River Cats, A's extend affiliation

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Athletics have announced that the club has extended its player development contract with the Sacramento of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League through the 2014 season. Sacramento has had a Minor League affiliation with the A's since 2000, the same season the River Cats christened 14,000-seat Raley Field in West Sacramento.

"We are delighted to continue one of the most successful Major League-Triple-A relationships in all of baseball," said A's vice president and general manager, Billy Beane. "We consider Sacramento to be the premier franchise in Minor League Baseball, providing us with an ideal situation in regards to a first-class playing facility, a supportive fan base and close proximity to the Bay Area. We are excited about continuing this very successful association.

Sacramento, which trailed Fresno by 12.5 games in mid-June this year, miraculously overhauled the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate to post a 79-65 record and win its ninth PCL Pacific South Division title in the last 11 seasons. Since 2000, the club has won four league championships (2003, '04, '07 and '08) and recorded a combined mark of 892-691 (.563) -- the best record of any PCL team in that span.

The River Cats have also led all of Minor League Baseball in attendance in nine of the last 11 seasons, finishing second in 2010 with an average of 9,137 fans per game. Lehigh Valley, the Philadelphia Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, topped the Minor Leagues with a 9,227 average.

"We are very excited to extend our affiliation with the Oakland A's for four more years," said Alan Ledford, president, general manager and COO of the River Cats. "Our 11-season partnership has produced more than 150 River Cats players who went on to play for the A's, nine division championships, four PCL Championships, and two Triple-A Baseball crowns -- a truly remarkable record. River Cats fans have become A's fans during this time, and vice versa. We appreciate the relationship with the A's ownership, management and Billy Beane, Keith Lieppman and their player development organization. We're already counting down the days to the start of the 2011 season."

Among the future Major Leaguers who played in Sacramento during the past decade are Kurt Suzuki, Nick Swisher, Barry Zito, Mark Mulder, Milton Bradley, Mark Ellis, Rich Harden, Mark Teahen, Huston Street, Ryan Ludwick, Andre Ethier, Justin Duchscherer, Joe Blanton and Brad Ziegler.