The Bluefield Blue Jays were a minor league baseball team of the Rookie

Appalachian League The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wood bats, its season runs from J ...

representing the twin cities of Bluefield, West Virginia, and Bluefield, Virginia. The team played their home games at Bowen Field at Peters Park, a historic stadium (opened in 1939) in Bluefield's city park. The park, which straddles the West Virginia–Virginia state line, was operated by the West Virginia city; however, Bowen Field lies entirely within Virginia. Upon the minor league reorganization in 2020, the team's partnership with the

Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Since 1989, the team has played its home games ...

ended and they became the Bluefield Ridge Runners.

History

On August 28, 2010,

Andy MacPhail Andrew Bowen MacPhail (born April 5, 1953) is an American baseball executive. He has previously served as general manager for the Minnesota Twins and Chicago Cubs, and as president for the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies. MacPhail i ...

, then-president of baseball operations for the

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. As one of the American League's eight charter ...

announced that Baltimore was ending their affiliation with Bluefield and the Appalachian League, effective at the end of the 2010 Appalachian League season. Bluefield's 53 season affiliation with the Orioles, which lasted from 1958 to 2010, had been the oldest continuous affiliation with the same major league franchise in Minor League Baseball. The Orioles were sometimes known as the "Baby Birds" or the "Baby O's", a reference to their major league parent club. One of the best known players to have played in Bluefield is Cal Ripken Jr., who played with Bluefield in 1978 when he was 17 years old. Another famous former Baby Bird is

Boog Powell John Wesley "Boog" Powell (born August 17, 1941) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman and left fielder from through , most prominently as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dyna ...

, who played there in 1959, also as a 17-year-old. Bluefield became an affiliate organization with Toronto for the 2011 season. Outfielder Kevin Pillar played for the Bluefield Blue Jays in 2011, and batted .347, winning the

batting title and leading the organization in batting average. He holds the team's all-time records for batting average, on-base percentage (.377), and slugging percentage (.534). In August 2013, Pillar became the first Bluefield Blue Jays alumnus to play in the major leagues for Toronto. The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league, and the Blue Jays were replaced by a new franchise known as the Ridge Runners in the revamped league designed for rising college freshmen and sophomores.

Playoffs

*1992: Defeated

Elizabethton Elizabethton is a city in, and the county seat of Carter County, Tennessee, United States. Elizabethton is the historical site of the first independent American government (known as the Watauga Association, created in 1772) located west of both t ...

2–1 to win championship. *1995: Lost to Kingsport 2–1 in finals. *1996: Defeated Kingsport 2–1 to win championship. *1997: Defeated Pulaski 2–0 to win championship. *2001: Defeated

2–1 to win championship. *2002: Lost to

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, city, Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Glouces ...

2–1 in finals. *2011: Defeated

2–1 in semifinals; lost to Johnson City 2–0 in finals. *2013: Lost to Pulaski 2–0 in semifinals. *2017: Lost to Pulaski 2–1 in semifinals. *2018: Lost to

Princeton Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nin ...

2–1 in semifinals.

Notable alumni

Hall of Fame alumni * Travis Jackson (MGR 1951) Inducted, 1983 * Eddie Murray (1973) Inducted, 2003 * Cal Ripken Jr. (1978) Inducted, 2007 Notable alumni *

Joe Altobelli Joseph Salvatore Altobelli (May 26, 1932 – March 3, 2021) was an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder who played for the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. He was also a manager for the San Fr ...

(1966–1967, MGR) Manager: 1983 World Series Champion – Baltimore Orioles * Bob Bailor (1970) *

Don Baylor Don Edward Baylor (June 28, 1949 – August 7, 2017) was an American professional baseball player and manager. During his 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), Baylor was a power hitter known for standing very close to home plate (" crowdin ...

(1967) MLB All-Star; 1979 AL Most Valuable Player * Mark Belanger (1962) MLB All-Star; 8 x Gold Glove *

Armando Benitez Armando may refer to: * Armando (given name) * Armando (artist) (1929–2018), the name used by Dutch artist Herman Dirk van Dodeweerd * Armando (producer) Armando Gallop (sometimes written as Armando Gallup) (February 12, 1970 – December 17, ...

(1992) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Mike Boddicker Michael James Boddicker (born August 23, 1957) is an American right-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles (1980–1988), Boston Red Sox (1988–1990), Kansas City Royals (1991–1992), and Milwaukee Brewers (199 ...

(1978) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1984 AL ERA Leader * Zach Britton (2006) 2 x MLB All-Star; 2016 AL Saves Leader * Don Buford (2003) MGR) MLB All-Star * Enos Cabell (1969) * Dean Chance (1959) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1964 AL Cy Young Award *

Storm Davis George Earl "Storm" Davis (born December 26, 1961) is an American former professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from 1982 to 1994. He is a two-time World Series champion. World Series experience Davis was the winning pitc ...

(1979) MLB All-Star * Doug DeCinces (1970) MLB All-Star *

David Dellucci David Michael Dellucci (born October 31, 1973) is an American former professional baseball outfielder, who played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for seven teams. High school Dellucci graduated from Catholic High in Baton Rouge, Louis ...

(1995) * Duffy Dyer (1999, MGR) *

Andy Etchebarren Andrew Auguste Etchebarren (June 20, 1943 – October 5, 2019) was an American professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played for 15 seasons in Major League Baseball as a catcher in and then from through , most notably as a m ...

(1993–1994,1998, MGR) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Jim Frey James Gottfried Frey (May 26, 1931 – April 12, 2020) was an American professional baseball manager, coach, general manager, and Minor League Baseball (MiLB) outfielder. In , Frey led the Kansas City Royals of Major League Baseball (MLB) to ...

(1964–1965, MGR) 1984 NL Manager of the Year *

Bobby Grich Robert Anthony Grich (born January 15, 1949) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for the Baltimore Orioles (–) and the California Angels (–). In 1981, Grich led the ...

(1967) 6 x MLB All-Star *

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Vladimir Guerrero Ramos Jr. (born March 16, 1999) is a Canadian-Dominican professional baseball first baseman and designated hitter for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is the son of former MLB player and Hall of Famer V ...

(2016, 2018) *

Ricky Gutierrez Ricky may refer to: Places *Říčky (Brno-Country District), a village and municipality in the Czech Republic *Říčky v Orlických horách, a village in the north of the Czech Republic *Rickmansworth, a town in England sometimes called "Ricky" ...

(1978) *

Jerry Hairston Jr. Jerry Wayne Hairston Jr. (born May 29, 1976) is an American former professional baseball infielder and outfielder. He played 16 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Cincinnati Reds, New Yo ...

(1997) *

Pete Harnisch Peter Thomas Harnisch (born September 23, 1966) is an American former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He played in college at Fordham University from 1984 through 1987, and was an All-American pitcher. He played in Major League Baseba ...

(1987) MLB All-Star *

Larry Haney Wallace Larry Haney (born November 19, 1942) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher. He played from 1966 to 1978 for the Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Pilots / Milwaukee Brewers, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals. Haney later ...

(1961) * Billy Hunter (1962–1963, MGR) MLB All-Star * Jim Johnson (2002–2003) MLB All-Star; 2012, 2013 MLB Saves Leader *

Mark Leiter Mark Edward Leiter (born April 13, 1963) is an American former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who had an 11-year career from to and in . Leiter grew up in Toms River, New Jersey. Leiter graduated from Central Regional High Sch ...

(1983) * Sparky Lyle (1964) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1977 AL Cy Young Award * Ken McBride (1954) 3 x MLB All-Star *

Bill Monbouquette William Charles Monbouquette (August 11, 1936 – January 25, 2015) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed pitcher for the Boston Red Sox (1958–65), Detroit Tigers (196 ...

(1955) 4 x MLB All-Star * Johnny Oates (1967) 1996 AL Manager of the Year *

Roberto Osuna Roberto Osuna Quintero Jr. (born February 7, 1995) is a Mexican professional baseball pitcher for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks of Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays and ...

(2012) MLB All-Star * Kevin Pillar (2011) * Sidney Ponson (1995) *

(1959) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1970 AL Most Valuable Player * Arthur Rhodes (1988) MLB All-Star *

Billy Ripken William Oliver Ripken (born December 16, 1964), nicknamed Billy the Kid, is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from – for the Baltimore Orioles (1987–92, '96), Texas Rangers (199 ...

(1982–1983) * Aaron Sanchez (2011) MLB All-Star ; 2016 AL ERA Leader * Jonathan Schoop (2010) MLB All-Star * John Shelby (1977) *

Ron Shelton Ronald Wayne Shelton (born September 15, 1945) is an American film director and screenwriter and former minor league baseball infielder. Shelton is known for the many films he has made about sports. His 1988 film ''Bull Durham'', based in part o ...

(1967) Director, screenwriter of the 1988 film Bull Durham *

Vic Sorrell Victor Garland Sorrell (April 9, 1901 – May 4, 1972), nicknamed "Lawyer" and "The Philosopher," was a Major League pitcher who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. In 10 Major League seasons, Sorrell had a 92–101 record with a 4 ...

(1938–1940) *

Sammy Stewart Samuel Lee Stewart (October 28, 1954 – March 2, 2018) was an American professional baseball player. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1978 to 1987. Stewart had the best earned run average (ERA) in the American League (AL) in 1981 ...

(1975) * Noah Syndergaard (2011) MLB All-Star *

Gregg Zaun Gregory Owen Zaun (; born April 14, 1971) is an American baseball analyst, public speaker and a former professional baseball catcher. He played for nine teams over 16 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1995 until 2010, winning a World Series ...

(1990) Scott Emerson (1992 ) (Oakland Athletics Pitching Coach)

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.milb.com/bluefield
Statistics from Baseball-Reference
Baseball teams established in 1937 Baseball teams disestablished in 2020 Defunct Appalachian League teams Mercer County, West Virginia Tazewell County, Virginia Professional baseball teams in Virginia Professional baseball teams in West Virginia Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliates Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliates Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliates Washington Senators minor league affiliates Boston Braves minor league affiliates Mountain State League teams Bluefield, West Virginia 1937 establishments in Virginia 2020 disestablishments in Virginia