Columbus Clippers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Columbus Clippers
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassTriple-A (1977–present)
LeagueInternational League (1977–present)
DivisionWest Division
Major league affiliations
TeamCleveland Indians / Guardians (2009–present)
Previous teams
Minor league titles
Class titles (2)
  • 2010
  • 2011
League titles (11)
  • 1979
  • 1980
  • 1981
  • 1987
  • 1991
  • 1992
  • 1996
  • 2010
  • 2011
  • 2015
  • 2019
Division titles (12)
  • 1990
  • 1991
  • 1992
  • 1996
  • 1997
  • 1999
  • 2004
  • 2011
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2019
Second-half titles (1)
  • 2024
Wild card berths (1)
  • 2010
Team data
NameColumbus Clippers (1977–present)
ColorsNavy, light blue, gray, white
       
MascotsKrash and Lou Seal[1]
BallparkHuntington Park (2009–present)
Previous parks
Cooper Stadium (1977–2008)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Franklin County Government
General managerTyler Parsons
ManagerAndy Tracy
Websitemilb.com/columbus

The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are located in Columbus, Ohio, and are named for speedy merchant sailing vessels known as clippers. The team has played their home games at Huntington Park since 2009. They previously played at Cooper Stadium from 1977 to 2008.

The Clippers were established in 1977 as members of the Triple-A International League. In conjunction with

Triple-A East, but this was renamed the IL in 2022. They won seven IL championships during a 28-year affiliation with the New York Yankees (1979–2006). Columbus has won four more IL titles and two Triple-A championships
since affiliating with Cleveland in 2009.

History

Before the Clippers

American Association by the Columbus Senators (1902–1930) and Columbus Red Birds (1931–1954) and then in the International League (IL) by the Columbus Jets (1955–1970).[2] In 1971, the Jets moved to Charleston, West Virginia, as the Charleston Charlies, touching off a six-year drought of minor-league baseball in Columbus.[2]

International League

Pittsburgh Pirates (1977–1978)

The Columbus Clippers played at Cooper Stadium from 1977 to 2008.

The Columbus Clippers began play in 1977 as the Triple-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the International League. They played their home games at Franklin County Stadium, which opened in 1932 as Red Bird Stadium and was renamed Cooper Stadium in 1985.[3] The Clippers were named for speedy merchant sailing vessels known as clippers. 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 1977 Larry MacPhail Award for outstanding minor league promotions.[6]

New York Yankees (1979–2006)

Columbus changed its affiliation to the

Most Valuable Pitcher.[8] Additionally, the franchise won its second Larry MacPhail Award.[6] Joe Altobelli's 1980 Clippers won the next Governors' Cup over the Toledo Mud Hens.[9] First baseman Marshall Brant won the league MVP Award, Bob Kammeyer won the top pitcher award, and Altobelli was chosen as the Manager of the Year.[8] In 1981, Frank Verdi led Columbus to its third title over the Richmond 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.

Tidewater Tides.[14] Though missing the postseason in 1986, first baseman Orestes Destrade won the Rookie of the Year Award.[8] The 1987 Clippers, managed by Bucky Dent, swept the Rochester 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] Outfielder Hensley Meulens was the MVP of the 1990 season, and Dave Eiland was the top pitcher.[8]

Bucky Dent led the 1987 Clippers to win the fourth IL championship in team history.

Manager

greatest minor league team of all time.[20]

The franchise was awarded the 1995

John 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 under Stump Merrill after winning the Western Division title, sweeping the Norfolk 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 baseman Fernando Seguignol was selected as the league MVP.[8]

Washington Nationals (2007–2008)

The Clippers became the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington 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]

Cleveland Indians / Guardians (2009–present)

Mike Sarbaugh managed the Clippers to back-to-back IL and Triple-A championships in 2010 and 2011.

In 2009, Columbus began their affiliation with the

Cleveland Indians.[26] The Clippers also began playing at Huntington Park, a $56-million dollar, 10,000-seat stadium located at the corner of Neil Ave. and Nationwide Blvd. in the Columbus's Arena 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 by

Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in the semifinals then won the Governors' Cup against the Durham Bulls.[28] The league title sent them to the Triple-A National Championship Game, a single game against the Tacoma Rainiers, champions of the Pacific 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's Omaha 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.

Gwinnett Braves in the semifinals.[36] Outfielder Yandy Díaz was the 2016 IL Rookie of the Year.[8] In 2019, under manager Tony Mansolino, the team captured its last International League championship. With another Western Division title and a semifinal win over the Gwinnett Stripers, they won the Governors' Cup against Durham.[37] At the Triple-A National Championship Game they lost to the Sacramento River Cats, 4–0.[38] The start of the 2020 season was initially postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being cancelled altogether.[39][40]

The Clippers have played at Huntington Park since 2009.

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] Outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez won the IL MVP Award.[49]

Season-by-season records

Main article: List of Columbus Clippers seasons
Season-by-season records (last five seasons)
Season League Regular-season Postseason MLB affiliate Ref.
Record Win % League Division GB Record Win % Result
2020 IL Season cancelled (COVID-19 pandemic)[40]
Cleveland Indians
 [50]
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 [51]
2023 IL 68–79 .463 17th 10th 15+1⁄2 — — — Cleveland Guardians [52]
2024 IL 80–68 .541 3rd 2nd 9 1–2 .333 Won second-half title[46]
Lost IL championship vs. Omaha Storm Chasers, 2–1[47] 		Cleveland Guardians [48]
Totals — 289–273 .514 — — — 4–8 .333 — — —

Roster

Columbus Clippers roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

Catchers

Infielders

Outfielders


Manager

Coaches

60-day injured list

7-day injured list
* On Cleveland Guardians 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated June 27, 2025
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • International League
 → Cleveland Guardians minor league players

Awards

Bobby Brown won the International League Most Valuable Player Award in 1979.
Rookie of the Year
in 1985.
IL Most Valuable Pitcher Award
in 1987.
IL Rookie of the Year
in 2016.

The franchise has been awarded these honors by Minor League Baseball.[6]

Minor League Baseball Awards
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]

International League Awards
Award Recipient Season Ref.
Most Valuable Player Bobby Brown 1979 [8]
Most Valuable Player Marshall Brant 1980 [8]
Most Valuable Player Tucker Ashford 1982 [8]
Most Valuable Player Scott Bradley 1984 [8]
Most Valuable Player Dan Pasqua 1985 [8]
Most Valuable Player Hensley Meulens 1990 [8]
Most Valuable Player J. T. Snow 1992 [8]
Most Valuable Player Fernando Seguignol 2003 [8]
Most Valuable Player Johnathan Rodríguez 2024 [49]
Most Valuable Pitcher
Rick Anderson
 		1979 [8]
Most Valuable Pitcher
 Bob Kammeyer 1980 [8]
Most Valuable Pitcher
 Brad Arnsberg 1987 [8]
Most Valuable Pitcher
 Dave Eiland 1990 [8]
Most Valuable Pitcher
 Sam Militello 1992 [8]
Most Valuable Pitcher
 Ed Yarnall 1999 [8]
Rookie of the Year
 Scott Bradley 1984 [8]
Rookie of the Year
 Dan Pasqua 1985 [8]
Rookie of the Year
 Orestes Destrade 1986 [8]
Rookie of the Year
 J. T. Snow 1992 [8]
Rookie of the Year
 Kurt Bierek 1999 [8]
Rookie of the Year
 Yandy Díaz 2016 [8]
Manager of the Year Joe Altobelli 1980 [8]
Manager of the Year Mike Sarbaugh 2011 [8]
Executive of the Year George H. Sisler Jr. 1977 [8]
Executive of the Year George H. Sisler Jr. 1979 [8]
Executive of the Year George H. Sisler Jr. 1980 [8]
Executive of the Year Ken Schnacke 1991 [8]
Executive of the Year Ken Schnacke 2011 [8]
Executive of the Year Ken Schnacke 2018 [8]

Radio and television

All Clippers home and road games are broadcast on

MiLB.TV subscription feature of the official website of Minor League Baseball.[54]

As of 2021, Ryan Mitchell and Scott Leo serve as play-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), and Tom Hamilton (1987–1989).

References

  1. ^ "Columbus Clippers Mascot Request Form". Columbus Clippers. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d "Columbus, Ohio Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  3. ^ "Harold Cooper Stadium". Stats Crew. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  4. ^ "1977 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  5. ^ "1978 International League". Baseball-Reference. Sports Reference. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Minor League Baseball Award Winners". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "1979 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap "International League Award Winners". International League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  9. ^ "1980 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "1981 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  11. ^ "1982 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  12. ^ "1983 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  13. ^ "1984 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  14. ^ "1985 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "1987 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  16. ^ "1990 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  17. ^ "1991 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  18. ^ "Triple-A Baseball Interleague Post-Season Play Results". Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on April 15, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  19. ^ "1992 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  20. ^ Weiss, Bill; Wright, Marshall (2001). "72. 1992 Columbus Clippers". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  21. ^ "1996 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  22. ^ "1997 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  23. ^ "1999 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  24. ^ "2004 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  25. ^ "16,000-Plus Show for Last Game at Cooper Stadium". The Advocate. Newark. September 2, 2008. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ a b Benson, John (April 16, 2009). "Fortune Smiles On Clippers". The Advocate. Newark. p. 1D – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Storm, Stephanie (April 19, 2009). "Loyalty to Indians Clear at Opener". The Akron Beacon Journal. Akron. p. C7 – via Newspapers.com.
  28. ^ "2010 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  29. ^ "Tacoma Rainiers (74-70) 6, Columbus Clippers (80-65) 12" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
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  31. ^ "Columbus Clippers (89-56) 8, Omaha Storm Chasers (79-64) 3" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  32. ^ "2014 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  33. ^ Wagner, John (September 9, 2015). "International League Playoff Preview". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved April 30, 2021.
  34. ^ "2015 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  35. ^ "Fresno Grizzlies (85-59) 7, Columbus Clippers (83-62) 0" (PDF). Triple-A Baseball. Archived from the original on May 1, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  36. ^ "2016 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  37. ^ "2019 International League". Stats Crew. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  38. ^ Heneghan, Kelsie. "Stingy Baragar, Cats Take Triple-A crown". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  39. ^ "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
  40. ^ a b "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  41. ^ a b Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  42. ^ a b "2021 Triple-A East Standings". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  43. ^ a b "MiLB Announces 'Triple-A Final Stretch' for 2021". Minor League Baseball. July 14, 2021. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  44. ^ a b "2021 Triple-A Final Stretch Standings". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  45. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  46. ^ a b "Standings". Minor League Baseball. Archived from the original on September 23, 2024. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
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  54. ^ "MiLB.tv". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  55. ^ "Clippers Front Office Staff". Columbus Clippers. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 1, 2021.
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