The Ottawa Lynx was a minor league baseball team that formerly competed in the Triple-A International League (IL) from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was Lynx Stadium in Ottawa, Ontario. Over the team's 15 seasons, it was the Triple-A Minor League affiliate of the Montreal Expos (1993-2002), Baltimore Orioles (2003-2006), and Philadelphia Phillies (2007). At the time, it was the only IL franchise based in Canada. In late August 2006, the league approved the conditions to negotiate the sale of the team. The new owners moved the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania beginning with the 2008 season, where it is known as the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. [1] The team's move to Allentown, the third largest city in Pennsylvania, has brought it within the Phillies' fan base region. During the club's last years, it had difficulty attracting fans, which was one of several factors in the decision to relocate the team. The Canadian-American (Can-Am) League placed a team in Ottawa, called the Rapidz, for the 2008 season. On September 29, 2008, the Rapidz ceased operations as the team declared bankruptcy. After the initial ownership declared bankruptcy, the Can-Am league assumed ownership of the franchise, but suspended the team's operations in March 2009 prior to what would have been a second season.

OTTAWA LYNX TICKETS Monster Jam Tickets Chicago Bulls Tickets Los Angeles Lakers Tickets The Harlem Globetrotters New York Knicks Tickets Boston Celtics Tickets

History

In 1991, Ottawa businessman and then Ottawa 67s owner Howard Darwin was successful in applying to the IL for an expansion franchise to begin play in 1993. The Lynx became the second IL franchise to play in Ottawa, after the former Ottawa Giants and Ottawa Athletics of the 1950s. The application was contingent on the City of Ottawa building a baseball stadium for the team. The stadium was completed in time for the 1993 season.

The Lynx began play in 1993, serving as the top farm team for the Montreal Expos. The team won its sole International League championship in 1995. During this period, the Lynx featured such future Major League Baseball players as Rondell White, Cliff Floyd, Matt Stairs, Kirk Rueter, and F.P. Santangelo. The Lynx eventually retired two numbers: Santangelo's 24, and Jamey Carroll's 3.

In 2000, Howard Darwin sold his shares in the team to Ray Pecor. According to news reports, Mr. Pecor would lose $1 million annually on the team due to low attendance. ^[2]

In 2003, the Lynx were not given any assurances from either the Montreal Expos or Major League Baseball on the long term future of the Expos, so they were forced to find another partner and became the Triple A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. As a result, Montreal shifted its affiliation to the Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League,

On August 28, 2006, the International League gave permission to continue negotiations to sell the ballclub, with Joe Finley and Craig Stein obtaining the right to operate the new entity. Allentown, Pennsylvania. It was well known at the time, and reported in the Allentown media, that Finley and Stein intended to move the team to Allentown, Pennsylvania, where Allentown's new Coca-Cola Park was being built as the team's home ballpark. ^{[3] [4]} The current owner of the Lynx would file a lawsuit against the City of Ottawa on October 17, 2006, seeking $10.75 million in damages claiming that the city failed to provide enough parking spaces, which, the team alleged, was a violation of its lease. ^[5]

The team played its last game in Ottawa on September 3, 2007, losing to Syracuse 8-5. ^[6]

Titles

The Lynx won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the International League, once in the team's history by defeating the Norfolk Tides in 1995.

Final 2007 roster

Active roster				Coaches/Other
Starting Rotation 21 J.A. Happ* 38 Matt Childers 50 Gary Knotts 39 John Ennis 41 Landon Jacobsen Bullpen 27 Jason Anderson (baseball) 13 Joseph Bisenius* 18 Eude Brito 34 Ryan Cameron (baseball player) 44 Anderson García*		Catchers 15 Jason Jaramillo 26 Dusty Wathan Infielders 29 Gary Burnham  9 Gookie Dawkins 17 Brennan King  4 Danny Sandoval  6 Joe Thurston Outfielders 35 Javon Moran 22 Matt Padgett 19 Jim Rushford 28 Pedro Swann		Manager Coaches -- Rod Nichols (pitching) -- Sal Rende (batting) Trainers -- Shawn Fcasni '''Disabled and Inactive List 36 Matt Smith (baseball)* LHP - 7-day DL * - On Philadelphia Phillies 40-man roster

Alumni

• Matt Stairs (1993) - Outfielder/designated hitter/first baseman for Montreal, Boston, Oakland, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, Detroit, Texas,Toronto and Philadelphia
• Rondell White (1993-94) - Outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, San Diego, Kansas City, Detroit, and Minnesota
• Kirk Rueter (1993-1996) - Pitcher for Montreal and San Francisco
• Cliff Floyd (1993; 1996) - First baseman/outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Florida, Boston, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay
• F.P. Santangelo (1993-95; 1998) - Outfielder/second baseman for Montreal, San Francisco, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Oakland
• Curtis Pride (1993-95; 2001) - Outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Detroit, Boston, Atlanta, New York Yankees, and Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
• Ugueth Urbina (1995-96) - Pitcher for Montreal, Boston, Texas, Florida, Detroit, and Philadelphia
• José Vidro (1997-98) - Second baseman/third baseman/designated hitter for Montreal/Washington and Seattle
• Orlando Cabrera (1997-98; 2000) - Gold Glove Shortstop for Montreal, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and Minnesota Twins
• Javier Vazquez (1999) - Pitcher for Montreal, New York Yankees, Arizona, and Chicago White Sox
• Michael Barrett (2000) - Catcher for Montreal, Chicago Cubs and San Diego
• Jamey Carroll (2000-02) - Third baseman/shortstop/second baseman for Montreal/Washington, Cleveland Indians and Colorado
• Rick Bauer (2003-05; 2007) - Pitcher for Baltimore and Texas
• Adam Loewen (2006) - Baltimore Orioles Pitcher and Outfielder, Toronto Outfielder
• Hayden Penn (2006) - Pitcher for Baltimore and Florida
• Chris Coste (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies catcher
• Zack Segovia (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• J. D. Durbin (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Clay Condrey (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Mike Zagurski (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Yoel Hernández (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Brian Sanches (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Kane Davis (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Chris Roberson (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
• Fabio Castro (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
• Geoff Geary (2007) - Pitcher for Philadelphia and Houston
• John Ennis (2007) - Philadelphia Phillies pitcher

References

1. Topic Galleries - themorningcall.com
2. Lynx to IronPigs isn't yet iron clad
3. Lynx sold, set to leave Ottawa in 2008
4. Lynx sold; franchise headed for Allentown
5. Lynx sue Ottawa for $10.75M over parking
6. box score of last game