Southern Oregon Timberjacks

The Southern Oregon Timberjacks were a minor league baseball team in the northwest United States, based in Medford, Oregon. The team played in the Class A-Short Season Northwest League and were an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics for 21 seasons. They played their home games at Miles Field in south Medford.

Southern Oregon Timberjacks
Minor league affiliations
ClassClass A-Short Season
LeagueNorthwest League
DivisionSouth
Major league affiliations
Previous teamsOakland Athletics (1979–1999)
Minor league titles
League titles (2)
  • 1981
  • 1983
Division titles (6)
  • 1981
  • 1982
  • 1983
  • 1984
  • 1988
  • 1989
Team data
Previous names
  • Southern Oregon Athletics
    (1988–1995)
  • Medford Athletics
    (1979–1987)
  • Bend Timber Hawks
    (1978)
ColorsGreen, athletic gold, white
      (1979-1995)
Forest green, grey, white
      (1996-1999)
Previous parks
Miles Field
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
National Sports Organization, Inc.

Team history

The Timberjacks came to Medford to fill the void left by the departed Medford Giants (1967–1968) and Rogue Valley/Medford Dodgers (1969–1971), both of the Northwest League. Originally known as the Bend Timber Hawks for a season in 1978,[1] owner Doug Emmans relocated the team south and it became the Medford Athletics (or A's) in 1979.[2][3][4][5]

A name change to Southern Oregon Athletics (or A's) came in 1988,[6] and then a new nickname of Timberjacks in 1996 for their last four seasons. They were six-time southern division champions (1981–1984, 1988–1989) and won the league championship twice (1981 and 1983). In 1982, Medford had the highest winning percentage of any team in professional baseball.

In 1982, former minor league pitcher Fred Herrmann was named the team's general manager and then became the team's majority owner in 1985.[7]

As a minor league baseball franchise, the A's and Timberjacks had featured future major league players such as Greg Cadaret, José Canseco, Rod Beck, Scott Brosius, Jason Giambi, Tim Hudson, Terry Steinbach, Jason Windsor, Miguel Tejada, and Eric Byrnes.

Relocation controversy and stadium demise

In 1997 and 1998, Herrmann had announced that the team would relocate to Vancouver, Washington.[8][9][10] However, the plans fell through on both occasions and the team remained in Medford.[11]

Finally on October 26, 1999, Herrmann announced that the franchise would relocate to Vancouver, British Columbia, and in 2000, they completed their move and were renamed the "new" Vancouver Canadians.[12][13] The previous Canadians franchise was the Athletics' Class AAA Pacific Coast League affiliate, which was sold and moved to California and became the Sacramento River Cats. Both teams continued to be affiliated with the Oakland A's until 2011, when the Canadians became affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays. The current Canadians do not show any history or records of the Timberjacks at their official website, though their relocation is mentioned one time on the media guide page.[14]

Herrmann did attempt to bring a Western Baseball League team to Medford to replace the Timberjacks (Despite long standing rules that prohibited affiliated owners having a financial interest in independent baseball teams). However, those plans fell through when the potential owners, including Herrmann, failed to come up with the money necessary to establish a team.[15] After four years without a professional team and despite efforts to rebuild and restore historic Miles Field, the city of Medford ordered the deteriorating stadium be torn down in 2004 to make way for a new Wal-Mart SuperCenter.

In 2004, the city council of Medford orchestrated an agreement with the new Harry & David Field that a professional team will not be allowed to play at the new ballpark which currently hosts the collegiate wood bat Medford Rogues, the American Legion baseball Medford Mustangs and youth baseball. Despite previous efforts to bring pro baseball back to Medford, the decision stands to this day. The agreement is a moot point as the Northwest League has stated that Medford is not a city that would be considered for expansion.

Season-by-season record
Season PDC Division Finish Wins Losses Win% Post-season Manager Attendance
Medford Athletics
1979 OAK South 2nd 38 33 .535 Rich Morales 34,656
1980 OAK South 4th 22 48 .314 Brad Fischer 27,118
1981 OAK South 1st 42 28 .600 Defeated Bellingham in championship series 2-1 Brad Fischer 54,243
1982 OAK South 1st 53 17 .757 Lost to Salem in championship series 0-2 Dennis Rogers 58,053
1983 OAK Oregon 1st 50 18 .735 Defeated Bellingham in championship series 2-0 Dennis Rogers 73,278
1984 OAK South 1st 45 29 .608 Lost to Tri-Cities in championship 0-1 Dennis Rogers 66,738
1985 OAK Oregon 4th 33 41 .446 Grady Fuson 64,720
1986 OAK Oregon 2nd 43 31 .581 Dave Hudgens 70,590
1987 OAK North 3rd 31 45 .408 Dave Hudgens 72,729
Southern Oregon Athletics
1988 OAK South 1st 46 30 .605 Lost to Spokane in champion series 1-2 Lenn Sakata 64,974
1989 OAK South 1st 45 30 .600 Lost to Spokane in champion series 1-2 Grady Fuson 69,641
1990 OAK South 2nd 40 36 .526 Grady Fuson 69,247
1991 OAK South 3rd 40 36 .526 Grady Fuson 70,164
1992 OAK South 3rd 39 37 .513 Chris Pittaro 77,098
1993 OAK South 3rd 37 39 .487 Dick Scott 78,202
1994 OAK South 2nd 38 38 .500 Tom Dunton 88,363
1995 OAK South 4th 33 43 .434 Tony DeFrancesco 84,682
Southern Oregon Timberjacks
1996 OAK South 4th 29 47 .382 Tony DeFrancesco 77,437
1997 OAK South 2nd 41 35 .539 John Kuehl 68,757
1998 OAK South 2nd 43 33 .566 Greg Sparks 71,822
1999 OAK South 2nd 38 38 .500 Greg Sparks 69,495
Division winner League champions

Notable alumni
  • Scott Brosius (1987) MLB All-Star; 1998 World Series Most Valuable Player
  • Jose Canseco (1983) 6 x MLB All-Star; 1986 AL Rookie of the Year; 1988 AL Most Valuable Player
  • Jason Giambi (1992) 5 x MLB All-Star; 2000 AL Most Valuable Player
  • Ben Grieve (1994) MLB All-Star; 1998 AL Rookie of the Year
  • Miguel Tejada (1995) 6 x MLB All-Star; 2002 AL Most Valuable Player

Former players
  • Medford A's players   (1979–1987)
  • Southern Oregon A's players   (1988–1995)
  • Southern Oregon Timberjacks players   (1996–1999)

References
  1. Withers, Bud (June 23, 1978). "Bend baseball bounces back". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. p. 1D.
  2. "Emmans clears final hurdle in Medford". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. February 15, 1979. p. 14.
  3. Welch, Bob (November 14, 1978). "Farewell to the Timber Hawks?". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. p. 18.
  4. Welch, Bob (January 31, 1979). "Public says yes in survey". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. p. 18.
  5. Welch, Bob (July 4, 1979). "Seeing too much red at Genna". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. p. 12.
  6. "Ems rank 22nd in attendance". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. April 17, 1988. p. 2B.
  7. Fred Herrmann's Linfield College Hall of Fame biography
  8. "Timberjacks owner wants to move team". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. April 2, 1997. p. 6B.
  9. "Medford minor league team moving". Ellenburg Daily Record. Washington. Associated Press. October 16, 1998. p. 11.
  10. Medford Mail Tribune: Timberjacks' move gains steam (March 16, 1998)
  11. Medford Mail Tribune: TJ's: 1 more year (October 16, 1998)
  12. "Timberjacks will make move to Vancouver, B.C." Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. October 27, 1999. p. 6F.
  13. Medford Mail Tribune: Timberjacks go north; owner courts replacement (October 27, 1999)
  14. Vancouver Canadians media guide page
  15. Medford Mail Tribune: Herrmann shut out on new team (March 30, 2000)
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