Difference between revisions of "Princeton Rays"

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The '''Princeton Rays''' (formerly the '''Princeton Devil Rays''') are the Tampa Bay Rays' minor league affiliate in the Advanced-Rookie [[Appalachian League]].
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<!-- Start Affiliate Franchise Infobox -->
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{{Template:InfoboxFranAff
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| team      = Princeton Rays
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| image    = Princeton-rays-logo.gif
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| names    = [[Princeton Pirates]] (1988-89)<br />[[Princeton Patriots]] (1990)<br />[[Princeton Reds]] (1991-96)<br />[[Princeton Devil Rays]] (1997-2008)<br />'''Princeton Rays''' (2009-Pres.)
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| affil    = [[Pittsburgh Pirates|Pittsburgh]] (1988-89)<br />Co-Op (1990)<br />[[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati]] (1991-96)<br />'''[[Tampa Bay Devil Rays|Tampa Bay]]''' (1997-Pres.)
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| city      = [[Princeton, WV]] (1988-Pres.)
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| class    = Advanced-Rookie
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| league    = [[Appalachian League]]
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| ballpark  = [[Hunnicutt Field]] (1997-Pres.)
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| debutdate = [[June 18]]
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| debutyear = [[Princeton Devil Rays/1997|1997]]
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| debutopp  = [[Bluefield Orioles|Bluefield]]
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| finaldate =
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| finalyear =
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| finalopp  =
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}}
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<!-- End Affiliate Franchise Infobox -->
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The '''Princeton Rays''' (formerly the '''Princeton Devil Rays''') are [[Tampa Bay Rays|Tampa Bay's]] minor league affiliate in the Advanced-Rookie [[Appalachian League]].
  
 
== Franchise History ==
 
== Franchise History ==
With backing from Allen Coppinger (a supporter of the [[Bluefield Orioles|Bluefield]] team that resided in the same county) and then-Appalachian League President [[Bill Halstead]], Princeton sent a small delegation to the [[Winter Meetings]] being held in [[Dallas, TX]] in 1987. Officials from the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] visited the following month, and quickly announced intentions to field a team in the town.  Given only 5 months to prepare, the community managed to be ready for the beginning of the 1988 season, including building a new ballpark, [[Hunnicutt Field]].  Princeton began play in the Advanced-Rookie [[Appalachian League]] in 1988 as an affiliate of the Pirates, named after the parent club.
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With backing from Allen Coppinger (a supporter of the [[Bluefield Orioles|Bluefield]] team that resides in the same county) and then-Appalachian League President [[Bill Halstead]], Princeton sent a small delegation to the [[Winter Meetings]] being held in [[Dallas, TX]] in 1987. Officials from the [[Pittsburgh Pirates]] visited the following month, and quickly announced intentions to field a team in the town.   
  
The relationship with Pittsburgh lasted for only two seasons. In 1990 Princeton fielded a Co-Op team, dubbed the Princeton Patriots, stocked with players from the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Chicago Cubs]] and [[Atlanta Braves]] organizations.
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Given only 5 months to prepare, the community managed to be ready for the beginning of the 1988 season, including building a new ballpark, [[Hunnicutt Field]].  Princeton began play in the Advanced-Rookie [[Appalachian League]] in 1988 as an affiliate of the Pirates, named after the parent club. The relationship with Pittsburgh lasted for only two seasons.  
  
In 1991, Princeton regained full affiliation, this time with the [[Cincinnati Reds]], and took the named of the new parent club.  Later that year, then-team president [[Hames Thompson]] hired the franchise's first full-time employee, [[Jim Holland]], to be the General Manager, who has presided in that position to the present day.<ref name="PRaysHist">{{cite web |title=Franchise History of Pro Baseball in Princeton |work=princetondevilrays.com |publisher=Princeton Devil Rays |archiveurl=http://replay.web.archive.org/20041207155910/http://www.princetondevilrays.com/history.html |archivedate=December 7, 2004 |accessdate=May 17, 2011}}</ref>
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In 1990 Princeton fielded a Co-Op team, dubbed the Princeton Patriots, stocked with players from the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], [[Chicago Cubs]] and [[Atlanta Braves]] organizations.
  
== Affiliation History ==
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In 1991, Princeton regained full affiliation, this time with the [[Cincinnati Reds]], and took the named of the new parent club.  Later that year, then-team president [[Hames Thompson]] hired the franchise's first full-time employee, [[Jim Holland]], to be the General Manager.<ref name="PRaysHist">{{cite web |title=Franchise History of Pro Baseball in Princeton |work=princetondevilrays.com |publisher=Princeton Devil Rays |archiveurl=http://replay.web.archive.org/20041207155910/http://www.princetondevilrays.com/history.html |archivedate=December 7, 2004 |accessdate=May 17, 2011}}</ref> Holland has presided in that position since then.
=== Team Affiliations ===
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{|
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!Year(s)
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!Parent Club(s)
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| 1988-89 || [[Pittsburgh Pirates|Pittsburgh]]
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| 1990 || Co-Op ([[Atlanta Braves|Atlanta]], [[Chicago Cubs]] & [[Philadelphia Phillies|Philadelphia]])
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|+
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| 1991-96 || [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati]]
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| style="background-color:#FFD90F;" | '''1996-Present'''
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| style="background-color:#FFD90F;" | '''[[Tampa Bay Devil Rays|Tampa Bay]]'''
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|}
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=== Affiliation with Tampa Bay ===
 
=== Affiliation with Tampa Bay ===
 
Princetons's affiliation with Tampa Bay was announced on [[September 26]], 1996<ref name="PRaysAffAnnouce">{{cite news |title=Rays add rookie team in Princeton, W.Va. |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=September 27, 1996 |last=Topkin |first=Marc |page=4C |ref=SPTAnnouce}}</ref>, and has continued to the present.
 
Princetons's affiliation with Tampa Bay was announced on [[September 26]], 1996<ref name="PRaysAffAnnouce">{{cite news |title=Rays add rookie team in Princeton, W.Va. |newspaper=St. Petersburg Times |date=September 27, 1996 |last=Topkin |first=Marc |page=4C |ref=SPTAnnouce}}</ref>, and has continued to the present.
 
== Stadium ==
 
* [[Hunnicutt Field]]
 
  
 
== Ownership ==
 
== Ownership ==
 
* [[Tampa Bay Rays]]
 
* [[Tampa Bay Rays]]
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* [[Princeton Baseball Association|Princeton Baseball Association, Inc.]]
  
 
== References ==
 
== References ==
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* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t455 Princeton Rays] Official Site
 
* [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t455 Princeton Rays] Official Site
  
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{{Template:Advanced-Rookie Affiliates}}
 
[[Category:Princeton Rays]]
 
[[Category:Princeton Rays]]
 
[[Category:Princeton Devil Rays]]
 
[[Category:Princeton Devil Rays]]
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[[Category:Appalachian League]]
 
[[Category:Appalachian League]]
 
[[Category:Current Minor League affiliates]]
 
[[Category:Current Minor League affiliates]]
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[[Category:Team stubs]]

Latest revision as of 22:58, 9 April 2012

Princeton Rays
Princeton-rays-logo.gif
Team name:  Princeton Pirates (1988-89)
Princeton Patriots (1990)
Princeton Reds (1991-96)
Princeton Devil Rays (1997-2008)
Princeton Rays (2009-Pres.)
Affiliation:  Pittsburgh (1988-89)
Co-Op (1990)
Cincinnati (1991-96)
Tampa Bay (1997-Pres.)
Location:  Princeton, WV (1988-Pres.)
Class:  Advanced-Rookie
League:  Appalachian League
Ballpark:  Hunnicutt Field (1997-Pres.)
First organizational game
June 18, 1997 vs. Bluefield

The Princeton Rays (formerly the Princeton Devil Rays) are Tampa Bay's minor league affiliate in the Advanced-Rookie Appalachian League.

Franchise History

With backing from Allen Coppinger (a supporter of the Bluefield team that resides in the same county) and then-Appalachian League President Bill Halstead, Princeton sent a small delegation to the Winter Meetings being held in Dallas, TX in 1987. Officials from the Pittsburgh Pirates visited the following month, and quickly announced intentions to field a team in the town.

Given only 5 months to prepare, the community managed to be ready for the beginning of the 1988 season, including building a new ballpark, Hunnicutt Field. Princeton began play in the Advanced-Rookie Appalachian League in 1988 as an affiliate of the Pirates, named after the parent club. The relationship with Pittsburgh lasted for only two seasons.

In 1990 Princeton fielded a Co-Op team, dubbed the Princeton Patriots, stocked with players from the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs and Atlanta Braves organizations.

In 1991, Princeton regained full affiliation, this time with the Cincinnati Reds, and took the named of the new parent club. Later that year, then-team president Hames Thompson hired the franchise's first full-time employee, Jim Holland, to be the General Manager.[1] Holland has presided in that position since then.

Affiliation with Tampa Bay

Princetons's affiliation with Tampa Bay was announced on September 26, 1996[2], and has continued to the present.

Ownership

References

  1. "Franchise History of Pro Baseball in Princeton". princetondevilrays.com. Princeton Devil Rays. Archived from the original on December 7, 2004. http://replay.web.archive.org/20041207155910/http://www.princetondevilrays.com/history.html. Retrieved May 17, 2011. 
  2. Topkin, Marc (September 27, 1996). "Rays add rookie team in Princeton, W.Va.". St. Petersburg Times: p. 4C. 

External Links