Ottawa Lynx

Ottawa Lynx 1993–2007 Ottawa, Ontario
100px 100px Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Previous	Triple-A (1993-2007)
Minor league affiliations
League	International League (1993-2007)
Division	North Division
Major league affiliations
Previous	Philadelphia Phillies (2007) Baltimore Orioles (2003-2006) Montreal Expos (1993-2002)
Minor league titles
League titles	1995
Division titles	1995
Team data
Previous names	Ottawa Lynx (1993-2007)
Previous parks	Lynx Stadium (1993-2007) (formerly Ottawa Stadium pre-construction, and JetForm Park from 1993-2002)

The Ottawa Lynx were 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, the league approved the conditions to negotiate the sale of the team. The new owners moved the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania, beginning with the 2008 season, where it is known as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The team's move to Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania, has brought it within the Phillies' fan base region.

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

History

In 1991, Ottawa businessman and then Ottawa 67's owner Howard Darwin was successful in applying to the IL for an expansion franchise to begin play in 1993, at a cost of $5 million. 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 the International League championship in 1995, the only time it would do so. 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, Darwin sold his shares in the team to Ray Pecor for $7 million. According to news reports, Pecor would lose $1 million annually on the team due to low attendance.

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. They became the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles on September 24, 2002. As a result, Montreal shifted its affiliation to the Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League. The Lynx's working agreement with the Orioles ended when the latter signed a Player Development Contract with the Norfolk Tides on September 25, 2006.

File:Ottawa Lynx baseball game (September 2007).jpg

Former home stadium for Ottawa Lynx

In 2006, the ball club was sold to Joe Finley and Craig Stein, while Pecor maintained a minority stake. Finley and Stein declared their intention to move the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania, for the 2008 season, where a new stadium was set to begin construction that September (now built as Coca-Cola Park). The owners, facing a lawsuit from the City of Ottawa if they moved the Lynx, filed 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.

The team played its last game in Ottawa on September 3, 2007, losing to Syracuse 8-5. The Ottawa Lynx ultimately won exactly 1,000 games before leaving Ottawa.

Titles

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

Final 2007 roster

Ottawa Lynx roster
Active roster				Coaches/Other
Starting Rotation 21 J.A. Happ * 38 Matt Childers 50 Gary Knotts 39 John Ennis 41 Landon Jacobsen Bullpen 27 Jason Anderson 13 Joseph Bisenius * 18 Eude Brito 34 Ryan Cameron 44 Anderson García *		Catchers 15 Jason Jaramillo 26 Dusty Wathan Infielders 29 Gary Burnham  9 Gookie Dawkins 17 Brennan King  4 Danny Sandoval  6 Joe Thurston Outfielders 35 Javon Moran 22 Matt Padgett 19 Jim Rushford 28 Pedro Swann		Manager John Russell Coaches -- Rod Nichols (pitching) -- Sal Rende (batting) Trainers -- Shawn Fcasni Disabled and Inactive List 36 Matt Smith * LHP - 7-day DL * - On Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster

Alumni

• Matt Stairs (1993) - Outfielder/designated hitter/first baseman for Montreal, Boston, Oakland, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Detroit, Texas, Toronto, Philadelphia, San Diego Padres, and Washington Nationals
• Rondell White (1993–94) - Outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, San Diego, Kansas City, Detroit, and Minnesota
• Kirk Rueter (1993–1996) - Pitcher for Montreal and San Francisco
• Cliff Floyd (1993; 1996) - First baseman/outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Florida, Boston, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays
• F.P. Santangelo (1993–95; 1998) - Outfielder/second baseman for Montreal, San Francisco, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland
• Curtis Pride (1993–95; 2001) - Outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, New York Yankees, and Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Ugueth Urbina (1995–96) - Pitcher for Montreal, Boston, Texas, Florida, Detroit, and Philadelphia
• José Vidro (1997–98) - Second baseman/third baseman/designated hitter for Montreal/Washington and Seattle
• Orlando Cabrera (1997–98; 2000) - Gold Glove Shortstop for Montreal, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians and San Francisco Giants
• Javier Vázquez (1999) - Pitcher for Montreal, New York Yankees, Arizona, and Chicago White Sox
• Michael Barrett (2000) - Catcher for Montreal, Chicago Cubs and San Diego
• Jamey Carroll (2000–02) - Third baseman/shortstop/second baseman for Montreal/Washington, Cleveland Indians and Colorado
• Brandon Phillips (2002) - 2-time gold glover at second base for Cincinnati
• Rick Bauer (2003–05; 2007) - Pitcher for Baltimore and Texas
• Eli Whiteside (2005–06) - Catcher for Baltimore and San Francisco
• Adam Loewen (2006) - Baltimore Orioles Pitcher and Outfielder, Toronto Outfielder
• Hayden Penn (2006) - Pitcher for Baltimore and Florida
• Chris Coste (2007) - Houston Astros catcher
• Zack Segovia (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• J. D. Durbin (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Clay Condrey (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Mike Zagurski (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Yoel Hernández (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Brian Sanches (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Kane Davis (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Chris Roberson (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
• Fabio Castro (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Geoff Geary (2007) - Pitcher for Philadelphia and Houston
• John Ennis (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher

External links

• Ottawa Lynx Former Official Web Site (Internet Archive).
• Lehigh Valley Ironpigs Official Web Site