Edmonton Cracker-Cats
Encyclopedia
The Edmonton Capitals are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton
, Alberta
. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League
in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz
in 2009, after which the team was renamed. The Capitals are not affiliated with Major League Baseball
. They now play in the North Division of the North American League
.
("cat cracking" for short), which is part of the process of refining crude oil into gasoline by converting high boiling hydrocarbons into smaller molecules. They played the first game of their inaugural season on May 20, 2005, on the road against the Kansas City T-Bones
. Their first home game did not take place until one week later when they hosted the Sioux Falls Canaries in front of 7,894 fans.
On June 13, 2006, a string of bean balls in the first two innings touched off two major brawls between the Cracker-Cats and their provincial rivals, the Calgary Vipers
. After Edmonton's Greg Morrison was hit by a Calgary pitch for the fourth time in five games, the Cracker-Cats responded by throwing at two Calgary players. The resulting melee was so violent that the umpires sent both teams off the field, and suspended the game for over an hour to consult with league officials. When the Cracker-Cats refused to return to the field afterward, the game was declared a forfeit and the Vipers were awarded a 9–0 victory even though Edmonton was leading 1–0. As a result of the suspension, Cracker-Cats manager Terry Bevington
resigned. The league came down hard on both teams, as both managers and seven players were suspended a total of 79 games. Morrison blamed Calgary manager Mike Busch for the incident, believing that Busch held a grudge after both Morrison and another former Viper, J.P. Fauske defected to the Cracker-Cats after leaving the Vipers after a falling out with the Calgary manager late in the 2005 season.
On July 18, 2006, Stubby Clapp was named Most Valuable Player
of the Northern League All-Star Game. On September 3, 2006, the 'Cats finished their second season six games back in the wild card race and missed the playoffs.
The 2007 season was a major disappointment. Al Coates, a sports broadcaster, was named general manager of the Edmonton Cracker-Cats
for the 2007 season, and despite adding three former Major Leaguers, Ryan Radmanovich
, Mike Johnson, and Lou Pote
, the 'Cats finished 38–58 and last in the league.
On August 22, 2008, the Cracker-Cats clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Orange County Flyers 13–4 and won the second half. They faced the Vipers, who won the first half, in the first-ever North Division Championship Series, but were swept by Calgary 3 games to 0.
On February 4, 2009, the Cracker-Cats were purchased for $400,000 by Katz Baseball Corp. led by Daryl Katz who also owns the National Hockey League's
Edmonton Oilers
. A new name was drawn from a contest, renaming the franchise the Capitals.
in 2010 and began play in 2011. The Capitals won the league championship in the inaugural season of the NAL.
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz
Daryl Katz
Daryl Allan Katz is a Canadian businessman, philanthropist, and arts patron. With an estimated net worth of $US 2.0 billion , Katz was ranked by Forbes as the 16th wealthiest Canadian and 595th in the world...
in 2009, after which the team was renamed. The Capitals are not affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. They now play in the North Division of the North American League
North American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
.
Northern League (2005–2007)
The Cracker-Cats began as an expansion team in 2005 as a member of the Northern League. The name "Cracker-Cats" is derived from the oil industry term fluid catalytic crackingCracking (chemistry)
In petroleum geology and chemistry, cracking is the process whereby complex organic molecules such as kerogens or heavy hydrocarbons are broken down into simpler molecules such as light hydrocarbons, by the breaking of carbon-carbon bonds in the precursors. The rate of cracking and the end products...
("cat cracking" for short), which is part of the process of refining crude oil into gasoline by converting high boiling hydrocarbons into smaller molecules. They played the first game of their inaugural season on May 20, 2005, on the road against the Kansas City T-Bones
Kansas City T-Bones
The Kansas City T-Bones are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Kansas, in the United States. The T-Bones are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
. Their first home game did not take place until one week later when they hosted the Sioux Falls Canaries in front of 7,894 fans.
On June 13, 2006, a string of bean balls in the first two innings touched off two major brawls between the Cracker-Cats and their provincial rivals, the Calgary Vipers
Calgary Vipers
The Calgary Vipers were a professional baseball team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They were part of the Western Division of the independent North American League. The Vipers have played all of their home games at Foothills Stadium. Previously, the Vipers played in the Northern League from...
. After Edmonton's Greg Morrison was hit by a Calgary pitch for the fourth time in five games, the Cracker-Cats responded by throwing at two Calgary players. The resulting melee was so violent that the umpires sent both teams off the field, and suspended the game for over an hour to consult with league officials. When the Cracker-Cats refused to return to the field afterward, the game was declared a forfeit and the Vipers were awarded a 9–0 victory even though Edmonton was leading 1–0. As a result of the suspension, Cracker-Cats manager Terry Bevington
Terry Bevington
Terry Paul Bevington is a former manager of the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball.Bevington was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, where he was a standout high school baseball player. He spent seven seasons in the minor leagues after being drafted by the New York Yankees in 1974...
resigned. The league came down hard on both teams, as both managers and seven players were suspended a total of 79 games. Morrison blamed Calgary manager Mike Busch for the incident, believing that Busch held a grudge after both Morrison and another former Viper, J.P. Fauske defected to the Cracker-Cats after leaving the Vipers after a falling out with the Calgary manager late in the 2005 season.
On July 18, 2006, Stubby Clapp was named Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the Northern League All-Star Game. On September 3, 2006, the 'Cats finished their second season six games back in the wild card race and missed the playoffs.
The 2007 season was a major disappointment. Al Coates, a sports broadcaster, was named general manager of the Edmonton Cracker-Cats
Edmonton Cracker-Cats
The Edmonton Capitals are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton, Alberta. Known originally as the Edmonton Cracker-Cats, they began play in the Northern League in 2005 before switching to the Golden Baseball League in 2008. The team was sold to Daryl Katz in 2009, after which the team was...
for the 2007 season, and despite adding three former Major Leaguers, Ryan Radmanovich
Ryan Radmanovich
Ryan Ashley Radmanovich is a baseball right fielder.Radmanovich is a graduate of Pepperdine University. He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1993 amateur entry draft...
, Mike Johnson, and Lou Pote
Lou Pote
Louis William Pote and living in Sherwood Park Alberta is an American professional baseball player who last played for the Edmonton Capitals of the North American League. A pitcher, Pote played for in Major League Baseball for the Anaheim Angels from 1999 to 2002 and the Cleveland Indians in 2004...
, the 'Cats finished 38–58 and last in the league.
Golden Baseball League (2008-2010)
After three years in the Northern League, the Cracker-Cats joined the Golden Baseball League on October 24, 2007. This occurred just after the rival Vipers jumped to the league. On June 30, 2008, The 'Cats set a new attendance record of 8,676 fans against the Vipers.On August 22, 2008, the Cracker-Cats clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Orange County Flyers 13–4 and won the second half. They faced the Vipers, who won the first half, in the first-ever North Division Championship Series, but were swept by Calgary 3 games to 0.
On February 4, 2009, the Cracker-Cats were purchased for $400,000 by Katz Baseball Corp. led by Daryl Katz who also owns the National Hockey League's
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. A new name was drawn from a contest, renaming the franchise the Capitals.
North American League (2011-present)
The Capitals were one of six former GBL teams to join the newly-formed North American LeagueNorth American League
The North American League is an independent baseball league that began play in the 2011 season...
in 2010 and began play in 2011. The Capitals won the league championship in the inaugural season of the NAL.
Year-by-year record
| First Half | Second Half | Overall | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Division | W-L | Finish | W-L | Finish | W-L | Win% | Finish | Playoffs | ||||||
| 2005 | NL North | 22–26 | 5th | 25–22 | 3rd | 47–48 | .495 | -- | Did not qualify | ||||||
| 2006 | NL North | 21–27 | 3rd | 23–25 | T-3 | 44–52 | .458 | -- | Did not qualify | ||||||
| 2007 | NL North | 19–29 | 4th | 19–29 | 4th | 37–58 | .389 | -- | Did not qualify | ||||||
| 2008 | GBL North | 22–21 | 2nd | 29–15 | 1st | 51–36 | .586 | -- | Lost North Division playoff 0–3 to Calgary | ||||||
| 2009 | GBL North | 23–18 | 2nd | 21-20 | 2nd | 44-38 | .537 | -- | Lost North Division playoff 1–3 to Calgary. | ||||||
| 2010 | GBL North | 29–16 | 2nd | 22-22 | 4th | 51-38 | .573 | -- | Did not qualify | ||||||
| 2011 | NABL North | -- | -- | -- | -- | 56-32 | .636 | 1st | Won North Division playoff 4–2 over Calgary. Won NAL Championship 4-1 over Rio Grande Valley | ||||||