# Lethbridge Black Diamonds

The Lethbridge Black Diamonds were a minor league baseball team located in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. The team was previously known as the Lethbridge Mounties from 1992–1995 before becoming the Lethbridge Black Diamonds from 1996–1998. They were one of the first two farm clubs of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Only 16 months after Arizona was granted a major league baseball franchise, the first farm club — the Lethbridge Black Diamonds — took the field. The team started playing two years before their parent club even played a game. The team played their first game in June 1996, whereas the Arizona Diamondbacks started playing in April 1998. The team played in the Pioneer League, which is a rookie league, with a shortened season, in Minor League Baseball. Their home stadium was Henderson Stadium. In 1999, the team was moved and became the Missoula Osprey.

## Team history

Within their first year, in 1996, the Lethbridge Black Diamonds had the best record going 50-22 before falling in the opening round of the playoffs. With manager Chris Speier, they led the league in defence/pitching, with 339 runs allowed which was 102 less than the number two place, and in offense, with 637 runs, which was 94 more than the next team in the league. The team drew in 49,124 fans that year. There were many All-Star players on the team the first year.
The second season manager Tommy Jones led the team to a 39-33 record, which tied them for third in the league with the Idaho Falls Braves, but the Black Diamonds fell within the first round of the playoffs. During 1997, no player on the team made the All-Star team or lead the Pioneer League in any key stat.
The last season the Black Diamonds were in Lethbridge they went 43-32 with manage Joe Almaraz. The team defeated Great Falls Dodgers 2 games to 1, then lost in the finals to Idaho Falls Braves.

## Notable alumni

* Rod Barajas (1996)
* Alex Cintron (1997-1998)
* Jack Cust (1998)
* Chris Speier (1996) 3 x MLB All-Star
* Junior Spivey (1996) MLB All-Star

### 1996

* Kevin Sweeney – league MVP – who also led the Pioneer League in average, slugging, OBP, runs and walks which was 94 more than the next team in the league.
* Vladimir Núñez – led the circuit in ERA by a full point and was voted top prospect in the league
* Nick Bierbrodt – rated #3 prospect in the league
* Larry Rodriguez – voted #4 prospect within the league

### 1997

* Jamie Puorto – was third in ERA
* Jhensy Sandoval – named top prospect of the season

## Team roster 1996

| | Age | B | T | Ht | Wt | DoB | Birthplace |
| Brad Allison | 22 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 220 | Nov 24 1973 | Lexington KY US |
| Dallas Anderson | 22 | R | R | 6 4.0 | 210 | Feb 27 1974 | Kindersley SK CA |
| Beau Baltzell | 22 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 215 | Aug 2 1973 | Omaha NE US |
| Rod Barajas | 20 | R | R | 6 2.0 | 250 | Sep 5 1975 | Ontario CA US |
| Justin Bice | 21 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 210 | Apr 17 1975 | Renton WA US |
| Nick Bierbrodt | 18 | L | L | 6 5.0 | 215 | May 16, 1978 | Tarzana CA US |
| Mike Boughton | 21 | S | R | 6 3.0 | 180 | Nov 8 1974 | Syracuse NY US |
| Mark Chavez | 23 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 185 | May 1, 1973 | |
| Jason Conti | 21 | L | R | 5 11.0 | 180 | Jan 27 1975 | Pittsburgh PA US |
| Jason Crews | 22 | R | R | 6 2.0 | 205 | Aug 28 1973 | Fort Lauderdale FL US |
| Clay Crossan | 22 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 175 | Aug 30 1973 | Portland OR US |
| Reggie Davis | 21 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 215 | Nov 12 1974 | Austell GA US |
| Johnny Done | 20 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 165 | Nov 25 1975 | |
| Ryan Duffy | 23 | R | L | 6 3.0 | 185 | Jun 1 1973 | Wallaceburg ON CA |
| Jamie Gann | 21 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 191 | May 1, 1975 | Fort Leonard Wood MO US |
| Scott Glasser | 20 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 170 | Dec 9 1975 | Anaheim CA US |
| Javier Gomez | 22 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 195 | Dec 10 1973 | |
| Brett Hardy | 22 | L | L | 6 0.0 | 180 | Dec 22 1973 | Costa Mesa CA US |
| Ron Hartman | 21 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 200 | Dec 12 1974 | Baltimore MD US |
| David Hayman | 21 | R | R | 5 10.0 | 197 | Jul 9 1974 | |
| Kirk Kinard | 22 | R | R | 6 0.0 | 175 | Mar 7 1974 | |
| Josh Kliner | 23 | S | R | 5 11.0 | 180 | Dec 27 1972 | |
| Jason Moore | 20 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 240 | Jul 16 1975 | Charleston WV US |
| Ben Norris | 18 | L | L | 6 3.0 | 185 | Dec 6 1977 | Austin TX US |
| Jose Nunez | 20 | R | R | 5 8.0 | 180 | Mar 4 1976 | Brooklyn NY US |
| Vladimir Núñez | 21 | R | R | 6 5.0 | 235 | Mar 15 1975 | La Habana La Habana CU |
| George Oleksik | 22 | R | R | 6 4.0 | 210 | Apr 19 1974 | Cleveland OH US |
| Chip Rhea | 22 | S | R | 6 1.0 | 190 | Jul 24 1973 | |
| Larry Rodriguez | 21 | R | R | 6 2.0 | 195 | Sep 9 1974 | Guanajay CU |
| Rob Ryan | 23 | L | L | 5 11.0 | 190 | Jun 24 1973 | Havre MT US |
| Erik Sabel | 21 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 193 | Oct 14 1974 | Lafayette IN US |
| Javier Samboy | 21 | L | L | 6 2.0 | 160 | Feb 13 1975 | |
| Junior Spivey | 21 | R | R | 6 0.0 | 185 | Jan 28 1975 | Oklahoma City OK US |
| Mike Stoner | 23 | R | R | 5 10.0 | 210 | May 23, 1973 | Shelbyville KY US |
| Kevin Sweeney | 22 | L | L | 5 11.0 | 195 | Mar 30 1974 | Buffalo NY US |
| Joe Verplancke | 21 | R | R | 6 2.0 | 200 | May 11, 1975 | Long Beach CA US |

## Team roster 1997

| | Age | B | T | Ht | Wt | DoB | Birthplace |
| Dallas Anderson | 23 | R | R | 6 4.0 | 210 | Feb 27 1974 | Kindersley SK CA |
| Jeff Andrews | 22 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 190 | Sep 1 1974 | Newton MA US |
| Juan Bautista | 18 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 165 | Jul 20 1978 | San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO |
| Matt Bell | 19 | R | R | 6 5.0 | 208 | Jan 8 1978 | Okmulgee OK US |
| Chris Bloomer | 22 | R | R | 6 4.0 | 215 | May 6, 1975 | St. Paul MN US |
| Ron Calloway | 20 | L | L | 6 1.0 | 210 | Sep 4 1976 | San Jose CA US |
| Alex Cintrón | 18 | S | R | 6 2.0 | 210 | Dec 17 1978 | Humacao PR |
| Steven Doherty | 22 | L | R | 6 0.0 | 175 | Sep 30 1974 | Vancouver BC CA |
| John Fleming | 19 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 190 | Jan 20 1978 | Riverside CA US |
| Reuben Fontanes | 23 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 190 | May 6, 1974 | East Chicago IN US |
| Brian Fox | 20 | L | R | 6 2.0 | 200 | Mar 5 1977 | Plano TX US |
| Miguel Frias | 19 | L | L | 5 11.0 | 180 | Dec 27 1977 | Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO |
| Julio Guzman | 21 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 205 | Apr 28 1976 | Jersey City NJ US |
| David Harper | 22 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 185 | Sep 14 1974 | Grand Prairie TX US |
| David Haverstick | 21 | R | R | 6 8.0 | 220 | Jun 3 1976 | St. Louis MO US |
| Bert Hudson | 19 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 185 | Oct 6 1977 | Milton FL US |
| Jason Jensen | 21 | L | L | 6 2.0 | 190 | Nov 4 1975 | Portland ME US |
| Charlie Jones | 21 | L | R | 5 11.0 | 188 | Feb 6 1976 | Edina MN US |
| Keith Jones | 21 | R | R | 6 2.0 | 190 | Jan 30 1976 | Whittier CA US |
| Eric Knott | 22 | L | L | 6 0.0 | 188 | Sep 23 1974 | Harvey IL US |
| Wil Madera | 20 | L | L | 6 1.0 | 170 | Apr 13 1977 | Ponce PR |
| Jared Martin | 22 | S | R | 5 10.0 | 180 | Mar 3 1975 | Tallahassee FL US |
| Jason Martines | 21 | L | R | 6 2.0 | 190 | Jan 21 1976 | Jackson MI US |
| Belvani Martinez | 18 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 172 | Dec 14 1978 | Palenque DO |
| Josh McAffee | 19 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 209 | Nov 4 1977 | Rock Springs WY US |
| Ben Norris | 19 | L | L | 6 3.0 | 185 | Dec 6 1977 | Austin TX US |
| Abraham Nunez | 20 | S | R | 6 3.0 | 210 | Feb 5 1977 | Bajos de Haina San Cristobal DO |
| Jamie Puorto | 22 | L | L | 6 3.0 | 190 | Jun 21 1975 | Schenectady NY US |
| Jeremy Quire | 22 | R | R | 6 2.0 | 205 | Apr 8 1975 | Anderson IN US |
| Jackie Rexrode | 18 | L | R | 5 11.0 | 175 | Sep 16 1978 | Washington, D.C. US |
| Mike Rooney | 21 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 175 | Oct 6 1975 | Suffern NY US |
| Jhensy Sandoval | 18 | R | R | 6 0.0 | 200 | Sep 11 1978 | San Cristobal San Cristobal DO |
| Jeff Santa | 22 | R | L | 6 0.0 | 175 | Nov 16 1974 | Newark OH US |
| Wyley Steelmon | 21 | L | R | 6 3.0 | 225 | Aug 29 1975 | Enid OK US |
| Jamie Sykes | 22 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 198 | Jan 14 1975 | Kankakee IL US |
| Jose Taveras | 18 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 203 | Apr 3 1979 | San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO |
| Jeff Wilson | 21 | R | L | 6 2.0 | 206 | May 30, 1976 | Columbia SC US |

## Team roster 1998

| | Age | B | T | Ht | Wt | DoB | Birthplace |
| Scott Abeyta | 21 | L | L | 6 0.0 | 190 | Mar 14 1977 | Vallejo CA US |
| Jeff Barndollar | 21 | R | R | 6 4.0 | 195 | Apr 29 1977 | Long Beach CA US |
| Justin Beasley | 22 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 215 | Oct 13 1975 | Wichita KS US |
| Jose Bido | 19 | R | R | 6 2.0 | 188 | Dec 20 1978 | San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO |
| Jeff Brooks | 18 | R | R | 6 5.0 | 235 | Sep 4 1979 | Mountain City TN US |
| Alex Cintrón | 19 | S | R | 6 2.0 | 210 | Dec 17 1978 | Humacao PR |
| Darryl Conyer | 18 | L | L | 5 10.0 | 200 | Dec 10 1979 | San Diego CA US |
| Jack Cust | 19 | L | R | 6 1.0 | 245 | Jan 16 1979 | Flemington NJ US |
| Phil Davis | 22 | R | R | 6 2.0 | 200 | Sep 22 1975 | Hanford CA US |
| Lance Downing | 19 | L | R | 5 10.0 | 185 | Mar 9 1979 | Warren AR US |
| Brian Fox | 21 | L | R | 6 2.0 | 200 | Mar 5 1977 | Plano TX US |
| Jody Fuller | 21 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 225 | Sep 12 1976 | Huntingdon TN US |
| Paul Giambalvo | 23 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 170 | Mar 17 1975 | Smithtown NY US |
| Antonio Guzman | 20 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 165 | Jan 11 1978 | Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO |
| Julio Guzman | 22 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 205 | Apr 28 1976 | Jersey City NJ US |
| Robby Hammock | 21 | R | R | 5 10.0 | 185 | May 13, 1977 | Macon GA US |
| Adolfo Joseph | 17 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 175 | Oct 6 1980 | HT |
| Justin Kees | 20 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 190 | Aug 5 1977 | Danville IL US |
| Doug Kohl | 18 | R | R | 6 4.0 | 210 | Jul 9 1979 | Newport Beach CA US |
| Mike Koplove | 21 | R | R | 6 0.0 | 165 | Aug 30 1976 | Philadelphia PA US |
| Belvani Martinez | 19 | R | R | 5 11.0 | 172 | Dec 14 1978 | Palenque DO |
| Josh McAffee | 20 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 209 | Nov 4 1977 | Rock Springs WY US |
| Travis McCall | 20 | S | L | 5 11.0 | 185 | Dec 20 1977 | West Covina CA US |
| Mike McCutcheon | 20 | L | L | 5 11.0 | 170 | Jul 5 1977 | Honolulu HI US |
| Francisco Mendez | 20 | L | R | 6 0.0 | 163 | Jan 6 1978 | Caborca Sonora MX |
| Hatuey Mendoza | 18 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 170 | Mar 16 1980 | Santo Domingo Distrito Nacional DO |
| Steve Neal | 21 | L | L | 6 2.0 | 255 | Feb 14 1977 | Pine Bluff AR US |
| Troy Niehaus | 21 | L | L | 6 6.0 | 200 | May 16, 1977 | Ann Arbor MI US |
| Bret Prinz | 21 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 185 | Jun 15 1977 | Chicago Heights IL US |
| Jim Rinne | 21 | R | R | 6 3.0 | 215 | Jul 29 1976 | Lincoln NE US |
| Miguel Rodriguez | 20 | R | R | 5 10.0 | 170 | May 27, 1978 | El Sombrero VE |
| Simon Sanchez | 20 | R | R | 6 1.0 | 195 | Mar 24 1978 | San Francisco de Macoris Duarte DO |
| Justin Santonocito | 21 | L | R | 5 11.0 | 192 | Dec 15 1976 | Buffalo NY US |
| Dan Singletary | 22 | L | L | 6 0.0 | 180 | Aug 23 1975 | Wayne NJ US |
| Seth Tate | 21 | R | R | 6 0.0 | 185 | Jan 7 1977 | Tacoma WA US |
| Steve Verigood | 22 | R | L | 6 6.0 | 195 | Apr 13 1976 | Columbia SC US |
| Paul Weichard | 18 | S | L | 5 10.0 | 200 | Nov 7 1979 | Ringwood Victoria AU |
| Keith Wilson | 24 | R | R | 6 0.0 | 200 | Dec 31 1973 | Phoenix AZ US |

## Players who played in the Major Leagues

* Jason Conti – Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Milwaukee Brewers, Texas Rangers
* Rob Ryan (baseball) – Arizona Diamondback, Oakland Athletics
* Rod Barajas – Arizona Diamondbacks, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers
* José Antonio Núñez – Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres
* Junior Spivey – Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee Brewers
* Vladimir Núñez – Arizona Diamondbacks, Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Atlanta Braves
* Erik Sabel – Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers
* Nick Bierbrodt – Arizona Diamondbacks, Tampa Bay Rays, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers
* Ron Calloway – Montreal Expos
* Alex Cintrón – Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Washington Nationals
* Eric Knott – Arizona Diamondbacks, Montreal Expos
* Abraham Núñez (outfielder) – Florida Marlins, Kansas City Royals
* Jack Cust – Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Baltimore Orioles, San Diego Padres, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners
* Robby Hammock – Arizona Diamondbacks
* Mike Koplove – Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians
* Bret Prinz – Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Los Angeles Angels, Chicago White Sox