Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds

Independent baseball team
name = Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds
founded = 2000
city = Quakertown, Pennsylvania
logo =
cap
current league = Atlantic League (1999-present)
current division=
past league =
currentname = Road Warriors (2006-2007)
pastname = *Pennsylvania Road Warriors (2002-2004)
*Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds (2000-2001)
*Newburgh Black Diamonds (1998-1999)
colors = black, green, burgundy, silver
ballpark =
pastparks = *Memorial Park (2000)
*Delano-Hitch Stadium (1998-1999)
leaguechamps = 0
divisionchamps = 0
owner = Lehigh Valley Professional Sports Clubs Inc.
manager =
gm =
media =
website = The Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds were an Atlantic League team based in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. From the 1998 season to 2002, they played in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Black Diamonds were previously known as the Newburgh Black Diamonds before moving to the Lehigh Valley.

The Black Diamonds played at Memorial Park in Quakertown, Pennsylvania in 2000. They spent the rest of their short existence as a traveling team in 2001. The Black Diamonds became the the Pennsylvania Road Warriors in 2002 when their half-finished stadium in the Lehigh Valley lost its funding.

History

The Lehigh Valley Black Diamonds were originally slated to play at the Lehigh Valley Multi-Purpose Sport Complex, a 6,400-seat, $15 million-dollar ballpark in Williams Township, Pennsylvania. Construction was halted by developer Jim Petrucci when the team owner, Thomas Flaherty, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on February 1, 2000, with some $3 million in debts. Bankruptcy records showed 128 people submitted claims for $52,683 in season ticket sales.

The Lehigh Valley Multi-Purpose Sport Complex was demolished in early 2005, without ever hosting a single baseball game. [cite web | title=Black Diamonds depart Lehigh Valley | work=Indy Leagues Graveyard | url=http://www.indyleaguesgraveyard.com/teams/atlanticleague/articles/lehighvalley.htm | accessdate=April 3 | accessyear=2007]

Baseball in the Lehigh Valley today

Despite the failure of the Black Diamonds, as well as the Allentown Ambassadors, baseball in the Lehigh Valley is not lost forever. Beginning in the spring of 2008, the city of Allentown will be the home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the AAA franchise of the Philadelphia Phillies. The IronPigs will play at the brand-new Coca-Cola Park, at the former Agere site in downtown Allentown.

References

External links

* [http://www.littleballparks.com/Stadium/2004/Easton/Easton.htm Lehigh Valley Multi-Purpose Sport Complex Views - "Ball Parks of the Minor Leagues"]