Lowell Spinners
Encyclopedia
The Lowell Spinners are a Short-Season A minor league baseball
affiliate of the Boston Red Sox
.
after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers
to Lowell, Massachusetts
, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League
, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a year. The Spinners play 38 of the 76 games at their home park, Edward A. LeLacheur Park
, in Lowell, near the Merrimack River
. The official mascot
s of the Spinners are The Canaligator, Alligator, and Millie-Gator.
In 2005, the Spinners offered to pay for the uniforms to all Little League
s in New England
so that they would change all teams named "Yankees" into "Spinners".
In 2007 WLLH
1400 A.M. (at that time Lowell's ESPN Radio
affiliate) was the flagship of Lowell Spinners baseball, after several years on Lowell talk
station WCAP. As of 2008, Spinners games are back on WCAP.
On September 1 2008, the Spinners reached the NYPL (New York-Penn League) playoffs for the first time capturing the Stedler Division title.
As of the conclusion of the 2008 Spinners season, the franchise had sold out the past 346 games dating back to prior decade. In August of 2010 the streak was snapped at 413 games. Going into the 2011 season the Spinners still have plenty of tickets for sale and hope to start a new streak.
In 2011, Lowell Spinners owner Drew Weber founded the newly formed Futures Collegiate Baseball League
with a charter franchise, the Nashua Silver Knights
at Holman Stadium
in Nashua, NH.
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...
affiliate of the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
.
History
Founded in 19961996 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves ; John Wetteland, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Bernie Williams**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Javy López...
after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
to Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell, Massachusetts
Lowell is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. According to the 2010 census, the city's population was 106,519. It is the fourth largest city in the state. Lowell and Cambridge are the county seats of Middlesex County...
, the Spinners play in the New York - Penn League
New York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a year. The Spinners play 38 of the 76 games at their home park, Edward A. LeLacheur Park
Edward A. LeLacheur Park
Edward A. LeLacheur Park is a baseball park located on the banks of the Merrimack River in Lowell, Massachusetts. It is home to the New York-Penn League Lowell Spinners, the Class A Short Season Affiliate of the Boston Red Sox...
, in Lowell, near the Merrimack River
Merrimack River
The Merrimack River is a river in the northeastern United States. It rises at the confluence of the Pemigewasset and Winnipesaukee rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire, flows southward into Massachusetts, and then flows northeast until it empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Newburyport...
. The official mascot
Mascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
s of the Spinners are The Canaligator, Alligator, and Millie-Gator.
In 2005, the Spinners offered to pay for the uniforms to all Little League
Little League
Little League Baseball and Softball is a non-profit organization in South Williamsport, Pennsylvania, United States which organizes local youth baseball and softball leagues throughout the U.S...
s in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
so that they would change all teams named "Yankees" into "Spinners".
In 2007 WLLH
WLLH
WLLH is a radio station in the Merrimack Valley region of Massachusetts, licensed to Lowell, Massachusetts. The station is owned by Gois Broadcasting, LLC, and airs a tropical music format. In addition to a transmitter in Lowell, there is a synchronous transmitter in Lawrence, together forming...
1400 A.M. (at that time Lowell's ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio
ESPN Radio is an American sports radio network. It was launched on January 1, 1992 under the original banner of "SportsRadio ESPN." ESPN Radio is located at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut...
affiliate) was the flagship of Lowell Spinners baseball, after several years on Lowell talk
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
station WCAP. As of 2008, Spinners games are back on WCAP.
On September 1 2008, the Spinners reached the NYPL (New York-Penn League) playoffs for the first time capturing the Stedler Division title.
As of the conclusion of the 2008 Spinners season, the franchise had sold out the past 346 games dating back to prior decade. In August of 2010 the streak was snapped at 413 games. Going into the 2011 season the Spinners still have plenty of tickets for sale and hope to start a new streak.
In 2011, Lowell Spinners owner Drew Weber founded the newly formed Futures Collegiate Baseball League
Futures Collegiate Baseball League
The Futures Collegiate Baseball League is a 6 team collegiate summer baseball league. The Futures League was co-developed by the New York-Penn League's Lowell Spinners owner Drew Weber, Weber formally developed and owned the New Hampshire Fisher Cats Double A Affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays...
with a charter franchise, the Nashua Silver Knights
Nashua Silver Knights
The Nashua Silver Knights are a summer collegiate baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire, USA, that plays in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League of New England. The team's home games are played at Holman Stadium in Nashua...
at Holman Stadium
Holman Stadium
There are at least two sports venues called Holman Stadium in the United States:*Holman Stadium , in New Hampshire*Holman Stadium , in Florida...
in Nashua, NH.
Spinners alumni
- Luis AliceaLuis AliceaLuis René Alicea de Jesús is a former Major League Baseball second baseman.Alicea played for the Kansas City Royals, Texas Rangers, Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox...
(Manager) - Clay BuchholzClay BuchholzClay Daniel Buchholz pitches for the Boston Red Sox of major league baseball. On September 1, 2007, in just his second major league start, he recorded a no-hitter against the Baltimore Orioles, becoming the third MLB pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-hitter in his first or second start...
- Felix DoubrontFélix DoubrontFélix Antonio Doubront [doo-Bront] is a Venezuelan professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Listed at 6'2", 200 lb., Doubront bats and throws left-handed....
- David EcksteinDavid EcksteinDavid Mark Eckstein is a former American professional baseball player who was an infielder in Major League Baseball for ten seasons. He played college baseball for the University of Florida, and has played professionally for the Anaheim Angels, St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays, Arizona...
- Jacoby EllsburyJacoby EllsburyJacoby McCabe Ellsbury ; born September 11, 1983) is an American professional baseball center fielder with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball....
- Adam EverettAdam EverettJeffery Adam Everett , is an American professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He played collegiate baseball at the University of South Carolina...
- Lew FordLew FordJon Lewis "Lew" Ford is a former MLB outfielder who is currently playing for the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League. Ford was a member of the Ducks in 2009 when he posted 10 home runs, 2 triples, and 55 RBI in 93 games. The Texas native finished second in the league in batting...
- Casey FossumCasey FossumCasey Paul Fossum is an American baseball pitcher in the New York Mets organization. He played for the Boston Red Sox , Arizona Diamondbacks , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Detroit Tigers , and New York Mets of Major League Baseball, and the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball...
- Shea HillenbrandShea HillenbrandShea Matthew Hillenbrand is a professional baseball player who last played for the York Revolution of the independent Atlantic League....
- Corey JenkinsCorey JenkinsCorey Jenkins was an American football player. He played quarterback at the University of South Carolina and was drafted by the Miami Dolphins. He has seen limited playing time in the National Football League and Canadian Football League....
- Gabe KaplerGabe KaplerGabriel "Gabe" Stefan Kapler is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.He has played portions of 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Tampa Bay Rays...
- Ryan KalishRyan KalishRyan Michael Kalish is an American professional baseball outfielder in the Boston Red Sox organization.A standout high school baseball and football player, he was drafted by the Red Sox in 2006...
- Jed LowrieJed LowrieJed Carlson Lowrie is an American professional baseball infielder with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.-Baseball career:Lowrie was born on April 17, 1984 and later attended North Salem High School....
- Mike MarothMike MarothMichael Warren Maroth is a former American Major League Baseball starting pitcher. Born in Orlando, Florida, and after attending the University of Central Florida, the left-handed Maroth made his Major League debut in for the Detroit Tigers.-Early career:A third-round pick in the draft, Maroth...
- Justin MastersonJustin MastersonJustin Daniel Masterson is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians. Masterson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the second round of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft. Masterson was rated as the 64th-best prospect going into that year's draft by...
- David Murphy
- Yamaico NavarroYamaico NavarroYamaico Navarro Pérez is a Dominican professional baseball infielder for the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball....
- Jonathan PapelbonJonathan PapelbonJonathan Robert Papelbon is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. Before joining the Phillies, Papelbon played with the Boston Red Sox from 2005-2011....
- Hanley RamírezHanley RamirezHanley Ramirez is a shortstop in Major League Baseball for the Miami Marlins. Ramírez was named 2006 NL Rookie of the Year by the Baseball Writers Association of America. In 2009, Ramírez won the NL batting title and is a three-time All-Star starter...
- Dustin RichardsonDustin RichardsonDustin A. Richardson is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball...
- Aníbal SánchezAníbal SánchezAníbal Alejandro Sánchez, Jr. [a-NEE-bal] is a Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher with the Miami Marlins. He is listed as 6 feet tall and 180 pounds...
- Wilton VerasWilton VerasWilton Andrés Veras is a former backup third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from to for the Boston Red Sox...
- Kevin YoukilisKevin YoukilisKevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
External links
- Official Website of the Spinners
- MiLB Lowell Spinners page
- Lowell Spinners on Lowell.com