Western Baseball League (1999)
Tombstone
Born: March 17, 1999 – Re-branded from Reno Chukars1ASSOCIATED PRESS. “Reno team now BlackJacks”. The Daily Free Press (Elko, NV). March 19, 1999
Moved: October 8, 1999 (Feather River Mudcats)2Santoro, Joe. “‘Jacks jump to California”. The Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV). October 9, 1999
First Game: May 21, 1999 (L
Last Game: September 13, 1998 (L 9-4 @ Sonoma County Crushers)
Western League Championships: None
Stadium
Moana Stadium (3,201)31999 Reno BlackJacks Program
Opened: 1946
Demolished: 2012
Dimensions (1999): Left 339′, Center: 420′, Right 339′41999 Reno BlackJacks Program
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Scott Mendonsa
Major League Affiliation: Independent
Attendance
Reno BlackJacks attendance ranked last in the 6-team Western Baseball League during the 1999 season.
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Source: The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball (3rd ed.), Lloyd Johnson & Miles Wolff, 2007
Trophy Case
Western Baseball League Most Valuable Player
- 1999: Justin Drizos
Background
The Reno BlackJacks were a One-Year Wonder in the independent Western Baseball League (WBL) during the summer of 1999. The BlackJacks replaced an earlier WBL entry, the Reno Chukars, who played in the league from 1996 through 1998 under different ownership.
The struggling Western League fielded just six member clubs during the 1999 season, including three California teams plus single entries in Reno, Utah and Washington state. The tiny membership made the league’s 90-game schedule and four-team playoff format somewhat ridiculous. The BlackJacks played the Chico Heat 23 times.
The BlackJacks were the last professional baseball team to make their home at Moana Stadium, Reno’s long-time home of minor league baseball dating back to 1947. By the 1990’s, Moana was thoroughly obsolete, which had led to the loss of the city’s affiliated Minor League Baseball in 1992 and contributed to the failure of the independent Chukars and BlackJacks at the end of the decade. The ballpark was demolished in 2012.
In Competition
The BlackJacks finished their only season with 41-49 record, good enough for the fourth and final playoff spot. Reno lost 3 games to 2 to the Chico Heat in the opening round of the playoffs in September 1999.
Ex-University of Reno first baseman Justin Drizos was the ‘Jacks most outstanding player. The 25-year old former Colorado Rockies farmhand slashed .351/.484/.676 with 24 home runs and claimed the Western League’s Most Valuable Player Award.
Field manager Charley Kerfeld, a product of nearby Carson City High School and former Houston Astros relief pitcher during the 1980’s, was other familiar name to local hardball fans.
Epilogue
One month after the season ended, owner Scott Mendonsa moved the ball club to Marysville, California, citing a $300,000 financial loss during the 1999 season.5Santoro, Joe. “‘Jacks jump to California”. The Gazette-Journal (Reno, NV). October 9, 1999 Known as the Feather River Mudcats in California, the franchise would close its doors after one season in Marysville.
The Western Baseball League went out of business following the 2002 season.
Pro baseball returned to Reno in 2006 with another independent club, the Reno Silver Sox of the Golden Baseball League. But the Silver Sox were swiftly displaced by a much more ambitious project.
In 2009, Reno opened the $50 million Aces Ballpark (today known as Greater Nevada Field) and lured in the Class AAA Reno Aces, who have served as the top farm club of the Arizona Diamondbacks ever since.
Trivia
Pitcher Aaron Mayer was the only member of the 1998 Reno Chukars to return for the 1999 season with the BlackJacks.
Reno BlackJacks Shop
Links
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