Introducing the Lake County Captains

In 2010, the Hot Rods are being joined by the Lake County Captains in their move to the Midwest League. This means the two clubs will forever have a connection. However, if you dig below the surface, you'll find another connection: both teams were once based in Columbus, Georgia, before moving to their current cities of success.

TEAM: Lake County Captains

MLB AFFILIATE: Cleveland Indians (2003)

LOCATION: Eastlake, OH

FIRST SEASON: 2003

STADIUM (CAPACITY): Classic Park (6,150)

2009 RECORD: (South Atlantic League) 71-66, 3rd Place, SAL Northern Division

LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS: None; 2 playoff appearances

NOTABLE MLB ALUMNI: 22; Fausto Carmona (2003), Ben Francisco (2003), Kevin Kouzmanoff (2004), Rafael Perez (2004)

VS. BOWLING GREEN: 12 (April 23-35 @ BG, May 10-12 at LC, August 18-20 @ LC, August 25-27 @ BG)

The Captains began as the Columbus Indians, an expansion franchise in the South Atlantic League for the 1991 season. A year later, after a 73-win season, ownership changed the name from the Indians, after their Major League affiliate, to the RedStixx. The club stayed in Columbus for the next 11 seasons, putting together solid clubs but never winning the SAL title. After numerous ownership changes, the club packed its bags and moved to Eastlake, Ohio, giving birth to the Lake County Captains.

The first season on the shores of Lake Erie played out to near perfection, both in the moment and looking back. The club led all of baseball with the best winning percentage (.692), compiling a 98-43 record. After winning both the first and second-half championships, the club cruised into the South Atlantic League Finals. Although they came up short to Rome in the championship, the Captains were sailing in good weather, as 458,533 fans could attest to.

When you look back at that season now, it becomes even more impressive. The pitching staff was an impressive one, compiling a 2.67 team ERA, helped in large part by Fausto Carmona and his 17 wins and 2.04 ERA. The offense, featuring current Phillies outfielder Ben Francisco, did its part scoring nearly five runs per game. When you factor in the big league rehab appearances that season, including SS Omar Vizquel, the '03 Captains were a talented bunch.

A year later, not a whole lot changed. The club won more games (73) than it lost (66), but finished out of the SAL postseason chase. It featured current Padres infielder Kevin Kouzmanoff , who hit .330, as well as right-fielder Ryan Goleski and his 28 homers and 104 RBI. (To this day, Kouzmanoff's average and Goleski's home runs and RBI all rank second in franchise history in their respective categories.) On the mound, Rafael Perez won seven games as a starter en route to his current place in the Indians' major league bullpen. He was joined by 2003 first round draft pick Adam Miller, who struck out 106 batters in just 91 innings.

In 2006, the team's fourth season in Ohio, the Captains won just 64 games but still had a lot to boast about. First round pick Johnny Drennen made news on June 6 when he hit a home run off of Roger Clemens, who was making a rehab appearance with the Lexington Legends. Catcher Max Ramirez, who was nearly traded to the Boston Red Sox last week, joined the Captains in the second half of the season, hitting .307 over 37 games. The club hosted the SAL All-Star Game and celebrated their first alumni reaching the major leagues; five former Captains made MLB debuts, including Kouzmanoff and pitchers Carmona, Perez, Juan Lara, and Ed Mujica. Kouzmanoff made major league history by becoming the first player to hit a grand slam on the first pitch he saw in the majors.

After another down season with 64 wins in 2007, the Captains returned to the playoffs in 2008. They won the first-half Northern Division Championship before falling to West Virginia in the first round of the postseason. In 2009, their final year in the Sal, the Captains saw their season end after 140 games, despite winning 40 times in the second half of the season.

Now, getting to important matters, Classic Park, which is named for the Classic Auto Group, has your normal ballpark fare. But, if you like mustard, you'll need to try what is apparently the Holy Grail of mustard: Bertman's Original Ballpark Mustard. According to Lake County broadcaster Craig Deas, Bertman's has been served in Cleveland ballparks since the days when the Indians played in League Park, which closed in 1946.