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Ottawa Lynx
1993–2007
Ottawa, Ontario

Team Logo
Cap Insignia
Class-level
  • Triple-A (1993-2007)
Minor league affiliations
Major league affiliations
Name
  • Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007)
Ballpark
  • Lynx Stadium (1993-2007) (formerly Ottawa Stadium pre-construction, and JetForm Park from 1999-2002)
Minor league titles
League titles 1995
Division titles 1995

The Ottawa Lynx was a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League (IL) from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos (1993-2002), Baltimore Orioles (2003-2006), and Philadelphia Phillies (2007). At the time, it was the only IL franchise based in Canada.

In late August 2006, however, the league approved the conditions to negotiate the sale of the team. The new owners have moved the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania beginning with the 2008 season, where it is known as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.1

During the club's last years, it had difficulty attracting fans, which was one of several factors in the decision to relocate the team.

The Canadian-American (Can-Am) League placed a team in Ottawa, called the Rapidz, for the 2008 season. On September 29, 2008, the Rapidz ceased operations as the team declared bankruptcy. [1]

Contents

History

In 1991, Ottawa businessman and then Ottawa 67s owner Howard Darwin was successful in applying to the IL for an expansion franchise to begin play in 1993. The Lynx became the second IL franchise to play in Ottawa, after the former Ottawa Giants and Ottawa Athletics of the 1950s. The application was contingent on the City of Ottawa building a baseball stadium for the team. The stadium was completed in time for the 1993 season.

The Lynx began play in 1993, serving as the top farm team for the Montreal Expos. The team won its sole International League championship in 1995. During this period, the Lynx featured such future Major League Baseball players as Rondell White, Cliff Floyd, Matt Stairs, Kirk Rueter, and F.P. Santangelo. The Lynx eventually retired two numbers: Santangelo's 24, and Jamey Carroll's 3.

In 2000, Howard Darwin sold his shares in the team to Ray Pecor. According to news reports, Mr. Pecor would lose $1 million annually on the team due to low attendance.2

In 2003, the Lynx were not given any assurances from either the Montreal Expos or Major League Baseball on the long term future of the Expos, so they were forced to find another partner and became the Triple A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. As a result, Montreal shifted its affiliation to the Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League,

Former home stadium for Ottawa Lynx

On August 28, 2006, the International League gave permission to continue negotiations to sell the ballclub, with Joe Finley and Craig Stein obtaining the right to operate the new entity. Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was well known at the time, and reported in the Allentown media, that Finley and Stein intended to move the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where Allentown's new Coca-Cola Park was being built as the team's home ballpark.34 The current owner of the Lynx would file a lawsuit against the City of Ottawa on October 17, 2006, seeking $10.75 million in damages claiming that the city failed to provide enough parking spaces, which, the team alleged, was a violation of its lease.5

The team played its last game in Ottawa on September 3, 2007, losing to Syracuse 8-5.6

Titles

The Lynx won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the International League, once in the team's history by defeating the Norfolk Tides in 1995.

Final 2007 roster

Ottawa Lynx roster
v • d • e
Active roster Coaches/Other
Starting Rotation

Bullpen

 Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders

 Manager

Coaches

Trainers

Disabled and Inactive List


* - On Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster

Alumni

References

  1. ^ Topic Galleries - themorningcall.com
  2. ^ Brennan, Don (July 14, 2007). "Lynx to IronPigs isn't yet iron clad". Retrieved on 2008-01-22.
  3. ^ Lynx sold, set to leave Ottawa in 2008
  4. ^ Lynx sold; franchise headed for Allentown
  5. ^ "Lynx sue Ottawa for $10.75M over parking". The Ottawa Citizen (October 18, 2006).
  6. ^ "box score of last game". Retrieved on 2008-01-15.

External links
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