Las Vegas Baseball: A Blast from the Past (Before the Fancy New Aviators)
Las Vegas! City of lights, gambling empires, and... wait, baseball? Yep, you read that right. Sin City boasts a surprisingly rich minor league baseball history, even before the arrival of the sleek Las Vegas Aviators. So, grab a hot dog (minus the roulette wheel sprinkles, hopefully), and let's take a trip down memory lane!
The OG Dudes: The Las Vegas Stars (1983-2000)
These guys were the pioneers, the Michael Jordans (of minor league baseball in Vegas, at least). Arriving in 1983, the Stars were the first professional sports team to call Vegas home (sorry, short-lived Las Vegas Quicksilvers soccer team, you barely lasted a season). Affiliated with the San Diego Padres, the Stars brought baseball fever to the desert, complete with dazzling fireworks shows (because, Vegas).
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Fun Fact: The Stars even had a mascot named "Cosmo," a space alien decked out in a baseball uniform. We're pretty sure the only thing more outlandish than that was his throwing arm (allegedly not great).
The Jersey Shuffle: The Las Vegas 51s (2001-2018)
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After a name change and a few affiliation switches (think San Diego Padres to Los Angeles Dodgers to Toronto Blue Jays, phew!), the team landed on the, uh, creatively named "Las Vegas 51s" in 2001. While the name might not win any awards, the 51s era saw the team develop future Major League Baseball stars and pack Cashman Field with enthusiastic fans (including, we imagine, a few folks who might have gotten a little too enthusiastic after a visit to the slots).
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How Fancy Can We Get? The Las Vegas Aviators Take Flight (2019-Present)
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In 2019, the skies opened up, and the Las Vegas 51s transformed into the Las Vegas Aviators, complete with a swanky new stadium (Las Vegas Ballpark) and a logo featuring a fighter jet. We're guessing this ties in with the Howard Hughes Corporation's ownership, but hey, it's Vegas, baby, anything goes!
So You Want to be a Vegas Baseball History Buff?
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How to: Brush up on your trivia! Here are some quick questions to impress your friends (or win bar bets, no judgment):
- How many PCL championships did the Las Vegas Stars win? Two, in 1986 and 1988!
- What was the name of the Las Vegas 51s' mascot? None! They sadly lacked a furry (or feathery) friend to cheer on the team.
- Who is the current Major League Baseball affiliate of the Las Vegas Aviators? The Oakland Athletics!
- What year did the Las Vegas Aviators move into their new stadium? 2019 - a whole new era for Vegas baseball!
- Who were the first professional sports team in Las Vegas (besides the short-lived Las Vegas Quicksilvers soccer team)? That would be the Las Vegas Stars, bringing baseball to the desert in 1983!
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