The Grand Junction Jackalopes are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball (MLB) but is an MLB Partner League. They are located in Grand Junction, Colorado, and play their home games at Suplizio Field. They were formerly named the Rockies, after the Colorado Rockies, who were their major league affiliate from 2001 to 2020 prior to the league becoming independent.
Beginning in 1987, the franchise had been operated by Silverbow Baseball. It was sold in 1996 to the Goldklang Group in a move necessary to stem conflict-of-interest issues when Silverbow head Jim McCurdy had taken the position of President of the Pioneer League in 1994.[2] Silverbow had attempted to sell the franchise in 1994 to investors from California, but the deal fell through when it was determined that Silverbow owned a lesser percentage of the franchise than it had purported to own.[3]
Following the 2000 season, the team relocated to Casper, Wyoming as the Casper Rockies (and was renamed the Ghosts before the 2008 season[4]) and affiliated with Colorado.[5]
On January 13, 2011, Casper Professional Baseball Club, LLC announced the sale of the team to Monfort Investment Group, a group headed by Colorado Rockies General Partners. [6]
October 17, 2011, Grand Junction city officials unanimously approved a lease agreement to the team, making Suplizio Field home to the newly renamed Grand Junction Rockies.[7]
Logo of the Grand Junction Rockies, used until 2022
In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Pioneer League was converted from an MLB-affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League, with Grand Junction continuing as a member.[8]
On November 4, 2022, the team officially announced their new name of the Grand Junction Jackalopes.[9]
^"Pioneer Adds Butte". The Sporting News. February 25, 1978. p. 63.
^"Copper Kings Have New Owners, Affiliation". bozemandailychronicle.com. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. June 18, 1996. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
^"Jury Rules in Favor of Former Cooper Kings Team Owner". bozemandailychronicle.com. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. October 12, 1996. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
^"Casper Ghosts Launch Glow-in-the-Dark Identity". ghostsbaseball.com. Casper Ghosts. October 31, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
^"Affiliations: Pioneer League". The Official Site of the Pioneer League. Pioneer Baseball League. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
^"Monfort Investment Group Purchases Casper Ghosts". Official Site of the Casper Ghosts. Casper Ghosts. January 13, 2011. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
^"Grand Junction officials OK Casper Ghosts' move to Colorado". trib.com. Casper Star Tribune. October 17, 2011.
^"Pioneer League named MLB Partner League". Baseball America. November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
^"Meet the Grand Junction Jackalopes". November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
^"Butte Alumni". thebaseballcube.com. The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
^"Casper Alumni". thebaseballcube.com. The Baseball Cube. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
External linksedit
Official website
Statistics from Baseball-Reference
March 20, 2024
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The Grand Junction Jackalopes are an independent baseball team of the Pioneer League which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball MLB but is an MLB Partner League They are located in Grand Junction Colorado and play their home games at Suplizio Field They were formerly named the Rockies after the Colorado Rockies who were their major league affiliate from 2001 to 2020 prior to the league becoming independent Grand Junction JackalopesFounded in 1978Grand Junction ColoradoMinor league affiliationsClassIndependent from 2021 Previous classesRookie 1978 1985 1987 2020 LeaguePioneer League 1978 1985 1987 present Major league affiliationsTeamIndependent from 2021 Previous teamsColorado Rockies 2001 2020 Anaheim Angels 1997 2000 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1996 Co op 1978 1985 1987 1993 1995 Texas Rangers 1988 1992 Seattle Mariners 1984 Kansas City Royals 1982 1983 Milwaukee Brewers 1979 1981 Minor league titlesLeague titles 2 19812022Division titles 4 19811988198920182022Team dataNameGrand Junction Jackalopes 2023 present Previous namesGrand Junction Rockies 2012 2022 Casper Ghosts 2008 2011 Casper Rockies 2001 2007 Butte Copper Kings 1978 1985 1987 2000 MascotJake the Jacked alopeBallparkSuplizio Field 2012 present Previous parksMike Lansing Field 2001 2011 George Tani Field 2001 Alumni Coliseum 1978 1985 1987 2000 PresidentMick RitterManagerChris Knabenshue Contents 1 Franchise history 2 Roster 3 Notable players 4 References 5 External linksFranchise history editThe Butte Copper Kings named for the once powerful owners of the copper mines of Butte Montana began play in the Pioneer League in 1978 as a co op team with players from the Philadelphia Phillies Oakland Athletics Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers organizations as well as a few free agents 1 Beginning in 1987 the franchise had been operated by Silverbow Baseball It was sold in 1996 to the Goldklang Group in a move necessary to stem conflict of interest issues when Silverbow head Jim McCurdy had taken the position of President of the Pioneer League in 1994 2 Silverbow had attempted to sell the franchise in 1994 to investors from California but the deal fell through when it was determined that Silverbow owned a lesser percentage of the franchise than it had purported to own 3 Following the 2000 season the team relocated to Casper Wyoming as the Casper Rockies and was renamed the Ghosts before the 2008 season 4 and affiliated with Colorado 5 On January 13 2011 Casper Professional Baseball Club LLC announced the sale of the team to Monfort Investment Group a group headed by Colorado Rockies General Partners 6 October 17 2011 Grand Junction city officials unanimously approved a lease agreement to the team making Suplizio Field home to the newly renamed Grand Junction Rockies 7 nbsp Logo of the Grand Junction Rockies used until 2022In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball in 2021 the Pioneer League was converted from an MLB affiliated Rookie Advanced league to an independent baseball league and granted status as an MLB Partner League with Grand Junction continuing as a member 8 On November 4 2022 the team officially announced their new name of the Grand Junction Jackalopes 9 Roster editGrand Junction Jackalopes rostervte Active 25 man roster Coaches OtherPitchers 15 Chris Allen 20 Keenan Bartlett 21 Connor Barton 31 Adam Bloebaum 5 Miguel Cirino 27 Tyler Johnson 16 Diego Jordan 19 Justin Kleinsorge 17 Calvin Marley 24 Trey Morrill Bryan Perez 22 Frank Racioppo 12 Riyan Rodriguez Gaylan Young Catchers 34 Austin Chouinard nbsp 25 Tyler Sandoval 56 Austin Shumaker Alex StinnettInfielders 3 Matt Golda 13 Jaylen Hubbard 6 Joe Johnson 1 Andrew Meggs 10 Alex Nielsen nbsp 14 Drew WilliamsOutfielders 8 Jacob Cruce Lavoisier Fisher 2 Anthony Ray 18 Ethan Smith nbsp 23 Ron Washington Jr 9 Matt Wong Manager Chris KnabenshueCoaches Bobby Chouinard pitching Carl Iwasaki bench Bret Williamson assistant nbsp Disabled list Inactive list Suspended listRoster updated August 7 2023 TransactionsNotable players editButte Copper Kings 10 Casper Rockies and Casper Ghosts 11 players who have made appearances on Major League teams Cecil Fielder Omar Vizquel Rich Aurilia Jake Bird Julio Franco Bobby Jenks Robb Nen Roger Pavlik Francisco Rodriguez Kevin Seitzer Mike Napoli Alfredo Amezaga Andy Barkett Andy Beene Mark Brandenburg Mickey Callaway Juan Castillo Bryan Clutterbuck Cris Colon John Davis Tom Edens Joey Eischen Trevor Enders Scott Eyre Monty Fariss Jeff Frye Benji Gil Donald Harris Todd Helton Matt Hensley Dion James Kerry Lacy Terrell Lowery Bill Lyons David Manning Rob Maurer Brian Meadows Angel Miranda Alberto Arias Darren Clarke Manuel Corpas Dexter Fowler Jonathan Herrera Ubaldo Jimenez Franklin Morales Josh Newman Jayson Nix Jordan Pacheco Alex Serrano Ryan Shealy Seth Smith Ian Stewart Ryan Speier Jermaine Van Buren Eduardo Villacis Everth Cabrera Jhoulys Chacin Matt Daley Juan Morillo David Patton Esmil Rogers Pedro Strop Mike Timlin Eric Young Jr Wilin Rosario Ryan Mattheus Juan Nicasio Jon Gray Trevor Story Nolan ArenadoReferences edit Pioneer Adds Butte The Sporting News February 25 1978 p 63 Copper Kings Have New Owners Affiliation bozemandailychronicle com Bozeman Daily Chronicle June 18 1996 Retrieved June 9 2011 Jury Rules in Favor of Former Cooper Kings Team Owner bozemandailychronicle com Bozeman Daily Chronicle October 12 1996 Retrieved July 28 2019 Casper Ghosts Launch Glow in the Dark Identity ghostsbaseball com Casper Ghosts October 31 2007 Retrieved June 9 2011 Affiliations Pioneer League The Official Site of the Pioneer League Pioneer Baseball League Retrieved May 9 2011 Monfort Investment Group Purchases Casper Ghosts Official Site of the Casper Ghosts Casper Ghosts January 13 2011 Retrieved June 9 2011 Grand Junction officials OK Casper Ghosts move to Colorado trib com Casper Star Tribune October 17 2011 Pioneer League named MLB Partner League Baseball America November 30 2020 Retrieved November 30 2020 Meet the Grand Junction Jackalopes November 4 2022 Retrieved November 5 2022 Butte Alumni thebaseballcube com The Baseball Cube Archived from the original on February 3 2013 Retrieved June 9 2011 Casper Alumni thebaseballcube com The Baseball Cube Archived from the original on February 3 2013 Retrieved June 9 2011 External links editOfficial website Statistics from Baseball Reference Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Grand Junction Jackalopes amp oldid 1203861538, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
