Tombstone
Born: January 1974 – Northwest League expansion franchise1NO BYLINE. “Northwest baseball loop adds New Westminster”. The Herald (Bellingham, WA). January 24, 1974
Moved: January 18, 1975 (Boise A’s)2ASSOCIATED PRESS. “Boise approved as Frasers home”. The Sun (Vancouver, BC). January 20, 1975
First Game: June 18, 1974 (L 3-1 vs. Seattle Rainiers)
Last Game: August 31, 1974 (L 14-0 @ Seattle Rainiers)
Northwest League Championships: None
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Bill Forrest Sr.
Northwest League Expansion Fee (1974): $5003Beamish, Mike. “Thrown Out At Home”. The Sun (Vancouver, BC). February 20, 1999
Major League Affiliation: Independent
Attendance
Background
The New Westminster Frasers were a British Columbia-based entry in the Class A Northwest League that lasted only one season during the summer of 1974. The Northwest League had eight clubs that season, four of which had Major League tie-ups and four that operated as independent clubs, responsible for signing their own players and covering all of their own expenses. The Frasers were one of the four independents.
On The Field
The Frasers finished their only season with a last place finish in the Northwest League’s four-team West Division. However, their 34-50 record was slightly better than the two worst teams in the East Division, the Lewiston Broncs (33-51) and the Tri-City Ports (27-57).
In their finest hour, 22-year old pitcher Sam Basile spun a 7-inning complete game no-hitter during a double-header against the Portland Mavericks on August 6th, 1974. The Frasers’ season ended three weeks later and Basile never played another game of professional baseball.
18-year old infielder Jeff Cox played for the Frasers for only the first week of the season in June 1974. He was then shipped to the Portland Mavericks in an early season trade. From this unpromising start to his professional career, Cox became the only member of the Frasers to make it up to the Major Leagues. Cox played 61 games over two seasons for the Oakland A’s in 1980 and 1981.
Aftermath
Following the 1974 season the Frasers left Canada and relocated to Boise, Idaho where they resumed play at the Boise A’s in 1975.
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