Las Vegas 51s

MiLB infobox
name = Las Vegas 51s
founded = 1983
city = Las Vegas, Nevada
misc =

uniform
class level = Triple-A (1983–present)
past class level=
current league = Pacific Coast League (1983–present)
conference = Pacific Conference
division = Southern Division
past league =
majorleague = Toronto Blue Jays (2009–future)
pastmajorleague = Los Angeles Dodgers (2001–2008)
*San Diego Padres (1983–2000)
uniform =
nickname = Las Vegas 51's (2001–present)
pastnames = Las Vegas Stars (1983–2000)
*Spokane Indians (1973–1982)
*Portland Beavers (1919–1972)
ballpark = Cashman Field (1983–present)
pastparks =
leaguechamps = 1986, 1988 (2)
divisionchamps = 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2002 (8)
misc6 =
owner = Stevens Baseball Group
manager = Lorenzo Bundy
gm = Don LoganThe Las Vegas 51s, formerly known as the Las Vegas Stars are a minor league baseball team. They are the Triple-A affilate of the Toronto Blue Jays. They play at Cashman Field (capacity 9,334) in Las Vegas, Nevada. The team competes in the Pacific Coast League (PCL). The 51s won the PCL championship as the Stars in 1986 and 1988.

The 51s take their name from Area 51 which is located in the desert about 80 miles north of Las Vegas, although the route that must be taken by car to get there takes about three hours of travel. The team logo jokingly depicts one of the grey aliens thought by UFO believers to inhabit that base. The name never seemed to catch on with local fans, in part because very few locals identify with Area 51 due to the base's remote desert location, and in part because it didn't seem to make sense connecting the city and the base.

The team's first affiliation was with the San Diego Padres from 1983 to 2000. In 2001, they became the top farm club of the Los Angeles Dodgers. That affiliation ended at the conclusion of the 2008 season, when the 51s signed on with the Blue Jays.

On October 31, 2007, the Las Vegas 51s were sold by the Mandalay Group to the Stevens Baseball Group. There were no plans to move the team, [Gemma, Jim. [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20071031&content_id=319148&vkey=pr_t400&fext=.jsp&sid=t400 "Mandalay Baseball Transacts More Business - Sells Las Vegas 51s Franchise."] Las Vegas 51s. 31 October 2007. Retrieved on 27 September 2008.] and talks of building a new stadium have been essentially stagnant for the past seven years. [Anderson, Mark. [http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2001/Jul-11-Wed-2001/sports/16512065.html "Logan lobbies for new stadium.] "Las Vegas Review-Journal". 11 July 2001. Retrieved on 27 September 2008.] [Iole, Kevin. [http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2003/Jul-02-Wed-2003/sports/21647316.html "Dodgers threaten to quit 51s."] "Las Vegas Review-Journal". 2 July 2003. Retrieved on 27 September 2008.] The team has sold about 5,000 tickets per game on average the last few years, [ [http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/about/page.jsp?ymd=20051027&content_id=31960&vkey=about_t400&fext=.jsp&sid=t400 "Las Vegas 51s: About."] Las Vegas 51s. Retrieved on 27 September 2008.] but far fewer fans typically attend home games. [ [http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/sun/2005/apr/21/518640449.html "Las Vegas Sun".] ]

On March 24, 2008, Mandalay Baseball Properties sold the 51s franchise to Stevens Baseball Group. [Gemma, Jim. [http://lasvegas.51s.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080324&content_id=373332&vkey=news_t400&fext=.jsp&sid=t400 "Stevens Baseball Group - New Owner of Las Vegas 51s."] Las Vegas 51s. 24 March 2008. Retrieved on 28 March 2008.] The new owners have announced that they intend to change the team's name for the 2009 season, potentially opening the process to a public vote. [Dewey, Todd. [http://www.lvrj.com/sports/16948556.html "51s' new owners plan to change team name in '09."] "Las Vegas Review-Journal". 24 March 2008. Retrieved on 28 April 2008.]

eason-by-season record

"This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by the 51s. For the full season-by-season history, see Las Vegas 51s seasons."

Records accurate as of end of the 2008 PCL season

Roster

Notable alumni

*Roberto Alomar
*Sandy Alomar, Jr.
*Carlos Baerga
*Bruce Bochy
*Larry Bowa (Manager)
*Larry Brown
*Chin-Feng Chen
*Joey Cora
*Éric Gagné
*Norihiro Nakamura
*Ozzie Guillén
*John Kruk
*Russell Martin
*Gary Matthews, Jr.
*Kevin McReynolds
*Brad Mills (Manager)
*David Ross
*Jerry Royster (Manager)
*Benito Santiago
*Jolbert Cabrera

References

External links

* [http://www.lv51.com Las Vegas 51s official website]