- Southern Oregon Timberjacks
-
Southern Oregon Timberjacks
1979–1999
Medford, Oregon
Team Logo
Cap InsigniaClass-level - Short-Season (1979-1999)
Minor league affiliations - Northwest League (1979-1999)
- Southern
Major league affiliations - Oakland Athletics (1979-1999)
Name - Southern Oregon Timberjacks (1996-1999)
- Southern Oregon Athletics (1988-1995)
Medford Athletics (1979-1987)
Ballpark - Miles Field (1979-1999)
Minor league titles League titles 1981, 1983 Division titles 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1988, 1989 The Southern Oregon Timberjacks were a minor league baseball team based in Medford, Oregon. The team played in the short-season single-A Northwest League from 1979 to 1999 and were an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They played their home games at Miles Field in south Medford.
Contents
Team history
The Timberjacks came into the Northwest League to fill the void left by the departed Medford Giants (1967–1968) and Rogue Valley/Medford Dodgers (1969–1971). They were originally known as the Medford Athletics (or Medford A's) (1979–1987), then changed their name to the Southern Oregon Athletics (or Southern Oregon A's) (1988–1995), and then eventually to the Southern Oregon Timberjacks (1996–1999). They were 6-time Southern Division Champions (1981–1984, 1988–1989) and won the Northwest League Championship twice (1981 and 1983).
In 1982, former minor league pitcher Fred Herrmann was named the team's general manager and then became the team's majority owner in 1985.[1] He has been credited for bringing several of today's top major league players to Southern Oregon to start their professional careers.
As a minor league baseball franchise, the Timberjacks had featured future major league players such as Greg Cadaret, José Canseco, Rod Beck, Scott Brosius, Jason Giambi, Tim Hudson, Jeremy Brown, Jason Windsor, Sean Triplett, Miguel Tejada and Eric Byrnes.
Relocation controversy and stadium demise
In 1997 and 1998, Fred Herrmann had announced that the team would relocate to Vancouver, Washington.[2] However, the plans fell through on both occasions and the team remained in Medford.[3]
Finally on October 26, 1999, Herrmann announced that the franchise would relocate to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and in 2000, they completed their move and were renamed the "new" Vancouver Canadians.[4] The "original" Canadians franchise from the triple-A Pacific Coast League was renamed the Sacramento River Cats following their move at the same time. Both teams continued to be affiliated with the Oakland A's until 2011, when the Canadians decided to re-affiliate with the Toronto Blue Jays. The current Canadians do not show any history or records of the Timberjacks at their official website, though their relocation is mentioned one time on the media guide page.[5]
Herrmann did attempt to bring a Western Baseball League team to Medford to replace the Timberjacks. However, those plans fell through when the potential owners, including Herrmann, failed to come up with the money necessary to establish a team.[6] After four years without a professional team and despite efforts to rebuild and restore historic Miles Field, the city of Medford ordered the deteriorating stadium be torn down in 2004 to make way for a new Wal-Mart SuperCenter.
In 2004, the city council of Medford orchestrated an agreement with the new Harry & David Field that a professional team will not be allowed to play at the new ballpark which currently hosts the collegiate wood bat Southern Oregon Riverdawgs, the American Legion Medford Mustangs and youth baseball. Despite previous efforts to bring pro baseball back to Medford, the decision stands to this day.
Year-by-year record
Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs 1979 38-33 5th Rich Morales 1980 22-48 8th Brad Fischer 1981 42-28 1st Brad Fischer League Champs 1982 53-17 1st Dennis Rogers Lost playoffs 1983 50-18 1st Dennis Rogers League Champs 1984 45-29 2nd Dennis Rogers Lost playoffs 1985 33-41 6th (t) Grady Fuson 1986 43-31 3rd Dave Hudgens 1987 31-45 6th Dave Hudgens 1988 46-30 1st Lenn Sakata Lost in finals 1989 45-30 1st Grady Fuson Lost in finals 1990 40-36 2nd Grady Fuson 1991 40-36 3rd Grady Fuson 1992 39-37 3rd Chris Pittaro 1993 37-39 3rd Dick Scott 1994 38-38 2nd Tom Dunton 1995 33-43 4th Tony DeFrancesco 1996 29-47 4th Tony DeFrancesco 1997 41-35 2nd John Kuehl 1998 43-33 2nd Greg Sparks 1999 38-38 2nd Greg Sparks Alumni
- Southern Oregon Timberjacks players
References
- ^ Fred Herrmann's Linfield College Hall of Fame biography
- ^ Medford Mail Tribune: Timberjacks' move gains steam (March 16, 1998)
- ^ Medford Mail Tribune: TJ's: 1 more year (October 16, 1998)
- ^ Medford Mail Tribune: Timberjacks go north; owner courts replacement (October 27, 1999)
- ^ Vancouver Canadians media guide page
- ^ Medford Mail Tribune: Herrmann shut out on new team (March 30, 2000)
External links
- Southern Oregon Timberjacks at Baseball-Reference
- Southern Oregon Timberjacks' original website (archive.org)
- Southern Oregon Timberjacks' profile at Minor League baseball website (1998) (archive.org)
- Southern Oregon Timberjacks year-by-year records, statistics and rosters at The Baseball Cube
- Northwest League Team History (1990-1997)
- Northwest League Team History (1998-2005)
Categories:- Defunct Northwest League teams
- Medford, Oregon
- Defunct baseball teams in Oregon
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