Portland Rockies

Portland Rockies
Portland Rockies
1995–2000; Portland, Oregon ;
Minor league affiliations
Class	Class A Short Season
League	Northwest League
Division	South
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Colorado Rockies
Minor league titles
League titles (1)	1997
Division titles (2)	1997; 1999;
Team data
Colors	Purple, black, silver, white;
Mascot	Rocky the Raccoon
Ballpark	Civic Stadium

The Portland Rockies were a minor league baseball team that played in Portland, Oregon. The Rockies were members of the Class A-Short Season Northwest League for six years, from 1995 through 2000. Prior to relocating to Portland, the franchise played in Bend, Oregon as the Bend Rockies from 1992 until 1994.

History

The Rose City was without baseball as then-owner Joe Buzas relocated the Portland Beavers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League to Salt Lake City following the 1993 season. Calgary Cannons owner Russ Parker threatened to move his club south to Portland, but ultimately remained in Alberta.^[1] With Oregon's largest city open, the Bend Rockies opted to fill the void by relocating from Central Oregon. The Bend Rockies were the parent club's first minor league team, continued their affiliation in the move to Portland.^[2]

The Rockies had success in Portland, including a league championship in 1997.^[3] Although few Class A teams play in cities as large as Portland, the Rockies were able to maintain local interest in baseball. The team served an important role for the city, whose demand for a major league team was growing.

With the community's support for the Portland Rockies, Civic Stadium was renovated in 2000 to regain Triple-A baseball. Their efforts proved to be successful as the Albuquerque Dukes moved from New Mexico to Portland and became a new incarnation of the Triple-A Beavers for the 2001 PCL season. The displaced Northwest League franchise relocated up the Columbia River to Pasco, Washington located in the Tri-Cities area. The team was renamed the Tri-City Dust Devils.

Identity

Their name and logo mimicked the mountain theme of the Colorado club, even though Portland is not located in the Rocky Mountains. A rose was added to the team's cap logo to signify Portland's nickname, the "Rose City."

Ballpark

The Rockies played at Civic Stadium (now known as Providence Park) located in Portland. In 2000, PGE Park was renovated and a new incarnation of the AAA Beavers moved into the stadium in 2001. With the departure of professional baseball the stadium was converted into a soccer only venue in 2011 as part of a $31 million reinvention and is now the home of the Portland Timbers.

Season-by-season record

Season	PDC	Division	Finish	Wins	Losses	Win%	Post-season	Manager	Attendance
Portland Rockies
1995	COL	South	2nd	41	34	.547		P. J. Carey	249,696
1996	COL	South	3rd	33	43	.434		Ron Gideon	249,995
1997	COL	South	1st	44	32	.579	Defeated Boise in championship series 3-2	Jim Eppard	213,242
1998	COL	South	3rd	34	42	.447		Jim Eppard	184,172
1999	COL	South	1st	39	37	.513	Lost to Spokane in championship series 3-0	Alan Cockrell	206,136
2000	COL	South	4th	32	44	.421		Billy White	161,446

Division winner	League champions

Former players

Notable former Portland Rockies include MLB players Chone Figgins, Juan Pierre, Clint Barmes, Brad Hawpe, Jake Westbrook, and Garrett Atkins.

Portland Rockies players (1995–2000)

References

^ "Calgary still holding key to Rockies' possible move". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. August 5, 1993. p. D1. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
^ "Colorado Rockies select Bend as teams 1st minor league club". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 10, 1991. p. 2D. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
^ "Portland claims first NWL title after trailing series 0-2". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 11, 1997. p. C7. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.

External links

Minor League Geek Portland Rockies

Preceded by Bend Rockies	Northwest League franchise 1995–2000	Succeeded by Tri-City Dust Devils

[cshktr-1] "Calgary still holding key to Rockies' possible move". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. August 5, 1993. p. D1. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2015.

[crsbast-2] "Colorado Rockies select Bend as teams 1st minor league club". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. December 10, 1991. p. 2D. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2015.

[pclfnt-3] "Portland claims first NWL title after trailing series 0-2". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. September 11, 1997. p. C7. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved January 2, 2021.

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v t e Baseball teams based in Portland, Oregon
1890–1892: Portland Webfeet 1893: Portland 1900: Portland Browns 1901–1902: Portland Webfoots 1903–2010: Portland Beavers 1903: Portland Greengages 1909–1914: Portland Colts 1918: Portland Buckaroos 1946–present: Portland Pilots 1946: Portland Rosebuds 1973–1977: Portland Mavericks 1995–2000: Portland Rockies 2013–present: Hillsboro Hops
See also: Proposed Major League Baseball franchises in Portland, Oregon