- Hagerstown Suns
MiLB infobox
name =Hagerstown Suns
founded =1981
city =Hagerstown, Maryland
misc =
logo =HagerstownSuns.png
uniformlogo =Hagerstown_Suns_Cap_Logo.png
class level =Single-A (1981-1987) (1993-present)
past class level=Double-A (1988-1992)
current league =South Atlantic League (1993-present)
conference =
division =Northern Division
past league =*Eastern League (1988-1992)
*Carolina League (1981-1987)
majorleague =Washington Nationals (2007-present)
pastmajorleague =New York Mets (2005-2006)
*San Francisco Giants (2001-2004)
*Toronto Blue Jays (1993-2000)
*Baltimore Orioles (1981-1992)
nickname =Hagerstown Suns
pastnames =
ballpark =Municipal Stadium
pastparks =
leaguechamps =1981
divisionchamps =
misc6 =
owner =Mandalay Sports Entertainment
manager =Darnell Coles
gm =Will SmithThe Hagerstown Suns are aminor league baseball team based in Hagerstown,Maryland . They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans.The team, which plays in the
South Atlantic League , is a Class A affiliate of theWashington Nationals .History
The current Hagerstown Suns got their start in 1981 when Lou Eliopulos moved his minor-league team from
Rocky Mount, North Carolina , to Hagerstown. The Suns were first part of the Class ACarolina League and were associated with theBaltimore Orioles .In 1988, the Suns were "upgraded" by the Orioles to Class AA and became part of the Eastern League. This association and affiliation remained until 1992 when the Orioles moved the franchise to Bowie, Maryland.
In 1993 Winston Blenkstone moved the
Myrtle Beach Hurricanes of theSouth Atlantic League , and a class A affiliate of TheToronto Blue Jays toHagerstown, MD . In 2000, the affiliation switched again when the Jays replaced them with theCharleston Alley Cats , and the Suns became connected to theSan Francisco Giants . In 2005 the team became aNew York Mets affiliate.On
September 20 ,2006 , the Suns announced a new two year affliation with the Washington Nationals that began with the 2007 season. The Nationals now have three minor league affliates within 125 miles ofWashington, D.C. : the Suns (72 miles), thePotomac Nationals inWoodbridge, Virginia (22 miles), and theHarrisburg Senators inHarrisburg, Pennsylvania (121 miles)Notable former players
*
Jim Palmer
*Sam Horn
*Brady Anderson
*Matt Cain
*Boof Bonser
*Clay Hensley
*Francisco Liriano
*Brad Hennessey
*Orlando Hudson
*Vernon Wells
*Jay Gibbons
*Mike Mussina
*Steve Finley
*Shannon Stewart
*Mike Coolbaugh
*Alex Rios
*Felipe López
*Cesar Izturis
*Arthur Rhodes
*Reed Johnson
*Fred Lewis
*Carlos Gomez
*Chris Marrero
*Justin Maxwell Rivals
The Suns have an in-state rivalry with the
Delmarva Shorebirds , an affiliate of theBaltimore Orioles . This particular rivalry is also fueled by the regional rivalry between the two parent clubs.ee also
*
South Atlantic League External links
* [http://www.hagerstownsuns.com Official web site]
* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/clubs/ip_index.jsp?sid=milb&cid=t563 Minor League Baseball site page]
* [http://www.nbc25.com/main/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3453 Announcement of Suns-Nationals affliation]
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