Hagerstown Suns
Encyclopedia
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball
team based in Hagerstown
, Maryland
, United States
. 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 the Washington Nationals
.
Professional baseball returned to Hagerstown in 1941 when Owen Sterling moved his Detroit Tigers affiliate to town. The newly-named Hagerstown Owls (Owen, Win, Luck and Sterl ing) joined the Class B Interstate League. Gene Raney purchased the team from Sterling in 1950, and the renamed Hagerstown Braves became an affiliate of the Boston Braves.
The team moved to the Piedmont League in 1953 and once again had a name and affiliation change. The new Washington Senators affiliate, the Hagerstown Packets, competed until the league disbanded after the 1955 season.
Hagerstown was without a professional team until 1981 when Lou Eliopulos purchased the Rocky Mount Pines
Class A Carolina League
franchise, moved them north and signed an affiliation deal with the Baltimore Orioles
. The newly named Hagerstown Suns proceeded to win the Carolina League championship in their inaugural season.
In 1989, Hagerstown moved up to the Double-A Eastern League
, taking over the Pittsfield Cubs
franchise and again affiliating with the Orioles. (The Carolina League franchise would relocate just down Interstate 70
as the Frederick Keys
, maintaining the Orioles' Class A affiliation.) Hagerstown would not be able to maintain AA standing, though; after the Suns' and Keys' owners failed to claim an Eastern League expansion franchise for Bowie
in 1993 (coinciding with the Florida Marlins
' and Colorado Rockies
' addition to the majors), they instead chose to move their existing franchise there as the Bowie BaySox
.
Hagerstown would not go without, though; Winston Blenckstone immediately relocated his Myrtle Beach Hurricanes franchise in the South Atlantic League
to Hagerstown after the 1992 season and promptly renamed them the Suns. The SAL Suns would be a Toronto Blue Jays
affiliate until 2000, when a four-year partnership with the San Francisco Giants
began under the new ownership of Andy Rayburn. Mandalay Entertainment Group purchased the team in 2002. Hagerstown once again changed affiliates in the 2005, having a two-year stint with the New York Mets
before becoming a member of the Washington Nationals
farm system in 2007.
A new ownership group with local ties, Hagerstown Baseball, LLC, purchased the Suns in September 2010. The group is led by Florida businessman and general manager of Polo Trace Country Club Bruce Quinn. Tony Dahbura, corporate vice president of Hub Labels in Hagerstown, Dr. Mitesh Kothari of Hagerstown, and Quinn's sister, Sheri, complete the group. Following the announcement of the new ownership, the Nationals renewed their affiliation with the Suns through 2012.
, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles
. This particular rivalry is also fueled by the regional rivalry between the two parent clubs.
AM 1240. Hagerstown Suns Games preempt or cause rescheduling of all programing including CBS
News.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team based in Hagerstown
Hagerstown, Maryland
Hagerstown is a city in northwestern Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Washington County, and, by many definitions, the largest city in a region known as Western Maryland. The population of Hagerstown city proper at the 2010 census was 39,662, and the population of the...
, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They play in Municipal Stadium
Municipal Stadium (Hagerstown)
Municipal Stadium is a stadium in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home field of the Hagerstown Suns minor league baseball team. It was built in 1931 in a short time period of six weeks. It holds 4,600 people which is the smallest capacity in the...
, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans.
The team, which plays in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
, is a Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
.
History
Baseball has been a staple in Hagerstown for the better part of the past century. In 1915, the Hagerstown Blues joined the Class D Blue Ridge League, where they remained for the next 16 seasons. Throughout this time, they won five pennants and donned four different names: the Blues, the Terriers, the Champs and the Hubs. One month into the 1931 season, the league disbanded and the Hubs moved to Parkersburg, W.Va.Professional baseball returned to Hagerstown in 1941 when Owen Sterling moved his Detroit Tigers affiliate to town. The newly-named Hagerstown Owls (Owen, Win, Luck and Sterl ing) joined the Class B Interstate League. Gene Raney purchased the team from Sterling in 1950, and the renamed Hagerstown Braves became an affiliate of the Boston Braves.
The team moved to the Piedmont League in 1953 and once again had a name and affiliation change. The new Washington Senators affiliate, the Hagerstown Packets, competed until the league disbanded after the 1955 season.
Hagerstown was without a professional team until 1981 when Lou Eliopulos purchased the Rocky Mount Pines
Rocky Mount Pines
The Rocky Mount Pines were a Minor League Baseball team located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina that competed in the Class A Advanced Carolina League for the 1980 season. The Pines competed as an independent, unaffiliated with any Major League Baseball franchise, and played their home games at then...
Class A Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
franchise, moved them north and signed an affiliation deal with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. The newly named Hagerstown Suns proceeded to win the Carolina League championship in their inaugural season.
In 1989, Hagerstown moved up to the Double-A Eastern League
Eastern League
Eastern League may refer to:*Eastern League , a professional baseball minor league in the United States*International League, a baseball minor league known as the Eastern League from 1884 to 1912...
, taking over the Pittsfield Cubs
Pittsfield Cubs
The Pittsfield Cubs, located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, were a minor league baseball team that played in the Eastern League from 1985 to 1988...
franchise and again affiliating with the Orioles. (The Carolina League franchise would relocate just down Interstate 70
Interstate 70
Interstate 70 is an Interstate Highway in the United States that runs from Interstate 15 near Cove Fort, Utah, to a Park and Ride near Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first Interstate Highway project in the United States. I-70 approximately traces the path of U.S. Route 40 east of the Rocky...
as the Frederick Keys
Frederick Keys
The Frederick Keys minor league baseball team is the "High-A" class A baseball affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. The Keys are based in Frederick, Maryland. The franchise is named for Star Spangled Banner poet Francis Scott Key, a native of Frederick County. The team mascot is a coyote known as...
, maintaining the Orioles' Class A affiliation.) Hagerstown would not be able to maintain AA standing, though; after the Suns' and Keys' owners failed to claim an Eastern League expansion franchise for Bowie
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
in 1993 (coinciding with the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
' and Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
' addition to the majors), they instead chose to move their existing franchise there as the Bowie BaySox
Bowie Baysox
The Bowie Baysox are a minor league baseball team located in Bowie, Maryland. They are the class-AA affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, and play in the Eastern League...
.
Hagerstown would not go without, though; Winston Blenckstone immediately relocated his Myrtle Beach Hurricanes franchise in the South Atlantic League
South Atlantic League
The South Atlantic League is a minor league baseball league based chiefly in the Southeastern United States, with the exception of three teams in the Mid-Atlantic States...
to Hagerstown after the 1992 season and promptly renamed them the Suns. The SAL Suns would be a Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
affiliate until 2000, when a four-year partnership with the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
began under the new ownership of Andy Rayburn. Mandalay Entertainment Group purchased the team in 2002. Hagerstown once again changed affiliates in the 2005, having a two-year stint with the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
before becoming a member of the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
farm system in 2007.
A new ownership group with local ties, Hagerstown Baseball, LLC, purchased the Suns in September 2010. The group is led by Florida businessman and general manager of Polo Trace Country Club Bruce Quinn. Tony Dahbura, corporate vice president of Hub Labels in Hagerstown, Dr. Mitesh Kothari of Hagerstown, and Quinn's sister, Sheri, complete the group. Following the announcement of the new ownership, the Nationals renewed their affiliation with the Suns through 2012.
Notable former players
- Jim PalmerJim PalmerJames Alvin "Jim" Palmer , nicknamed "Cakes", is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played his entire 20-year baseball career for the Baltimore Orioles . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in .As of 2008, Palmer and his wife Susan have homes in Palm Beach, Florida, and...
- Sam HornSam HornSamuel Lee Horn is a former baseball player who spent parts of 8 seasons in MLB and was an anchor for New England Sports Network, the flagship station of Boston sports teams.-Pro career:...
- Brady AndersonBrady AndersonBrady Kevin Anderson is an American former outfielder with the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball...
- Matt CainMatt CainMatthew Thomas Cain is an American Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants...
- Boof BonserBoof BonserBoof Bonser is a professional American baseball player. He is currently a pitcher in the New York Mets organization of Major League Baseball.-High school career:...
- Clay HensleyClay HensleyClayton Allen Hensley is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Miami Marlins.-Early life:Hensley attended Lamar University in Beaumont, where he set a single season record with 127 strikeouts in 100 innings....
- Francisco LirianoFrancisco LirianoFrancisco Liriano y Casillas is a left-handed Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.-Professional career:...
- Brad HennesseyBrad HennesseyBrad Martin Hennessey is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He attended Whitmer High School.-Professional career:...
- Orlando HudsonOrlando HudsonOrlando Thill Hudson is an American professional baseball second baseman with the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Early life and high school career:...
- Vernon Wells
- Jay GibbonsJay GibbonsJay Jonathan Gibbons is an American professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball. Gibbons was a graduate of Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California...
- Mike MussinaMike MussinaMichael Cole Mussina , nicknamed Moose, is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees ....
- Steve FinleySteve FinleySteven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball outfielder.-Early life:Finley, who grew up in Paducah, Kentucky, attended Paducah Tilghman High School and Southern Illinois University, where he earned a degree in physiology and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.-College, Team USA,...
- Shannon Stewart
- Mike CoolbaughMike CoolbaughMichael Robert Coolbaugh was an American baseball player and coach. Born in Binghamton, New York, he was the brother of former major leaguer Scott Coolbaugh.-Playing career:...
- Alex RiosAlex RíosAlexis Israel "Alex" Ríos is a Puerto Rican-American Major League Baseball outfielder who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed.-Professional career:...
- Felipe López
- Cesar IzturisCésar IzturisCésar David Izturis is a Major League Baseball shortstop who is currently a free agent. He is the half-brother of shortstop Maicer Izturis, who plays for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Julio Izturis, who plays in the minor leagues in the San Francisco Giants organization.Izturis' greatest...
- Arthur RhodesArthur RhodesArthur Lee Rhodes, Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher.-Career:Rhodes played high school baseball at La Vega High School in Waco, Texas. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the 2nd round of the 1988 Major League Baseball Draft.Rhodes made his MLB debut with the Orioles...
- Reed JohnsonReed JohnsonReed Cameron Johnson is an American professional baseball outfielder. He was born in Riverside, California-College career:...
- Fred LewisFred LewisFrederick Deshaun Lewis is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He made his debut on September 1, , with the San Francisco Giants. He is the cousin of former major league outfielder Matt Lawton. Lewis also hit the 46th Splash Hit at AT&T Park...
- Carlos GomezCarlos GómezCarlos Argelis Gómez Pena, nicknamed "Go-Go", is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers.-Minor leagues:...
- Jesús FloresJesús FloresJesús Miguel Flores is a catcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Washington Nationals. He bats and throws right-handed....
- Chris MarreroChris MarreroChristopher Marrero is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Washington Nationals.-Professional career:A 2006 graduate of Monsignor Edward Pace High School in Miami, Florida, Marrero was selected by the Washington Nationals with the 15th overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft and signed...
- Justin MaxwellJustin MaxwellJustin Adam Maxwell is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees organization.-Early years:...
- Michael Young
- Brian Wilson (baseball)
- Bryce HarperBryce HarperBryce Aron Max Harper is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Washington Nationals organization. Harper was selected by the Nationals with the first overall pick in the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft...
Rivals
The Suns have an in-state rivalry with the Delmarva ShorebirdsDelmarva Shorebirds
The Delmarva Shorebirds are a minor league baseball team based in Salisbury, Maryland. They are one of three Single-A affiliates of the Baltimore Orioles and a member of the South Atlantic League. The Shorebirds play at Arthur W. Perdue Stadium.The "Shorebirds" name refers to the marine waterfowl...
, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
. This particular rivalry is also fueled by the regional rivalry between the two parent clubs.
Radio
All Hagerstown Suns Games are broadcast on WJEJWJEJ
WJEJ is a Full Service formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Hagerstown, Maryland, serving the Four-State Area. WJEJ is owned and operated by Hagerstown Broadcasting Co., Inc.-Programming:...
AM 1240. Hagerstown Suns Games preempt or cause rescheduling of all programing including CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
News.