Las Vegas Aviators
Las Vegas Aviators Founded in 1983 Summerlin, Nevada | |||||
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| Class-level | |||||
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| Current | Triple-A (1983–present) | ||||
| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| League | Pacific Coast League (1983–present) | ||||
| Conference | Pacific Conference | ||||
| Division | Southern Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Current | Oakland Athletics (from 2019) | ||||
| Previous |
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| Minor league titles | |||||
| League titles .mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal} (2) |
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| Division titles (10) |
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| Team data | |||||
| Nickname | Las Vegas Aviators (2019–present) | ||||
Previous names |
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| Colors | Navy blue, orange, tangerine, gold, yellow, gray[1][2] | ||||
| Mascot | Cosmo | ||||
| Ballpark | Las Vegas Ballpark (from 2019) | ||||
Previous parks | Cashman Field (1983–2018) | ||||
Owner(s)/ Operator(s) | Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club LLC | ||||
| Manager | Fran Riordan | ||||
The Las Vegas Aviators, formerly known as the Las Vegas 51s and Las Vegas Stars, are a Minor League Baseball team in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. They are located in Summerlin, Nevada, a community in Las Vegas. Beginning in 2019, the Aviators will play their home games at Las Vegas Ballpark, a new 10,000-seat facility. The team previously played at Cashman Field from 1983 to 2018.
The team won the PCL championship as the Stars in 1986 and 1988.
Contents
1 History
1.1 Las Vegas Stars (1983–2000)
1.2 Las Vegas 51s (2001–2018)
1.3 Las Vegas Aviators (2019–present)
2 Season-by-season results
3 Media
3.1 Broadcasters
4 Roster
5 Award winners
5.1 PCL MVP
5.2 PCL Rookie of the Year
5.3 PCL Manager of the Year
5.4 PCL Executive of the Year
6 Notable alumni
7 References
8 External links
History
Las Vegas Stars (1983–2000)
The Las Vegas Pacific Coast League franchise traces it roots to the Portland Beavers who entered the PCL in 1919 after a two-year hiatus. The team relocated to Spokane, Washington, in 1973, becoming the Spokane Indians. The franchise moved once again in 1983, becoming the Las Vegas Stars.
The Stars, who were the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, became the first professional sports team to play in Las Vegas since the Las Vegas Wranglers baseball club who played from 1947 to 1952 and 1957 to 1958. The Stars' inaugural season was quite successful, posting an 83–60 record and winning the first-half championship for the Southern Division leading to a playoff berth, but eventually losing to the Albuquerque Dukes. The following season, the Stars posted another successful campaign, going 71–65 and winning their second division championship (first half), but ultimately losing in the league semifinals to the Hawaii Islanders. After a dismal 1985 campaign, the Stars finished the 1986 season with an 80–62 record and won the second half of the Southern Division. In the league semifinals, the Stars defeated the Phoenix Firebirds, 3–2, and went on to win their first PCL championship, defeating the Vancouver Canadians in five games. The Stars won their second PCL championship in 1988, once again defeating Vancouver, this time in four games.
After winning five division titles and two league championships in their first six years, the Stars hit a skid, posting a .500 or better record only four times and winning shares of only two division championships in the following 12 years. The Stars were unable to advance past the first round of the playoffs in both seasons that they qualified. The team's affiliation with the Padres ended after the 2000 season.
Las Vegas 51s (2001–2018)
Las Vegas 51s logo
A Las Vegas 51s baseball game against the Iowa Cubs at Cashman Field in 2008
In 2001, Las Vegas became the top farm club of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The new affiliation was accompanied by rebranding to the Las Vegas 51s in reference to Area 51, a military base located north-northwest of Las Vegas legendary for rumors of its housing UFOs and other extraterrestrial technology. The team adopted a logo featuring a grey alien head and introduced a mascot, Cosmo.
A new affiliate, moniker, and appearance did not translate into improved performance on the field. The 51s experienced only two winning seasons during their eight years as the Triple-A Dodgers. Their only division title came under manager Brad Mills in 2002 as the team posted the best record in the league at 85–59, but lost three games to one to the eventual PCL champion Edmonton Trappers.
On March 24, 2008, Mandalay Baseball Properties sold the 51s franchise to Stevens Baseball Group.[3] There were no plans to move the team,[4] and talks of building a new stadium to replace the ageing Cashman Field became stagnant.[5][6] The Dodgers and the 51s had a rocky relationship during their eight-year affiliation. The Dodgers were not pleased with Cashman Field, which barely met the standards for Triple-A baseball. It had no weight room or indoor batting cages, and it was decrepit compared to other stadiums in the league. Citing the inadequacies of Cashman and lack of planning for a replacement, Los Angeles decided not to renew their player development contract (PDC) with Las Vegas after the 2008 season.[7]
Following the departure of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the 51s signed a PDC with the Toronto Blue Jays, marking the first time that the 51s were affiliated with an American League club.[8] The only time the team finished over .500 with the Blue Jays was in 2012 when Marty Brown led the team to a 79–64 second-place finish. The Blue Jays ended their affiliation with the 51s after the season.
In April 2013, the team was purchased by Summerlin Las Vegas Baseball Club LLC, a joint venture of Howard Hughes Corp and Play Ball Owners Group, including investors Steve Mack, Bart Wear, and Chris Kaempfer, with intentions of moving it to a proposed stadium in Summerlin near the Red Rock Resort Spa and Casino.[9]
The 51s became affiliated with the New York Mets in 2013 when they were the only Triple-A team left without a MLB parent.[10] They won back-to-back division titles in 2013 and 2014 under manager Wally Backman, but were eliminated in the Pacific Conference championship series on both occasions.
In October 2017, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority approved a 20-year, $80 million naming rights agreement to help pay for a new $150 million 10,000-seat ballpark which could open in 2019. Las Vegas Ballpark, located Summerlin, is expected to include 22 suites, a center field pool, kids' zone, and several bars.[11] Construction began in 2018 and will be completed for the 2019 season.[12]
In late 2017, the Mets announced plans to move its Triple-A affiliation to the Syracuse Mets beginning in 2019, meaning the 51s would be in need of a new major league affiliate.[13]
Las Vegas Aviators (2019–present)
Las Vegas Aviators alternate ("road") logo
Following the conclusion of the 2018 season, Las Vegas signed a two-year PDC with the Oakland Athletics that runs through 2020.[14]
In addition to having a new major league affiliate in 2019 and playing in a new ballpark, the team also changed its name to the Las Vegas Aviators. The name is in reference to aviation pioneer Howard Hughes. The team's new logo depicts a pilot wearing a flight helmet and utilizes their new color scheme of navy blue, orange, tangerine, gold, yellow, and gray.[1]
Season-by-season results
This is a list of the last ten seasons completed by the Aviators.
Records accurate as of end of the 2018 PCL season
| Season | Affiliate | Conference | Division | Regular Season | Postseason | Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finish[a] | Wins | Losses | Win% | GB | ||||||
2009 | TOR | Pacific | South | T-3rd | 71 | 73 | .493 | 15.5 | — | Randy Ruiz (MVP) |
2010 | TOR | Pacific | South | 4th | 66 | 78 | .458 | 13 | — | J. P. Arencibia (MVP) |
2011 | TOR | Pacific | South | 2nd | 71 | 73 | .493 | 17 | — | David Cooper (Batting Champion) |
2012 | TOR | Pacific | South | 2nd | 79 | 64 | .552 | 6.5 | — | — |
2013 | NYM | Pacific | South | 1st | 81 | 63 | .563 | 0 | Lost to Salt Lake, 1-3 | — |
2014 | NYM | Pacific | South | 1st | 81 | 63 | .563 | 0 | Lost to Reno, 1-3 | Wally Backman (Manager of the Year) |
2015 | NYM | Pacific | South | 2nd | 77 | 67 | .535 | 1.0 | — | — |
2016 | NYM | Pacific | South | 3rd | 70 | 74 | .486 | 3.5 | — | — |
2017 | NYM | Pacific | South | 4th | 56 | 86 | .394 | 17 | — | Amed Rosario (Rookie of the Year) |
2018 | NYM | Pacific | South | 3rd | 71 | 69 | .507 | 11.5 | — | — |
Media
The Las Vegas Aviators are covered by Las Vegas' two daily newspapers, the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Las Vegas Sun. Every Aviators game is broadcast by KBAD 920-AM, the local NBC Sports Radio affiliate, with Russ Langer as the broadcast's play-by-play man. Several prominent sports radio and television personalities made their start as broadcaster for the Stars and 51s, most notably Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd.
Broadcasters
- Bob Blum (1985–2005)
- Dick Calvert (1983)
Colin Cowherd (1987–1988)- Joe Hawk (1983)
Ken Korach (1989–1995)- Russ Langer (2000–present)
Tim Neverett (1996–2003, 2005–2006)
Paul Olden (1984–1987)
Jerry Reuss (1994–1995, 2005–2006)- Jon Sandler (1993–1999)
Dom Valentino (1983–1985, 1987–1989)
Rich Waltz (1990–1992)
Roster
Las Vegas Aviators roster | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Players | Coaches/Other | |||
Pitchers
| Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
| Manager
Coaches
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7-day disabled list
Award winners
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Notable alumni
- Roberto Alomar
- Sandy Alomar, Jr.
- Carlos Baerga
- Bruce Bochy
Larry Bowa (manager)- Jolbert Cabrera
- Chin-Feng Chen
- Michael Conforto
- David Cooper
- Joey Cora
- Joe Thurston
- Ike Davis
- Cody Decker
- Jake deGrom
- Edwin Encarnación
- Andre Ethier
- Wilmer Flores
- Éric Gagné
Nomar Garciaparra (rehab)- Ozzie Guillén
- Robert Gsellman
- Tony Gwynn
- D. J. Houlton
- Edwin Jackson
- Matt Kemp
- Ty Kelly
- John Kruk
- Seth Lugo
- Russell Martin
- Gary Matthews, Jr.
- Steven Matz
- Kevin McReynolds
Brad Mills (Manager)- Norihiro Nakamura
- T.J. Rivera
- Cody Ross
- David Ross
Jerry Royster (Manager)- Benito Santiago
- Noah Syndergaard
Kevin Towers (General Manager)- Shane Victorino
- Jayson Werth
- Zach Wheeler
Steve Yeager (hitting coach)
References
^ ab Hill, Benjamin (December 8, 2018). "Cleared for liftoff: Aviators take flight". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved December 9, 2018.The Aviators' logos were created by The Studio, a New York City-based Howard Hughes Corporation design team. The primary logo -- featuring a navy blue, orange, tangerine, gold, yellow and gray color scheme -- depicts a "heroic aviator." The town of Summerlin's logo, which features a silhouette of a Red Rock Canyon Conservation area mountain range, is reflected in the aviator's sunglasses. These mountains are also incorporated into a supplementary mark featuring a connected 'LV.'
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^ "THE HOWARD HUGHES CORPORATION® ANNOUNCES THE LAS VEGAS AVIATORS® AS NEW NAME OF LAS VEGAS' PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM". AviatorsLV.com (Press release). MLB Advanced Media. December 8, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2018.
^ Gemma, Jim. "Stevens Baseball Group – New Owner of Las Vegas 51s." Las Vegas 51s. March 24, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
^ Gemma, Jim. "Mandalay Baseball Transacts More Business – Sells Las Vegas 51s Franchise." Las Vegas 51s. October 31, 2007. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
^ Anderson, Mark. "Logan lobbies for new stadium. Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 11, 2001. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
^ Iole, Kevin. "Dodgers threaten to quit 51s." Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 2, 2003. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
^ Dewey, Todd (September 19, 2008). "Bye, bye, Blue". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
^ Dewey, Todd (September 21, 2008). "Las Vegas, Toronto birds of a feather". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
^ Brewer, Ray (May 20, 2013). "Some Pacific Coast League stadiums will be tough for proposed Summerlin project to match". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
^ Harrington, Mike. Bisons, Blue Jays start talking affiliation deal. The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 17, 2012.
^ Kraft, Alex (October 10, 2017). "Report: 51s to move into new ballpark in 2019". milb.com. Retrieved October 10, 2017.
^ "Construction 'rolling' on Las Vegas 51s new ballpark in Summerlin". April 16, 2018.
^ Dixon, Marvin Clemons and Amber. "Mets to leave Las Vegas 51s after '18 season, but bigger deal is stadium vote Tuesday".
^ "A's Announce Partnership with Las Vegas 51s". Major League Baseball. September 17, 2018.
External links
 | Wikimedia Commons has media related to Las Vegas Aviators. |
- Official website
- Statistics from Baseball-Reference
Sports teams based in Nevada | |||||
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