Pacific Coast League (1986-1997)
Tombstone
Born: 1985 – Re-branded from Phoenix Giants
Moved: 1997 (Tucson Sidewinders)
First Game: April 11, 1986 (W 5-3 vs. Vancouver Canadians)
Last Game: September 11, 1997 (L 7-1 vs. Edmonton Trappers)
PCL Championships: None
Stadium
1986-1991: Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Opened: 1964
1992-1997: Scottsdale Stadium
Opened: 1992
Ownership & Affiliation
Owner: Martin Stone
Major League Affiliation: San Francisco Giants
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Phoenix Firebirds
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Background
Phoenix, Arizona was the host of the San Francisco Giants’ top farm club for 32 seasons from 1966 until 1997. The ball club was known as the Phoenix Giants from 1966 through the 1985 season. In the early years, San Francisco owned their Phoenix affiliate directly, but a series of independent owners took over the franchise beginning in 1973.
In 1986, owner Martin Stone re-branded the ball club with an independent identity – the Firebirds.
The Firebirds left Phoenix Municipal Stadium in 1992 and moved 30 minutes east into the newly renovated Scottsdale Stadium, the spring training home of the San Francisco Giants.
On The Field
Future Major League stars who played for Phoenix during the Firebirds era included:
- First baseman Will Clark (Firebirds ’86)
- Third baseman Matt Williams (Firebirds ’87-’89)
- Pitcher Terry Mulholland (Firebirds ’87-’89)
- Pitcher John Burkett (Firebirds ’88-’89)
- Closer Rod Beck (Firebirds ’90)
- Shortstop Royce Clayton (Firebirds ’92)
- Third baseman Bill Mueller (Firebirds ’95-’96)
- Pitcher Keith Foulke (Firebirds ’97)
The Firebirds made back-to-back appearances Pacific Coast League championship series in 1996 and 1997 but lost the Edmonton Trappers both times.
Departure
Major League Baseball expansion into Phoenix displaced the Firebirds after the 1997 season. MLB’s Arizona Diamondbacks began play in 1998. In a three-city shift, Martin Stone effectively moved his Phoenix franchise to Tucson in 1998 and became the Tucson Sidewinders, top farm club of the Diamondbacks. Tucson already had a long-time Pacific Coast League club – the Toros. The Toros simultaneously moved to California, becoming the Fresno Grizzlies, and took over the San Francisco Giants affiliation from Stone’s team.
Phoenix Firebirds Shop
In Memoriam
Pitcher Rod Scurry (Firebirds ’87) died of a heart attack following a drug-related episode November 5, 1992. Scurry was 36 years old. New York Times obituary.
Pitcher Rod Beck (Firebirds ’90-’91), a three-time Major League All-Star closer, passed away on June 23, 2007. New York Times obituary.
Links
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