Everett AquaSox explained

Everett AquaSox
Founded:1995
City:Everett, Washington
Uniformlogo:Everett AquaSox cap logo.svg
Class Level:High-A (2021–present)
Past Class Level:Class A Short Season (1995–2020)
Current League:Northwest League (1995–present)
Majorleague:Seattle Mariners (1995–present)
Colors:Navy, aqua, light green, orange, white
Mascot:Webbly
Ballpark:Funko Field (1995–present)
Leaguenum:1
Divnum:3
Firsthalfchamps:none
Secondhalfnum:1
Owner:7th Inning Stretch, LLC[1]
Gm:Danny Tetzlaff[2]
Manager:Ryan Scott

The Everett AquaSox are a Minor League Baseball team in Everett, Washington. The team is a member of the Northwest League and is affiliated with the Seattle Mariners. The AquaSox play their home games at Funko Field, which has a seating capacity of 3,682. Everett has won three division titles and one Northwest League championship.

History

Following the 1983 season, Bob and Margaret Bavasi purchased the struggling Walla Walla, Washington, based Blue Mountain Bears.[3] Antiquated facilities compounded by dwindling attendance in Walla Walla prompted the new owners to move the franchise. The Bavasis, who had secured affiliation with the San Francisco Giants, ultimately selected Everett as the relocation destination.[4] Playing as the Everett Giants, the club was affiliated with San Francisco for eleven years until 1994. After the 1994 season, Everett signed a player development contract with the Seattle Mariners as their Class A Short Season affiliate and adopted a new unique name, the AquaSox. Since the 2021 season, the team has played at the High-A classification as a Mariners affiliate, initially in the High-A West.[5] [6] In March 2022, the High-A West was rebranded back to the Northwest League, as MLB moved to revert all of its Minor Leagues to their historical names.[7]

Due to the Northwest League's reclassification in 2021 as a High-A league, which included an expanded schedule and new venue requirements, the AquaSox began exploring a replacement for Funko Field. In September 2022, the City of Everett and Snohomish County approved funds to study a new stadium, which is estimated to cost $80 million and seat 3,500 spectators.[8] A site adjacent to Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown Everett is under study; other proposed sites included the Everett Mall, Kasch Park, and a city-owned lot near Interstate 5.[9] [10]

Identity

One of the team logos, used on road caps and jerseys, is based on the "trident" insignia used by the Mariners in the early 1980s (rotated to look like the letter "E" for Everett, instead of "M" for Mariners). Their mascot is Webbly, a frog.[11] According to long-time team radio broadcaster Pat Dillon, "The frog is a cross between a Pacific tree frog and a Central American red-eyed tree frog—and Brooks Robinson."[12] Previously, the mascot for the Everett Giants was a giant hot dog named Frank.

Season-by-season record

Northwest League (1995–present)

SeasonPDCDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%Post-seasonManagerAttendance
Everett AquaSox
1995SEANorth2nd3739.487Orlando Gomez 89,950
1996SEANorth4th3342.440Roger Hansen 87,846
1997SEANorth3rd2947.382Orlando Gomez 79,918
1998SEANorth3rd3442.447Terry Pollreisz 119,396
1999SEANorth3rd4135.540Terry Pollreisz 103,455
2000SEAEast4th3739.487Terry Pollreisz 114,024
2001SEAWest3rd3639.480Terry Pollreisz 114,727
2002SEAWest1st4432.579Lost to Boise in championship series 0-3Roger Hansen 110,373
2003SEAWest4th3244.421Pedro Grifol 110,043
2004SEAWest2nd4135.539Pedro Grifol 104,010
2005SEAWest3rd4234.553Pedro Grifol 108,884
2006SEAWest4th3145.408Dave Myers 106,675
2007SEAWest3rd3541.461Mike Tosar 106,683
2008SEAWest4th3244.421Jose Moreno 95,294
2009SEAWest2nd3937.513John Tamargo 89,929
2010SEAWest1st4827.640Defeated Vancouver in division series 2–1
Defeated Spokane in championship series 2-1
Jose Moreno 89,929
2011SEAWest3rd 3739.487Scott Steinmann 96,345
2012SEAWest3rd4630.605Lost to Vancouver in division series 2–0 Rob Mummau 95,929
2013SEANorth1st4432.579Lost to Vancouver in division series 2–0 Rob Mammau 92,489
2014SEANorth4th2848.368Dave Valle 92,642
2015SEANorth1st4234.553Lost to Tri-City in division series 0-2Rob Mammau 100,613
2016SEANorth1st 4531.592Defeated Spokane in division series 2–0
Lost to Eugene in championship series 1-2
Rob Mammau 104,162
2017SEANorth4th3640.474Jose Moreno 110,161
2018SEANorth2nd3838.500Lost to Spokane in division series 2–1 Jose Moreno 111,599
2019SEANorth3rd3739.487Louis Boyd116,630
Division winner League champions

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 7th Inning Stretch, LLC . MiLB.com . April 12, 2020.
  2. Web site: Everett AquaSox Front Office . MiLB.com . April 12, 2020.
  3. News: French. Joan. November 10, 1983. Walla Walla Pro Baseball Sale Becomes Final. Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. NewspaperArchive.com. July 24, 2020.
  4. News: May 6, 1984 . Another Bavasi Trying Baseball as a Club Owner . 4F . . United Press International . . March 23, 2023.
  5. Web site: Mayo. Jonathan. MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues. Major League Baseball. February 12, 2021. February 12, 2021.
  6. Web site: Johns. Greg. Mariners invite 4 clubs to return as affiliates. MLB. December 9, 2020. December 9, 2020.
  7. News: Hill . Benjamin . Historical Team Names Return to the Minors . Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022 . June 26, 2024.
  8. News: Watanabe . Ben . September 28, 2022 . City, county studying new outdoor stadium for Everett AquaSox . The Everett Herald . March 23, 2023.
  9. News: Cornfield . Jerry . Watanabe . Ben . Patterson . Nick . March 20, 2023 . Drive to build new AquaSox ballpark gets $7.4M boost from state . The Everett Herald . March 23, 2023.
  10. News: Nash . Ashley . November 30, 2023 . Everett AquaSox stadium upgrade gets $1.1M green light from city . The Everett Herald . December 1, 2023.
  11. Web site: Everett Aquasox Mascot Appearances. Everett AquaSox. Minor League Baseball. April 24, 2018.
  12. Web site: Soggy Froggy, Man: The Story Behind the Everett AquaSox . Caputo . Paul . May 2, 2015 . SportsLogos.net . SportsLogos.net . May 23, 2018.