Clearwater Threshers
Encyclopedia
The Clearwater Threshers are a minor league baseball
team that currently plays in the Florida State League
. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division.
The team plays its home games at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida
which opened in 2004. Bright House Field seats more than 7,000 fans. A single-game attendance record of 9,090 was set on July 3, 2008.
The team is the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
. The team has always been affiliated with the Phillies since 1985, the franchise's first season. From 1985 to 2003, the Clearwater Threshers were called the Clearwater Phillies. While as the Clearwater Phillies, the team played at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium
from 1985 to 2003. When the team moved to the new Bright House Field, the team change their name from Phillies to Threshers.
again asked the Philadelphia Phillies about affiliating with a team to be based in Clearwater. The Amateur Softball Association
Clearwater Bombers had long used Jack Russell Stadium during the summer months when the field would be reconfigured for softball. The placement of a minor league baseball team would mean the relocation of the Bombers.
The Florida State League granted the city of Clearwater a franchise on September 26, 1984. The Clearwater Phillies began play in 1985 after the Philadelphia Phillies ended their affiliation with their High Class A minor league team, the Carolina League
Peninsula Pilots
, based in Hampton, Virginia
, and placed their new team at Jack Russell Stadium. The Philadelphia Phillies owned the franchise and named the club the Clearwater Phillies. The Clearwater Phillies played their first game on April 12, 1985, at home, against the Tampa Tarpons
.
The club played as the Clearwater Phillies through the 2003 season. The Phillies planned to leave Jack Russell Memorial Stadium after the 2003 season to move into a new ballpark, Bright House Networks Field, adjacent to the Carpenter Complex, the Phillies' minor league training facility. With the move to the new ballpark, the Clearwater Phillies were renamed the "Threshers" and adopted a new team logo and colors.
In 2004, the Clearwater Threshers were managed by former Phillies player and Hall of Famer, Mike Schmidt
. Greg Legg managed the team in 2005 and 2006. Dave Huppert
was the manager in 2007, and Razor Shines
in 2008. Ernie Whitt
was named the manager for the 2009 season after Shines was promoted to base coach for the New York Mets
.
In 2007, the Threshers won the second half in the FSL West Division. They defeated the Sarasota Reds (2–1) in the FSL West Division Playoffs, then defeated the Brevard County Manatees
3 games to 1 in the FSL Championship Series (best-of-five) to win the FSL title. The Threshers were named MiLB.com's Class A Advanced Team of the Year.
On July 26, 2009, Pedro Martínez
made a rehab start for the Threshers against the St. Lucie Mets
at Bright House Field. Martinez pitched 1 1/3-innings before rain caused the game to be canceled, wiping out the official record of his start. Martinez subsequently moved to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs for his next start.
On May 23rd, 2011 The Threshers gained national attention after playing in a 23 inning game against the Jupiter Hammerheads
.
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...
team that currently plays in the Florida State League
Florida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
. Since 2004, the team competes in the West Division.
The team plays its home games at Bright House Field in Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater, Florida
Clearwater is a city located in Pinellas County, Florida, US, nearly due west of Tampa and northwest of St. Petersburg. In the west of Clearwater lies the Gulf of Mexico and in the east lies Tampa Bay. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 108,787. It is the county seat of...
which opened in 2004. Bright House Field seats more than 7,000 fans. A single-game attendance record of 9,090 was set on July 3, 2008.
The team is the High-A affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. The team has always been affiliated with the Phillies since 1985, the franchise's first season. From 1985 to 2003, the Clearwater Threshers were called the Clearwater Phillies. While as the Clearwater Phillies, the team played at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium
Jack Russell Memorial Stadium
Jack Russell Memorial Stadium is a stadium in Clearwater, Florida. It opened as Jack Russell Stadium in 1955. It had a capacity of 4,744 when it opened; in 2003 seating capacity was 6,942 people...
from 1985 to 2003. When the team moved to the new Bright House Field, the team change their name from Phillies to Threshers.
History
Clearwater city officials approached the Philadelphia Phillies as early as 1981 about locating a Phillies minor league affiliate at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater. In July 1982, in a visit to Philadelphia, Clearwater city officials and the president of the Florida State LeagueFlorida State League
The Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced minor league baseball league operating in the state of Florida. They are one of three leagues currently operating in Class A-Advanced, the third highest of six classifications of minor leagues...
again asked the Philadelphia Phillies about affiliating with a team to be based in Clearwater. The Amateur Softball Association
Amateur Softball Association
The Amateur Softball Association is a volunteer, non-profit organization based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1933 with a tournament held in Chicago that was organized by Leo Fischer and Michael J. Pauley. The following year the 1934 National Recreation Congress recognized the ASA. ...
Clearwater Bombers had long used Jack Russell Stadium during the summer months when the field would be reconfigured for softball. The placement of a minor league baseball team would mean the relocation of the Bombers.
The Florida State League granted the city of Clearwater a franchise on September 26, 1984. The Clearwater Phillies began play in 1985 after the Philadelphia Phillies ended their affiliation with their High Class A minor league team, the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. 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...
Peninsula Pilots
Wilmington Blue Rocks
The Wilmington Blue Rocks are a Minor League Baseball team located in Wilmington, Delaware. The Blue Rocks play in the Northern Division of the Carolina League.-Franchise history:...
, based in Hampton, Virginia
Hampton, Virginia
Hampton is an independent city that is not part of any county in Southeast Virginia. Its population is 137,436. As one of the seven major cities that compose the Hampton Roads metropolitan area, it is on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula. Located on the Hampton Roads Beltway, it hosts...
, and placed their new team at Jack Russell Stadium. The Philadelphia Phillies owned the franchise and named the club the Clearwater Phillies. The Clearwater Phillies played their first game on April 12, 1985, at home, against the Tampa Tarpons
Tampa Tarpons
The Tampa Tarpons were a minor league baseball team based in Tampa, Florida. They played in the Class A Florida State League from 1957–1988, when they were sold, relocated, and renamed the Sarasota White Sox...
.
The club played as the Clearwater Phillies through the 2003 season. The Phillies planned to leave Jack Russell Memorial Stadium after the 2003 season to move into a new ballpark, Bright House Networks Field, adjacent to the Carpenter Complex, the Phillies' minor league training facility. With the move to the new ballpark, the Clearwater Phillies were renamed the "Threshers" and adopted a new team logo and colors.
In 2004, the Clearwater Threshers were managed by former Phillies player and Hall of Famer, Mike Schmidt
Mike Schmidt
Michael Jack Schmidt is a Hall of Fame third baseman popularly considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of Major League Baseball. He played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies....
. Greg Legg managed the team in 2005 and 2006. Dave Huppert
Dave Huppert
David Blain Huppert is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and the inaugural manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of Minor League Baseball's International League for the season...
was the manager in 2007, and Razor Shines
Razor Shines
Anthony Razor Shines is a retired baseball player who played first base for the Montreal Expos for four seasons, from 1983–1985 and 1987. He also served as a base coach for the New York Mets from 2009 to 2010....
in 2008. Ernie Whitt
Ernie Whitt
Leo Ernest "Ernie" Whitt is a former Major League Baseball catcher and coach who is the current manager for the minor league Clearwater Threshers. He is noted for the twelve years he spent as a player with the Toronto Blue Jays...
was named the manager for the 2009 season after Shines was promoted to base coach for the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
.
In 2007, the Threshers won the second half in the FSL West Division. They defeated the Sarasota Reds (2–1) in the FSL West Division Playoffs, then defeated the Brevard County Manatees
Brevard County Manatees
The Brevard County Manatees are a minor league baseball team of the Florida State League, and are the A-Advanced affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers...
3 games to 1 in the FSL Championship Series (best-of-five) to win the FSL title. The Threshers were named MiLB.com's Class A Advanced Team of the Year.
On July 26, 2009, Pedro Martínez
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Jaime Martínez is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He is an eight-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2004 World Series champion...
made a rehab start for the Threshers against the St. Lucie Mets
St. Lucie Mets
The St. Lucie Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Port St. Lucie, Florida.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the High-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club.The team plays at Digital Domain Park...
at Bright House Field. Martinez pitched 1 1/3-innings before rain caused the game to be canceled, wiping out the official record of his start. Martinez subsequently moved to the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs for his next start.
On May 23rd, 2011 The Threshers gained national attention after playing in a 23 inning game against the Jupiter Hammerheads
Jupiter Hammerheads
The Jupiter Hammerheads are a minor league baseball team based in Jupiter, Florida, named for the hammerhead shark.The team, which plays in the Florida State League, is the Class A Advanced affiliate of the Miami Marlins major-league club....
.
Clearwater Phillies & Threshers in the Majors
- Pat BurrellPat BurrellPatrick Brian "Pat" Burrell , nicknamed "Pat the Bat," is a Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently a free agent. He stands tall and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed...
- Carlos CarrascoCarlos Carrasco (baseball)Carlos Luis Carrasco is a right-handed pitcher for the Cleveland Indians.-Career:Carrasco was signed as an undrafted free agent on November 25, by the Philadelphia Phillies. In , Carrasco spent the entire season at the Single-A level with the Lakewood BlueClaws, compiling a 2.26 ERA in 159.1...
- Cole HamelsCole HamelsColbert Michael "Cole" Hamels is a left-handed starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. Hamels throws a four-seam fastball, a circle changeup, a curveball, and a cut fastball, which he added in 2010...
- J. A. HappJ. A. HappJames Anthony "J. A." Happ is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Houston Astros. He is a six-foot-six left-hander. Though his name is James Anthony and his initials are "J...
- Ryan HowardRyan HowardRyan James Howard is a Major League Baseball first baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies. Nicknamed "The Big Piece", Howard stands and weighs . He bats and throws left-handed....
- Kyle KendrickKyle KendrickKyle Rodney Kendrick is a relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-High school:...
- Lou MarsonLou MarsonLouis Glenn Marson is an American professional baseball catcher with the Cleveland Indians of Major League Baseball. Marson stands and weighs . He bats and throws right-handed...
- Scott MathiesonScott MathiesonScott William Mathieson is a Canadian professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent....
- Elizardo RamirezElizardo RamírezElizardo Ramírez de Paula is a Major League Baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization.Ramírez is a typical finesse pitcher, with an average fastball that he throws anywhere from 88-92 MPH...
- Chris Roberson
- Michael SchwimerMichael SchwimerMichael Fredarick Schwimer is a Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies.The 6' 8" closer was drafted by the Phillies in 2008, out of the University of Virginia...
- Alfredo SimónAlfredo SimónAlfredo Simón Cabrera is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher with the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball. From 2001 through part of 2004 he pitched under the name Carlos Cabrera.-Minor leagues:...
- Chase UtleyChase UtleyChase Cameron Utley is a second baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. A native of the Greater Los Angeles area, he was raised in the city of Long Beach. He was a star baseball player at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, before moving on to UCLA...
- Mike Zagurski
Coaching staff
- Manager: Ernie WhittErnie WhittLeo Ernest "Ernie" Whitt is a former Major League Baseball catcher and coach who is the current manager for the minor league Clearwater Threshers. He is noted for the twelve years he spent as a player with the Toronto Blue Jays...
(Manager 2009) - Coaches: *Ramon HendersonRamon HendersonRamon Gaspar Henderson was the bullpen coach Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies from 1998-2008. In 2008, he was assigned a Minor League coaching position with the Rookie Level Clearwater Phillies...
(Bench Coach 2009) & Kevin Jordan (Hitting Coach 2008–2009) - Pitching Coach: *Dave Lundquist (Pitching Coach 2009)
- Trainer: Ichiro Kitano
Former coaches & trainers
- Mike SchmidtMike SchmidtMichael Jack Schmidt is a Hall of Fame third baseman popularly considered among the greatest third basemen in the history of Major League Baseball. He played his entire career for the Philadelphia Phillies....
(Manager – 2004) W-L: 55–81 - Greg LeggGreg LeggGregory Lynn "Greg" Legg is a former Major League Baseball player. In a 13-year professional playing career, he appeared in parts of two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, primarily as a second baseman and pinch hitter. He was officially listed as standing and weighing...
(Manager 2005–2006) W-L: 108–167 - Dave HuppertDave HuppertDavid Blain Huppert is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and the inaugural manager of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of Minor League Baseball's International League for the season...
(Manager 2007) W-L: 83–57 / League Champions - Razor ShinesRazor ShinesAnthony Razor Shines is a retired baseball player who played first base for the Montreal Expos for four seasons, from 1983–1985 and 1987. He also served as a base coach for the New York Mets from 2009 to 2010....
(Manager 2008) W-L: 64–76 - Manny Amador (Bench Coach 2004)
- Ken Dominguez (Bench Coach 2005)
- Dan RobertsDan RobertsDan Roberts is the bassist for the Canadian rock band, Crash Test Dummies, and brother of their lead singer, Brad Roberts.-Biography:...
(Hitting Coach 2004–2005) - Greg GrossGreg GrossGregory Eugene Gross , is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues from 1973-1989, playing for the Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, and Philadelphia Phillies...
(Hitting Coach 2006) - Brad KomminskBrad KomminskBrad Komminsk , is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Despite a sterling record in the minor leagues, he never played well in the majors...
(Hitting Coach 2007) - Scott Lovekamp (Pitching Coach 2005–2006)
- Steve SchrenkSteve SchrenkSteven Wayne Schrenk is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during two seasons at the major league level for the Philadelphia Phillies. He was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 4th round of the 1987 amateur draft...
(Pitching Coach 2004 & 2007–2008)
- Shawn Fcasni (Trainer)
- Jason Kirkman (Trainer)
- Ichiro Kitano (Trainer)
- Chris Mudd (Trainer)