The North Pole Nicks were an amateur-level collegiate summer baseball league team based in North Pole, Alaska. Between 1980 and 1991, the North Pole Nicks played exclusively as members of the Alaska Baseball League, winning the 1986 league championship.
| North Pole Nicks | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| League | Alaska Baseball League (1980–1987, 1989–1991) (Collegiate summer baseball (1980–1987, 1989–1991) |
| Location | North Pole, Alaska |
| Founded | 1980 |
| League championships | 1 1986 |
| Former ballparks | Growden Memorial Park (1980–1983) Wright Field (1984–1987, 1989–1991) |
| Mascot | Santa Claus |
| Manager | Jerry McClain (1980–1981) Dan Cowgill (1982) Mike Gillespie (1983–1985) Frank Sanchez (1986) Jim Gattis (1987) Mike Studer (1989) Emmitt Wilson (1990–1991) |
| President | Don Dennis |
History
editThe 1980 North Pole Nicks began play as a Collegiate summer baseball team and were founded by Don Dennis. The North Pole was a member of the Alaska Baseball League. The franchise initially played home games in nearby Fairbanks, Alaska for a few seasons, until Wright Field was eventually built in North Pole, Alaska.[1][2][3]
The team nickname is in reference to the North Pole being the home of Santa Claus and "Nicks" is short for St. Nicholas.[2]
In 1985, the North Pole Nicks finished 2nd in the National Baseball Congress World Series. In the championship game, played at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kansas, North Pole was defeated by a score of 6–2 by the Liberal BeeJays from Liberal, Kansas.[4][5]
The 1986 North Pole Nicks captured the Alaska Baseball League championship.[1]
Following the 1987 season, the North Pole Nicks folded from the Alaska Baseball League, before rejoining the league for three more seasons beginning in 1989.[3]
The North Pole Nicks were managed by Jerry McClain (1980–1981), Dan Cowgill (1982), Mike Gillespie (1983–1985), Frank Sanchez (1986), Jim Gattis (1987), Mike Studer (1989) and Emmitt Wilson (1990–1991). Clay Morgan was the team announcer.[6]
In 2001, three former North Pole Nicks players, Steve Finley, Mark Grace and Luis Gonzalez were members of the World Series Champion Arizona Diamondbacks.[7]
The team mascot for the North Pole Nicks was Santa Claus.[2]
The ballparks
editIn their first seasons of play, the North Pole Nicks played at Growden Memorial Park in Fairbanks, Alaska, sharing the field with the Alaska Goldpanners until Wright Field was built in North Pole. Wright Field was located within Newby Park. Wright Field has served as the home to the North Pole High School baseball team.[7][2][8][9]
Timeline
edit| Year(s) | # Yrs. | Team | Level | League |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980–1987 | 8 | North Pole Nicks | Collegiate summer baseball | Alaska Baseball League |
| 1989–1991 | 3 |
Notable alumni
edit- Shawn Barton (1983–1984)
- Kevin Blankenship (1982)
- Chris Donnels (1985)
- Steve Finley (1986)
- Luis Gonzalez (1986–1987)
- Mark Grace (1985)
- Randy Hennis (1985)
- Eric Karros (1987)
- Chad Kreuter (1893)
- Scott Lewis (1987)
- Ever Magallanes (1986)
- Bryan Price (1981–1983)
- Brad Radke (1991)
- Jeff Robinson (1982)
- Roger Samuels (1981)
- Alex Sanchez (1985)
- Mike Schooler (1984–1985)
- Doug Simons (1987)
- Andy Stankiewicz (1984–1985)
- Jim Traber (1981)
- Jeff Wetherby (1984–1985)
- Todd Zeile (1984–1985)
References
edit- ^ a b Freedman, Lew (April 1, 2000). Diamonds in the Rough: Baseball Stories from Alaska. Epicenter Press. ISBN 9780945397823 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d "History of the Nicks". February 13, 2017.
- ^ a b "NorthPoleNicks.com". NorthPoleNicks.com.
- ^ "Past NBC World Series Finalists - NBC Baseball World Series - National Baseball Congress". March 23, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-03-23.
- ^ "North Pole Nicks Lose Series Final to Kansas Team". Los Angeles Times. August 28, 1985.
- ^ "Team Information". 26 January 2017.
- ^ a b "Team Information". January 26, 2017.
- ^ "NorthPoleNicks.com". April 21, 2016.
- ^ News-Miner, Staff Report/sports@newsminer com Fairbanks Daily. "North Pole baseball tops Eielson". Fairbanks Daily News-Miner.
- ^ "All-Time Roster". January 26, 2017.