Edmonton Cracker-Cats: All-Time Team

By IAN WILSON

They may have seemed like a crude replacement, but the Cracker-Cats gave Edmonton baseball fans reason to gush for a number of years.

The pro team set up in the Alberta capital in 2005, replacing the void left by the Trappers of the Pacific Coast League (PCL), a Triple-A outfit that operated from 1981 through 2004.

The Cracker-Cats – who took their name from the energy industry term “fluid catalytic cracking,” which sees crude oil refined into gasoline – were an independent league team, meaning they were not affiliated with any Major League Baseball (MLB) franchises.

Indy ball, as it’s often referred to, is professional in the sense that the players are paid, but it is also a form of baseball that is known for gimmicks and publicity stunts.

The Cracker-Cats purred along for four seasons at Telus Field, the first three in the Northern League followed by a single campaign in the Golden Baseball League in 2008. The club’s average attendance fell every year, from 2,348 fans in their inaugural season to 1,086 in the final summer.

Daryl Katz – the owner of the National Hockey League’s Edmonton Oilers – purchased the team in February of 2009 and they operated for another three seasons as the Capitals before folding.

Let’s take a closer look at those Cracker-Cats and assemble a team with their best talent.

Here are the details on what this all-time team will include. The roster will consist of the following: manager, catcher, first baseman, second baseman, third baseman, shortstop, three outfielders, designated hitter, utility/bench players, middle relief pitchers, closer, and five starting pitchers for the rotation. We’ll craft our lineup card and set up a rotation after we reveal our selections.

MANAGER

There are a few options for the manager position, but some of the skippers left Edmonton on bad terms.

Terry Bevington was the first dugout director for the team, bringing with him experience that included three years as manager of the Chicago White Sox, as well as time as a coach with the White Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays. In addition, he was a minor league skipper at all levels and made a two-year stop in Vancouver to guide the Canadians in the PCL. The former catcher and outfielder went 47-48 in his first season with the Cracker-Cats.

In year two with the club, Edmonton 44-52, but Bevington did not finish the season. After a massive brawl involving the Cracker-Cats and the Calgary Vipers, Bevington was slapped with an eight-game suspension in mid-June.

“I was in the big leagues for ten years and the longest suspension I ever got was three games. I find the suspensions excessive and the lack of appeal process very frustrating,” said Bevington in announcing he was stepping down as the manager and returning home.

Hitting coach John Barlowe filled in for Bevington to finish off the season.

In 2007, Frank Reberger was given the reins and posted a 38-58 record, which was the worst showing in the Northern League for the Cracker-Cats. He was fired mid-season and replaced by hitting coach Gord Gerlach.

The following year, Edmonton joined the Golden Baseball League and Brent Bowers was hired as manager. Bowers went 51-37 and delivered the first winning season to the Cracker-Cats. The former Medicine Hat Blue Jays outfielder stayed in Edmonton when the Cracker-Cats became the Capitals but he was forced to resign in 2010 after he unleashed a homophobic tirade on an openly gay umpire during a game.

So, we have some controversial candidates here. Bevington had the longest tenure and the best overall track record, but he was unable to give Edmonton a winning record. We are giving the gig to Bowers due to his on-field success.

CATCHER

There’s really only one choice to handle the pitching staff from behind the dish.

Derek Patterson suited up for two seasons with the Cracker-Cats in 2005 and 2006. The California catcher played 152 games for Edmonton and registered 157 hits, 23 doubles, 10 homers, 91 runs, 86 RBI and 20 stolen bases during his time in the Northern League. Patterson, who also played at third base, finished fifth on the team’s career hits leaderboard.

FIRST BASEMAN

There are a pair of options at first base.

Brandon Kaye played there during the inaugural season and the lefty batter from Victoria, B.C. batted .301 with 11 long balls, 59 RBI, 56 runs and 28 doubles in 85 games.

Florida native Kyle Nichols spent parts of the 2006 and 2007 campaigns in Edmonton. He played 72 games for the Cracker-Cats and collected 36 runs, 80 hits, 13 round trippers and 57 RBI. Nichols also played 56 games with the Calgary Vipers in 2007.

We’ll reward Kaye’s loyalty here and make him the starting first baseman.

SECOND BASEMAN

A number of candidates are available to work the keystone for this club.

Chris Becker is the frontrunner for the job. The Guelph, Ontario product played three seasons with the Cracker-Cats and was the franchise leader in hits (249) and RBI (123). In his 279 games with Edmonton, Becker also picked up 47 doubles, 133 runs, 117 walks, 12 home runs and 14 stolen bases.

The 2008 team had a couple of contenders, as well. Jonathan Castro and Ruddy Yan split second-base duties that season, with both switch hitters from the Dominican Republic playing 78 games. Yan had 74 runs, 49 RBI and 26 stolen bases while batting .341 with a .421 on-base percentage. Castro put up 40 runs, 45 RBI and a .314 batting average.

Castro and Yan were noteworthy, but the job belongs to Becker.

THIRD BASEMAN

The inaugural squad had Chris Hall handling the hot corner. The Indiana-born infielder got into 86 games with the Cracker-Cats and produced 86 hits, 47 runs, 52 RBI, 17 doubles and eight round trippers.

Ashley Freeman logged 95 games with the club in 2006. The 19th-round pick of the Colorado Rockies led that team in hits (106), runs (64) and at bats (393). The Vanderbilt University grad also recorded 51 RBI, 17 doubles, five homers and 13 steals.

The 2008 roster featured Joe Jiannetti at both corner infield positions. The 40th-round draft pick of the New York Mets from Tampa, Florida led the Cracker-Cats in total bases (180), doubles (34), RBI (85) and walks (46). Jiannetti batted a healthy .340 with a .429 on-base percentage. He also smacked 12 long balls and scored 69 runs.

We like Jiannetti for the third base assignment.

SHORTSTOP

This is an easy pick. “Captain Canada” Stubby Clapp is the starting shortstop. The Windsor, Ontario native – who represented Team Canada internationally on numerous occasions – was a star with the Cracker-Cats in 2005 and 2006. He played 166 games in the Northern League and was the franchise leader in career doubles, with 48. Clapp, who has been the first base coach of the St. Louis Cardinals since 2019, finished his time in Edmonton with 198 hits, 76 RBI and 46 stolen bases. A major part of the marketing campaign for the team, the middle infielder also served as the hitting coach with the Cracker-Cats in his final season of indy ball.

There were some other shortstops who played well in Edmonton, but none could match what Clapp brough to the ballpark.

George Sandel led the team in at bats (389), games played (94) and hits (114) in 2007. The lefty batter from Florida, who made it to Triple-A with the Tacoma Rainiers in 2004, picked up 69 runs, 17 doubles, 50 RBI and 11 steals that summer.

The 2008 edition of the Cracker-Cats included two shortstops with MLB experience. Jose Morban suited up in 61 games for the Baltimore Orioles in 2003, while Orlando Miller played 297 major-league games during his time with the Houston Astros and Detroit Tigers from 1994 to 1997. Morban took the field in 47 contests with the Cracker-Cats and batted .335 with 41 runs, 47 RBI, 13 homers and eight triples. Miller batted .319 with 30 RBI, 29 runs, and 10 doubles in 37 games.

OUTFIELDERS

There are plenty of high-quality options in the outfield.

Jeremy Ware, a 25th-round pick of the Montreal Expos in 1994, was familiar with playing baseball in Edmonton when he signed on with the Cracker-Cats in the team’s first season. His professional travels, which included a stint with the Ottawa Lynx, brought him to the Alberta capital for PCL play with the Trappers in 2003 and 2004. The pride of Orangeville, Ontario decided to stick around in the city when the Northern League set up shop there. The outfielder played 158 games over two seasons with the Cracker-Cats and was among the club’s career statistical leaders in several categories, finishing fourth in hits (173), third in doubles (44), fifth in RBI (81) and seventh in homers (11). In addition to his minor-league experience, the righty batter was a productive international player with Team Canada. He suited up at the 1999 Pan American Games, the 2004 Olympics, the 2005 and 2007 Baseball World Cup and the 2008 Olympic qualifying tournament.

Greg Morrison – the man at the centre of that huge donnybrook involving the Calgary Vipers and the Cracker-Cats – played his final pro season in Edmonton in 2006. The former Medicine Hat Blue Jay, Winnipeg Goldeye and Viper had an excellent campaign with the Cracker-Cats. The 71st-round selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers put up 52 runs, 53 RBI, 12 doubles, eight round trippers and seven steals in his 91 games. Now the owner of the Western Canadian Baseball League’s Medicine Hat Mavericks, Morrison also had a solid international career. The Unity, Saskatchewan product represented Canada at the 1999 Pan American Games, as well as at the 2003 and 2005 Baseball World Cup.

Terrence McClain is another name you’ll find on the all-time leaderboards of the Cracker-Cats. The Paris, Tennessee native appeared in 187 games with the team in 2006 and 2007 and was the franchise leader in home runs (18) and triples (11), while finishing second all-time in hits (215) and RBI (118). McClain also placed fourth in doubles (37).

Starring alongside McClain in the outfield in 2007 was Ryan Radmanovich, a 14th-round pick of the Minnesota Twins. The Calgarian, who played 25 games with the Seattle Mariners in 1998, was a potent hitter with the Cracker-Cats. In 61 contests, he smacked 13 long balls and produced 45 RBI and 38 runs while batting .286. Radmanovich was another Team Canada star. He repped the maple leaf at the 1999 Pan-Am Games, 2001 Baseball World Cup, 2004 Olympics, 2006 World Baseball Classic and the 2008 Olympics.

The 2008 roster was loaded with talented outfielders. Colombian Carlos Arroyo led the Golden Baseball League in hits, with 134, and in 87 games with Edmonton the lefty slugger collected 70 runs, 29 doubles, 67 RBI, 22 stolen bases and 174 total bases. His batting average (.377) and on-base percentage (.434) were tops on the team.

Marcus Nettles – a Chicago product who was drafted in the 11th round of the 2001 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres – was the best base stealer on the circuit, swiping 47 bags while also producing 66 runs and a .319 batting average.

Playing with Arroyo and Nettles was Chris Van Rossum, another lefty batter who led the Cracker-Cats in runs, with 80 in 80 games played. The Californian had 65 RBI, 26 doubles, 43 walks and a .336 batting average.

Not an easy task picking just three out of this group, but we’ll go with Nettles, McClain and Arroyo.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Jeremy Ware wasn’t a beastly power hitter, but he could hit, had some pop in his bat and could hustle around the bases with some pace. He’s our pick for DH duties.

UTILITY/BENCH PLAYERS

We’ve got four bench guys who can cover both sides of the plate, rack up base hits, force bad throws from catchers and send the occasional pitch over the fence.

Ashley Freeman is a corner infielder who also has some experience in the middle infield and in the outfield. The righty batter played as high as Double-A in the Rockies system and had a bit of pop in his bat. Freeman also stole a few bases here and there.

Switch hitter Ruddy Yan is a middle infielder and outfielder who played eight years of affiliated pro ball and another seven seasons of indy ball. During his 1,359 games of professional baseball, the Dominican product ascended to the Triple-A level but was unable to crack a major-league roster. A good contact hitter, Yan swiped 448 bags during his time on base.

University of North Carolina-Charlotte alumnus George Sandel was comfortable handling all infield positions except first base. The lefty batter was a dependable hitter for the Cracker-Cats in 2007, his second of five independent league seasons. Sandel suited up for two years in Seattle’s minor-league system and 16 of his 95 games in the Mariner organization were played with the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League (PCL). He wasn’t much of a power hitter, but Sandel could steal the odd base and produce runs.

Outfielder Ryan Radmanovich was a well-traveled member of the Cracker-Cats. In addition to playing 25 MLB games with the Mariners, the lefty batter also spent seven seasons at the Triple-A level. Of his 1,014 minor-league contests, 688 were spent in the PCL. He tacked on another 600 indy league games after that. During his pro career, the Calgarian smacked 271 homers and manufactured over 1,000 RBI.

STARTING PITCHERS

You see a lot of players bring MLB experience to indy ball, but it’s a bit more rare for independent leaguers to make their way to the majors.

Right-handed pitcher Scott Richmond was able to make the jump to the Toronto Blue Jays after spending a trio of seasons with the Cracker-Cats. The British Columbian was a versatile arm for Edmonton – he pitched in 82 games for the felines from 2005 to 2007 and made 31 starts. In his 276 innings with the Cracker-Cats, Richmond set franchise records for wins (14) and strikeouts (224), while finishing second all-time in saves, with 12. From there, the undrafted Oklahoma State University alum signed on with the Jays and climbed the minor-league ranks. He made five starts for Toronto in 2008, going 1-3 with a 4.00 ERA and 20 Ks in 27 innings. Richmond, who also represented Team Canada on numerous occasions, was used primarily as a starter by the Blue Jays in 2009. After going 8-11 with a 5.52 ERA in 138-plus innings that season, Richmond spent 2010 in the minors before making four relief appearances with the Jays in 2011 and 2012. He spent the next two years with the Triple-A Round Rock Express in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). International play – including stops in China, Italy and Australia – followed for Richmond, who closed out his pro career pitching in indy ball in Quebec and Long Island in 2019.

So, Richmond is a great candidate for rotation duty or bullpen work, or both.

There are several other starting pitcher options that are worth a look, as well.

Brett Lawson worked the mound for two seasons in Edmonton. His 13-9 record and 175 strikeouts put him in second place for franchise wins and Ks. The 6-foot-7 righty from Ontario was a 15th-round pick of the Minnesota Twins in 2001. After leaving that organization, Lawson took the indy route, suiting up for the Montreal Royales in 2003, the Quebec Capitales in 2004 and the Cracker-Cats in 2005 and 2006. He appeared in 48 games for Edmonton, 27 of them starts, and logged over 182 innings. Lawson finished his professional career with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks of the Northern League in 2008.

Reggie Rivard, who was born in Edmonton and attended high school in Calgary, turned pro in the Texas Rangers organization after graduating from Washington State University. He climbed the ladder to Triple-A with the Oklahoma RedHawks in the PCL, where he made four appearances in 2003. The following year, the righthander joined the Milwaukee Brewers system and ascended from High-A to Triple-A in one season. Though he was unable to crack a major-league roster, Rivard kept pitching. He played for the Cracker-Cats from 2005 to 2007, where he was mostly used as a starter. Rivard went 13-17 with 118 strikeouts in 55 games and 224-plus innings pitched for Edmonton. The final three seasons of his time in professional ball were spent with the Calgary Vipers.

Arizona product Eric Van Slyke only spent one season with the Cracker-Cats, but he was excellent for the team in 2008. Through 24 games and 126 innings, Van Slyke went 9-4 with a 3.43 ERA and 97 Ks. The righty made 16 starts and recorded three complete games. He led the Golden Baseball League in both wins and innings pitched.

Standing at 6-foot-6 – and looking even taller atop the mound – Texan Mike Henry was an imposing presence at Telus Field. The righthander was great for the Cracker-Cats in 2006, going 5-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 12 appearances – 11 of them starts – and 78.2 innings. Henry registered two complete games, including a one-hit shutout, while posting 43 strikeouts. Year two in Edmonton was less successful. Henry went 2-7 with a 7.13 ERA in his 88-plus innings as both a starter and a reliever in 2007, his final pro campaign.

Ricardo Rodriguez brought major-league experience to the Cracker-Cats. The product of the Dominican Republic made his MLB debut in 2002 with Cleveland, where he played parts of two seasons as a starting pitcher. The Texas Rangers gave him a spot in their rotation for parts of 2004 and 2005. His final numbers in The Show were as follows: 10-15, 5.18 ERA, 39 games, 36 starts, 104 strikeouts in 206.2 innings. He completed his playing career – which included eight years in the minor leagues – with the Cracker-Cats in 2008. Rodriquez excelled in Edmonton, going 8-2 with a 3.84 ERA, two complete games and 69 Ks in 93.2 innings and 14 starts.

Our final rotation contender is Mike Kusiewicz. The Montreal-born southpaw was an eighth-round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 1994. He didn’t make it to the big leagues, but Kusiewicz toiled for a decade in the minors, including parts of three seasons at the Triple-A level. The 6-foot-2 lefty was superb for Edmonton for two years. In 2005, he went 5-0 with a 2.93 ERA, three complete games and 41 strikeouts over 10 starts and 67-plus innings. When he returned in 2006, Kusiewicz made just four starts, but went 3-1 with a 3.72 ERA. A representative of Team Canada on several occasions, Kusiewicz made four appearances at the 2004 Olympics. He finished his playing days in 2008 with the Ottawa Rapidz, where he served as a pitcher and the director of player operations.

We’ve got seven players being considered here for five rotation spots. Here’s the verdict: Scott Richmond, Ricardo Rodriguez, Brett Lawson, Mike Kusiewicz and Reggie Rivard.

MIDDLE RELIEVERS

There are no shortage of middle-relief arms available, as well.

Lou Pote – who was named to the Edmonton Capitals All-Time Team as a starting pitcher – was a busy pitcher with the Cracker-Cats in 2007. The veteran righty, who played 127 games for the Anaheim Angels and picked up a World Series ring for his efforts, got into 38 games for the Cracker-Cats, including 11 starts. He went 8-8 with a 4.21 ERA, five saves, a complete game and 75 strikeouts in 104.2 innings. Pote is now a coach with the Okotoks Dawgs.

Local product Mike Johnson, a member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, played 81 MLB games, mostly with the Montreal Expos, before he returned to Alberta’s capital to suit up with Edmonton’s Trappers, Cracker-Cats and Capitals. In 2007 with the Cracker-Cats, he was 2-7 with a 4.90 ERA, 73 Ks and four saves in 93-plus innings. The righthander made 13 starts and 14 appearances out of the bullpen that year.

Texan Ira Brown closed out his pro playing career with Edmonton in 2005. The Kansas City Royals draft pick, a 6-foot-4 righthander, made 31 appearances for the Cracker-Cats, including 10 starts. He went 4-5 with a 4.47 ERA, seven saves and 89 strikeouts in 96.2 innings.

Jim Harrison was another 6-foot-4 righty reliever with the Cracker-Cats. In 2005, he went 8-4 with a 2.15 ERA through 71 innings and 43 appearances. The Californian played half of the 2006 campaign with Edmonton but was less effective that season, going 1-1 with a 7.08 ERA in 14 contests and 20.1 innings.

Righthander Randy Waite, another California native, took the bump 48 times in the Northern League in 2007. He split that season with the Cracker-Cats and the Calgary Vipers and went 4-4 with a 4.50 ERA, five saves and 30 punchouts in 58 frames.

Virginia’s Hayden Gardner pitched his final pro year with the Edmonton in 2006. Through 22 relief appearances and 29.2 innings with the Cracker-Cats, the righty went 3-0 with a 4.55 ERA, 20 Ks and one save.

We’re only taking two pitchers out of this bunch, and while there are a number of worthy selections, we like the durability and versatility of Lou Pote and Mike Johnson.

CLOSER

We have a trio of options at closer.

Pete Sikaras was the all-time saves leader for the Cracker-Cats. He shut the door 24 times over the 2007 and 2008 seasons. The righthander was a 13th-round pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2000. He took the mound in eight minor-league seasons before going the indy route and ultimately ended up pitching for four years in the Italian Baseball League. With Edmonton, he appeared in 50 games and had 56 strikeouts in 51-plus innings. The Chicago native’s 19 saves were tops in the Golden League in 2008.

Josh Fauske had an interesting career path that saw him begin his time in pro ball as a catcher and first baseman. When he couldn’t advance past the Single-A level, the 1995 Chicago White Sox draft pick joined the indy circuit and played as an outfielder. The 6-foot-4 righthander then took his talents to the mound as a member of the Sioux City Explorers in 2002. In 19 games as a reliever, Fauske experienced success, going 2-1 with a save and a 3.90 ERA. Two years later, he was pitching for the Calgary Vipers, where he went 3-3 with a 3.51 ERA and nine saves in 34.1 innings out of the bullpen. With the Cracker-Cats in 2006, Fauske led the club with 11 saves in his 21 appearances. He registered a 3.74 ERA and 12 Ks in 21.2 innings.

Scott Richmond was considered for this role, as well, but ultimately we want him in the rotation instead. So, Pete Sikaras is our pick to close out games. He’s got the track record to pick up saves in bunches.

BATTING LINEUP