The Vermont Mariners were a One-Year Wonder in the Class AA Eastern League, born of a shotgun marriage between Burlington’s Eastern League franchise and a rather disgruntled Major League sponsor, the Seattle Mariners. Despite lasting just one season, the Vermont Mariners can claim one certified Hall-of-Famer in outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. and a second graduate, the masterful shortstop Omar Vizquel, who many feel should be in Cooperstown as well.
Eastern League (1984-1987) Born: September 8, 1983 – The Lynn Pirates relocate to Burlington, VT Affiliation Change: September 15, 1987 (Vermont Mariners) First Game: April
The Vermont Expos, based in Burlington, were the short-season Class A farm club of the Montreal Expos during the final decade of that Major League club’s existence. The Expos won their lone New York-Penn League crown during their third season of play in 1996. The Montreal Expos moved to Washington, D.C. after the 2004 season and became the Washington Nationals. Thanks to a delay in re-branding the ball club, Vermont played one final season under the Expos nickname in 2005. A contest to re-name the team drew more than 30,000 entries in 2005 and resulted in the club’s new identity as the Vermont Lake Monsters beginning in 2006.
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