Paul requested $25 million in its 2010 bonding wish list to the Minnesota Legislature.[2][3][4][5]

St. Paul Saints (1894–1899)

Main article: Chicago White Sox

As described in Lee Allen's book, The American League Story (Putnam, 1962), the team began as the Sioux City franchise in a minor league called the Western League. The WL had reorganized itself in November, 1893, with Ban Johnson as President. Johnson, a Cincinnati-based reporter, had been recommended by his friend Charles Comiskey, former major league star with the St. Louis Browns in the 1880s, who was then managing the Cincinnati Reds. After the 1894 season, when Comiskey's contract with the Reds was up, he decided to take his chances at ownership. He bought the Sioux City team and transferred it to St. Paul, where it enjoyed some success over the next 5 seasons.

In 1900, the Western League changed its name to the American League. It was still officially a minor league, a part of the National Agreement and an underling of the National League. The NL actually gave permission to the AL to put a team in Chicago, and on March 21, 1900, Comiskey moved his St. Paul club to the South Side, where they became the Chicago White Sox.

Joe Riggert accumulated 1,639 hits over 12 seasons with the old Saints.

St. Paul Saints (1901–1960)

Another team called the Saints played minor league baseball in the American Association from 1901 to 1960. The Saints finished first in the American Association nine times, and won the Little World Series in 1924. During this period, the Saints were a farm club of the Chicago White Sox (1936–1942), the Brooklyn Dodgers (1944–1957), and the Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–1960). The Saints played streetcar home and away double headers with their local rivals, the Minneapolis Millers. When the Minnesota Twins came to town in 1961, the Saints became the Omaha Dodgers and the Millers became the Seattle Rainiers. Lexington Park served as the Saints' home stadium for most of those years.

During the six decades of the original American Association minor league, the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints engaged in vigorous rivalry known as the Streetcar Series.

Saints pitcher Mitch Wylie during a game on June 23, 2009. Wylie is wearing the uniform of the Homestead Grays, in honor of Minnesota's contribution to African-Americans in baseball.

Current roster

St. Paul Saints roster
Active (22-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 27 Nick Barnese ‡
  • 21 Dylan Chavez
  • 31 Rob Coe
  • 34 Dustin Crenshaw
  • 45 Drew Gay
  • 19 Pedro Hernández
  • 32 Alan Oaks
  • 12 Chris Peacock
  • 29 Ryan Rodebaugh
  • 37 Jeff Shields ‡
  • 20 Kramer Sneed
  • 26 Alex Sogard
  • 28 Michael Zouzalik
 

Catchers

  • 24 Vince DiFazio
  • 11 Joey Paciorek

Infielders

  • 13 Michael Antonio
  • 30 Ian Gac
  •  1 Sam Maus
  •  3 Steve Nikorak
  •  7 Anthony Phillips
  •  2 Angelo Songco

Outfielders

  •  8 Willie Argo
  • 25 Joe Bonfe ‡
  •  4 Mitch Elliott
  • 16 Alonzo Harris
  •  9 Mike Kvasnicka
 

Manager

Coaches

  • 46 Kerry Ligtenberg (pitching)
  • -- Ed Luka (clubhouse manager)
  • -- Sam Moore (trainer)
  • -- Al Newman (hitting)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated May 21, 2015
Transactions

Notable former players

Notable promotions

In an attempt to gain publicity in a metropolitan area that hosts four major pro sports teams and a major college program, the Saints have grabbed headlines numerous times for their unique promotions.[6]

Fast facts

Founded: 1993 (Northern League inaugural team)
Home ballpark: CHS Field, starting with the 2015 season.
Cap logo design: StP script similar to the St. Paul Colored Gophers
Uniform colors: Home: Cream with blue "Saints" on front with name(black) and #(blue)on back, Away: Grey with blue "ST. PAUL" on front, Alternate/Sunday: Blue jersey with cream "StP" logo on players lower left shoulder and cream number on back.
Uniform design: Saints in script ('93-'02 was similar to original American Association version)
Northern League Champions: 1993, 1995, 1996, 2004
Division champions (AA North): 2006, 2015
Current mascot: Mudonna
Promotions manager: Sierra Bailey
Ballpark organist: Andrew Crowley
Head groundskeeper: Nick Baker
Current radio station: 1220 AM KLBB, Stillwater, Minnesota
Current ball pig: Pablo Pigasso[14]

Season-by-season record

St. Paul Saints (2010–2014)
Season W–L Record Winning Percentage Finish Playoffs
2010 45-51 .469 5th in North Division Did not qualify for playoffs
2011 56-44 .560 2nd in North Division Tied with Grand Prairie 5-5
2012 52-48 .520 3rd in North Division Did not qualify for playoffs
2013 47-53 .470 3rd in North Division Did not qualify for playoffs
2014 48-52 .480 2nd in North Division Did not qualify for playoffs
2015 74-26 .740 1st in North Division Lost to Sioux City in first round, 3-1.
Totals (2010–2015) 322-274 .539 - 8-6

Playoffs

References

  1. "Lowertown ballpark FAQs". Retrieved August 1, 2014.
  2. Havens, Chris (June 26, 2009) "Wish list: New home for Saints" Star Tribune. Retrieved on June 27, 2009
  3. Orrick, Dave (June 25, 2009) "Now batting for the Saints: Bill Murray" Saint Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved on June 27, 2009
  4. Kimball, Joe (June 25, 2009) "Bill Murray shows his stripes; pushes stadium, skips mayor" MinnPost.com Retrieved on June 27, 2009
  5. McClure, Jane (July 1, 2009) "City Unveils 2010 bonding requests" Villager
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Rovell, Darren (April 17, 2006). "Another last laugh for the St. Paul Saints". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2006-04-18.
  7. http://blogs.citypages.com/blotter/2013/07/st_paul_saints_to_again_become_st_paul_aints_in_honor_of_minnesota_atheists.php
  8. Townsend, Mark (April 27, 2013). "St. Paul Saints to replace umpires with judge and jury during May 11 exhibition game". Big League Stew. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  9. Chin, Richard (June 17, 2011). "St. Paul Saints go ahead with 'Tweeting Wiener Boxer Shorts' giveaway despite congressman's resignation". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  10. "Saints' gimmick jabs at Senate race". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
  11. "Minn. team's promotional giveaway features 'bobble foot' in toilet stall". USA Today. 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
  12. "Saints Continue to Slide at Home Lose 7-3". 2007-08-20. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  13. http://www.bobble--heads.com/bobbleheads/bobbleheads-election.html
  14. "St. Paul Saints mascots: Kim 'Lardashian' and Kris 'Hamphries'". 2011-12-05. Retrieved 2012-07-31.

External links

League references

Achievements
Preceded by
First
Northern League Champions
St. Paul Saints

1993
Succeeded by
Winnipeg Goldeyes
1994
Preceded by
Winnipeg Goldeyes
1994
Northern League Champions
St. Paul Saints

19951996
Succeeded by
Duluth–Superior Dukes
1997
Preceded by
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
2003
Northern League Champions
St. Paul Saints

2004
Succeeded by
Gary SouthShore RailCats
2005
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