Triple-A World Series
Encyclopedia
The Triple-A World Series is an infrequently held contest featuring the champions of each Triple-A level minor league
of Major League Baseball
, with the intent of crowning an overall champion of Triple-A Baseball.
The first Series was held in 1983 as a round robin tournament, it was revived as a best-of-five series from 1998-2000.
, the American Association
, and the Pacific Coast League
.
This was only a one-time event, and there was not another post-season meeting of these minor leagues until 1988-1991 when the International League and the American Association held the Triple-A Classic.
in Las Vegas, Nevada
during the third week of September and was televised live, worldwide, on ESPN2
.
The event was a sponsorship success, with companies such as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
, The Money Store, Cox Communications
, and the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino using the event as a springboard for a promotion presence in all 30 Triple-A markets. Additional hospitality events, such as dinner cruises, Las Vegas shows, cocktail parties, and golf outings, made the event memorable for sponsors, fans, players, and executives alike.
Sparse attendance was a problem; games were held on weekdays. The final series in 2000 even included two games played at noon in 100-degree heat. Fans of the participating teams had insufficient time to arrange plans to attend the event. During the 2000 event, average paid attendance hit a three-year low of 2,311.
Despite efforts by the city's convention bureau, it wasn't an easy task to get vacationers and conventioneers away from the casinos and into the ballpark to watch players they may have never heard of. ESPN2's television ratings for the 2000 series were low, especially when compared to the night games of the first two years when the time difference caused the games to air too late at night for most fans on the East Coast.
At the end of the original three-year deal, a new plan was hastily hammered out to buy the event time to work out a better situation for 2002. It was decided that the event would be cut from a five-day midweek event to a best-of-three series to be played Friday through Sunday. It was hoped that this arrangement would allow baseball fans from all over to make plans for a brief and enjoyable vacation in advance.
Meanwhile, plans also were in the works to try to move the event to a new site in 2002. Options initially included Cooperstown, New York
, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
. That proposal was supported by the IL owners, but shot down by those of the PCL. Despite the attraction of baseball history and charm, Doubleday Field
is small, old, has no lights, and fell well below Triple-A standards.
Other ideas included allowing venues to bid on the event on a year-by-year basis, or finding a way to move the event to the two home parks of the teams involved. The latter idea was the one that has been most ardently embraced by players, fans, and the PCL. But it also posed the most logistical problems because of the lack of preparation time, especially for a three-game series that could include teams from opposite corners of the country. There was also hostility from the Major Leagues regarding the Series because it would interfere with late-season pennant races and draw attention away from them in terms of television viewer attendance and, especially, player availability.
After the final Triple-A World Series in 2000, the International League and the Pacific Coast League returned to crowning their champions at the end of the season like normal. The two leagues would not meet again until 2006 in the Bricktown Showdown
, the revived Triple-A Championship, at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark
in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
. In 2009, the event was rebranded as the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game..
of the Pacific Coast League. Tidewater had defeated the Richmond Braves
3 games to 1 to win their league's championship, the Governors' Cup
. Denver defeated the Louisville Redbirds 4 games to 0 to win their league title, and Portland swept the Albuquerque Dukes
in 3 games to take the PCL crown.
Held in Louisville, Kentucky
, Tidewater ended up winning the tournament and the World Series, with a 3-1 round robin record. With a 2-2 record, Portland finished second, and Denver finished at 1-3 in third place. This format for a post-season champsionship was not repeated, and this was the last time all three leagues faced each other in the same season.
Buffalo defeated the Durham Bulls
3 games to 2 to advance to the World Series and New Orleans defeated the Calgary Cannons
3 games to 2 to advance.
The New Orleans Zephyrs hit eight home runs to defeat the Buffalo Bisons 3 games to 1 in this battle of former American Association rivals. Left-hander John Halama
went the distance for the Zephyrs in Game One, striking out nine and Daryle Ward
hit a pair of home runs as New Orleans won the inaugural game. James Betzold, Phil Hiatt
, and Jeff Manto
each had a pair of RBI as the Bisons evened the series with a Game Two victory. Ken Ramos
and Marc Ronan
hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game Three as New Orleans rallied for a 3-2 victory. Lance Berkman drove in six runs on three home runs and a single, while Casey Candaele
scored three runs as the New Orleans Zephyrs won Game Four to win the inaugural Las Vegas Triple-A World Series. Manto had three hits and three RBI in a losing effort.
Charlotte defeated the Durham Bulls 3 games to 1 to advance to the World Series and Vancouver defeated the Oklahoma RedHawks
3 games to 1 to advance.
The Vancouver franchise capped its final season in Canada
with a Triple-A World Series Title defeating the Charlotte Knights in 5 games. Eric Christopherson drove in Chad Mottola
in the bottom of the 9th inning to lead Charlotte in a Game One victory. Terrence Long drove in three runs as the Canadians tied the series with a 5-4 Game Two win. Jon Garland
struck out eight, allowing no earned runs, and Jeff Abbott
, Jeff Liefer
, and Luis Raven
homered as the Knights won Game Three, 4-2. Jeff Ball, Mario Encarnacion
, and Long each drove in two runs as Vancouver scored two in the bottom of the eighth inning to win Game Four 9-7. Tilson Brito had a pair of homers for Charlotte. Behind Mark Mulder
's complete game seven-hitter in Game Five, Vancouver blasted Charlotte 16-2 to win the 2nd Annual Triple-A World Series. Long drove in 4 runs, while José Ortiz
and Roberto Vaz had 3 RBI apiece for the Canadians.
Indianapolis defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
3 games to 2 to advance to the World Series and Memphis defeated the Salt Lake Stingers 3 games to 1 to advance.
The Indianapolis Indians became the first IL club to capture a Las Vegas Triple-A World Series Championship, topping Memphis in 4 games. Lyle Mouton
totaled four RBI as Indianapolis rolled to an 8-3 Game One victory. Game Two was as climactic as any in Triple-A World Series history. Memphis tied the score in the top of the 9th off IL All-Star closer Bob Scanlan
, but the Tribe's Creighton Gubanich
led off the bottom of the frame with a walk-off home run to give Indianapolis a 3-2 win and 2-0 series lead. Memphis climbed back into the series with a Game Three win, as Larry Sutton
hit two home runs to help the Redbirds erase an early two run deficit. Indianapolis ace left-hander Horacio Estrada
pitched a gem for the Tribe in Game Four, allowing two runs in the first inning, then holding Memphis scoreless for the next seven frames as the Indians won the series with a 9-2 victory.
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...
of 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...
, with the intent of crowning an overall champion of Triple-A Baseball.
The first Series was held in 1983 as a round robin tournament, it was revived as a best-of-five series from 1998-2000.
First series
The first Triple-A World Series was held in 1983 as a round robin tournament featuring the champions of each of the International LeagueInternational League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
, the American Association
American Association (20th century)
The American Association was a minor league baseball league at the Triple-A level of baseball in the United States from to and to . Together with the International League, it contested the Junior World Series which determined the championship team in minor league baseball, at least for the...
, and the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
.
This was only a one-time event, and there was not another post-season meeting of these minor leagues until 1988-1991 when the International League and the American Association held the Triple-A Classic.
Second series
A revived Triple-A World Series was held from 1998-2000 between the International League and the Pacific Coast League, after the realignment of Triple-A from three leagues to two. It matched Triple-A Baseball's two league champions in a best-of-five series to determine an overall Triple-A Champion. The Series, was played at Cashman FieldCashman Field
Cashman Field is a stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada owned and operated by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. Its primary use is for baseball, and is the home field of the Las Vegas 51s Triple-A minor league baseball team, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Cashman Field opened in 1983...
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
during the third week of September and was televised live, worldwide, on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
.
The event was a sponsorship success, with companies such as the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is a public/private partnership that owns and operates the Las Vegas Convention Center, Cashman Center, and Cashman Field and is responsible for the advertising campaigns for the Clark County, Nevada area....
, The Money Store, Cox Communications
Cox Communications
Cox Communications is a privately owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises providing digital cable television, telecommunications and wireless services in the United States...
, and the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino using the event as a springboard for a promotion presence in all 30 Triple-A markets. Additional hospitality events, such as dinner cruises, Las Vegas shows, cocktail parties, and golf outings, made the event memorable for sponsors, fans, players, and executives alike.
End of the Triple-A World Series
Just a few months after apparently sealing the deal on a revised version of the Triple-A World Series for 2001, it was announced the event would be placed on indefinite hiatus.Sparse attendance was a problem; games were held on weekdays. The final series in 2000 even included two games played at noon in 100-degree heat. Fans of the participating teams had insufficient time to arrange plans to attend the event. During the 2000 event, average paid attendance hit a three-year low of 2,311.
Despite efforts by the city's convention bureau, it wasn't an easy task to get vacationers and conventioneers away from the casinos and into the ballpark to watch players they may have never heard of. ESPN2's television ratings for the 2000 series were low, especially when compared to the night games of the first two years when the time difference caused the games to air too late at night for most fans on the East Coast.
At the end of the original three-year deal, a new plan was hastily hammered out to buy the event time to work out a better situation for 2002. It was decided that the event would be cut from a five-day midweek event to a best-of-three series to be played Friday through Sunday. It was hoped that this arrangement would allow baseball fans from all over to make plans for a brief and enjoyable vacation in advance.
Meanwhile, plans also were in the works to try to move the event to a new site in 2002. Options initially included Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown, New York
Cooperstown is a village in Otsego County, New York, USA. It is located in the Town of Otsego. The population was estimated to be 1,852 at the 2010 census.The Village of Cooperstown is the county seat of Otsego County, New York...
, home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
. That proposal was supported by the IL owners, but shot down by those of the PCL. Despite the attraction of baseball history and charm, Doubleday Field
Doubleday Field
Doubleday Field is a baseball stadium in Cooperstown, New York named for Abner Doubleday and located two city blocks from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.The grounds have been used for baseball since 1920, on what was Elihu Phinney's farm...
is small, old, has no lights, and fell well below Triple-A standards.
Other ideas included allowing venues to bid on the event on a year-by-year basis, or finding a way to move the event to the two home parks of the teams involved. The latter idea was the one that has been most ardently embraced by players, fans, and the PCL. But it also posed the most logistical problems because of the lack of preparation time, especially for a three-game series that could include teams from opposite corners of the country. There was also hostility from the Major Leagues regarding the Series because it would interfere with late-season pennant races and draw attention away from them in terms of television viewer attendance and, especially, player availability.
After the final Triple-A World Series in 2000, the International League and the Pacific Coast League returned to crowning their champions at the end of the season like normal. The two leagues would not meet again until 2006 in the Bricktown Showdown
Bricktown Showdown
The Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game, previously known as the Bricktown Showdown, is a single championship game held annually between the league champions of the International League and Pacific Coast League Triple-A leagues of minor league baseball to determine an overall champion of...
, the revived Triple-A Championship, at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark
AT&T Bricktown Ballpark
RedHawks Field at Bricktown opened in 1998 in downtown Oklahoma City's Bricktown district, replacing All Sports Stadium. It is the home of the Oklahoma City RedHawks, the AAA affiliate of the Houston Astros major league baseball team. The park seats 13,066 fans.The stadium frequently hosts the Big...
in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
. In 2009, the event was rebranded as the Triple-A Baseball National Championship Game..
1983 Triple-A World Series
The three league champions in 1983 were the Tidewater Tides of the International League, the Denver Bears of the American Association, and the Portland BeaversPortland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
of the Pacific Coast League. Tidewater had defeated the Richmond Braves
Richmond Braves
The Richmond Braves were the Triple-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves and played in the International League. Colloquially referred to as the R-Braves, they were based in Richmond, Virginia, where they played from 1966, when the Milwaukee Braves moved to Atlanta where their AAA team, the Crackers,...
3 games to 1 to win their league's championship, the Governors' Cup
Governors' Cup
The Governors' Cup is the trophy awarded each year to the champion of the International League, one of the two current Triple-A level minor leagues of Major League Baseball.-Governors' Cup history:...
. Denver defeated the Louisville Redbirds 4 games to 0 to win their league title, and Portland swept the Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
in 3 games to take the PCL crown.
Held in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Tidewater ended up winning the tournament and the World Series, with a 3-1 round robin record. With a 2-2 record, Portland finished second, and Denver finished at 1-3 in third place. This format for a post-season champsionship was not repeated, and this was the last time all three leagues faced each other in the same season.
1998 Las Vegas Triple-A World Series
| Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Zephyrs New Orleans Zephyrs The New Orleans Zephyrs are a minor league baseball team based in Metairie, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans. The Zephyrs play in the Pacific Coast League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the Miami Marlins. The Zephyrs play their home games at Zephyr Field.... (PCL) def Buffalo Bisons Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets... (IL) (3-1) |
||||
| Game 1 | New Orleans Zephyrs | 7 | Buffalo Bisons | 3 |
| Game 2 | New Orleans Zephyrs | 2 | Buffalo Bisons | 9 |
| Game 3 | New Orleans Zephyrs | 3 | Buffalo Bisons | 2 |
| Game 4 | New Orleans Zephyrs | 12 | Buffalo Bisons | 6 |
| MVP: Lance Berkman Lance Berkman William Lance Berkman is an American professional baseball outfielder and right fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals of Major League Baseball.... , OF, New Orleans (.467, 3 HR, 6 RBI) |
||||
Buffalo defeated the Durham Bulls
Durham Bulls
The Durham Bulls are a minor league baseball team that currently plays in the International League. The Bulls play their home games at Durham Bulls Athletic Park located in the downtown area of Durham, North Carolina. Durham Bulls Athletic Park is often called the "DBAP" or "D-Bap". The Bulls are...
3 games to 2 to advance to the World Series and New Orleans defeated the Calgary Cannons
Calgary Cannons
The Calgary Cannons were a minor league baseball team located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for 18 seasons, from 1985 until 2002. They were a member of the AAA Pacific Coast League and played at Foothills Stadium. The Cannons replaced the Calgary Expos who played in the rookie level Pioneer League...
3 games to 2 to advance.
The New Orleans Zephyrs hit eight home runs to defeat the Buffalo Bisons 3 games to 1 in this battle of former American Association rivals. Left-hander John Halama
John Halama
John Thadeuz Halama is a Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently playing for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the Atlantic League. During his major league career, Halama played with the Houston Astros , Seattle Mariners , Oakland Athletics , Tampa Bay Devil Rays , Boston Red Sox , Washington...
went the distance for the Zephyrs in Game One, striking out nine and Daryle Ward
Daryle Ward
Daryle Lamar Ward is an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, and plays in the Minor League farm system. He has not played in the Majors since 2008. He bats and throws left-handed. The 6-foot-2, 240 pound Ward was drafted by the Detroit Tigers...
hit a pair of home runs as New Orleans won the inaugural game. James Betzold, Phil Hiatt
Phil Hiatt
Phillip Farrell Hiatt in Pensacola, Florida, is a retired Major League Baseball utility player.Hiatt played college baseball at Louisiana Tech University....
, and Jeff Manto
Jeff Manto
Jeffrey Paul Manto is a former journeyman Major League Baseball player.-Early career:Manto attended Temple University, where he played baseball. Manto was drafted in the 35th round of the 1982 Major League Baseball Draft by the New York Yankees, but opted not to sign with them...
each had a pair of RBI as the Bisons evened the series with a Game Two victory. Ken Ramos
Ken Ramos
Kenneth Cecil Ramos is a former Major League Baseball player and all-star minor league player. He played in 14 games for the Houston Astros in ....
and Marc Ronan
Marc Ronan
Edward Marcus Ronan is a retired Major League Baseball catcher who played in six games for the St. Louis Cardinals in . Ronan also spent eleven seasons in the minor league organizations of the Cardinals, Florida Marlins, New York Yankees, Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies.- External links :...
hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the eighth inning of Game Three as New Orleans rallied for a 3-2 victory. Lance Berkman drove in six runs on three home runs and a single, while Casey Candaele
Casey Candaele
Casey Todd Candaele is a former Major League Baseball player from 1986 to 1997 for the Montreal Expos, Houston Astros, and Cleveland Indians. Candaele was known as a versatile utility player who could play many infield and outfield positions. His mother, Helen Callaghan St...
scored three runs as the New Orleans Zephyrs won Game Four to win the inaugural Las Vegas Triple-A World Series. Manto had three hits and three RBI in a losing effort.
1999 Las Vegas Triple-A World Series
| Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Canadians (PCL) def. Charlotte Knights Charlotte Knights The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League... (IL) (3-2) |
||||
| Game 1 | Vancouver Canadians | 5 | Charlotte Knights | 6 |
| Game 2 | Vancouver Canadians | 5 | Charlotte Knights | 4 |
| Game 3 | Vancouver Canadians | 2 | Charlotte Knights | 4 |
| Game 4 | Vancouver Canadians | 9 | Charlotte Knights | 7 |
| Game 5 | Vancouver Canadians | 16 | Charlotte Knights | 2 |
| MVP: Terrence Long Terrence Long Terrence Deon Long is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. Long batted and threw left-handed.... , OF, Vancouver (.429, 9 H, 10 RBI) |
||||
Charlotte defeated the Durham Bulls 3 games to 1 to advance to the World Series and Vancouver defeated the Oklahoma RedHawks
Oklahoma RedHawks
The Oklahoma City RedHawks are a minor league baseball team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The team, which plays in the Pacific Coast League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros...
3 games to 1 to advance.
The Vancouver franchise capped its final season in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with a Triple-A World Series Title defeating the Charlotte Knights in 5 games. Eric Christopherson drove in Chad Mottola
Chad Mottola
Charles Edward "Chad" Mottola is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who is currently the hitting coach for the Las Vegas 51s...
in the bottom of the 9th inning to lead Charlotte in a Game One victory. Terrence Long drove in three runs as the Canadians tied the series with a 5-4 Game Two win. Jon Garland
Jon Garland
Jon Steven Garland is a right-handed starting pitcher, who is currently a free agent.-High school career:At John F...
struck out eight, allowing no earned runs, and Jeff Abbott
Jeff Abbott (baseball)
Jeffrey William Abbott is a retired professional baseball player who played outfielder in the major leagues from -. He played for the Chicago White Sox and Florida Marlins.-External links:...
, Jeff Liefer
Jeff Liefer
Jeffrey David Liefer is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He was drafted in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft by the Chicago White Sox...
, and Luis Raven
Luis Raven
Luis Raven is a former outfield prospect who reached as high as AAA in the Anaheim Angels and Florida Marlins farm systems. He threw and batted right-handed, was 6'0" tall and weighed 185 pounds. Perhaps his two best seasons in the minors were 1994 and 2000...
homered as the Knights won Game Three, 4-2. Jeff Ball, Mario Encarnacion
Mario Encarnacion
Mario González Encarnación was a baseball outfielder born in Baní, Dominican Republic. He played for the Colorado Rockies and Chicago Cubs for a brief duration—23 games in and ....
, and Long each drove in two runs as Vancouver scored two in the bottom of the eighth inning to win Game Four 9-7. Tilson Brito had a pair of homers for Charlotte. Behind Mark Mulder
Mark Mulder
Mark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...
's complete game seven-hitter in Game Five, Vancouver blasted Charlotte 16-2 to win the 2nd Annual Triple-A World Series. Long drove in 4 runs, while José Ortiz
José Ortiz (second baseman)
José Daniel Ortiz is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He has played all or part of three seasons in the majors, and is currently playing for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of the Pacific League in Japan.-Early career and MLB debut:...
and Roberto Vaz had 3 RBI apiece for the Canadians.
2000 Las Vegas Triple-A World Series
| Results | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis Indians Indianapolis Indians The Indianapolis Indians are a minor league baseball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates major-league club. The Indians play at Victory Field, located in downtown Indianapolis... (IL) def. Memphis Redbirds Memphis Redbirds The Memphis Redbirds are the Triple-A minor league baseball affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They play their home games at AutoZone Park in downtown Memphis, Tennessee. The stadium's capacity is 14,320. They entered the Pacific Coast League as an expansion team in 1998, and were owned as a... (PCL) (3-1) |
||||
| Game 1 | Indianapolis Indians | 8 | Memphis Redbirds | 3 |
| Game 2 | Indianapolis Indians | 3 | Memphis Redbirds | 2 |
| Game 3 | Indianapolis Indians | 4 | Memphis Redbirds | 11 |
| Game 4 | Indianapolis Indians | 9 | Memphis Redbirds | 2 |
| MVP: Santiago Pérez, SS, Indianapolis (.462, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R) | ||||
Indianapolis defeated the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons
The Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees are a professional minor league baseball club located based in the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre area. They currently play in the International League's Northern Division and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees Major League Baseball club...
3 games to 2 to advance to the World Series and Memphis defeated the Salt Lake Stingers 3 games to 1 to advance.
The Indianapolis Indians became the first IL club to capture a Las Vegas Triple-A World Series Championship, topping Memphis in 4 games. Lyle Mouton
Lyle Mouton
Lyle Joseph Mouton , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1995-2001. He also played part of 1998 in Japan for the Yakult Swallows....
totaled four RBI as Indianapolis rolled to an 8-3 Game One victory. Game Two was as climactic as any in Triple-A World Series history. Memphis tied the score in the top of the 9th off IL All-Star closer Bob Scanlan
Bob Scanlan
Robert Guy Scanlan Jr. , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1991-2001...
, but the Tribe's Creighton Gubanich
Creighton Gubanich
Creighton Wade Gubanich is a retired baseball player who played briefly in the major leagues in 1999 for the Boston Red Sox...
led off the bottom of the frame with a walk-off home run to give Indianapolis a 3-2 win and 2-0 series lead. Memphis climbed back into the series with a Game Three win, as Larry Sutton
Larry Sutton
Larry James Sutton is a former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, St. Louis Cardinals, and Florida Marlins. He attended Mater Dei High School and the University of Illinois....
hit two home runs to help the Redbirds erase an early two run deficit. Indianapolis ace left-hander Horacio Estrada
Horacio Estrada
Horacio Estrada Jimenez is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who currently is a free agent.Estrada played with the Milwaukee Brewers and Colorado Rockies...
pitched a gem for the Tribe in Game Four, allowing two runs in the first inning, then holding Memphis scoreless for the next seven frames as the Indians won the series with a 9-2 victory.