St. Catharines (CP)

It was announced today in the Garden City, that professional baseball will be played once again in St. Catharines, Ontario Canada.

The team will play in the ARBA S-O-M Baseball League, and be known as the Stompers.

The history of professional baseball is as follows:

The St. Catharines Blue Jays were a minor-league baseball team that played at Community Park in St. Catharines, Ontario. They were the Short-Season A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays in the New YorkPenn League. The team began play in 1986 as the Blue Jays, though were later renamed the St. Catharines Stompers (in 1996).  The team left St. Catharines after the 1999 season to become the Queens Kings in 2000.

Several Blue Jays/Stompers went on to fabulous MLB careers, but their careers started in this Southern Ontario city known mostly for its wine...  The list below is courtesy of the St. Catharines Standard:

1. Carlos Delgado

Delgado arrived in St. Catharines in the summer of 1989 as a skinny 17-year-old who was being converted to catcher thanks to his strong arm. Delgado played two seasons in St. Catharines and by 1993 was in the big leagues. Delgado never made it as a catcher his bat was what got him to the majors but turned into a solid first baseman. When all was said and done, Delgado played 17 seasons in the majors and swatted 473 home runs. Impressive. Career earnings: $146 million.

2. Jeff Kent

Kent played with Delgado in 1989 hitting .224 with a team-leading 13 homers. At the time, Kent was a shortstop but was soon moved to second base. He made it to the parent Blue Jays by 1992 where he began a notable career. Kent went on to play for the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, San Francisco Giants, Houston Astros and retired with 377 homers, the most ever for a major league second baseman. Talked to him a few years ago in Toronto and he said his fondest memory of St. Catharines was living in a house that had a slanted floor. A strange guy but a great hitter. Made $86 million.

3. Michael Young

Young was a member of the 1997 Stompers and was dealt by the Blue Jays to Texas for pitcher Esteban Loiza in surely one of the worst trades in team history. Young played both short and second for the Stompers and went on to record over 2,300 hits in a 14-year career. A good guy to boot. Earned $90 million.

4. Vernon Wells

Wells, long before he signed a bloated mega-deal with the parent Blue Jays which immediately made him a target of frustrated fans, began his career with the Stompers in 1997 where he hit .307 and made it clear he was going to be a force to be reckoned with. Wells played 15 seasons for the Jays, Angels and Yankees and amassed almost 1,800 hits. Not too shabby but will always be remembered for that contract. Made more than $131 million is his career. Never a particularly friendly guy to deal with.

5. Pat Hentgen

Hentgen was a member of the 1986 NYP champion St. Catharines Blue Jays as a raw 17-year-old who went 0-4. The likable right-hander ended up with 131 career wins, a Cy Young Award, and more than $37 million in career earnings. A great guy who always had time for the media.

6. Shannon Stewart

Stewart was a Baby Jay in 1993 hitting .293 as a high-touted outfielder. Stewart went on to fashion a solid 14-year career and over 1,600 hits. Another good guy to deal with as well who was under rated for much of his career. Made more than $34 million.

7. Woody Williams

Spent the 1988 season with the Baby Jays and went on to a 15-year career in the big leagues. He won 132 games, made a touch more than $50 million, and was a cool guy to boot.

8. Derek Bell

Bell, a member of the 1987 St. Catharines Blue Jays, was a different cat, to say the least. He marched to the beat of his own drummer, but could definitely hit. He played 11 seasons in the big leagues and collected more than 1,200 hits. Made a tad less than $26 million for his career. Not bad.

9. David Weathers

Stormy Weathers was a teammate of Bell in 1987 and went on to fashion a credible 19-year career in the big leagues winning 73 games with nine teams, mostly as a relief pitcher. Was a guy you could count on for a professional effort every time out. Pocketed just more than $25 million for his career.

10. Cesar Izturis

A vastly underrated infielder, Izturis, the half-brother of current Jays infielder Macier Izturis, played for the Stompers in 1997 where he formed an impressive double play combination with Young. Played 13 seasons for nine teams and collected more than 1,100 career hits. Career earnings of more than $21 million.

11. Reed Johnson

As mentioned, the last man standing from the St. Catharines era. Johnson is a useful fourth outfielder who has amassed more than 1,000 career hits and a great guy. Career earnings to date: $14.9 million.

12. Xavier Hernandez

The X-man was an original Baby Jay and recorded the final out when they won the NYP championship in 1986. Spent 10 years in the big leagues with five teams winning 40 games as a relief pitcher. Made a tad more than $6.6 million.

13. Abraham Nunez

A slick infielder for the 1996 Stompers, Nunez was dealt to Pittsburgh in a massive deal. He spent 12 years in the majors for six teams and had 601 career hits. Made $5.1 million.

14. Willie Blair

A 60-game winner in 12 years with eight teams, Blair went 5-0 with a 1.68 earned run average in 1986 for the Baby Jays. Never quite lived up to that first season but did make more than $14 million.

15. Ryan Thompson

Thompson spent the 1989 season with the Baby Jays and went on to play nine years in the majors with six teams. His best season was in 1994 when he swatted 18 homers for the Mets. Made just more than $1 million.

Hope you all enjoyed this stroll down memory lane for me...

Carl

St. Catharines Stompers (formerly TBA5)