Salem Red Sox

Salem Red Sox
Founded in 1955
Salem, Virginia
Team logoCap insignia
Class-level
Current Advanced-A (1968–present)
Previous Class-D (1955–1967)
Minor league affiliations
League Carolina League (1968–present)
Division Northern Division
Previous leagues
 Appalachian League (1955, 1957–1967)
Major league affiliations
Current Boston Red Sox (2009–present)
Previous
Minor league titles
League titles (7)
  • 1955
  • 1965
  • 1972
  • 1974
  • 1987
  • 2001
  • 2013
Division titles (10)
  • 1968
  • 1969
  • 1972
  • 1974
  • 1981
  • 1987
  • 1988
  • 2006
  • 2009
  • 2013
Team data
Nickname Salem Red Sox (2009–present)
Previous names
  • Salem Avalanche (1995–2008)
  • Salem Buccaneers (1987–1994)
  • Salem Redbirds (1981–1986)
  • Salem Pirates (1972–1980)
  • Salem Rebels (1955–1971)
Ballpark Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark (1995–present)
Previous parks
 Kiwanis Field (1955–1994)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
 Fenway Sports Group
Manager Joe Oliver
General Manager C Ryan Shelton

The Salem Red Sox are a Minor League Baseball team in Salem, Virginia, an independent city adjacent to Roanoke, Virginia. It is a team in the Class A-Advanced Carolina League and a farm team of the Boston Red Sox. The team, known from 1995 through 2008 as the Salem Avalanche, was previously affiliated with the Houston Astros from 2003 to 2008 and the Colorado Rockies from 1995 to 2002. Prior to 1995, the franchise played under several different names and affiliations. The Red Sox play home games at Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark, a 6,300 seat facility opened in 1995 that hosted the Carolina/California League All Star Game in 2006.

The franchise was owned from 1986 until 2006 by Kelvin Bowles, a local resident and major league baseball scout. Bowles (who, coincidentally, scouted for the Boston Red Sox from 2002–05) bought the team when it was in danger of moving from Salem. In 2006, the team was sold to a pair of businessmen from Atlanta who also owned the Fort Wayne Wizards. In December 2007, this group sold the team to Fenway Sports Group, a subsidiary of the Boston Red Sox ownership group, preparing the team for an affiliation change after its Player Development Contract with the Astros ended in 2008. As such, the Red Sox are owned by the same parent company that manages the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool F.C..

Location and rivalry games

While the team is located in a relatively small city when compared to other teams of its classification, the Red Sox are strongly identified with the Roanoke Valley as a whole, drawing fans from neighboring cities and counties within the roughly 300,000-person metropolitan area. The connection with neighboring Roanoke was emphasized during the 2017 Carolina League All-Star Classic, hosted by Salem, that was represented by a logo featuring the iconic Mill Mountain Star. Salem is also located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are featured prominently on the team's logo and are clearly visible over Haley Toyota Field's outfield walls. This mountain view includes the aforementioned star, visible on clear nights over the left field wall.

Haley Toyota Field at Salem Memorial Ballpark is located roughly 2 miles from downtown Salem and is part of the James E. Taliaferro Sports and Entertainment Complex, which also includes the Salem Civic Center and Salem Football Stadium (location of the annual Stagg Bowl). The Red Sox share their stadium with the NCAA Division III Roanoke Maroons and have previously hosted the "Hokie-Smokey Classic" baseball series between the Tennessee Volunteers and the nearby VPI Fighting Gobblers.

Given the teams' close proximity, their long-time histories in the league, and both competing in the Carolina League's North Division, Salem's chief rival is the Lynchburg Hillcats. The regular matchups of these teams, known as the "460 Series", named for U.S. Route 460 which connects the cities, has occasionally feature day/night Doubleheaders during which two games will be split between the two cities over the course of the same day.

Championships and playoff appearances

Since switching the team's affiliation to Boston, the Red Sox have experienced a fair amount of success, winning one league championship (2013), two division championships, and making three playoff appearances. Overall, minor league teams in the Roanoke Valley have claimed 7 Appalachian and Carolina League Crowns 10 divisional championships, and 13 playoff appearances. These league and divisional titles are commemorated on the press box and sky boxes overlooking the Haley Toyota Field Grandstand.

Notable former players

Orlando Cepeda
Ryan Lavarnway
Hunter Pence
Anthony Rizzo

Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

Club records

  • Batting: .370 – Oswaldo Olivares, 1977
  • Hits: 208 – Oswaldo Olivares, 1977
  • Doubles: 43 – Garrett Atkins, 2001
  • Triples: 17 – David Arrington, 1968
  • Home Runs: 34 – Gerald Davis, 1981
  • Total Bases: 280 – Oswaldo Olivares, 1977
  • Runs Batted In: 103 – Gerald Davis, 1981
  • Stolen Bases: 84 – Miguel Diloné, 1975
  • Wins: 16 – Jim Minshall 1972
  • Losses: 15 – Frank Brosious, 1983; James McKee, 1970
  • Strikeouts: 186 – Ed Whitson, 1976; Doug Bair, 1972
  • Walks: 127 – Benjamin Willbank, 1978
  • Innings Pitched: 203 – Ed Whitson, 1976
  • Earned Run Average: 2.11 – Josh Kalinowski, 1999
  • Saves: 27 – Travis Thompson, 1999

Home attendance: 1968–present

  • 1968 – 64,532
  • 1969 – 63,248
  • 1970 – 50,076
  • 1971 – 37,872
  • 1972 – 43,910
  • 1973 – 45,915
  • 1974 – 41,379
  • 1975 – 39,007
  • 1976 – 30,387
  • 1977 – 32,744
  • 1978 – 51,096
  • 1979 – 43,036
  • 1980 – 102,456
  • 1981 – 72,125
  • 1982 – 47,202
  • 1983 – 56,451
  • 1984 – 61,623
  • 1985 – 71,788
  • 1986 – 87,047
  • 1987 – 111,661
  • 1988 – 119,966
  • 1989 – 121,581
  • 1990 – 126,121
  • 1991 – 131,582
  • 1992 – 134,598
  • 1993 – 145,657
  • 1994 – 153,575
  • 1995 – 140,111
  • 1996 – 173,703 (new stadium)
  • 1997 – 188,023
  • 1998 – 189,069
  • 1999 – 206,012
  • 2000 – 200,863
  • 2001 – 203,375
  • 2002 – 196,347
  • 2003 – 175,155
  • 2004 – 224,991
  • 2005 – 255,225
  • 2006 – 237,724 (5 games cancelled due to heavy rain)
  • 2007 – 258,469 (5 games cancelled)
  • 2008 – 235,823
  • 2009 – 231,186 (4,968 was stadium capacity with 1,000 covered seats not available for use)
  • 2010 - 211,527
  • 2011 - 226,337
  • 2012 - 178,730
  • 2013 - 172,293
  • 2014 - 220,782
  • 2015 - 228,120
  • 2016 - 200,478

Total attendance – 6,640,978

Playoffs

  • 1968 season: Lost to Lynchburg 1-0 in quarterfinals.
  • 1969 season: Defeated High Point-Thomasville 2-0 in quarterfinals; lost to Burlington 2-0 in semifinals.
  • 1972 season: Defeated Burlington 2-1 to win championship.
  • 1974 season: Won both halves, making a playoff unnecessary.
  • 1987 season: Defeated Hagerstown 2-0 in semifinals; defeated Kinston in championship.
  • 1988 season: Lost to Lynchburg 2-1 in semifinals.
  • 2001 season: Defeated Kinston 2-1 in semifinals; defeated Wilmington 3-2 in championship.
  • 2006 season: Lost to Kinston 2-0 in semifinals.
  • 2007 season: Defeated Kinston 2-1 in semifinals; lost to Frederick 3-1 in championship.
  • 2009 season: Defeated Winston-Salem 3-0 in semifinals; lost to Lynchburg 3-0 in championship.
  • 2013 season: Defeated Myrtle Beach 2-0 in semifinals; defeated Potomac 3-0 in championship.
  • 2014 season: Lost to Myrtle Beach 2-1 in semifinals.
  • 2016 season: Lost to Myrtle Beach 2-1 in semifinals.

Media information

  • Media Relations Manager: Ben Gellman
  • Flagship radio station:
    • The Salem Red Sox Broadcast, WGMN AM-1240 (Roanoke)
    • Radio announcers: Ben Gellman
  • Number of games broadcast: All
  • Newspapers covering the Red Sox:
  • Official scorer: Billy Wells
  • Public Address: Emile Brown
Broadcaster History
1987 Brian Barnhart
1988-1990 Dave Newman
1990-1992 Mike Minshall
1993-1994 Stu Paul
1995 Mark Neely
1996-1997 Mark Aucutt
1998-1999 Bob McElligott
2000-2003 Kevin Reiter
2004 Mick Gillispie
2005-2006 Adam Pohl
2007-2008 Jason Benetti
2009-2014 Evan Lepler
2015-2016 Kevin Burke
2017 - present Ben Gellman

Team mascots

Mugsy A St. Bernard mascot who made his rookie debut in professional baseball in 1997 with the Avalanche. According to the team's website, Mugsy descended from the passing Hale-Bopp comet that raced across the Roanoke Valley sky on April 4, 1997.

Misty Misty is a female saint bernard mascot who joined the team in 2005.

Lefty and Righty Coming to Salem all the way from Boston. Lefty and Righty are the new mascots. They're two red sox, both wearing Boston Red Sox hats, they also have an L on one's back and an R on the other.

Big Mo The Salem Avalanche's Kid's Club mascot, Big Mo is a giant abominable snowman.

The Baseball Nut The Avalanche's first mascot was this distinctive character, which resembled an almond. While the idea was original, the Baseball Nut proved to be unpopular. Lacking a cute or friendly appearance, the mascot intimidated children and was an object of derision by adult fans. Mugsy was developed as a replacement.

Roster

Salem Red Sox roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

Catchers

  • 19 Roldani Baldwin
  • 28 Jake Romanski
  • 26 Nick Sciortino

Infielders

Outfielders

  •  2 Victor Acosta
  • -- Nick Decker
  • 24 Tyler Hill
  • 10 Trenton Kemp
  • 25 Jagger Rusconi
  • 36 Ryan Scott
  • 21 Kyri Washington

Manager

Coaches


7-day disabled list
* On Boston Red Sox 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated August 30, 2018
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • Carolina League
 → Boston Red Sox minor league players

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