Arizona Diamondbacks
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Template:MLB Diamondbacks franchise
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a Major League Baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are in the National League West division.
- Founded: 1998 (National League expansion)
- Home ballpark: Bank One Ballpark (The "BOB")
- Uniform colors: Purple, Teal, and Black
- Logo design: an "A" with one leg of the "A" alternating triangles to suggest a Western Diamondback Rattlesnake. An alternate logo is a script "D" in the shape of a snake.
- Wild Card titles won (0): none
- Division titles won (3): 1999, 2001, 2002
- National League pennants won (1): 2001
- World Series championships won (1): 2001
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Franchise history
In their first five seasons of existence, the Diamondbacks won three division titles (1999, 2001, & 2002) and one World Series. In 1999, Arizona won over 100 games in only its second season to win the National League West division. They lost to the New York Mets in the first round of playoffs.
In 2001, Arizona had postseason victories over the St. Louis Cardinals (3-2 in the NLDS), the Atlanta Braves (4-1 in the NLCS), to advance to the World Series where, in one of the most exciting series ever, they beat the reigning champions, the New York Yankees, 4 to 3, to become the youngest expansion franchise to win the championship. See 2001 World Series.
By the 2004 season, however, the Diamondbacks had dropped to a dismal 51-111 record. Manager Bob Brenly was fired partway through the season and was replaced on an interim basis by Al Pedrique. Following the season, the Diamondbacks hired Wally Backman to be the team's manager. Backman was formerly manager of the Class A California League Lancaster JetHawks, one of the Diamondbacks' minor-league affilliates. Backman was then fired after a legal dispute, and Bob Melvin became the new manager after Backman's ten day tenure.
Following the Backman incident, the Diamondbacks spent on free agents in order to build a contender. The club signed 3B Troy Glaus, P Russ Ortiz, SS Royce Clayton, and 2B Craig Counsell, among others. Then, they traded Randy Johnson to the Yankees, while acquiring Javier Vazquez, Brad Halsey and Shawn Green in a three-team trade that included the Dodgers, and sent Shea Hillenbrand to the Blue Jays. Finally, they traded Casey Fossum to the Devil Rays for Jos頃ruz, Jr..
Players of note
Baseball Hall of Famers
- none
Current roster (updated on June 12, 2005)
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Pitchers
Catchers
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Infielders
Outfielders
Disabled list
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- Manager
- Coaches
- 33
Jay Bell (bench)
- 13 Mark Davis (pitching)
- 53 Glenn Sherlock (bullpen)
- 8 Mike Aldrete (hitting)
- 14
Carlos Tosca (third base)
- 2 Brett Butler (first base)
- 33
Not to be forgotten
- Greg Colbrunn
- David Dellucci
- Steve Finley
- Mark Grace
- Randy Johnson
- Curt Schilling
- Matt Williams
- Tony Womack
Retired numbers
- 42 Jackie Robinson (retired throughout baseball)
Single Season Records
- Home Runs: 57 Luis Gonzalez (2001)
- Runs Batted In: 142 Matt Williams (1999), Luis Gonzalez (2001)
- Batting Average: .336 Luis Gonzalez (1999)
- Hits: 206 Luis Gonzalez (1999)
- Runs: 132 Jay Bell (1999)
- Doubles: 47 Luis Gonzalez (2000)
- Triples: 14 Tony Womack (2000)
- Stolen Bases: 72 Tony Womack (1999)
- Hitting Streak: 30 games - Luis Gonzalez (1999)
- Pitching Wins: 24 Randy Johnson (2002)
- Pitching Strikeouts: 372 Randy Johnson (2001)
External links
- Arizona Diamondbacks official web site (http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/ari/homepage/ari_homepage.jsp)
- Unofficial Fan site for the Arizona Diamondbacks (http://www.dbackfans.com)
- AZ Snake Pit - an Arizona Diamondbacks blog (http://www.azsnakepit.com)