Colorado Springs Sky Sox

Colorado Springs Sky Sox Founded in 1988 Colorado Springs, Colorado
Team Logo Cap Insignia
Class-level
Triple-A (1988–present)
Minor league affiliations
Pacific Coast League (1988–present) Pacific Conference - North Division
Major league affiliations
Colorado Rockies (1993–present) Cleveland Indians (1988–1992)
Name
Colorado Springs Sky Sox (1988–present)
Ballpark
Security Service Field (1988–present) Spurgeon Stadium (1988)
Minor league titles
League titles	1992, 1995
Division titles	1992, 1995
Owner(s)/Operated by: Elmore Sports Group
Manager: Stu Cole
General Manager: Tony Ensor

The Colorado Springs Sky Sox are a minor league baseball team in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The team's colors are red and blue. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and are the Triple-A affiliate of the major league Colorado Rockies. The Sky Sox won the PCL title in 1992 and again in 1995.

Originally, the Colorado Springs Sky Sox were a Class A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox in the Western League from 1950–1958, when the league folded. The Sky Sox's nickname originated with their affiliation with the White Sox.

The Pikes Peak region was without professional baseball for thirty years until 1988, when the Hawaii Islanders of the PCL relocated to Colorado Springs and became the second incarnation of the Sky Sox. From 1988–1992 the Sky Sox were the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. When Denver was awarded a major league franchise for the 1993 season, the new Colorado Rockies arranged for the Sky Sox to become their top farm team. Through the 2011 season, the Sky Sox have been the only Triple-A affiliate of the Rockies.

During their first season, the Sky Sox moved from Spurgeon Stadium (in Memorial Park) to the brand new Sky Sox Stadium, now known as Security Service Field. The ballpark, on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, originally cost $3.7 million to build and seats 8,500 spectators. In recent years, the Sky Sox have invested over $8 million on ballpark renovations which included a new video scoreboard, redesigned entrance plaza, new picnic facility and banquet hall. It is the highest professional ballpark in North America; its natural grass field sits at 6,531 feet (1,991 m) above sea level.

On 22 October 2008 the Sky Sox unveiled a new logo, uniforms, and color scheme.^[1]

Roster

Colorado Springs Sky Sox rosterview · talk · edit
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 23 Billy Buckner 36 Édgar González 34 Andy Graham 28 Alan Johnson 41 Blake Johnson 24 Andrew Johnston -- John Maine § 32 Dustin Molleken 20 Clayton Mortensen * 23 Cory Riordan * 50 Eric Stults 17 Joe Torres 12 Keith Weiser 40 Sean White 25 Joey Williamson		Catchers Infielders  8 Jorge Cantú -- Brad Emaus 21 Matt Macri 13 Jesus Merchan  4 Radames Nazario  7 Ryan Rohlinger  6 Warren Schaeffer  9 Ian Stewart * Outfielders 35 Scott Beerer 17 Cole Garner * 29 Joe Mather 11 Mike Paulk  3 Willy Taveras		Manager 18 Stu Cole Coaches 15 Rene Lachemann (hitting) 30 Doug Linton (pitching) 7-day disabled list * On Colorado Rockies 40-man roster ∞ Reserve list § Suspended list ‡ Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated September 14, 2011 Transactions → More rosters

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  Sky Sox logo (1993–2008)

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  Sky Sox cap (2000–2008)

Notable alumni

Brad Ausmus

• Sandy Alomar, Jr.
• Garrett Atkins
• Brad Ausmus
• Albert Belle
• Vinny Castilla
• Joe Girardi
• Carlos Gonzalez
• Brad Hawpe
• Todd Helton
• Matt Holliday
• Ubaldo Jimenez
• Doug Jones
• Gabe Kapler
• Juan Pierre
• Scott Podsednik
• Jim Thome
• Mike Hargrove (Manager)
• Charlie Manuel (Manager)

References

1. ^ [1]

External links

• Colorado Springs Sky Sox official website