In order to claim a World Series championship, you have to make the right hires.
For the Texas Rangers – who coaxed manager Bruce Bochy out of retirement with impressive results – that included luring Tim Hyers to the Major League Baseball (MLB) organization.
Read More Hyers LearningThey were the first official affiliate established for the new Arizona Diamondbacks.
A full two years before the Major League Baseball squad took to the field, the Lethbridge Black Diamonds were expected to be a powerhouse in their inaugural season of 1996.
We take a look back at the successful three-year history of the team, which took numerous twists and turns off the field.
Read More Diamonds in the RoughThe Montreal Expos had a professional baseball following that was truly national in scope.
During their 36 years of operation, the Expos ran minor league affiliates across Canada, including Edmonton, Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Quebec City, and Lethbridge.
They also had a Pioneer League club in Calgary between 1979 to 1984, leading to many star-studded performances that we highlight here.
Read More Calgary Expos: All-Time TeamDuane Larson wanted to play an aggressive style of baseball.
Heading into the 1982 Pioneer League season, the Medicine Hat Blue Jays coach had high expectations.
His team, featuring a trio of future Toronto stars, delivered in a big way, winning the team’s only championship title.
Read More Bluebirds of a FeatherOur picks for the Lethbridge Dodgers All-Time Team.
See who made the cut at each position …
Read More Lethbridge Dodgers: All-Time TeamJimmy Key put up some fantastic numbers in his short visit with the Medicine Hat Blue Jays in 1982.
A 2-1 record with a 2.30 ERA and 25 strikeouts in 31+ innings of work earned the young lefthander a promotion.
However, the move didn’t sit well with everyone, even if the team went on to win the Pioneer League championship.
Read More Key to the GameA look back at the first pro season of Sid Fernandez, who won a World Series with the New York Mets in 1986.
Fernandez got his start in the Pioneer League with the Lethbridge Dodgers …
Read More Sid-sational!David Wells could barely navigate connecting flights, let alone figure out where Medicine Hat was when he made his way outside of the United States for the first time.
The trip north in 1982, his introduction to professional baseball, offered the left-handed pitcher an education in sports and life. Wells was forthcoming about both aspects of his journey in his 2003 autobiography, Perfect I’m Not. One chapter of the book provides a compelling look at the minor-league experience at the lowest level.
Read More Here Comes The BoomIt’s difficult to measure where exactly the 1992 Medicine Hat Blue Jays rank on the lollygagger scale of professional baseball teams.
They weren’t quite as abysmal as the1988 edition of the ball club, but these Baby Jays were seemingly immune to winning.
Learn more in our latest edition of In The Cards …
Read More In The Cards: 1992 Medicine Hat Blue JaysThey were a head-scratching bunch, the 1996 Medicine Hat Blue Jays.
Their play left much to be desired, as was made evident by a dismal 22-50 record. Yet despite what unfolded on the diamond, the rookie-level squad saw their attendance double from the previous season as they welcomed 41,942 fans to Athletic Park for an up-close view of how not to play baseball.
Learn more about the team in our latest edition of In The Cards …
Read More In The Cards: 1996 Medicine Hat Blue Jays