Sacramento River Cats

MiLB infobox
name = Sacramento River Cats
founded = 1978
city = West Sacramento, California
misc =

uniform
class level = Triple-A (1978–present)
past class level=
current league = Pacific Coast League (1978–present)
conference = Pacific Conference
division = South Division
past league =
majorleague = Oakland Athletics (1999–present)
pastmajorleague = California/Anaheim Angels (1994–1998)
*Chicago White Sox (1988–1993)
*Pittsburgh Pirates (1987)
*Milwaukee Brewers (1979–1986)
*Oakland Athletics (1978)
uniform =
nickname = Sacramento River Cats (2000–present)
pastnames = Vancouver Canadians (1978–1999)
ballpark = Raley Field
pastparks = Nat Bailey Stadium
classchamps = 1999, 2007, 2008
leaguechamps = 1985, 1989, 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
conferencechamps= 1999, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008
divisionchamps = 1985, 1986, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008
misc6 =
owner = Art Savage
manager = Todd Steverson
gm = Alan LedfordThe Sacramento River Cats are a minor league baseball team based in Sacramento, California. The team plays in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and is the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Oakland Athletics.

The River Cats play at Raley Field, located in West Sacramento. The team began play in 1978 as the Vancouver Canadians, and played their home games at Nat Bailey Stadium until the 1999 season. Following that season, in which they won the Triple-A World Series, the team was purchased by a group led by Art Savage and moved to Sacramento for the 2000 season.

Sacramento has led all of minor league baseball in attendance during each of its first eight seasons at Raley Field. The team averaged approximately 10,000 fans per game during the 2007 regular season, for a total attendance figure of 710,235. [ [http://www.rivercats.com/news/index.html?article_id=859 "River Cats Top PCL, Minor Leagues in Attendance."] Sacramento River Cats. Retrieved on 13 September 2007.]

The PCL franchise in Sacramento for many years was the Sacramento Solons, a charter member of the PCL which was founded in 1903. Three different versions of the Solons represented California's capital city in 1903, 1905, from 1909 through 1914, from 1918 through 1960, and from 1974 through 1976.

Attendance

Since the arrival of the River Cats at Raley Field, they have led all Minor League Baseball in attendance every year. In 2007, the team drew 710,235 fans in 71 home games. [http://www.sacbee.com/349/story/361035.html "The Sacramento Bee"] .]

Playoff history

The River Cats won four consecutive Pacific Coast League Pacific South Division titles from 2000 through 2004, and back-to-back league championships in 2003 and 2004.

In 2007 they won the Pacific South Division and league championships again, and defeated the Richmond Braves in that year's Bricktown Showdown on September 18 by a score of 7–1. The River Cats repeated as division, league, and class champions in 2008.

Roster

Notable former River Cats currently in the major leagues

This list does not include MLB players who were in Sacramento on a rehabiliation assignment while on the disabled list.

*Danny Ardoin
*Mark Bellhorn
*Joe Blanton
*Freddie Bynum
*Eric Byrnes
*Bobby Crosby
*Justin Duchscherer
*Mark Ellis
*Ron Flores
*Chad Gaudin
*Esteban German
*Aaron Harang
*Rich Harden
*Chad Harville
*Eric Hinske
*Dan Johnson
*Mark Mulder
*Mike Rouse
*Huston Street
*Nick Swisher
*Luis Vizcaino
*Brad Ziegler
*Barry Zito

References

External links

* [http://www.rivercats.com/ Sacramento River Cats official website]
* [http://www.rivercats.com/news/index.html?article_id=549| "Sacramento River Cats Unveil New Logos"]