Riverside Pilots
Encyclopedia
The Riverside Pilots were a minor league baseball team in Riverside
, California
. They were a high-A class team that played in the California League
, and were a farm team of the Seattle Mariners
for the franchise’s entire stay in Riverside. They played all of their home games at the Riverside Sports Complex
, albeit for 20 games, they played in Palm Springs Stadium
, which was without a professional baseball team since 1993. In spite of the fact that Riverside made the playoffs each year of their existence, poor attendance figures proved too much to bear for the struggling franchise. Prior to the 1996 season, the Riverside Pilots folded, and officially became the Lancaster JetHawks
.
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. They were a high-A class team that played in the California League
California League
The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. 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...
, and were a farm team of the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
for the franchise’s entire stay in Riverside. They played all of their home games at the Riverside Sports Complex
Riverside Sports Complex
The Riverside Sports Complex, in Riverside, California, is the home field of the University of California, Riverside baseball team. It is primarily used for baseball and was the home of Riverside Pilots before they moved to Lancaster, California to become the Lancaster JetHawks in 1996...
, albeit for 20 games, they played in Palm Springs Stadium
Palm Springs Stadium
Palm Springs Stadium is a stadium in Palm Springs, California. It is primarily used for baseball. It was formerly named Angels Stadium and was the home field of the Palm Springs Suns of the Western Baseball League in 1995 and 1996. Palm Springs Stadium is currently the home of the Palm Springs...
, which was without a professional baseball team since 1993. In spite of the fact that Riverside made the playoffs each year of their existence, poor attendance figures proved too much to bear for the struggling franchise. Prior to the 1996 season, the Riverside Pilots folded, and officially became the Lancaster JetHawks
Lancaster JetHawks
The Lancaster JetHawks are a minor league baseball team of the California League located in Lancaster, California. The team is named for the city's association with the aerospace industry and plays its home games at Clear Channel Stadium...
.
List of Riverside Pilots players in the MLB
- All players are listed in alphabetical order by their surname, with the year(s) they played for Riverside in parentheses.
- Rafael Carmona (1994)
- Dean Crow (1995)
- José Cruz, Jr.José Cruz, Jr.José Luis Cruz, Jr. is a retired Major League Baseball outfielder. Over his nine year playing career, Cruz played for eight different teams. Standing 6'0" tall and weighing 210 pounds, Cruz was a right-handed switch hitter...
(1995) - John CummingsJohn Cummings (baseball)John Russell Cummings is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher from -. He attended Canyon High School in Anaheim, California.-External links:...
(1994) - Tim Davis (1993)
- Ryan FranklinRyan FranklinRyan Ray Franklin is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played for the Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals.-Early life:...
(1994) - Charles GipsonCharles GipsonCharles Wells Gipson Jr. is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Seattle Mariners , New York Yankees , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , and Houston Astros ....
(1994) - George GlinatsisGeorge GlinatsisGeorge Glinatsis is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched briefly for the Seattle Mariners in . He started two games for the Mariners and finished the season 0-1. He played collegiately at the University of Cincinnati.-External links:*...
(1993–1994) - Giomar GuevaraGiomar GuevaraGiomar Antonio Guevara Diaz [gay-VAH-rah] is a former Major League Baseball shortstop and switch-hitter who played for the Seattle Mariners ....
(1995) - Tim HarikkalaTim HarikkalaTimothy Allan Harikkala is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He is an alumnus of Florida Atlantic University....
(1994) - Brett Hinchcliffe (1995)
- Raúl IbáñezRaúl IbáñezRaúl Javier Ibáñez is an American Major League Baseball outfielder.Over his career, Ibáñez, who did not make 500 plate appearances until the age of thirty, has batted .280 with 377 doubles, 252 home runs and 1054 runs batted in over sixteen Major League seasons...
(1995) - Kevin King (1993)
- Derek LoweDerek LoweDerek Christopher Lowe is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Cleveland Indians. He throws and bats right-handed. He is 6'6" and 230 pounds.-Early years:...
(1993) - Trey Moore (1995)
- Julio Peguero (1994)
- Arquimedez PozoArquimedez PozoArquimedez Pozo Ortiz is a retired professional baseball player. He played parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball in the mid-1990s for the Seattle Mariners and Boston Red Sox. He also played one season each in Nippon Professional Baseball and the Korea Baseball Organization...
(1993) - Desi RelafordDesi RelafordDesmond Lamont "Desi" Relaford is an American former professional baseball infielder. He has played for the Texas Rangers, Colorado Rockies, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies.Known more for his defense than his bat, his versatility was...
(1994) - Steve Rosenberg (1993)
- Marino SantanaMarino SantanaMarino Santana Castro was a professional pitcher for two years in Major League Baseball. Santana was 26 years old when he made his major league debut on September 4, 1998, with the Detroit Tigers....
(1995) - Andy SheetsAndy SheetsAndrew Mark Sheets is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Seattle Mariners , San Diego Padres , Anaheim Angels , Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays . He played first base for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp , and Hanshin Tigers , of the Nippon Professional Baseball league....
(1993–1994) - Mac SuzukiMac Suzukiis a Japanese professional baseball pitcher who plays for the Calgary Vipers of the Golden League. Over his career, Suzuki had played 18 seasons in professional baseball, including six in Major League Baseball and one in the Japan Pacific League...
(1995) - Ron VilloneRon VilloneRonald Thomas Villone Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently with the Somerset Patriots. He has not been on the same team for more than two years in his major league career and due to his many baseball travels, some of his teammates have affectionately referred...
(1993) - Chris WidgerChris WidgerChristopher Jon Widger is a former Major League Baseball catcher.-Career:A third round pick in the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, Widger played for the Seattle Mariners , Montréal Expos , New York Yankees , St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago White Sox , and Baltimore Orioles...
(1993) - Bob WolcottBob WolcottRobert William Wolcott is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners , Arizona Diamondbacks , and Boston Red Sox . He also played for the Kintetsu Buffaloes in Japan in ....
(1994) - Kerry Woodson (1994)
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 76-61 | 4th | Dave Myers | Lost in Southern Division Finals to the High Desert Mavericks High Desert Mavericks The High Desert Mavericks are a minor league baseball team in Adelanto, California, USA. Their Major League parent club is the Seattle Mariners. They are a Class A - Advanced team in the California League and had been a farm team of the Kansas City Royals since 2005 before the switch... , 3-1 |
| 1994 | 87-49 | 2nd | Dave Myers | Lost in Southern Division Finals to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Rancho Cucamonga Quakes The Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are a minor league baseball team in Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA. They are a Class A – Advanced team in the California League and a farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers, their third major league affiliate in team history.... , 3-1 |
| 1995 | 72-67 | 6th | Dave Brundage | Lost in Southern Division Semi-Finals to the Lake Elsinore Storm Lake Elsinore Storm The Lake Elsinore Storm is a minor league baseball team in Lake Elsinore, California, USA. It is a Class A - Advanced team in the California League, and is a farm team of the San Diego Padres. The Storm plays its home games at Lake Elsinore Diamond... , 2-1 |