St. Paul Saints
The St. Paul Saints are an American professional baseball team based in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The Saints are a member of the North Division of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Saints played their home games at Midway Stadium starting in 1993, when the modern-day team started as a member of the Northern League. In 2006, the team was a founding member of the modern American Association. The team started playing at CHS Field in 2015.[1]
St. Paul Saints | |||||
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Information | |||||
League | American Association (North Division) | ||||
Location | St. Paul, Minnesota | ||||
Ballpark | CHS Field | ||||
Year founded | 1993 | ||||
League championships | 4 (NL: 1993, 1995, 1996, 2004) 1 (AA: 2019) | ||||
Division championships | 8 (1997, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019) | ||||
Former league(s) |
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Colors | Blue & White | ||||
Ownership | Goldklang Group | ||||
Manager | George Tsamis | ||||
General Manager | Derek Sharrer | ||||
Media | Sean Aronson | ||||
Website | saintsbaseball |
Before the arrival of the Minnesota Twins in 1961, there was a long history of minor-league baseball teams called the St. Paul Saints, as well as their crosstown rivals the Minneapolis Millers. One incarnation of the Saints participated in the Union Association, a short-lived major league, in 1884. A second incarnation was active in the Western League from 1894 to 1899, and became a forerunner of the modern Chicago White Sox. The third and most long-lived incarnation of the Saints was active in the American Association from 1915 to 1960.
History
The current inception of the St. Paul Saints was formed in 1993 in the Northern League, one of several independent leagues not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The Saints are known for promotions that are sometimes over-the-top even by the standards of minor league baseball. In this regard, Mike Veeck, formerly the team's principal owner and still owner of a large interest in the team, is seen as following in the footsteps of his father Bill Veeck, who was famous for conceiving outlandish promotions as an owner of the Major League teams the St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, and Chicago White Sox. The current majority owner, Marvin Goldklang, also owns a stake in four other minor league baseball teams: the Fort Myers Miracle, Sioux Falls Pheasants, Hudson Valley Renegades, and Charleston RiverDogs. Comedian and actor Bill Murray is also a part owner.
Despite the considerable naysaying at their inception, the Saints became one of the most successful teams in the Northern League and all of independent baseball. In 2002–2004, the Saints saw severely reduced attendance, owing partially to renewed interest in the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball, who won the 2002, 2003, and 2004 American League Central Division championships. In spite of an initially cool, if not outright hostile reception, the Saints and their Major League neighbor (less than 10 miles (16 km) away) have worked together for several years to promote the sport of baseball.
The Saints have figured prominently in the creation of modern independent baseball. The team has been featured in books ("Rebel Baseball" by Steve Perlstein, 1993; "Slouching Toward Fargo" by Neal Karlen, 1998) and a cable network series ("Baseball, Minnesota", FX Network, 1996–97). Mike Veeck wrote a book that covered the mantra "Fun is Good" (2005) and describes the business approach he has used for many years.
On May 31, 1997, the Saints became the first professional men's baseball team since integration to have a female on their roster. Ila Borders, a pitcher, played with the team out of the bullpen for a month before being traded.
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On September 29, 2005, the Saints left the Northern League, along with the Lincoln Saltdogs, Sioux City Explorers, and the Sioux Falls Pheasants to start the American Association for the 2006 season.
In June 2009 the Saints began a push to build a new stadium in Downtown Saint Paul. The proposed 7,500 seat stadium would be located in the Lowertown neighborhood near a planned maintenance facility for the METRO Green Line light rail. The city of Saint Paul requested $25 million in its 2010 bonding wish list to the Minnesota Legislature.[2][3][4][5]
In 2020, the league announced that the Saints would compete as one of six teams in a condensed 60-game season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6] However, they will not play games at CHS Field, and will instead be based at Sioux Falls Stadium (thus sharing a home field with the Sioux Falls Canaries).
St. Paul Saints (1894–1899)
As described in Lee Allen's book, The American League Story (Putnam, 1962), the team began as the Sioux City franchise in a minor league called the Western League. The WL had reorganized itself in November, 1893, with Ban Johnson as President. Johnson, a Cincinnati-based reporter, had been recommended by his friend Charles Comiskey, former major league star with the St. Louis Browns in the 1880s, who was then managing the Cincinnati Reds. After the 1894 season, when Comiskey's contract with the Reds was up, he decided to take his chances at ownership. He bought the Sioux City team and transferred it to St. Paul, where it enjoyed some success over the next 5 seasons.
In 1900, the Western League changed its name to the American League. It was still officially a minor league, a part of the National Agreement and an underling of the National League. The NL actually gave permission to the AL to put a team in Chicago, and on March 21, 1900, Comiskey moved his St. Paul club to the South Side, where they became the Chicago White Sox.
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St. Paul Saints (1901–1960)
Another team called the Saints played minor league baseball in the American Association from 1901 to 1960. The Saints finished first in the American Association nine times, and won the Little World Series in 1924. During this period, the Saints were a farm club of the Chicago White Sox (1936–1942), the Brooklyn Dodgers (1944–1957), and the Los Angeles Dodgers (1958–1960). The Saints played streetcar home and away double headers with their local rivals, the Minneapolis Millers. When the Minnesota Twins came to town in 1961, the Saints became the Omaha Dodgers while the Millers ceased operations and their role as affiliate to the Boston Red Sox was filled by the Seattle Rainiers. Lexington Park served as the Saints' home stadium for most of those years.
During the six decades of the original American Association minor league, the Minneapolis Millers and St. Paul Saints engaged in vigorous rivalry known as the Streetcar Series. This series has been documented in a book by Rex Hamann entitled "The Millers and the Saints, Baseball Championships of the Twin Cities Rivals" (2014).
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Current roster
St. Paul Saints roster | ||||
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Active (22-man) roster | Coaches/Other | |||
Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager Coaches
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Notable former players
- Ila Borders (1997, first woman to pitch in a men's professional baseball league)
- Shane Costa (2011, formerly with the Kansas City Royals)
- Glenn Davis (1994, formerly with the Houston Astros)
- J. D. Drew (1997–1998, signed by the St. Louis Cardinals, finished his career with the Boston Red Sox in 2011).
- Leon "Bull" Durham (1993–1994, formerly with the Chicago Cubs)
- Gavin Fingleson, South African-born Australian, Olympic silver medalist baseball player
- Dan Johnson (2016-2017, formerly with the Tampa Bay Rays).
- Brandon Kintzler (2009–Present, is currently pitching for the Miami Marlins; has also played for the Milwaukee Brewers, Minnesota Twins, Washington Nationals, and Chicago Cubs.)
- Kevin Millar (1993, formerly with the Florida Marlins, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, and Toronto Blue Jays; Millar was on the 2010 Saints Preseason roster, hoping to make the final roster, but left during the preseason to join the MLB Network. On June 24, 2017, Millar came back to the Saints for 1 final game in his professional career, facing the Winnipeg Goldeyes with his family in attendance. In his first and only at-bat (as a deal was made for Millar to have only 1 at-bat) of the game, he hit a 2-run Home Run to left field, and called that moment a true walk-off, as Millar said he will not play professional baseball ever again. Millar revealed the week prior on Intentional Talk that he was trying to go deep in the first place. The Saints would go on to defeat the Goldeyes 8-6 that night, which was also their 25th anniversary of being in existence (for this version of the Saints).)
- Minnie Miñoso (1993, 2003, former Negro League and Major League player)
- Jack Morris (1996, formerly with the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Toronto Blue Jays, and Cleveland Indians; also was recently inducted Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2018).
- Darryl Motley (1995, formerly with the Kansas City Royals and Atlanta Braves).
- Matt Nokes (1998, formerly with the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees)
- Rey Ordóñez (1993, signed by and played for the New York Mets)
- Tanner Scheppers (2009, drafted in the first supplemental round of the 2009 MLB Draft Texas Rangers)
- Dave Stevens (1996, legless player with Saints)
- Darryl Strawberry (1996, formerly with the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, and New York Yankees).
- Caleb Thielbar (2016-2017, formerly with the Minnesota Twins).
- Phil Weintraub (1942; also a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder)
Notable promotions
In an attempt to gain publicity in a metropolitan area that hosts four major pro sports teams and a major college program, the Saints have grabbed headlines numerous times for their unique promotions.[7]
- The Saints celebrated the 40th anniversary of Animal House on August 14, 2018 by staging the world's largest food fight after the completion of the fifth inning against the Sioux Falls Canaries. Approximately 8,000 fans participated.[8]
- On August 22, 2017, the Saints held the world's largest Twister game, with over 56,000 dots painted on the outfield grass. [9]
- On July 21, 2015, in an event sponsored by My Pillow, the world's largest pillow fight was held after the second inning, with 6,261 participants. The event was hosted by Stephen Baldwin.[10] Additionally, in honor of the 40th season of Saturday Night Live, former cast member Joe Piscopo performed the national anthem in his impression of Frank Sinatra, and made other appearances throughout the game[11]
- A May 11, 2013 exhibition game between the Saints and Gary SouthShore Railcats was played without umpires. The team instead had a judge, in a judicial robe, call balls and strikes from behind the pitcher. Calls at first and third bases were made by a "jury" of 12 Little League players, with the judge able to overrule any calls.[12]
- In August 2012, as part of a regional conference held by the Minnesota Atheists, the Saints held "A Night of Unbelievable Fun", where the team wore alternate jerseys branding themselves as the "Mr. Paul Aint's". The promotion was reprised in subsequent seasons.[13][14][15][16]
- On July 23, 2011, the Saints celebrated National Hot Dog Day and parodied Anthony Weiner and his first sexting scandal. The first 1,501 fans age 18 or older received "Tweeting Wiener Boxer Shorts", depicting a blue bird taking a picture of a hot dog, or "wiener". The bird was deliberately drawn to resemble the logo of Twitter, the social media site that Weiner used to send links to indecent photos.[17]
- The Saints announced a giveaway for their May 23, 2009 game against the Sioux Falls Pheasants of 2,500 bobblehead dolls dressed as the Sesame Street character Count von Count, supposedly celebrating the 40th anniversary of the series. The Saints' version of this doll, however, had the face of Al Franken on one side and Norm Coleman on the other and was named "Count von Re-Count"—referring to the prolonged recount in the 2008 U.S. Senate election between the two men. The Saints made further jabs at the race:[18]
- The ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Dean Barkley, who ran in that election as a third-party candidate.
- Fans were asked during the game to spin the heads of their dolls to either Coleman or Franken. Attorneys were present to count the "votes" from this process, poking fun at the extensive involvement of attorneys in the recount process. The team's official web site stated that fans could challenge the "results" at the team's Fan Services booth during the game.
- The team also facetiously stated on its site that it would not make the results of that night's game official until mid-June—around the time that the entire Minnesota Supreme Court was scheduled to rule on Coleman's appeal of a panel ruling that Franken had won. (The Court issued its ruling in Franken's favor on June 30, with Coleman then conceding.)
- In May, 2008, the Saints announced the giveaway of 2,500 bobble foot dolls, ostensibly to celebrate National Tap Dance Day. The dolls, which feature two feet visible beneath the door of a bathroom stall, have been covered in the national news for their reference to Senator Larry Craig, notorious for soliciting sex in a Minneapolis–Saint Paul Airport restroom in August 2007.[19]
- In August, 2007, the Saints announced that rubber dog toys would be given out as a jab to the federal dogfighting case involving Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick.[20]
- In April 2006, the Saints announced that rubber boats would be given out during a May 27, 2006 game, ostensibly to honor the 30th anniversary of the television show The Love Boat. However, details of the promotion indicate that it was intended as a jab at the 2005 boat scandal involving the Minnesota Vikings, where several members of the team were allegedly involved in illicit behavior on a private cruise. The promotional rubber boats used the same color as the Vikings uniforms (purple and yellow) and were named Minnetonka Queen (a reference to Lake Minnetonka, where the cruise took place).[7]
- In August 2004, the Saints held a Bobblehead Election to tap into the campaign buzz around the election year. Fans were told to select either a John Kerry or George Bush bobblehead as their "vote." The stunt was capped off with a speech by the winning bobblehead. A real donkey and a donkey dressed like an elephant (the Saints were unable to obtain a real elephant) added to the atmosphere.[21]
- In August 2003, the Saints held "Randy Moss Hood Ornament Night", poking fun at Randy Moss, then a wide receiver for the Vikings. Earlier that year, Moss was involved in an incident where he bumped a traffic control officer with his car while he attempted to make a turn.[7]
- During the 2002 Major League Baseball labor negotiations, the Saints gave away seat cushions with pictures of commissioner Bud Selig on one side and player's association Executive Director Donald Fehr on the other.[7]
- In 2002, in response to Selig's controversial decision to end the MLB All-Star Game in a 7-7 tie, the Saints gave out neckties (or "ties") with Bud Selig's image.[7]
- In the 1996 film Space Jam, Bill Murray is wearing a Saints cap during The Ultimate Game.[22]
Fast facts
- Founded: 1993 (Northern League inaugural team)
- Home ballpark: CHS Field, starting with the 2015 season.
- Cap logo design: StP script similar to the St. Paul Colored Gophers
- Uniform colors: Home: Cream with blue "Saints" on front with name(black) and #(blue)on back, Away: Grey with blue "ST. PAUL" on front, Alternate/Sunday: Blue jersey with cream "StP" logo on players lower left shoulder and cream number on back.
- Uniform design: Saints in script ('93-'02 was similar to original American Association version)
- Northern League Champions: 1993, 1995, 1996, 2004
- American Association Champions: 2019
- Division champions (AA North): 2006, 2015, 2016, 2019
- Mascot: Muddona
- Promotions manager: Sierra Bailey
- Ballpark organist: Andrew Crowley
- Head groundskeeper: Marcus Campbell
- Current radio station: ALT 93.3 FM, Shoreview, Minnesota[23]
- Current ball pig: Daenerys Hoggaryen
Season-by-season record (2010-present)
St. Paul Saints (2010–2019) | ||||
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Season | W–L Record | Percentage | Finish | Playoffs |
2010 | 45–51 | .469 | 5th, North Division | Did not qualify |
2011 | 56–44 | .560 | 2nd, North Division | Lost to Grand Prairie in finals 3–2 |
2012 | 52–48 | .520 | 3rd, North Division | Did not qualify |
2013 | 47–53 | .470 | 3rd, North Division | Did not qualify |
2014 | 48–52 | .480 | 2nd, North Division | Did not qualify |
2015 | 74–26 | .740 | 1st, North Division | Lost to Sioux City in first round, 3–1 |
2016 | 61–39 | .610 | 1st, North Division | Lost to Winnipeg in first round, 3–2 |
2017 | 48–52 | .480 | 3rd, North Division | Did not qualify |
2018 | 59–41 | .590 | 1st, North Division | Defeated Gary in first round, 3–1; Lost to Kansas City in championship, 3–1 |
2019 | 64–36 | .640 | 1st, North Division | Defeated Fargo-Moorhead in first round, 3-2; Defeated Sioux City in championship, 3-0 |
Totals | 550–425 | .561 | - | 17–13 |
Playoffs
Northern League:
- 1993 Season: Defeated Rochester 3-1 to win championship.
- 1995 Season: Defeated Winnipeg 3-1 to win championship.
- 1996 Season: Defeated Madison in semifinals; defeated Fargo-Moorhead 3-0 to win championship.
- 1997 Season: Lost to Duluth–Superior 3-2 in semifinals.
- 1998 Season: Defeated Thunder Bay 3-2 in semifinals; lost to Fargo-Moorhead 3-0 in championship.
- 2000 Season: Lost to Duluth–Superior 3-1 in quarterfinals.
- 2003 Season: Lost to Winnipeg 3-2 in semifinals.
- 2004 Season: Defeated Fargo-Moorhead 3-1 in semifinals; defeated Schaumburg 3-2 to win championship.
- 2005 Season: Lost to Gary 3-2 in semifinals.
AAIPB:
- 2006 Season: Defeated Lincoln 3-1 in semifinals; lost to Fort Worth 3-2 in championship.
- 2007 Season: Defeated Lincoln 3-0 in semifinals; lost to Fort Worth 3-2 in championship.
- 2011 Season: Defeated Winnipeg 3-2 in semifinals; lost to Grand Prairie 3-2 in championship.
- 2015 Season: Lost to Sioux City 3-1 in semifinals.
- 2016 Season: Lost to Winnipeg 3-2 in semifinals.
- 2018 Season: Defeated Gary 3-1 in semifinals; lost to Kansas City 3-1 in championship.
- 2019 Season: Defeated Fargo-Moorhead 3-2 in semifinals; Defeated Sioux City 3-0 in championship.
References
- "Lowertown ballpark FAQs". Archived from the original on August 8, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- Havens, Chris (June 26, 2009) "Wish list: New home for Saints" Star Tribune. Retrieved on June 27, 2009
- Orrick, Dave (June 25, 2009) "Now batting for the Saints: Bill Murray" Saint Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved on June 27, 2009
- Kimball, Joe (June 25, 2009) "Bill Murray shows his stripes; pushes stadium, skips mayor" MinnPost.com Retrieved on June 27, 2009
- McClure, Jane (July 1, 2009) "City Unveils 2010 bonding requests" Villager
- "American Association unveils plans for 2020 season". americanassociationbaseball.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Rovell, Darren (April 17, 2006). "Another last laugh for the St. Paul Saints". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2006-04-18.
- https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/animal-house-turns-40-saints-are-throwing-a-food-fight-to-celebrate
- https://www.mlb.com/cut4/st-paul-saints-plot-massive-on-field-twister-game-c249978870
- "Saint Paul Saints hold world's largest pillow fight". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- "St. Paul Saints Baseball, Fun, & Pillows". Twins Daily. Retrieved 26 December 2016.
- Townsend, Mark (April 27, 2013). "St. Paul Saints to replace umpires with judge and jury during May 11 exhibition game". Big League Stew. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- Gryboski, Michael. "Minn. Baseball Team Changes Name From Saints to 'Aints' for Atheist Event". Christian Post. Retrieved 15 June 2013.
- Jayne, Eric (29 July 2013). "Atheists and the 'Aints' — seeking to dispel preconceived notions about our (non)beliefs". MinnPost. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
- Block, Melissa (8 August 2013). "Minn. Minor League Baseball Team Goes Atheist For One Night". NPR. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- Shaw, Bob (4 August 2014). "St. Paul's atheists are coming out of the closet". Pioneer Press. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
- Chin, Richard (June 17, 2011). "St. Paul Saints go ahead with 'Tweeting Wiener Boxer Shorts' giveaway despite congressman's resignation". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
- "Saints' gimmick jabs at Senate race". ESPN.com. Associated Press. 2009-05-23. Retrieved 2009-05-23.
- "Minn. team's promotional giveaway features 'bobble foot' in toilet stall". USA Today. 2008-05-22. Retrieved 2008-05-26.
- "Saints Continue to Slide at Home Lose 7-3". 2007-08-20. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
- http://www.bobble--heads.com/bobbleheads/bobbleheads-election.html
- Bill Murray - I don't play defense (Space Jam), retrieved 2019-12-07
- http://saintsbaseball.com/team/news/saints-getting-new-home-radio-all-100-games-playoffs-broadcast-ihearts-alt-933-fm
External links
- Official Site
- nlfan.com Saints Guide (Northern League '93-'05)
- aabfan.com Saints Guide (American Association '06-)
League references
- aabfan.com – yearly league standings & awards (American Association)
- nlfan.com – yearly league standings & awards (Northern League)
Achievements | ||
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Preceded by First |
Northern League Champions St. Paul Saints 1993 |
Succeeded by Winnipeg Goldeyes 1994 |
Preceded by Winnipeg Goldeyes 1994 |
Northern League Champions St. Paul Saints 1995 – 1996 |
Succeeded by Duluth–Superior Dukes 1997 |
Preceded by Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks 2003 |
Northern League Champions St. Paul Saints 2004 |
Succeeded by Gary SouthShore RailCats 2005 |