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Akron Aeros Wiki Information
The Akron Aeros
are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans.
The nickname "Aeros" refers to Ohio's history of aerospace research including being the home state of the Wright Brothers and astronaut Neil Armstrong. Akron is also home to the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
The Aeros are managed by Mike Sarbaugh.
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AKRON AEROS TICKETS
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History
1980–1988
The franchise began play in 1980 in Lynn, Massachusetts, where it was named the Lynn Sailors
. The team served as the Double-A affiliate of the Seattle Mariners from 1980 to 1982 and the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1983. After four seasons in Massachusetts, owner Mike Agganis moved the team northward to Burlington, Vermont. From 1984 through 1987, the franchise was known as the Vermont Reds
and were the Double-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. In 1988, they became the Vermont Mariners
for one year when the Seattle Mariners picked up the franchise to serve as its Double-A affiliate. During their stint in Vermont, the franchise made the playoffs every year, and won three straight Eastern League titles from 1984 to 1986..
1989–1996
In 1989, the team moved to Canton, Ohio, becoming the Cleveland Indians' Double-A affiliate, and played eight seasons at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium as the Canton-Akron Indians
, one of many entities (another example is the Akron-Canton Regional Airport) to use the names of both cities. The "Little Indians" made another five straight playoff appearances from 1989 to 1993, and won the regular-season title in 1992. However, they were never successful at bringing home a league championship trophy.
The franchise did not advance to the postseason in 1994. This snapped a 12-year streak of postseason play from 1982 to 1993.
On November 22, 1994, Agganis signed a lease agreement with the city of Akron to move the club to that city. It took another two years to build the new Canal Park, which included selection of architects, land acquisition, and demolition of the Anthony Wayne Hotel which had stood on the new stadium site. Groundbreaking was held on January 5, 1996, and the stadium was completed in February 1997. Meantime, the new "Aeros" nickname had been chosen in November 1996 over the other choices, "Spirit" and "Quest," and replacing a prior working nickname, the "Akron Blast." "Blast" had been chosen in honor of Akron-born astronaut Judith Resnik (who died in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster), but changed when many misinterpreted it. [1]
1997–Present
Opening Day on April 10, 1997 marked the debut of the Akron Aeros. With 9,086 fans in attendance, the Aeros and Harrisburg Senators played the first game at Canal Park. The Aeros went on to finish the season with a record of 51-90. Despite the last place record, the team drew a Double-A-leading 473,272 fans to Canal Park that season.
In the 1998 season, the Aeros put together a 30-game "worst-to-first" turnaround; after finishing the prior year 34½ games back, they proceeded to win the Southern Division that season by 8½ games. However, after losing in the playoffs that year, it would be three more years until the Aeros found their way back to the posteason.
On September 6, 1999, the Aeros set an Eastern League attendance record for third straight season and once again led all Double-A teams after 522,459 fans attended Canal Park in 1999.
In 2002, the team posted a 93-48 record, the third-highest win total in the Eastern League in 50 years. They built on that success and finally won two league championships (their first since moving to Ohio) in 2003 and 2005. In 2006 the Aeros again posted the best regular-season record in the league, but lost the playoff title to Portland after taking the series to a deciding fifth game.
The Aeros advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series in each of the last four seasons (2005 to 2008) but were defeated in three consecutive trips (2006, 2007, and 2008).
In their first three seasons in Canal Park, the Aeros led all of Double-A in attendance, becoming the first team at that level to draw a half-million fans in a single season. In recent seasons however, attendance at Canal Park has dipped to the middle of the pack among the 12 Eastern League teams.
Season-by-season results
Lynn Sailors (1980–1983)
Eastern League • Double-A affiliate of Seattle Mariners (1980–1982) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1983)
- 1980 Lynn Sailors season: 66-71 (6th), manager Bobby Floyd
- 1981 Lynn Sailors season: 62-76 (6th), manager Bobby Floyd
- 1982 Lynn Sailors season: 82-57 (2nd), manager Allen Bowers • Defeated Glens Falls 2-0 in first round of playoffs; lost to West Haven 3-0 in ELCS
- 1983 Lynn Sailors season: 77-62 (2nd), manager Tommy Sandt • Defeated Buffalo 2-0 in first round of playoffs; lost to New Britain 3-1 in ELCS
Vermont Reds (1984–1987)
Eastern League • Double-A affiliate of Cincinnati Reds
- 1984 Vermont Reds season: 75-65 (4th), manager Jack Lind • Defeated Albany-Colonie 3-0 in first round of playoffs; defeated Waterbury 3-2 in ELCS
- 1985 Vermont Reds season: 71-67 (4th), manager Jack Lind • Defeated Albany-Colonie 3-1 in first round of playoffs; defeated New Britain 3-1 in ELCS
- 1986 Vermont Reds season: 77-62 (2nd), manager Jay Ward • Defeated Pittsfield 3-2 in first round of playoffs; defeated Reading 3-2 in ELCS
- 1987 Vermont Reds season: 73-67 (4th), manager Tom Runnells • Defeated Pittsfield 3-1 in first round of playoffs; lost to Harrisburg 3-1 in ELCS
Vermont Mariners (1988)
Eastern League • Double-A affiliate of Seattle Mariners
- 1988 Vermont Mariners season: 79-60 (2nd), manager Rich Morales • Defeated Pittsfield 3-1 in first round of playoffs; lost to Albany-Colonie 3-1 in ELCS
Canton-Akron Indians (1989–1996)
Eastern League • Double-A affiliate of Cleveland Indians
- 1989 Canton-Akron Indians season: 70-69 (3rd), manager Bob Molinaro • Lost to Harrisburg 3-2 in first round of playoffs
- 1990 Canton-Akron Indians season: 76-64 (3rd), manager Ken Bolek • Lost to London 3-2 in first round of playoffs
- 1991 Canton-Akron Indians season: 75-65 (4th), manager Ken Bolek • Lost to Harrisburg 3-1 in first round of playoffs
- 1992 Canton-Akron Indians season: 80-58 (1st), manager Brian Graham • Defeated Albany-Colonie 3-0 in first round of playoffs; lost to Binghamton 3-2 in ELCS
- 1993 Canton-Akron Indians season: 75-63 (2nd), manager Brian Graham • Defeated Bowie 3-2 in first round of playoffs; lost to Harrisburg, 3-2 in ELCS
- 1994 Canton-Akron Indians season: 69-73 (6th), manager Ted Kubiak
- 1995 Canton-Akron Indians season: 67-75 (5th), manager Ted Kubiak
- 1996 Canton-Akron Indians season: 71-71 (3rd), manager Jeff Datz
Akron Aeros (1997–)
Eastern League • Double-A affiliate of Cleveland Indians
- 1997 Akron Aeros season: 51-90 (5th), manager Jeff Datz
- 1998 Akron Aeros season: 81-60 (1st), manager Joel Skinner • Lost to Harrisburg 3-1 in first round of playoffs
- 1999 Akron Aeros season: 69-71 (5th), manager Joel Skinner
- 2000 Akron Aeros season: 75-68 (3rd), manager Eric Wedge
- 2001 Akron Aeros season: 68-74 (3rd), manager Chris Bando
- 2002 Akron Aeros season: 93-48 (1st), manager Brad Komminsk • Lost to Harrisburg 3-2 in first round of playoffs
- 2003 Akron Aeros season: 88-53 (1st), manager Brad Komminsk • Defeated Altoona 3-1 in first round of playoffs; defeated New Haven 3-0 in ELCS
- 2004 Akron Aeros season: 63-78 (5th), manager Brad Komminsk
- 2005 Akron Aeros season: 84-58 (1st), manager Torey Lovullo • Defeated Altoona 3-2 in first round of playoffs; defeated Portland 3-1 in ELCS
- 2006 Akron Aeros season: 87-55 (1st), manager Tim Bogar • Defeated Altoona 3-2 in first round of playoffs; lost to Portland 3-2 in ELCS
- 2007 Akron Aeros season: 80-61 (2nd), manager Tim Bogar • Defeated Erie 3-1 in first round of playoffs; lost to Trenton 3-1 in ELCS
- 2008 Akron Aeros season: 80-62 (2nd), manager Mike Sarbaugh • Defeated Bowie 3-1 in first round of playoffs; lost to Trenton 3-1 in ELCS
- 2009 Akron Aeros season: 61-40 (1st), manager Mike Sarbaugh • Season is in-progress
Note
: Place indicates finish in Eastern League's Northern Division from 1980 to 1982; in divisionless Eastern League from 1983 to 1993; in Eastern League's Southern Division from 1994 to present
Attendance
| Season
| Total attendance
| League rank
| Total Aeros openings
| Average attendance per Aeros opening
| Average attendance per Eastern League opening
(not including Aeros openings)
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| 1997
| 473,232
| 1st
| 71 (approx.)
| 6,665
| 4,260
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| 1998
| 521,122
| 1st
| 71 (approx.)
| 7,340
| 4,334
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| 1999
| 522,459
| 1st
| 71 (approx.)
| 7,359
| 4,954
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| 2000
| 481,060
| 1st
| 71 (approx.)
| 6,775
| 4,147
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| 2001
| 485,582
| 1st
| 71 (approx.)
| 6,839
| 4,294
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| 2002
| 400,187
| 3rd
| 71 (approx.)
| 5,636
| 4,284
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| 2003
| 445,603
| 2nd
| 71 (approx.)
| 6,276
| 4,128
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| 2004
| 478,611
| 1st
| 71 (approx.)
| 6,741
| 4,399
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| 2005
| 455,056
| 2nd
| 71 (approx.)
| 6,409
| 4,468
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| 2006
| 412,995
| 3rd
| 71 (approx.)
| 5,817
| 4,353
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| 2007
| 355,376
| 6th
| 64
| 5,553
| 4,831
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| 2008
| 342,816
| 7th
| 67
| 5,117
| 4,570
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Roster
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| Players
| Coaches/Other
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Pitchers
- 74 T. J. Burton‡
- 49 Kevin Dixon (baseball)
- 43 Ryan Edell
- 45 Frank Herrmann
- 34 Scott Lewis*
- 23 Chuck Lofgren
- 27 J. D. Martin
- 38 Randy Newsom
- 39 Scott Roehl
- 7 Reid Santos*
- 20 Tony Sipp*
- 48 Erik Stiller
- 32 Steven Wright (baseball)
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| Catchers
- 47 Damaso Espino
- 24 Wyatt Toregas*
Infielders
- 9 Brandon Chaves
- 11 Wes Hodges
- 2 Brandon Pinckney
- 12 Joshua Rodriguez
- 25 Matthew Whitney
Outfielders
- 1 Jose Constanza
- 44 Ryan Goleski
- 33 Stephen Head
- 13 Matthew LaPorta‡
- 10 Nathan Panther
- 51 Bronson Sardinha
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| Manager
Coaches
- 30 Lee May (hitting)
- 17 Tony Arnold (pitching)
† Disabled list
* On Cleveland Indians 40-man roster
‡ Reserve list
§ Suspended list
updated 2008-08-08
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Notable alumni
- Pitcher Danys Baez (2000, 01)
- Outfielder Albert Belle (1989, 90)
- First baseman Sean Casey (1997)
- Outfielder Ryan Church (2002, 03)
- Pitcher Bartolo Colón (1996)
- Outfield Brian Giles (1992, 93)
- Third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff (2006)
- Catcher Víctor Martínez (2002, 03)
- Pitcher Charles Nagy (1989, 90, 93, 2000)
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- Shortstop Jhonny Peralta (2002)
- Outfielder Manny Ramírez (1993, 2000)
- Pitcher C. C. Sabathia (2000, 05)
- Infielder Marco Scutaro (1998)
- First baseman Richie Sexson (1996)
- Center fielder Grady Sizemore (2003)
- Pitcher Julián Tavárez (1993)
- First baseman Jim Thome (1991, 92)
- Pitcher Jaret Wright (1997, 99, 2000, 01)
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See also
- Lynn Sailors
- Vermont Reds
- Vermont Mariners
- Canton-Akron Indians
References
- Akron Aeros History
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