Edmonton Capitals

Edmonton Capitals
Founded in 2005 Edmonton, Alberta
Team logo	Cap insignia
League affiliations
North American League (2011–) Northern Division Northern League (2005–2007) Golden Baseball League (2008-2010)
Name
Edmonton Capitals (2009–present) Edmonton Cracker Cats (2005–2008)
Team Colours
Navy Blue, Orange, Silver, White
Ballpark
Telus Field
Championships
League titles: 2011 Division titles: 2011
Owner(s)/Operated By: Katz Baseball Corp.
General Manager: Patrick LaForge (Governor)
Manager: Gordon Gerlach
Media: CFRN Radio Edmonton Sun Edmonton Journal
Website: CapsBaseball.ca

The Cracker-Cats logo, used from 2005 until 2008.

The Edmonton Capitals are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz in 2009, after which the team was renamed. The Capitals are not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They now play in the North Division of the North American League.

Team history

Northern League (2005–2007)

The Cracker-Cats began as an expansion team in 2005 as a member of the Northern League. The name "Cracker-Cats" is derived from the oil industry term fluid catalytic cracking ("cat cracking" for short), which is part of the process of refining crude oil into gasoline by converting high boiling hydrocarbons into smaller molecules. They played the first game of their inaugural season on May 20, 2005, on the road against the Kansas City T-Bones. Their first home game did not take place until one week later when they hosted the Sioux Falls Canaries in front of 7,894 fans.^[1]

On June 13, 2006, a string of bean balls in the first two innings touched off two major brawls between the Cracker-Cats and their provincial rivals, the Calgary Vipers. After Edmonton's Greg Morrison was hit by a Calgary pitch for the fourth time in five games, the Cracker-Cats responded by throwing at two Calgary players. The resulting melee was so violent that the umpires sent both teams off the field, and suspended the game for over an hour to consult with league officials. When the Cracker-Cats refused to return to the field afterward, the game was declared a forfeit and the Vipers were awarded a 9–0 victory even though Edmonton was leading 1–0. As a result of the suspension, Cracker-Cats manager Terry Bevington resigned.^[2] The league came down hard on both teams, as both managers and seven players were suspended a total of 79 games. Morrison blamed Calgary manager Mike Busch for the incident, believing that Busch held a grudge after both Morrison and another former Viper, J.P. Fauske defected to the Cracker-Cats after leaving the Vipers after a falling out with the Calgary manager late in the 2005 season.^[3]

On July 18, 2006, Stubby Clapp was named Most Valuable Player of the Northern League All-Star Game. On September 3, 2006, the 'Cats finished their second season six games back in the wild card race and missed the playoffs.

The 2007 season was a major disappointment. Al Coates, a sports broadcaster, was named general manager of the Edmonton Cracker-Cats for the 2007 season,^[4] and despite adding three former Major Leaguers, Ryan Radmanovich, Mike Johnson, and Lou Pote, the 'Cats finished 38–58 and last in the league.

Golden Baseball League (2008-2010)

After three years in the Northern League, the Cracker-Cats joined the Golden Baseball League on October 24, 2007. This occurred just after the rival Vipers jumped to the league. On June 30, 2008, The 'Cats set a new attendance record of 8,676 fans against the Vipers.^[5]

On August 22, 2008, the Cracker-Cats clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Orange County Flyers 13–4 and won the second half. They faced the Vipers, who won the first half, in the first-ever North Division Championship Series, but were swept by Calgary 3 games to 0.

On February 4, 2009, the Cracker-Cats were purchased for $400,000 by Katz Baseball Corp. led by Daryl Katz who also owns the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers.^[6] A new name was drawn from a contest, renaming the franchise the Capitals.

North American League (2011-present)

The Capitals were one of six former GBL teams to join the newly-formed North American League in 2010 and began play in 2011. The Capitals won the league championship in the inaugural season of the NAL.

Year-by-year record

				First Half			Second Half			Overall
Season		Division		W-L	Finish		W-L	Finish		W-L	Win%	Finish		Playoffs
2005[7]		NL North		22–26	5th		25–22	3rd		47–48	.495	--		Did not qualify
2006[8]		NL North		21–27	3rd		23–25	T-3		44–52	.458	--		Did not qualify
2007[9]		NL North		19–29	4th		19–29	4th		37–58	.389	--		Did not qualify
2008		GBL North		22–21	2nd		29–15	1st		51–36	.586	--		Lost North Division playoff 0–3 to Calgary
2009		GBL North		23–18	2nd		21-20	2nd		44-38	.537	--		Lost North Division playoff 1–3 to Calgary.
2010		GBL North		29–16	2nd		22-22	4th		51-38	.573	--		Did not qualify
2011[10]		NABL North		--	--		--	--		56-32	.636	1st		Won North Division playoff 4–2 over Calgary. Won NAL Championship 4-1 over Rio Grande Valley

See also

• List of baseball teams in Canada

References

1. ^ NLFan.com: Edmonton Cracker-Cats
2. ^ Winnipeg Sun: Battle of Alberta, Baseball Style 15 June 2006
3. ^ Edmonton Sun: Basebrawl 15 June 2006
4. ^ "Cracker-Cats owner wants you!". Edmonton Sun. December 18, 2007. http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/columnists/story.html?id=cc4cfcab-bfee-4db8-b5fe-ca10691de458. Retrieved 2011-09-14. 
5. ^ Our Sports Central: Cats Lose Heartbreaker in Front of 8676 1 July 2008
6. ^ Edmonton Journal: Edmonton Cracker-Cats sold to Edmonton Oilers 4 February 2009
7. ^ NLFan: 2005 Northern League Standings Retrieved on 10 April 2009
8. ^ NLFan: 2006 Northern League Standings Retrieved on 10 April 2009
9. ^ NLFan: 2007 Northern League Standings Retrieved on 10 April 2009
10. ^ 2011 North American League standings

External links

• Official Website
• Golden Baseball League