Sonoma Stompers
| Sonoma Stompers Baseball Club | |
|---|---|
 | |
| League | Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs |
| Location | Sonoma, California |
| Ballpark | Arnold Field |
| Year founded | 2014 |
| Colors | Orange and Navy |
| Retired numbers | 99, Jayce Ray |
| Ownership | Eric Gullotta, Derek Rampone |
| Manager | Takashi Miyoshi |
| General Manager | Theo Fightmaster |
| Website |
stompersbaseball |
The Sonoma Stompers are an independent professional baseball team based out of Sonoma, California. They began play as a member of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs in 2014. They are a successor franchise to the defunct Sonoma County Grapes, and are the first professional team to make Sonoma County home since the Sonoma County Crushers ceased play following the 2002 season. The Stompers announced their first professional signing, Tommy Lyons in March 2014, and shortly there after traded for local hero, Jayce Ray. The team's first manager was Ray Serrano, who led the Stompers to a 42–36 record in their inaugural season. In 2015, Serrano accepted a full-time position with the Atlanta Braves to serve as the organization's catching instructor.
On Jan. 1, 2015, Sonoma Sports and Entertainment, Inc., led by President, CEO and Sonoma native, Eric Gullotta, purchased the franchise, ensuring professional baseball would remain in Sonoma County. Gullotta, along with his longtime friend and fellow University of California Santa Barbara alum, Derek Rampone, retained Theo Fightmaster as the club's General Manager and Vice President (among his many duties).
The team plays approximately 39 home games every summer. The parking at Arnold Field is free of charge.
In 2015 the Sonoma Stompers allowed Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller of Baseball Prospectus' Effectively Wild podcast to serve as the Baseball Operations department, under General Manager Theo Fightmaster. The duo wrote about their experience for a book that is projected to come out on May 3, 2016.[2]
History
Former Major League Pitcher, Bill "Spaceman" Lee, started a game for the Stompers on Aug. 12, 2014, pitching the team to victory over the Pittsburg Mettle. Lee, 67 on that day, set an all-time record becoming the oldest person to ever win a professional baseball game. Lee pitched 5⅔ innings, and batted for himself.
In June 2015, the team made history when pitcher Sean Conroy became the first openly gay active professional baseball player.[3]
Current roster
| Sonoma Stompers roster | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active roster | Coaches/Other | ||||||||
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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References
- ↑ SERAFINI, STEVEN. "‘Spaceman’ Lee rockets Stompers". Sonoma Index-Tribune. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ↑ Tim Livingston (May 15, 2015). "Q&A with Grantland's Ben Lindbergh and Baseball Prospectus' Sam Miller". Sonoma Stompers.
- ↑ First openly gay pro player, Sean Conroy, gets shutout in historic start
External links
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