Sioux Falls Canaries 2250652 225602136 2008-07-14T14:35:14Z 209.22.99.34 /* In Popular Culture */ {{Independent baseball team |name = Sioux Falls Canaries |founded = 1993 |city = Sioux Falls, South Dakota |logo = SiouxFallsCanaries.JPG |caplogo = Blank.gif<!--Please replace with the actual logo--> |current league = [[American Association of Independent Professional Baseball|American Association]] |current division = North Division |past league = * [[Northern League (baseball)|Northern League]] (1993-2005) |currentname = Sioux Falls Canaries (1993-present) |colors = Black, Pale Blue, Canary Yellow, White |ballpark = Sioux Falls Stadium |pastparks = |leaguechamps = None'''Bold text''' |divisionchamps = |owner = Mike Veeck |manager = Steve Shirley |gm = |media = [[KWSN]] 1230 AM, [[Sioux Falls Argus Leader]] |website = http://www.canariesbaseball.com www.canariesbaseball.com }} The '''Sioux Falls Canaries''' are a professional baseball team based in [[Sioux Falls, South Dakota]], in the [[United States]]. The Canaries are a member of the North Division of the [[American Association of Independent Professional Baseball]], which is not affiliated with [[Major League Baseball]]. Since the 1993 season to the present, the Canaries have played their home games at [[Sioux Falls Stadium]]. Sioux Falls was home to the Canaries of the original Northern League in 1942 and again from 1946-1953. The city was then without a Northern League franchise until 1966. Then, the Sioux Falls Packers began play and spent six seasons in the circuit until the league ceased operations following the 1971 campaign. A handful of independent baseball pioneers breathed new life into a revived Northern League in 1993. Sioux Falls competed in a six-team league, joining the [[St. Paul Saints]], the [[Rochester Aces]], the [[Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks]], the [[Sioux City Explorers]] and the [[Duluth-Superior Dukes]]. On the field, the Canaries had enjoyed their greatest successes in [[1994]] and [[1996]]. Former major leaguer [[Pedro Guerrero]] batted .329 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs for the 1994 Canaries as the team posted a 47-33 record for the season. Sioux Falls was narrowly beat out by Sioux City in the first half of the season while the Birds finished four games out of first in the second half. Chris Powell batted a league-best .357 to lead the Canaries while Jamie Ybarra paced all league hurlers with 10 wins and 109 strikeouts. In 1996, the Canaries overcame a 20-22 first half to the season and posted a 24-18 mark over the second half of the campaign. Even then, the team finished three games back of the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks. New ownership took over the club in [[1998]] and a steady diet of improvements have followed, including a new manager, new logo and identity system. The Canaries posted their best season ever in [[2001]], going 55-35 and gaining the team's first playoff berth since the league re-emerged in 1993. On July 11, 2001, the Canaries won the first-half title in the South Division in dramatic fashion on the final day of the half. Sioux Falls won 21-7 win over Duluth-Superior in the game that secured its first pennant and its first playoff appearance. Team owners and city officials hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking in November [[1999]], kicking off a $5.6 million renovation to [[Sioux Falls Stadium]]. The new Birdcage drew national attention on June 2, 2001, as [[USA Today]] writer [[Mel Antonen]] wrote a feature story on the retrofit. The project drew praise for the integration of an existing facility with more modern elements. Sioux Falls Stadium now features nine luxury suites, a 3000-square-foot home clubhouse, a group barbecue area and a video wall/scoreboard that features live and recorded video clips as well as animated pieces. On [[September 29]], [[2005]], the Canaries left the Northern League, along with the [[Lincoln Saltdogs]], the [[Sioux City Explorers]] and the [[St. Paul Saints]] to form the [[American Association of Independent Professional Baseball|American Association]] for the [[2006]] season. ==In Popular Culture== *While with the Canaries in 2002, [[Tyrone Pendergrass]] was interviewed and featured in an article in the September 4th, 2002 edition of the Christian Science Monitor, called "Mapping the American Spirit" *On July 12, 2006, Jim Eriotes, 83, became the oldest person in professional baseball history to suit up, swinging at four pitches, fouling one off, before striking out. The Canaries beat the St. Joe's Blacksnakes in that game, 5-3 ==Current Roster== ''As of [[May 11]], [[2008]]'' {| |valign="top"| '''[[Catchers]]''' * {{player|22|USA|Andrew Barbaro}} * {{player|39|USA|Paul Smyth}} '''[[Infielders]]''' * {{player|&nbsp;9|USA|Alex Bardeguez}} * {{player|&nbsp;6|USA|Ryan Grant}} * {{player|&nbsp;5|USA|Tim Hutting}} * {{player|27|USA|Josh Patton}} * {{player|10|USA|Patrick Reilly}} * {{player|15|USA|Grant Richardson}} '''[[Outfielders]]''' * {{player|&nbsp;4|USA|Kennard Bibbs}} * {{player|11|USA|Beau Torbert}} * {{player|18|USA|Will Smith}} * {{player|17|CAN|Ben Van Iderstine}} |width="50"|&nbsp; |valign="top"| '''[[Pitcher|Pitching Staff]]''' * {{player|20|USA|Lenny Bays}} * {{player|14|USA|Kelly Casares}} * {{player|21|CAN|Kevin Cheppenko}} * {{player|16|USA|Ryan Ford}} * {{player|26|VEN|Javier Garcia}} * {{player|35|USA|Travis Kane}} * {{player|25|USA|Josh Kite}} * {{player|28|USA|[[Pat Mahomes]]}} * {{player|12|USA|Ben Moore}} * {{player|23|USA|Angelo Morales}} * {{player|29|USA|Kris Regas}} |} ==Notable Canaries== *SS [[Orlando Miller]]- 2007 *P [[Pat Mahomes]]- 2007 *OF [[Pedro Guerrero]]- 1993-94 *P [[Jamie Ybarra]]- 1994, 1996, 2001 *P [[Steve Howe (baseball player)|Steve Howe]]- 1997 *OF [[Chad Hermansen]]- 2006 *P [[Lee Guetterman]]- 1997 *3B [[Kim Batiste]]- 1998 *OF [[Edgard Clemente]]- 2005-06 *1B [[Brian Traxler]]- 1997, 2000 *P [[George Sherrill]]- 2001 *IF [[Mike Busch]]- 2001 ==External links== *[http://www.canariesbaseball.com/ Sioux Falls Canaries]- Official Website *[http://www.nlfan.com/siouxfalls nlfan.com Sioux Falls Canaries' Guide] (Northern League '93-'05) *[http://www.aabfan.com/siouxfalls aabfan.com Sioux Falls Canaries' Guide] (American Association '06-) ==References== * [http://www.aabfan.com/league/ aabfan.com] - yearly league standings & awards (American Association) * [http://www.nlfan.com/league/ nlfan.com] - yearly league standings & awards (Northern League) {{American Association}} {{Dakota Sports}} [[Category:Sioux Falls Canaries| ]] [[Category:Sports in South Dakota]] [[Category:American Association]] [[Category:Former Northern League teams]] [[Category:Baseball teams in South Dakota]]