| Columbus Clippers | |||||
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| Minor league affiliations | |||||
| Class | Triple-A (1977–present) | ||||
| League | International League (1977–present) | ||||
| Division | West Division | ||||
| Major league affiliations | |||||
| Team | Cleveland Indians / Guardians (2009–present) | ||||
| Previous teams |
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| Minor league titles | |||||
| Class titles(2) |
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| League titles(11) |
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| Division titles(12) |
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| Second-half titles(1) |
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| Wild card berths(1) |
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| Team data | |||||
| Name | Columbus Clippers (1977–present) | ||||
| Colors | Navy, light blue, gray, white | ||||
| Mascots | Krash and Lou Seal[1] | ||||
| Ballpark | Huntington Park (2009–present) | ||||
Previous parks | Cooper Stadium (1977–2008) | ||||
Owner/ Operator | Franklin County Government | ||||
| General manager | Tyler Parsons | ||||
| Manager | Andy Tracy | ||||
| Website | milb.com/columbus | ||||
TheColumbus Clippers are aMinor League Baseball team of theInternational League (IL) and theTriple-A affiliate of theCleveland Guardians. They are located inColumbus, Ohio, and are named for speedymerchantsailing vessels known asclippers. The team has played their home games atHuntington Park since 2009. They previously played atCooper Stadium from 1977 to 2008.
The Clippers were established in 1977 as members of the Triple-A International League. In conjunction withMajor League Baseball's reorganization of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Clippers were shifted to theTriple-A East, but this was renamed the IL in 2022. They won sevenIL championships during a 28-year affiliation with theNew York Yankees (1979–2006). Columbus has won four more IL titles and twoTriple-A championships since affiliating with Cleveland in 2009.
Professional baseball was first played inColumbus, Ohio, in 1877 by theColumbus Buckeyes of theInternational Association.[2] It has been represented at the highest levels ofMinor League Baseball nearly continuously since 1902, at first in theAmerican Association by theColumbus Senators (1902–1930) andColumbus Red Birds (1931–1954) and then in theInternational League (IL) by theColumbus Jets (1955–1970).[2] In 1971, the Jets moved toCharleston, West Virginia, as theCharleston Charlies, touching off a six-year drought of minor-league baseball in Columbus.[2]
The Columbus Clippers began play in 1977 as theTriple-A affiliate of thePittsburgh Pirates in the International League. They played their home games at Franklin County Stadium, which opened in 1932 asRed Bird Stadium and was renamedCooper Stadium in 1985.[3] The Clippers were named for speedymerchantsailing vessels known asclippers. Consecutive seventh-place finishes in their first two seasons kept the team out of the playoffs.[4][5] Off the field, the franchise was recognized with the 1977Larry MacPhail Award for outstanding minor league promotions.[6]
Columbus changed its affiliation to theNew York Yankees in 1979 in what would become a 28-year relationship and the most successful period in Clippers history. From 1979 to 1982, the Clippers finished atop the league standings and won three consecutive Governors' Cups, theInternational League championship. The 1979 team,managed byGene Michael, won the league title by defeating theSyracuse Chiefs in the finals.[7]OutfielderBobby Brown was selected as the 1979IL Most Valuable Player (MVP) andRick Anderson as theMost Valuable Pitcher.[8] Additionally, the franchise won its second Larry MacPhail Award.[6]Joe Altobelli's 1980 Clippers won the next Governors' Cup over theToledo Mud Hens.[9]First basemanMarshall Brant won the league MVP Award,Bob Kammeyer won the top pitcher award, and Altobelli was chosen as theManager of the Year.[8] In 1981,Frank Verdi led Columbus to its third title over theRichmond Braves in a championship series that was shortened due to inclement weather.[10]
Columbus qualified for the playoffs in each of the next three seasons but was eliminated in the semifinals each time.[11][12][13] Several Clippers were recognized with league awards during this period.Third basemanTucker Ashford won the 1982 IL MVP Award.[8] In 1984,catcherScott Bradley was the MVP andRookie of the Year,[8] and the Clippers won a third Larry MacPhail Award.[6] OutfielderDan Pasqua was a dual MVP and Rookie of the Year in 1985.[8] The 1985 club reached the finals, but they lost the Governors' Cup to theTidewater Tides.[14] Though missing the postseason in 1986, first basemanOrestes Destrade won the Rookie of the Year Award.[8] The 1987 Clippers, managed byBucky Dent, swept theRochester Red Wings in the semifinals and Tidewater in the finals to win their fourth IL championship.[15]Brad Arnsberg won the 1987 Most Valuable Pitcher Award.[8] Columbus next returned to the playoffs in 1990 via a Western Division title, but they lost the single round of playoffs and the championship to Rochester.[16] OutfielderHensley Meulens was the MVP of the 1990 season, andDave Eiland was the top pitcher.[8]
ManagerRick Down led the Clippers to back-to-back Governors' Cup championships in 1991 and 1992. The 1991 team defeated thePawtucket Red Sox in the finals.[17] They then advanced to theTriple-A Classic, a postseason championship series against theDenver Zephyrs, champions of the American Association, where they were defeated, 4–1.[18] The 1992 squad won their championship over theScranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.[19] First basemanJ. T. Snow was selected as the MVP and Rookie of the Year, whileSam Militello was chosen as the Most Valuable Pitcher.[8] In a 2001 ranking by baseball historians, the 1992 Clippers were recognized as the seventy-secondgreatest minor league team of all time.[20]
The franchise was awarded the 1995John H. Johnson President's Award, recognizing them as the "complete baseball franchise—based on franchise stability, contributions to league stability, contributions to baseball in the community, and promotion of the baseball industry."[6] Columbus won its final IL championship as a Yankees affiliate in 1996 underStump Merrill after winning the Western Division title, sweeping theNorfolk Tides in the semifinals, and sweeping Rochester in the championship round.[21] They reached the finals in 1997 but lost in the final round to Rochester and were eliminated in the semifinals in 1999 and 2004.[22][23][24] A pair of Clippers won awards in 1999:Ed Yarnall as the Most Valuable Pitcher and first baseman Kurt Bierek as Rookie of the Year.[8] In 2003, first basemanFernando Seguignol was selected as the league MVP.[8]
The Clippers became the Triple-A affiliate of theWashington Nationals in 2007. The partnership lasted two seasons, with Columbus finishing with losing records each season and failing to qualify for the Governors' Cup playoffs.[2] On September 1, 2008, the Clippers played their final game at Cooper Stadium before moving into a new facility the following season. Over 16,000 people attended the game, a 3–0 loss to Toledo.[25]
In 2009, Columbus began their affiliation with theCleveland Indians.[26] The Clippers also began playing atHuntington Park, a $56-million dollar, 10,000-seat stadium located at the corner of Neil Ave. and Nationwide Blvd. in the Columbus'sArena District.[26] The inaugural home opener was played on April 18, 2009, when 11,950 people in attendance saw the Clippers lose to Toledo, 3–1.[27]
Managed byMike Sarbaugh, Columbus won consecutive IL championships in 2010 and 2011. After clinching a 2010 wild card berth, they defeated theScranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the semifinals then won the Governors' Cup against theDurham Bulls.[28] The league title sent them to theTriple-A National Championship Game, a single game against theTacoma Rainiers, champions of thePacific Coast League (PCL), which was won by Columbus, 12–6.[29] As the 2011 Western Division winners, Columbus advanced to the finals with a win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and won the Governors' Cup over Durham.[30] In the Triple-A National Championship Game, they defeated the PCL'sOmaha Storm Chasers, 8–3.[31] Sarbaugh was recognized as the 2011 IL Manager of the Year.[8]
The 2014 Clippers won the Western Division title but were ousted from the Governors' Cup playoffs by Durham in the semifinals.[32] In 2015, Columbus was declared co-champion of the Western Division after finishing the season tied for first place with theIndianapolis Indians. They were seeded as the division champion for the playoffs by tie-breaking procedures.[33] Defeating Norfolk in the semifinals, the Clippers met the Indians in the Governors' Cup finals and won the IL championship under managerChris Tremie.[34] They then lost the Triple-A Championship to the PCL'sFresno Grizzlies, 7–0.[35] Columbus returned to the postseason in 2016 via a Western Division title, but they fell to theGwinnett Braves in the semifinals.[36] OutfielderYandy Díaz was the 2016 IL Rookie of the Year.[8] In 2019, under managerTony Mansolino, the team captured its last International League championship. With another Western Division title and a semifinal win over theGwinnett Stripers, they won the Governors' Cup against Durham.[37] At the Triple-A National Championship Game they lost to theSacramento River Cats, 4–0.[38] The start of the 2020 season was initially postponed due to theCOVID-19 pandemic before being cancelled altogether.[39][40]
Following the 2020 season,Major League Baseball assumed control of Minor League Baseball in a move to increase player salaries, modernize facility standards, and reduce travel.[41] The Clippers were organized into the Triple-A East and maintained their affiliation with the Cleveland Indians.[41] Columbus ended the season in fifth place in the Midwestern Division with a 56–62 record.[42] No playoffs were held to determine a league champion; instead, the team with the best regular-season record was declared the winner.[43] However, 10 games that had been postponed from the start of the season were reinserted into the schedule as a postseason tournament called the Triple-A Final Stretch in which all 30 Triple-A clubs competed for the highest winning percentage.[43] Columbus finished the tournament tied for 23rd place with a 3–6 record.[44]
In 2022, the Triple-A East became known as the International League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization, after Major League Baseball acquired the rights to the name.[45] The Clippers won the second half of the 2024 season,[46] giving them a playoff berth, but they lost the IL championship to the Omaha Storm Chasers, 2–1, in a best-of-three series.[47] Their full season record was 80–68.[48] OutfielderJohnathan Rodríguez won the IL MVP Award.[49]
| Season | League | Regular-season | Postseason | MLB affiliate | Ref. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record | Win % | League | Division | GB | Record | Win % | Result | ||||
| 2021 | AAAE | 56–62 | .475 | 12th (tie) | 5th | 12 | 3–6 | .333 | Lost series vs.Nashville Sounds, 5–0 Won series vs.Louisville Bats, 3–1 Placed 23rd (tie) in the Triple-A Final Stretch[44] | Cleveland Indians | [42] |
| 2022 | IL | 85–64 | .570 | 4th | 3rd | 6 | — | — | — | Cleveland Guardians | [50] |
| 2023 | IL | 68–79 | .463 | 17th | 10th | 15+1⁄2 | — | — | — | Cleveland Guardians | [51] |
| 2024 | IL | 80–68 | .541 | 3rd | 2nd | 9 | 1–2 | .333 | Won second-half title[46] LostIL championship vs.Omaha Storm Chasers, 2–1[47] | Cleveland Guardians | [48] |
| 2025 | IL | 64–81 | .441 | 13th | 7th | 21 | — | — | — | Cleveland Guardians | [52] |
| Totals | — | 353–354 | .499 | — | — | — | 4–8 | .333 | — | — | — |
| Players | Coaches/Other |
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Pitchers
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
| Manager Coaches
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The franchise has been awarded these honors by Minor League Baseball.[6]
| Award | Season | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| John H. Johnson President's Award | 1995 | [6] |
| Larry MacPhail Award | 1977 | [6] |
| Larry MacPhail Award | 1979 | [6] |
| Larry MacPhail Award | 1984 | [6] |
Eighteen players, two managers, and two executives have won league awards in recognition for their performance with Columbus.[8]
All Clippers home and road games are broadcast onWMNI AM 920.[53] Live audio broadcasts are also available online through the station's website as well as on the team's website and the MiLB First Pitch app. Games can be viewed through theMiLB.TV subscription feature of the official website of Minor League Baseball.[54]
As of 2021, Ryan Mitchell and Scott Leo serve asplay-by-play announcers.[55] Several former Clippers broadcasters have gone to work in Major League Baseball, including:John Gordon (1977–1981),Rick Rizzs (1981–1982),Pat Hughes (1982),Terry Smith (1983–2001), andTom Hamilton (1987–1989).
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