Kansas City T-Bones

The Kansas City T-Bones are a professional baseball team based in Kansas City, Kansas, in the United States. The T-Bones are a member of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. The T-Bones played their home games at Just Bats Field at T-Bones Stadium (formerly CommunityAmerica Ballpark) from 2003, when the team started as a member of the Northern League, through 2019. In 2011, the team joined the modern American Association. In 2018, the T-Bones won their first-ever American Association Championship by defeating the St. Paul Saints.[2]

Kansas City T-Bones
Information
LeagueAmerican Association (Central Division)
LocationKansas City, Kansas
BallparkJust Bats Field at T-Bones Stadium
Year founded2003
League championships2 (2008, 2018)
Division championships1 (2019)
Former name(s)
  • Kansas City T-Bones (2003–present)
  • Duluth–Superior Dukes (1993–2002)
Former league(s)
ColorsRed, Navy, Gold, White
                   
Retired numbers1 (Dennis Pierce) 22 (Buck O'Neil)
OwnershipMark Brandmeyer / Max Fun LLC[1]
ManagerJoe Calfapietra
General ManagerChris Browne
MediaKansas City Kansan, The Kansas City Star
Websitetbonesbaseball.com

History

The team was previously known as the Duluth–Superior Dukes (representing Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin), which had won the Northern League championship 1997, though league records do not reflect such continuity.

The T-Bones broke ground on T-Bones Stadium September 4, 2002, and just over nine months later played their first home game on June 6, 2003.

The team's mascot is named "Sizzle".

Northern League 20032010

2003

Eddie Pearson led the league in batting average (.362), RBIs (78), and hits (124). and was named 2003 Northern League Player of the Year.

2004

The T-Bones finished the regular season with a 4848 record. They went to the first round of the playoffs and exited the first round after losing 3 of 5 games to the Schaumburg Flyers. For the year, T-Bones player Eddie Pearson received the Most Valuable Player award, Rick Muntean received co-executive of the year, and the entire team received Organization of the Year. Several League Records were set by T-Bones players: Jonathan Krysa set records for innings pitched (165.1), total batters faced, and games started (24); Rick Prieto set new records for walks (78), and runs (97), while tying the league record for triples (10); and Eddie Pearson set the intentional walks record with 17.

2005

The T-Bones finished 4549 overall. They finished second in the first half with a record of 2719, just missing the playoff berth, but never contended in the second half due to the loss of several key players.

2006

Jonathan Krysa was named Northern League Pitcher of the Year with a record of 135 and a 3.74 ERA. However, the T-Bones finished third in both halves of the season. They led the second-half race until the final week, when a disastrous season-ending road trip ended their hopes. Their overall record of 4551 for the season was their franchise-worst record and gave them a 181194 (.482) record in their four years in Kansas City. On Oct. 16, 2006, the T-Bones announced the firing of manager, "Dirty" Al Gallagher, who had been the team's first and only manager. Andy McCauley replaced him. Gallagher has been in professional baseball since 1965 when he was the 14th player overall selected, taken in the first round by the San Francisco Giants, and took another managing job with the St. Joseph Blacksnakes.

2007

The team hired former Schaumburg manager Andy McCauley to replace Gallagher. The team began 2007 with only two players carried over from the previous season, and released them by mid-season for a 100% turnover of its 22-man roster. The T-Bones finished deep in last place in the Southern Division in the first half, but moved into the lead during the second-half and held that lead until a late-season collapse left them in a disappointing second-place finish. The team's overall 44-52 record was one game worse than the previous season's franchise record. Despite their disappointing finish, the organization was named Northern League Organization of the Year.

2008

The Northern League contracted to six teams, and a single-division full season schedule was used. The T-Bones finished only marginally better (46-50) than the two previous seasons, but nonetheless qualified as the fourth team in the playoffs. They shocked the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks in the semifinal round of the playoffs, sweeping them in three games, and then defeated the Gary SouthShore RailCats three games to one to win the Northern League championship.

2009

The T-Bones matched their previous season's record (46-50) and finish (fourth in a six-team league), but could not advance past the first round, losing that series 3-2 to Gary. Shortly after the end of the season, the team announced that hitting coach Tim Doherty had been promoted to manager for the following season, replacing Andy McCauley.

2010

The Northern League expanded to eight teams again, but maintained the same playoff format, allowing the top four finishers into the post-season. The T-Bones enjoyed their most successful season under new manager Tim Doherty, winning 58 games and setting a new league record with 162 home runs, exceeding the previous high by more than 30%. They led through much of the year, but faded in the stretch to finish in second place, three games behind Fargo-Moorhead. T-Bones second baseman Jason Blackwood led the Northern League in home runs (31), RBI (86), runs scored (82), hits (141), total bases (271), and slugging percentage (.636) while finishing third in batting average (.331), and was named 2010 Northern League Player of the Year. The team beat Joliet three games to two in the first round of the playoffs, but were swept in three games by Fargo-Moorhead in the finals. The T-Bones were named Northern League Organization of the Year for the second time in four seasons, and CommunityAmerica Ballpark was named "Northern League Playing Surface of the Year" for the second straight season.

American Association 2011-present

2011

On October 13, 2010, the T-Bones left the Northern League, along with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, Gary SouthShore RailCats, and the Winnipeg Goldeyes to join the American Association for the 2011 season.[3] The team fell out of the race early and finished fifth and last in their division, though their winning percentage (.480) was better than any third-place finisher in the other two divisions. Outfielder Ray Sadler was the offensive leader, hitting .315 with 22 HR (2nd in the AA) and a league-leading 100 RBI. Outfielder Keanon Simon led the team with a .332 BA and tied for the league lead with 16 triples, while catcher Kala Kaaihue tied Sadler with 22 HR. Kris Johnson finished 3rd in the AA with a 3.23 ERA.

2012

The T-Bones, in their second year in the American Association, finished second in their division with a 51-49 record, but did not qualify for the playoffs. This was the first season for the T-Bones under Ken Hook.

2013

The T-Bones finished in 3rd with a 40-60 record.

2019

The Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas evicted the T-Bones from T-Bones Stadium on October 14, 2019 for failure to keep up rent and utility payments.[4] Days later, the Unified Government approved a stadium lease with an organization trying to purchase the T-Bones.[5] The purchase was completed. The new five-year lease has three five-year options.[6]

2020

In 2020, the league announced that the T-Bones were not selected as one of 6 teams to participate in a condensed season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] They will go on hiatus for the season, with plans to return in 2021.

Year-by-year record

            First Half   Second Half   Overall        
Season League Division W–L Finish W–L Finish W–L Win% Playoffs Manager
2003 NL West 20–25 4th23–21 2nd 43–46.483 Did not qualify Al Gallagher
2004 NL South 20–28 4th28–20 1st 48–48.500 Lost semi-final 2–3 Al Gallagher
2005 NL South 27–19 2nd18–30 5th 45–49.479 Did not qualify Al Gallagher
2006 NL South 22–26 3rd23–25 3rd 45–51.469 Did not qualify Al Gallagher
2007 NL South 18–30 4th26–22 2nd 44–52.458 Did not qualify Andy McCauley
2008 NL N/A 4th 46–50.479 Won semi-final 3–0; won championship 3–1 Andy McCauley
2009 NL N/A 4th 46–50.479 Lost semi-final 2–3 Andy McCauley
2010 NL N/A 2nd 58–42.580 Won semi-final 3–2; lost championship 0–3 Tim Doherty
2011 AA Central 5th 48–52.480 Did not qualify Tim Doherty
2012 AA Central 2nd 51–49.510 Did not qualify Ken Hook
2013 AA Central 3rd 40–60.400 Did not qualify Ken Hook
2014 AA Central 3rd 48–52.480 Did not qualify John Massarelli
2015 AA Central 2nd 49–50.495 Did not qualify John Massarelli
2016 AA Central 4th 42–58.420 Did not qualify John Massarelli
2017 AA Central 3rd 57–43.570 Did not qualify Joe Calfapietra
2018 AA South 2nd 62-37.626 Won semi-final 3–2; won championship 3–1 Joe Calfapietra
2019 AA South 1st 58–42.580 Lost semi-final 1–3 Joe Calfapietra
NL 375–388.490 13-12 (3-2)
AA 455–443.507 7-6
Overall 830–831.499 20-18

Playoffs

  • 2004 season: Lost to Schaumburg 3-1 in semifinals.
  • 2008 season: Defeated Fargo-Moorhead 3-0 in semifinals; defeated Gary 3-2 to win championship.
  • 2009 season: Lost to Gary 3-2 in semifinals.
  • 2010 season: Defeated Joliet 3-2 in semifinals; lost to Fargo-Moorhead 3-0 in championship.
  • 2018 season: Defeated Sioux City 3-2 in semifinals; defeated St. Paul 3-1 in championship.
  • 2019 season: Lost to Sioux City 3-1 in semifinals.

Current roster

Kansas City T-Bones roster
Active (22-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers
N/A

 

Catchers
N/A

Infielders
N/A

Outfielders
N/A

 

Manager

  • 44 Joe Calfapietra

Coaches

  • 34 Bill Sobbe (hitting)
  • 36 John West (assistant)
  • 20 Frank White (first base)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated June 17, 2020
Transactions

References

  1. Hardy, Kevin (February 25, 2020). "Owner plans new bars, pickleball, food at KC T-Bones stadium". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  2. Mense, Brennan (September 16, 2018). "Kansas City T-Bones rally again, clinch American Association championship". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  3. "Four Clubs Added to American Association" (Press release). American Association of Independent Professional Baseball. Archived from the original on October 17, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  4. Hardy, Kevin (October 14, 2019). "Wyandotte County evicts T-Bones for unpaid rent, utilities". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  5. Hardy, Kevin (October 17, 2019). "New Kansas City T-Bones owners say upgrades will bring more than baseball to stadium". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
  6. Spedden, Zach (February 26, 2020). "Kansas City T-Bones Plot Future Under New Ownership". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  7. "American Association unveils plans for 2020 season". americanassociationbaseball.com. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
Achievements
Preceded by
St. Paul Saints
1996
Northern League Champions
Duluth–Superior Dukes

1997
Succeeded by
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
1998
Preceded by
Gary SouthShore RailCats
2007
Northern League Champions
Kansas City T-Bones

2008
Succeeded by
Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks
2009
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