Edmonton_Cracker-Cats

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Edmonton Cracker-Cats

The Edmonton Cracker-Cats are a professional baseball team based in Edmonton, Alberta, in Canada. The Cracker-Cats are a member of the North Division of the Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.

Team history

Northern League (2005–2007)

The Cracker-Cats began as an expansion team in 2005 as a member of the Northern League. The name "Cracker-Cats" is derived from the oil industry term fluid catalytic cracking ("cat cracking" for short), which is part of the process of refining crude oil into gasoline by converting high boiling hydrocarbons into smaller molecules. They played the first game of their inaugural season on May 20, 2005, on the road against the Kansas City T-Bones. Their first home game did not take place until one week later when they hosted the Sioux Falls Canaries in front of 7,894 fans.

On July 18, 2006, Stubby Clapp was named MVP of the Northern League All-Star Game. On September 3, 2006, the 'Cats finished their second season six games back in the wild card race and missed the playoffs.

The 2007 season was a major disappointment for the team despite adding three former Major Leaguers, Ryan Radmanovich, Mike Johnson, and Lou Pote. The 'Cats finished 38–58 and last in the league.

The 2006 brawl

On June 13, 2006, a string of bean balls in the first two innings touched off two major brawls between the Cracker-Cats and their provincial rivals, the Calgary Vipers. After Edmonton's Greg Morrison was hit by a Calgary pitch for the fourth time in five games, the Cracker-Cats responded by throwing at two Calgary players. The resulting melee was so violent that the umpires sent both teams off the field, and suspended the game for over an hour to consult with league officials. When the Cracker-Cats refused to return to the field afterward, the game was declared a forfeit and the Vipers were awarded a 9–0 victory even though Edmonton was leading 1–0. As a result of the suspension, Cracker-Cats manager Terry Bevington resigned.

The league came down hard on both teams, as both managers and seven players were suspended a total of 79 games. Morrison blamed Calgary manager Mike Busch for the incident, believing that Busch continues to hold a grudge after both Morrison, and another former Viper, J.P. Fauske defected to the Cracker-Cats after leaving the Vipers after a falling out with the Calgary manager late in the 2005 season.

Golden Baseball League (2008–present)

After three years in the Northern League, the Cracker-Cats joined the Golden Baseball League on October 24, 2007. This occurred just after the rival Vipers jumped to the league. On June 30, 2008, The 'Cats set a new attendance record of 8,676 fans against the Vipers.

On August 22, 2008, the Cracker-Cats clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Orange County Flyers 13–4 and won the second half. They faced the Vipers, who won the first half, in the first-ever North Division Championship Series, but were swept by Calgary 3 games to 0.

Player sales

Brian Munhall sold to the Milwaukee Brewers, Phil Devey sold to the Philadelphia Phillies, Aric Van Gaalen sold to the Seattle Mariners, and Scott Richmond invited to Toronto Blue Jays training camp.

Year-by-year record

		First Half		Second Half		Overall
Season	Division	W-L	Finish	W-L	Finish	W-L	Win%	Playoffs
2005	NL North	22–26	5th	25–22	3rd	47–48	.495	Did not qualify
2006	NL North	21–27	3rd	23–25	T-3	44–52	.458	Did not qualify
2007	NL North	19–29	4th	19–29	4th	37–58	.389	Did not qualify
2008	GBL North	22–21	2nd	29–15	1st	51–36	.586	Lost North Division playoff (0–3 Cgy)