Getting to Know the Sacramento River Cats
Since their inception in 2000 the Sacramento River Cats (Oakland A's) have been a staple of excellence in the Pacific Coast League.
The 2012 Minor League Franchise of the Year has been a model of success both on and off the field.
Originally led in their front office by current El Paso Chihuahuas Team President Alan Ledford (2000-2009), Sacramento led the PCL in average attendance for each of their first 11 seasons. Sacramento was second in attendance to Round Rock in 2011 and 2012, and led the PCL again in average attendance in 2013; Sacramento led all of Minor League Baseball in attendance during their first eight seasons from 2000-2007.
During Ledford's tenure in Sacramento the River Cats led the PCL in average attendance every year, won four PCL Championships, and two Triple-A Championships.
Prior to playing at Raley Field in Sacramento, the River Cats played at Nat Bailey Stadium and were known as the Vancouver Canadians from 1978-1999. During this time period they changed Major League affiliation five times.
Upon the team's entry to the Pacific Coast League in 1978, the Canadians were affiliated with the Oakland Athletics.
From 1979-1986 the team would be affiliated with the Milwaukee Brewers before changing affiliations for one year to the Pittsburgh Pirates. From 1988-1993 the Canadians would be affiliated with the Chicago White Sox, and from 1994-1998 their affiliation was with the California/Anaheim Angels.
In 1999 the franchise came full circle as their affiliation returned to Oakland and they have remained the Triple-A franchise of the Athletics ever since.
Of the six cities to make up the original PCL, Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Seattle, Sacramento is the only charter member to still host a PCL team. The league, which was formed on December 29, 1902 at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, took the field for their inaugural season March 26,, 1903.
Professional baseball can be traced back as far as 1883 in Sacramento, and over the past 131 years the team has played under several identities.
Now known as the River Cats, Sacramento has been known as the Union, Altas, Senators, River Pirates, Gilt Edges, Cordovas, Sacts, Baby Senators, Mission Wolves, Solons, and Steelheads.
Sacramento has also experienced numerous periods without professional baseball, the longest of which spanned 1977-1998 before the independent Sacramento Steelheads took the field in the Western League in 1999, and the River Cats arrived in 2000.
Despite the changes in names and relocations the culture of baseball in Sacramento changed forever with the construction of Raley Field and the arrival of the River Cats.
Sacramento's success with their fans is rivaled only by their success on the field. In their 14 years of existence the River Cats have won 11 Division Championships, had winning records in 13 of those 14 years, and have graduated more than 200 players to the Major Leagues.
Amongst those 200+ players are several Major League staples that have gone on to win Cy Young awards, World Series Championships, Rookie-of-the-Years, play in All-Star games, throw perfect games, and much more. While every name can't be listed, here are a few that have made an impact in the Major Leagues.
Barry Zito - The 2002 Cy Young winner won 47 games in his first three seasons with the Oakland Athletics. He would go on to win the 2010 World Series as part of the San Francisco Giants.
Nick Swisher -A former Ohio State Buckeye, the field at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus is dedicated to him for his $500,000 donation to the renovation of the field. A 2010 MLB All-Star, he was a member of the 2009 New York Yankees World Series Championship squad.
Carlos Gonzalez - 3rd in the 2010 National League MVP race, Gonzalez is the franchise outfielder for the Colorado Rockies. He would spend time in both Sacramento and Oakland in 2008. He would join Colorado Springs in 2009, the Rockies that same year, and become a permanent fixture in the Colorado line-up.
Bobby Crosby - The PCL Rookie of the Year in 2003, he would go on to win the American League Rookie of the Year award in 2004.
Colby Lewis - Won the American League Championship Series clinching game for the Texas Rangers in 2010. Went 3-0 with a 1.71. ERA in the 2010 MLB Playoffs.
Dallas Braden - In 2010 he pitched the 19th perfect game in MLB history as a member of the Oakland Athletics. Accomplishing the feat on Mother's Day, the event was made even more significant to Braden having lost his mother to breast cancer. Oakland would place a commemorative graphic on their outfield wall in honor of the feat, and 12 days later on May 21 the city of Oakland would call that day "Dallas Braden Day".
Sacramento players would not just make an impact at the Major League Level, but also in the PCL. The River Cats would produce four PCL MVP's in their first seven seasons of existence. Jose Ortiz (2000), Graham Koonce (2003), Dan Johnson (2004), and Scott McClain (2006) would all take home the award.
Of the hundreds of players to pass through the Sacramento franchise, the one that has left one of the most lasting impressions is Mario Encarnacion.
Encarnacion was a fan favorite while in Sacramento. His stint with the River Cats was short, 2000-2001, but his impact will forever be felt through an award set up in his name.
While playing in Taiwan in 2005, Encarnacion tragically passed away from a congenital medical condition in his team dormitory. The River Cats, in his honor, started the Mario Encarnacion Humanitarian Award, which continues to this day, and awards a young student athlete who shows commitment to both his teammates and classmates; the athlete selected receives a special personalized commemorative gift.
Continually recognized for their business practices and community efforts, the River Cats are in continuous pursuit of their goals to provide quality family entertainment while continually supporting their community.
Their Hometown Heroes program honors local sports figures who have contributed to their sport, community, and family.
The first honorees of this initiative were Cordova High School baseball coach Guy Anderson and former Major League Baseball player and manager Jerry Manuel; coincidently Manuel also played for Anderson at Cordova High School.
Manuel played 15 professional season in MLB and became a manager with the New York Mets and Chicago White Sox; He would win Manager of the Year in 2000 while with the White Sox.
He would go on to establish the Jerry Manuel Foundation which focuses on youth and their journeys through life in serving their communities and becoming tomorrow's leaders.
Guy Anderson was the coach at Cordova high for 41 years and would send more than 40 players to four-year colleges to receive an education and play baseball; 12 players would go on to play in the Majors after playing for Anderson.
Anderson was also voted the National Coach of the Year in 1999 and was inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association, National High School Hall of Fame, and Sac-Joaquin Hall of Fame
In 2005 Sacramento was selected to host the Triple-A All-Star game. As a part of this distinct honor, the River Cats established Independence Field as a part of their All-Star Game Legacy Project.
The River Cats Foundation, along with River Cats Baseball, contributed cash, goods, and services totaling $250,000 over a three-year period to help establish a baseball diamond in south Sacramento resurfaced with a customized rubber turf.
The field, asides from this surface which is similar to the surface at the Paralympics, is equipped with special dugouts, restrooms, snack areas, and picnic areas redesigned to match accessibility standards for individuals with disabilities.
Sacramento also hosts a chapter of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer awareness foundation and has a "jerseys off our back" silent auction every year where they auction off pink jerseys worn during a specific game.
The River Cats efforts to reach local area students are exhibited through their AAA School Days. These days are an interactive and educational opportunity for students to learn the importance of "Attitude, Attendance, and Academics" as well as being a "person of character". More than 25,000 students and educators attend these assemblies annually.
Sacramento also offers Home Run Tours, which is a two-hour program that is available to fans year round where they can learn about the history of the ballpark, the game of baseball, and baseball-themed math. More than 5,000 students, parents, and educators go to a home run tour each year.
Experiences are not just centered around the younger Sacramento fans, however, as the River Cats work with area High Schools and Colleges to allow for their baseball teams to take the field at Raley Field and play some of their games on the same field as future Major League Stars.
The River Cats wives have also gotten in on the community efforts with their annual Player's Wives Food and Diaper Drive.
The event was started in 2000 by Pam Geren, wife of former River Cats Manager, and current Mets Bench Coach, Bob Geren and aims to raise funds and supplies for local families; Geren served as Athletics Manager from 2007-2011.
Fans are encouraged to donate food, diapers, and money at Raley Field and for every $20 donated, fans receive an autographed baseball card set of the River Cats. In the first 12 years of existence the drive has donated 50,000 pounds of food and $50,000 for local families.
The River Cats have built a culture of success both on and off the field with their players and within their community. They have proven to be a model franchise for all PCL teams and will be coming to El Paso for the Chihuahuas historic first weekend Friday May 2nd through Monday May 5th.
Sacramento is 15-12 on the season and are led by players such as Tyler Ladendorf, the team leader in batting average at .361, and Jake Goebbert, team leader in homeruns and total bases.
Probable pitchers for the River Cats include Marcus Walden, Sean Murphy, Zach Neal, and Arnold Leon.
This will be the first matchup between the River Cats and Chihuahuas this season and all the action can be heard on ESPN 600 with Tim Hagerty, or streamed live via www.epchihuahuas.com.
Be sure to see the River Cats this weekend when they make their first trip to El Paso!