What is the history behind the baseball team the Lowell Spinners?
Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York – Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a year. The Spinners play 38 of the 76 games at their home park, Edward A. LeLacheur Park, in Lowell, near the Merrimack River. The official mascots of the Spinners are The Canaligator, Alligator, and Millie-Gator. In 2005, the Spinners offered to pay for the uniforms to all Little Leagues in New England so that they would change all teams named “Yankees” into “Spinners”.[1] In 2007 WLLH 1400 A.M. (“Boston’s” ESPN Radio affiliate) was the flagship of Lowell Spinners baseball, after several years on Lowell talk station WCAP. As of 2008, Spinners games are back on WCAP.[2] On September 1st 2008, the Spinners reached the NYPL (New York-Penn League) playoffs for the first time capturing the Stedler Division title. As of the conclusion of the 2008 Spinners season, the franchise had sold out the past 346
The first year of Spinners baseball at Alumni field in 1996 drew 95,986 fans. Attendance increased to 106,862 during Drew and Joann Weber’s first year with the team in 1997. In 1998, the Spinners moved into the brand new Edward LeLacheur Park, which seats 4,797 and has a standing room capacity of 5,030. Attendance rose to 174,020 fans with 24 sell-outs. In 1999, the Spinners sold out 34 of 38 games, drawing a team record 180,077 fans. The Spinners filled LeLacheur Park to 102% of its capacity, ranking the Spinners second among the nearly 200 Minor League baseball teams across the nation. For the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008 Seasons, the Spinners SOLD EVERY SINGLE TICKET! It is believed to be the first time any professional team has ever sold every ticket for eight straight seasons. The Spinners set a new franchise attendance record in 2008 when 199,197 fans showed up to see the team play. It didn’t hurt that one game was played at a sold out Fenway Park but we’
Founded in 1996 after Clyde Smoll moved the Elmira Pioneers to Lowell, Massachusetts, the Spinners play in the New York – Penn League, which has a Short-Season A classification with 76 games a year. The Spinners play 38 of the 76 games at their home park, Edward A. LeLacheur Park, in Lowell, near the Merrimack River. The official mascots of the Spinners are The Canaligator, Alligator, and Millie-Gator. In 2005, the Spinners offered to pay for the uniforms to all Little Leagues in New England so that they would change all teams named “Yankees” into “Spinners”.[1] In 2007 WLLH 1400 A.M. (“Boston’s” ESPN Radio affiliate) was the flagship of Lowell Spinners baseball, after several years on Lowell talk station WCAP. As of 2008, Spinners games are back on WCAP.[2] On September 1st 2008, the Spinners reached the NYPL (New York-Penn League) playoffs for the first time capturing the Stedler Division title. Sources: http://en.
