Appy League: Blue Jays fly into Bluefield to replace Orioles

September 8, 2010

By Brian Woodson For The Register-Herald The Register-Herald Wed Sep 08, 2010, 12:02 AM EDT

BLUEFIELD — A bird of a different feather has flown into Bluefield.

The Bluefield Baseball Club made it official on Tuesday morning, introducing the Toronto Blue Jays as the newest affiliate for Bluefield’s Appalachian League baseball team.

According to Charlie Wilson, Toronto’s director of minor league operations, the Blue Jays are expecting a “great and long-term” partnership with Bluefield.

Appalachian League president Lee Landers hopes it’s really long.

“We are really proud that the Blue Jays have cast their lot with the Appalachian League and especially in Bluefield,” Landers said. “I know you will embrace them just like you did the club that used to be here.

“If we can get to 54 years with this we will break another record.”

Toronto will replace the Baltimore Orioles in Bluefield, which saw a record-setting 53-year relationship that started in 1958 come to an end on Aug. 31.

“As we put an end to 53 years of Oriole baseball in Bluefield,” said Bluefield Baseball Club president and acting general manager George McGonagle, during a morning press conference on Tuesday at Bowen Field, “we are at the same time looking forward to a new beginning.”

Toronto was last in the Appalachian League during a two-year stint with Pulaski (Va.) in 2005-06. Wilson said the Blue Jays are glad to be back.

“We need a team in the Appalachian League, this is the next step in our development and we are excited to be here,” Wilson said. “We need to be here and quite honestly, there are many of us, myself included, that never wanted to leave the Appalachian League.

“It wasn’t our decision, but that is in the past. We are looking forward to the future and having a great relationship and long-term relationship with Bluefield.”

Among the representatives from Toronto in attendance were Wilson, manager Dennis Holmberg, field coordinator Doug Davis and pitching instructor Pat Hentgen, a 14-year veteran who won a Cy Young Award with the Blue Jays in 1996, and who is now a special assistant to team president Paul Beeston.

McGonagle, who is also working on finding a new general manager for the Bluefield Baseball Club, also squelched rampant rumors, saying Bluefield’s affordable ticket prices will remain the same.

He was also thinking ahead to baseball again in Bluefield ... this time as the Blue Jays in 2011.

“We are very, very proud to have Toronto here,” McGonagle said. “Let’s start thinking next June right now. It is never too early.”

— E-mail: bwoodson@bdtonline.com

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