Québec Capitales

Québec Capitales
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
League	Can-Am League
Location	Quebec City
Ballpark	Stade Canac
Year founded	1999
League championships	(7) 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017
Division championships	(10) 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017
Colours	Navy blue, gold, white
Mascot	Capi the Lion
16 2000 2002-2005 2008-2013 2015-2018
Playoff berths	16 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018
Ownership	Jean Tremblay, Pierre Tremblay, Marie-Pierre Simard
Manager	Patrick Scalabrini
General Manager	Michel Laplante
Media	Le Journal de Québec Le Soleil
Website	capitalesdequebec.com

The Québec Capitales (French: Les Capitales de Québec) are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Capitales are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball (a.k.a. CanAm League), which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. Since the 1999 season to the present, the Capitales have played their home games at Stade Canac.

The team was established in 1999 as a member of the independent Northern League. Their mascot is Capi the Lion.

History

Québec City has been home to many baseball teams. The Québec Athletics played in the Québec Provincial League during the 1940 season, and in the Canadian-American League from 1941 to 1942. The Québec Alouettes followed as a member of the Canadian-American League from 1946 to 1948. The Quebec Braves played from 1949 to 1950, as they too were part of the Canadian-American League, and from 1950 to 1951 in the Provincial League.The Québec Indians played in the Provincial League from 1958 to 1970. The Québec Carnavals were the AA affiliate of the Montreal Expos from 1971 through 1975, as members of the Eastern League. In 1976, the team changed its name to the Québec Metros, and continued to play until 1977.

Quebec Capitales

Stade Canac during a game between the Capitales and the Rockland Boulders in July 2018.

In 1999, the Capitales joined the Northern League (East Division) as an expansion team. The team now plays in the Can-Am League, the successor of the Northeast League. The Capitales are one of three Canadian teams in the League, the other two being the Ottawa Champions and the Trois-Rivieres Aigles. As of September 2013, the Capitales are the most successful team in the Can-Am League on and off the field, having won the League championship more times (6) than any other team and being among the tops in attendance every season averaging over 3,000 fans per game since 2001. The Capitales since 2000 have made the playoffs 12 times.

In 2006, the Capitales won their first championship in team history. Although the team had the second worst record in team history they still qualified for last post season spot with a 44-44 record. They defeated the top seed North Shore Spirit in dramatic come from behind fashion winning the last two games to win the series 3 games to 2. In the championship series the Capitales took a 2 games to none advantage before the Brockton Rox came back to even the series. In the final and decisive game the Capitales defeated the Rox on their home field by coming from behind and won by a score of 5-4 to win the Can-Am League Championship 3 games to 2.

In 2009 the Capitales became the first franchise in the reborn Can-Am League to win multiple championships and the fourth team in the entire history of the Northeast/Can-Am League to win more than one championship (joining the New Jersey Jackals, who won two Northeast League and two Northern League championships, the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, who won the first Northeast League Championship and one Northern League Championship, and the Adirondack Lumberjacks, who won one Northeast League and one Northern League championship). The Capitales won the 2nd half regular season championship and finished the season with the 3rd best overall record (53-41). The Capitales eliminated the Brockton Rox 3 games to 1 in the opening round. In a rematch of the 2005 championship the Capitales got revenge by eliminating the Worcester Tornadoes 3 games to 1. In 2010, the Capitales obtained a second consecutive championship, passing by the Pittsfield Colonials 3 games to 1. In 2011, the Capitales won their third championship in a row (fourth in all) by defeating the New Jersey Jackals 4 games to 1. In 2012, the team again defeated the Jackals 4 games to 1, thus winning their fourth championship in a row. A fifth championship in a row materialized in 2013, the Capitales defeating again the New-Jersey Jackals 4 games to 3. In 2017, the Capitales captured their seventh championship in franchise history by sweeping the Rockland Boulders 3-0.

Season-by-season record

Records as of September 8, 2018

Logos and uniforms

The official colours of the Québec Capitales are navy blue and gold. The primary logo consists of a white baseball diamond with navy blue pinstripes. The "Capitales" wordmark is superimposed over the diamond in navy blue outlined in gold. The wordmark is underlined by a navy blue ribbon with the word "Québec" centred on it in white, with the French word "de" centred in between. A navy blue fleur-de-lis is centred above the wordmark, with a stylized depiction of home plate centred below.

The Québec Capitales uniforms are traditional in design. The caps are navy blue throughout with the scripted "Q" cap logo centred on the front in gold with a white centre incorporating a navy blue fleur-de-lis and red baseball threading. The home jerseys are white with navy blue pinstripes, with the "Capitales" cursive script wordmark centred across in navy blue with gold outline. The alternate jersey is navy blue with gold piping with the cap logo centred on the left-side chest.

Rivalries

Over the years, the Capitales have had rivalries. One significant rivalry is against the New Jersey Jackals. Even though both teams are in different countries, both the Jackals and the Capitales have played in the same league. They have both won four league championships in their histories. The Capitales defeated the Jackals three times in the championship series, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

The Capitales also have a rivalry with the Trois-Rivières Aigles. This is because both teams are geographically in the same province of Quebec.

Another rivalry that the Capitales had against the Ottawa Voyageurs. Even though the Voyageurs played in the Can-Am League for only two seasons, it was still a significant rivalry due to both teams playing in the same country and the closeness of both provinces of Ontario and Quebec. When the Ottawa Champions were formed in 2015, this sparked another rivalry for the Capitales.

Current roster

Attendance

As of August 7, 2017

Quick facts

Current uniform colours: White with navy pinstripes for home games and grey for away games. The home with the word "Capitales" across the front and number on the back. Navy blue hats with the letter "Q" with fleur-de-lis superimposed over a baseball. Alternate uniforms are navy blue with the "Q" cap logo centred on the left chest.

Current logo design: The word "Capitales" in script in navy blue with gold outline superimposed over a white baseball diamond with navy blue pinstripes.

Current mascot: Capi (1999-present).

Current Broadcasters: Radio: François Paquet for home games and select road games

Current Radio Station: CHYZ 94.3

See also

• List of baseball teams in Canada

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Québec Capitales.

• Official website