| Orange County Flyers Founded in 2005 Fullerton, California |
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| Owner(s)/Operated By: Orange County Group | |||
| General Manager: Alan Mintz | |||
| Manager: Phil Nevin | |||
| Media: Orange County Register | |||
| Website: www.orangecountyflyers.com | |||
The Orange County Flyers are a professional baseball team based in Fullerton, California, in the United States. The Flyers are a member of the South Division of the independent Golden Baseball League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball. From the 2005 season to the present, the Flyers have played their home games at Goodwin Field, which is also the home field for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
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Team history
The Flyers are one of the original eight GBL charter teams that started in 2005 along with the Chico Outlaws, Long Beach Armada and San Diego Surf Dawgs in California; Mesa Miners, Surprise Fightin' Falcons and Yuma Scorpions in Arizona and the traveling Japan Samurai Bears (who played in the Arizona Division). They started out as a league-owned team originally called the Fullerton Flyers and along with Outlaws, Armada and Scorpions are the remaining charter teams still active in the GBL.
The Flyers clinched their first playoff spot ever by winning the second-half division title in 2006. However, they ultimately lost the GBL championship to the Reno Silver Sox, 3 games to 1. First baseman Peanut Williams was named the 2006 GBL Most Valuable Player and hit a league record 20 home runs for the season. [1] RHP Chris Jakubauskas was named the league's Pitcher of the Year for the 2006 season.
Team sold and name changed
The Flyers were sold on March 21, 2007, to an investment group called the Orange County Group. One of the investors is James Denton, part of the cast of Desperate Housewives. The sale of the Flyers makes them the first Golden Baseball League team to ever be sold to a private investment group. On March 28, 2007, the Fullerton Flyers became the Orange County Flyers, but kept their team colors (blue and orange) and home games are still played at Goodwin Field.
2008 GBL Championship Season
They announced MLB Hall of Famer Gary Carter as the new Field Manager for 2008. They won the first-ever GBL South Division Championship by defeating Long Beach 3 games to 2 and, for the second time in franchise history, advanced to the GBL Championship Series. The Flyers captured their first GBL Championship by beating the Calgary Vipers 3 games to 2 on September 14, 2008, capping off the best season in team history. On October 14, 2008, GBL Safeway Player of the Year Patrick Breen was picked up by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim of Major League Baseball.
In December 2008, the Flyers announced former Major Leaguer and Cal State Fullerton alum Phil Nevin would replace the departing Gary Carter as their new manager. [2]
Team Record
| Season | W | L | Win % | Place | Playoff |
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| 2005 | 34 | 56 | .378 | 4th | Did not qualify |
| 2006 | 43 | 37 | .538 | 2nd | Qualified. Lost to Reno in the Championship Series. |
| 2007 | 37 | 39 | .487 | 4th | Did not qualify |
| 2008 | 50 | 36 | .581 | 2nd/1st | Won South Division Title. Defeated Calgary to win the Championship Series. |
References
- ^ Golden Baseball League Announces Spalding Player Awards for 2006 Season GBL website, September 6, 2006
- ^ "Phil Nevin Named Manager for 09'". orangecountyflyers.com. http://www.orangecountyflyers.com/News/Phil-Nevin-Named-Manager-for-09.cfm. Retrieved 2008-12-23.
External links
| Golden Baseball League | |||||
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| North Division | South Division | ||||
| Calgary Vipers | Orange County Flyers | ||||
| Chico Outlaws | St. George RoadRunners | ||||
| Edmonton Capitals | Tijuana Potros | ||||
| Long Beach Armada | Tucson Toros | ||||
| Victoria Seals | Yuma Scorpions | ||||
| Annual events: All-Star Games | |||||
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