- Edmonton Trappers
Defunct MiLB infobox
name = Edmonton Trappers
firstseason = 1981
lastseason = 2004
allyears =
city = Edmonton, Alberta
cap
lastclasslevel = Triple-A (1981-2004)
pastclasslevel =
lastleague = Pacific Coast League (1981-2004)
conference =
division =
pastleague =
lastmajorleague =Montreal Expos (2003-2004)
pastmajorleague =Minnesota Twins (2001-2002)
*Anaheim Angels (1999-2000)
*Oakland Athletics (1995-1998)
*Florida Marlins (1993-1994)
*California Angels (1983-1992)
*Chicago White Sox (1981-1982)
lastnickname = Edmonton Trappers (1981-2004)
pastnames =
lastballpark =Telus Field (1995-2004)
pastparks =John Ducey Park (1981-1994)
classchamps =
leaguechamps = 1984, 1996, 1997, 2002
conferencechamps=
divisionchamps = 1984, 1990, 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003The Edmonton Trappers were aminor league baseball (Triple A) team in thePacific Coast League , ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played atTelus Field in downtownEdmonton, Alberta ,Canada .The Trappers joined the PCL in 1981 when Edmonton businessman
Peter Pocklington purchased the Ogden A's franchise fromUtah truckerDennis Job . The team's games were originally played in Renfrew Park (laterJohn Ducey Park ). The Trappers were immediately popular with the community, often above the league average in attendance attracting almost half a million fans every season. [http://www.digitalballparks.com/Pacific/Telus.html] A total of 8 million fans came to see them play over the course of their 24 year existence.In 1984, the Trappers (who, at the time, were the Triple-A farm team of the California Angels) became the first Canadian franchise to win a championship. They were also the first and only to win a PCL Championship and first to win a championship under affiliation. The manager was Moose Stubing.
In 1995, John Ducey Park was torn down and replaced by Telus Field where the Trappers celebrated three PCL titles in their last decade, most recently in 2002 under the affiliation of the
Minnesota Twins . In 2003, the team became the major affiliate of theMontréal Expos . Edmonton was the most successful, longest running, and second last triple A team in Canada which gave the city of Edmonton the name "Baseball City of Canada"Fact|date=February 2007.On June 11, 2004, future
Toronto Blue Jays pitcherScott Downs threw a no-hitter against Las Vegas. It was the first no hitter by a Trapper since August 8, 1996 whenAaron Small threw one against theVancouver Canadians .Edmonton qualified for playoffs for the last time in history in September 2003 when the defeated the Portland Beavers to make the post-season but were eliminated immediately by the
Sacramento Rivercats 3 games to 0.In October 2003, the Trappers' fate in Edmonton was sealed when the team was purchased by a group led by
Baseball Hall of Fame rNolan Ryan and his son Reid. The sale shocked many fans in Edmonton. The Ryans moved the team after the 2004 season toRound Rock, Texas , where it is now known as theRound Rock Express . The last home game, a sizeable crowd filled the stadium to give the Trappers a final sendoff against theLas Vegas 51s . The game, however, was rained out after only one inning.Edmonton is now home to the
Edmonton Cracker-Cats who are now part of theGolden Baseball League .Notable Former Trappers
*
Eric Chavez
*Scott Downs
*David Eckstein
*Jim Edmonds
*Jason Giambi
*Wally Joyner
*Ron Kittle
*Gus Polidor
*Tim Salmon
*Johan Santana
*Terrmel Sledge
*Matt Stairs
*Miguel Tejada
* Devon WhiteExternal links
* [http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.trappersbaseball.com/ Edmonton Trappers website] (archive.org)
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