Salem Red Sox


The Salem Red Sox are a Minor League Baseball team in Salem, 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.

History

The franchise was owned from 1986 until 2006 by Kelvin Bowles, a local resident and major league baseball scout. Bowles 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 Houston Astros ended in 2008. As such, the Salem Red Sox are owned by the same parent company that manages Liverpool F.C. and the Boston Red Sox.

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 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. 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, 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

See:
At least one inductee to the National Baseball Hall of Fame has played for Salem; Orlando Cepeda, who played for the team when they were the Rebels in 1955.

Club records

Total attendance – 6,640,978

Playoffs

SeasonBroadcaster
1987Brian Barnhart
1988–1990Dave Newman
1990–1992Mike Minshall
1993–1994Stu Paul
1995Mark Neely
1996–1997Mark Aucutt
1998–1999Bob McElligott
2000–2003Kevin Reiter
2004Mick Gillispie
2005–2006Adam Pohl
2007–2008Jason Benetti
2009–2014Evan Lepler
2015–2016Kevin Burke
2017–2019Ben Gellman
2019–presentMelanie Newman

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