Pittsburg Diamonds
{{For|the 1948–1951 team of the same name|Pittsburg Diamonds (Far West League)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox baseball team
|name = Pittsburg Diamonds
|founded = 2013
|folded = 2019
|city = Pittsburg, California
|ballpark = Michael V. Valle Stadium
|logo = 150px
|cap_logo = 150px
|league = Pacific Association
|division =
|former_leagues =
|former_names =Pittsburg Mettle
|nicknames =
|uniform =
|retired_numbers =
|colors = Black, orange, white
{{color box|#000}} {{color box|#FF4202}} {{color box|#FFF}}
|former_ballparks =
|league_champs =
|division_champs =
|owner = Khurram Shah
|gm =
|manager = Aaron Miles
|media =
|website = {{URL|http://diamondsproball.com}}
}}
The Pittsburg Diamonds were an independent professional baseball team based in Pittsburg, California. Originally named the Pittsburg Mettle, the club changed their name to the Diamonds in 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2015/05/30/pittsburg-diamonds-bringing-new-sparkle-to-east-county-baseball/|title=Pittsburg Diamonds: Bringing new sparkle to East County baseball|date=30 May 2015|website=The Mercury News}}
History
= 2014: Pittsburg Mettle =
{{Main|2014 Pacific Association season}}
On April 1, 2014, the Pittsburg Mettle were announced to play alongside San Rafael, Sonoma and Vallejo of the Pacific Association. Former Major League Baseball pitcher Wayne Franklin, wife Cris, and business partner Tom Macari made up the Backwards K Group, the team's owners. The club was an outgrowth of the 2013 traveling club East Bay Lumberjacks.{{cite web |title=Minor league baseball coming to Pittsburg |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/04/01/minor-league-baseball-coming-to-pittsburg/ |website=Mercury News |access-date=11 March 2024}} The Mettle's team colors were black, green, dark gray, light gray and white.{{cite web |title=Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs Official Colors (2013 through 2019) |url=https://www.trucolor.net/portfolio/pacific-association-of-professional-baseball-clubs-official-colors-2013-through-2019/ |website=trucolor.net |access-date=11 March 2024}} Franklin was announced as the clubs first player manager. On June 3, the Mettle played their first game against the Vallejo Admirals where they were defeated 2–7.{{cite web |title=Pittsburg Mettle vs Vallejo Admirals: 2-7 |url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=219564 |website=pointstreak.com |access-date=11 March 2024}} On June 6, the Mettle picked up their first professional win against the San Rafael Pacifics, 8–3.{{cite web |title=Pittsburg Mettle baseball team’s season gets underway |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/06/10/pittsburg-mettle-baseball-teams-season-gets-underway/ |website=Mercury News |access-date=11 March 2024}}{{cite web |title=Pittsburg Mettle vs San Rafael Pacifics: 8-3 |url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=219550 |website=pointstreak.com |access-date=11 March 2024}} On June 29, actress Stacy Caroll of Major League threw out the ceremonial first pitch.{{cite web |title=Eye on the East Bay: ‘Major League’ actress throws out first pitch in Pittsburg |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/07/04/eye-on-the-east-bay-major-league-actress-throws-out-first-pitch-in-pittsburg/ |website=Mercury News |access-date=11 March 2024}} The Mettle held a 22–56 regular season record.
= 2015–2018: Pittsburg Diamonds =
{{Main|2015 Pacific Association season|2016 Pacific Association season|2017 Pacific Association season|2018 Pacific Association season}}
In 2015, the club rebranded after Khurram Shah, a local businessman, took over for the 2015 season during which the team made news signing former Oakland Athletics slugger Jose Canseco for two separate weekend stints.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/sports/Jose-Canseco-Pittsburg-Diamonds-309353331.html|title=Jose Canseco Playing Ball Again in the Bay Area, For Independent League Pittsburg Diamonds|date=23 June 2015|website=NBC Bay Area}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.timesheraldonline.com/article/NH/20150708/SPORTS/150709879|title=Jose Canseco will return to play for Pittsburg Diamonds|date=8 July 2015|website=Vallejo Times-Herald}} Pittsburg was managed by former Major League Baseball professional Aaron Miles, who was a part of the 2006 World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals.{{Cite web|url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2016/05/20/pittsburg-diamonds-polishing-up-for-second-season/|title=Pittsburg Diamonds polishing up for second season|date=20 May 2016|website=East Bay Times}} In his first season, the Diamonds saw a 16 game win improvement, earning him Manager of the Year honors.{{cite web |title=Aaron Miles, Manager |url=http://diamondsproball.com/#/staff |website=diamondsproball.com |access-date=2 March 2024}} In 2016, the Diamonds again signed Canseco, this time to a month-long contract to finish the regular season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/2016/08/04/bash-brother-canseco-joins-pittsburg-diamonds-for-season/|title=‘Bash Brother’ Canseco joins Pittsburg Diamonds for season|date=4 August 2016|website=The Mercury News}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ktvu.com/sports/185585466-story|title=Former A's superstar Jose Canseco returns to Bay Area play|date=4 August 2016|website=KTVU}} Canseco would collect two RBI in 14 plate appearances in addition to making three starts as a pitcher.{{cite web |title=2016 Pittsburg Diamonds |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=1c786c18 |website=Baseball-reference |access-date=11 March 2024}} In 2018, Travis Blackley made the Diamonds first post-season start against the Sonoma Stompers where they were defeated 0–5 in the semi-final.{{cite web |title=Pittsburg Diamonds vs Sonoma Stompers: 0-5 |url=https://baseball.pointstreak.com/boxscore.html?gameid=480230 |website=pointstreak.com |access-date=11 March 2024}}
The club announced before the 2019 season that it would take a one-year hiatus with plans to return in 2020. However, the team hasn’t returned, and the Pacific Association has since folded as well.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/04/05/bay-area-independent-baseball-leagues-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-offseason-continues/|title=Bay Area independent baseball league's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad offseason continues|date=April 5, 2019|website=The Mercury News}}
Season-by-season results
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" | |||||
| Season
!Overall !Win % !Standing !Manager !Postseason | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| colspan="7" style="background:ForestGreen; color:white;"|Pittsburg Mettle | |||||
| 2014 | 22–56 | {{Winning percentage|22|56}} | 4th in Division (first half) 4th in Division (second half) | Wayne Franklin | Did not qualify |
| colspan="7" style="{{Baseball primary style|San Francisco Giants|border=2}}"|Pittsburg Diamonds | |||||
| 2015 | 38–39 | {{Winning percentage|38|39}} | 3rd in Division (first half) 2nd in Division (second half) | Aaron Miles | Did not qualify |
| 2016 | 36–42 | {{Winning percentage|36|42}} | 3rd in Division (first half) T-3rd in Division (second half) | Aaron Miles | Did not qualify |
| 2017 | 36–42 | {{Winning percentage|36|42}} | 2nd in Division (first half) T-3rd in Division (second half) | Aaron Miles | Did not qualify |
| 2018 | 36–44 | {{Winning percentage|36|44}} | 4th | Aaron Miles | Lost semifinals (Sonoma) |
| align="center"
! colspan="1"| Totals !! 168–223 !! {{Winning percentage|168|223|record=n}} !! — !! — !! {{Winning percentage|0|1|record=y}} |
Notable alumni
{{colbegin}}
- Wayne Franklin (2014)
- Tony Torcato (2014-2015)
- Aaron Miles (2014-2016)
- Tony Phillips (2015)
- Jose Canseco (2015-2017)
- Trent Oeltjen (2016)
- Travis Blackley (2017-2018)
{{colend}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://diamondsproball.com Official website]
{{Pacific Association of Professional Baseball}}
{{Bay Area Sports}}
{{California sports}}
Category:Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs teams