Goldeyes celebrating 25 years after meagre beginnings

The Winnipeg baseball team that used to launch homersfrom the corner of a football stadium is celebrating 25 years.

It took a while before the Winnipeg Goldeyes gained legitimacy, both from the players they wanted to recruit and the paying public, said general manager Andrew Collier, who worked his way up in the organization from selling tickets a quarter-century ago.

"A lot of the players had never even heard of Winnipegandthen trying to convince them that they're going to play in a football stadium the corner of a football stadiumnot even a real ballpark, that was a bit of a challenge," Collier told CBC Manitoba's Information Radio, "but we were able to entice some really good baseball players to come out here."

Players who took a chance on independent ball in Winnipeg ran on artificial turf and blasted balls over a left field temporary fenceso lowsomehome runs "probably wouldn't have gone out in any other ballpark," Collier said.

Fans, who'd seenpast Winnipeg baseball teams fold,were skeptical of theexperiment at first, he said.

But a quarter-century later, the club is thriving on and off the diamond.

The Goldeyes are vying for a third-straight American Association championship and the franchise has become a staple of the Winnipeg summer, attracting thousands of fans toa stadium, Shaw Park,specifically made for the boys of summer.

It's been a pleasure to be part of the team's growth, Collier said.

His personal highlight is watching the Fish clinchthe league in four of the past24 seasons. They won their first title in their inaugural season a feat the expansion Vegas Golden Knights is seeking to repeat inthe upcoming Stanley Cup final.

"After we won in '94, everybody thought, 'This is great,' " Colliersaid."We won the first year, we're going to win every year, and then it was 18 years later before we won another one."

Since the 2012 championship, the Goldeyes repeatedin2016 and 2017.

Big hitters back inFish lineup

Vying for anothertitleis fan-favourite Reggie Abercrombie, the American Association's all-time leader in home runs (115) and runs batted in (474). SluggerDavid Bergin, who finished fifth in home runs and league batting average last year, as well as all-star shortstopAndrew Sohn and infielderJordan Ebert also are among thereturnees.

A familiar face back in a Goldeyes uniform is Josh Mazzola, the Fish's all-time home run leader (71), who is secondin the league record books toAbercrombie. The former Goldeyespent the last twoseasons in Fargo.

Following their six-game road stand in Texas, the Goldeyesare owners of a4-2 record to begin their title defence. Tonight's home opener against the Sioux Falls Canaries is set for7 p.m. at Shaw Park.

Collier said a new wrinkle to the fan experience this year is the creation of Craft Beer Corner, a patio deck along the left field line withsix local craft brews on tap.

CBC Archives: Goldeyes win big at the 1994 home opener

6 years ago

Duration 2:13

The Winnipeg baseball team that used to launch homers from the corner of a football stadium is celebrating 25 years.