Editing Ottawa Lynx

{{Infobox Minor League Baseball
| name = Ottawa Lynx
| firstseason = 1993
| lastseason = 2007
| allyears =
| city = Ottawa, Ontario
| logo = OttawaLynx.png
| past class level = [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] (1993–2007)
| league = [[International League]] (1993–2007)
| conference =
| division = North Division
| past league =
| pastmajorleague = {{plainlist|
* [[Philadelphia Phillies]] (2007)
* [[Baltimore Orioles]] (2003–2006)
* [[Montreal Expos]] (1993–2002)
}}
| pastnames = Ottawa Lynx (1993–2007)
| pastparks = {{plainlist|
* [[Ottawa Baseball Stadium|Lynx Stadium]] (1993–2007)
:*''JetForm Park (1993–2002)''
}}
| leaguenum = 1
| leaguechamps = 1995
| wildcardnum = 1
| wildcardberths = 2003
}}
The '''Ottawa Lynx''' were a [[Minor League Baseball]] team that competed in the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[International League]] (IL) from 1993 to 2007. The team's home field was [[Ottawa Baseball Stadium|Lynx Stadium]] in [[Ottawa]], [[Ontario]]. Over 15 seasons, the team was an affiliate of the [[Montreal Expos]] (1993–2002), [[Baltimore Orioles]] (2003–2006), and [[Philadelphia Phillies]] (2007). At the time, it was the only IL franchise in [[Canada]].

In late August 2006, the league approved the conditions to negotiate the sale of the team. The new owners moved the team to [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]], beginning with the 2008 season, where it became known as the [[Lehigh Valley IronPigs]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mcall.com/news/local/all-n-l-lvaaa-name-111206,0,1824611.story?coll=all-news-hed|title=The Morning Call &#124; Lehigh Valley & Allentown PA News, Weather, Business & Sports - The Morning Call}}</ref>

== History ==

In 1991, Ottawa businessman and then [[Ottawa 67's]] owner [[Howard Darwin]] was successful in applying to the IL for an expansion franchise to begin play in 1993, at a cost of $5 million. The Lynx became the second IL franchise to play in Ottawa, after the former [[Ottawa Giants]] and [[Ottawa Athletics]] of the 1950s. The application was contingent on the City of Ottawa building a baseball stadium for the team. [[Lynx Stadium]] was completed in time for the 1993 season.

[[File:Ottawa Lynx baseball game (September 2007).jpg|thumb|left|[[Lynx Stadium]], home of the Ottawa Lynx]]

The Lynx began play in [[1993 in baseball|1993]], serving as the top farm team for the [[Montreal Expos]]. The team won the [[List of International League champions|International League championship]] in 1995, the only time it would do so. During this period, the Lynx featured such future [[Major League Baseball]] players as [[Rondell White]], [[Cliff Floyd]], [[Matt Stairs]], [[Kirk Rueter]], and [[F.P. Santangelo]]. The Lynx eventually retired two numbers: Santangelo's 24, and [[Jamey Carroll]]'s 3.

In 2000, Darwin sold his shares in the team to Ray Pecor for $7 million. According to news reports, Pecor lost $1 million annually on the team due to low attendance.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/News/2007/07/14/4339473-sun.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715020731/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/News/2007/07/14/4339473-sun.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=July 15, 2012 |title=Lynx to IronPigs isn't yet iron clad |last=Brennan |first=Don |date=July 14, 2007 |access-date=2008-01-22}}</ref>

In 2003, the Lynx were not given any assurances from either the Montreal Expos or Major League Baseball on the long-term future of the Expos. They became the Triple-A affiliate of the [[Baltimore Orioles]] on September 24, 2002.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20020924&content_id=136409&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402140246/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20020924&content_id=136409&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 2, 2015|title="Orioles sign affiliation with Ottawa," Baltimore Orioles press release, Tuesday, September 24, 2002.}}</ref> As a result, Montreal shifted its affiliation to the [[Edmonton Trappers]] of the [[Pacific Coast League]]. The Lynx's working agreement with the Orioles ended when the latter signed a Player Development Contract with the [[Norfolk Tides]] on September 25, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060925&content_id=1681835&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813092610/http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20060925&content_id=1681835&vkey=pr_bal&fext=.jsp&c_id=bal|url-status=dead|title="Tides sign affiliation agreement with Baltimore Orioles," Baltimore Orioles press release, Monday, September 25, 2006.|archivedate=August 13, 2007}}</ref>

In 2006, the ball club was sold to Joe Finley and Craig Stein, while Pecor maintained a minority stake. Finley and Stein declared their intention to move the team to [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]], for the 2008 season, where a new stadium was set to begin construction that September (now built as [[Coca-Cola Park]]).<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/lynx-sold-set-to-leave-ottawa-in-2008-1.620511 | title=Lynx sold, set to leave Ottawa in 2008 | date=2006-08-29 | access-date=2010-03-01 | publisher=[[CBC News]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c80c78c1-3b01-40aa-a89b-73604d496657&k=5863 | title=Lynx sold; franchise headed for Allentown | work=[[Ottawa Citizen]] | date=2006-08-28 | access-date=2010-03-01 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604141445/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=c80c78c1-3b01-40aa-a89b-73604d496657&k=5863 | archive-date=2011-06-04 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The owners, facing a lawsuit from the City of Ottawa if they moved the Lynx, filed a lawsuit of their own against the City of Ottawa on October 17, 2006, seeking $10.75 million in damages claiming that the city failed to provide enough parking spaces, which, the team alleged, was a violation of its lease. The location far from the city centre might have contributed to the attendance problem.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html?id=70c8422d-afe5-4418-a11e-54e3402ff738&k=31780 |title=Lynx sue Ottawa for $10.75M over parking |work=The Ottawa Citizen |date=October 18, 2006}}</ref>

The team played its last game in Ottawa on September 3, 2007, in front of a crowd of 7,461&nbsp;people, losing to the [[Syracuse Chiefs]], 8–5.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2007_09_03_syraaa_ottaaa_1&t=g_box&did=milb |title=Scoreboard |website=Minor League Baseball |date=September 3, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724164150/http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats.jsp?gid=2007_09_03_syraaa_ottaaa_1&t=g_box&did=milb |archive-date=July 24, 2012 |access-date=May 2, 2021 }}</ref> The Ottawa Lynx ultimately won exactly 1,000 games before leaving Ottawa.

== Titles ==
The Lynx won the [[Governors' Cup]], the championship of the International League, once by defeating the [[Norfolk Tides]] in 1995.

== Season-by-season records ==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ style="background:#ED2724;color:#ffffff"|Ottawa Lynx (1993–2007)
!Season
!Total
!Finished
!Playoffs
|-
| [[1993 International League season|1993]] ||  73–69  ||  .514 || Lost Division series to [[Rochester Red Wings]] 3–2
|-
| [[1994 International League season|1994]] || 70–72  || .493  || Did not qualify
|-
| [[1995 International League season|1995]] ||  72–70  || .507  || Won Opening Round over [[Rochester Red Wings]] 3–2 <br /> '''Won''' [[Governors' Cup]] Championship vs. [[Norfolk Tides]] 3–1
|-
| [[1996 International League season|1996]] ||  60–82  || .423  || Did not qualify
|-
| [[1997 International League season|1997]] ||  54–86  || .386  || Did not qualify
|-
| [[1998 International League season|1998]] ||  69–74  ||  .483 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[1999 International League season|1999]] ||  59–85  ||  .410 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2000 International League season|2000]] ||  53–88  ||  .376 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2001 International League season|2001]] ||  68–76  ||  .472 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2002 International League season|2002]] ||  80–61  ||  .567 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2003 International League season|2003]] ||  79–65  ||  .549 || Lost Opening Round to [[Pawtucket Red Sox]] 3–2
|-
| [[2004 International League season|2004]] ||  66–78  ||  .458 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2005 International League season|2005]] ||  69–75  ||  .479 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2006 International League season|2006]] ||  74–69  ||  .517 || Did not qualify
|-
| [[2007 International League season|2007]] ||  55–88  ||  .385 || Did not qualify
|-
!Regular Season Totals || 1,001–1,138 || .468 || —
|-
!Postseason Totals || 10–9 || .526 || —
|-
!Regular and Postseason Totals ||  1,009–1,144 || .469 || 1 League Championship
|}

== Alumni ==
* [[Matt Stairs]] (1993) – [[Outfielder]]/[[designated hitter]]/[[first baseman]] for [[Montreal Expos|Montreal]], [[Boston Red Sox|Boston]], [[Oakland Athletics|Oakland]], [[Chicago Cubs]], [[Milwaukee Brewers|Milwaukee]], [[Pittsburgh Pirates|Pittsburgh]], [[Kansas City Royals|Kansas City]], [[Detroit Tigers|Detroit]], [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas]], [[Toronto Blue Jays|Toronto]], [[Philadelphia Phillies|Philadelphia]], [[San Diego Padres]], and [[Washington Nationals]]
* [[Rondell White]] (1993–94) – Outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Chicago Cubs, [[New York Yankees]], [[San Diego Padres|San Diego]], Kansas City, Detroit, and [[Minnesota Twins|Minnesota]]
* [[Kirk Rueter]] (1993–1996) – Pitcher for Montreal and [[San Francisco Giants|San Francisco]]
* [[Cliff Floyd]] (1993; 1996) – First baseman/outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, [[Florida Marlins|Florida]], Boston, [[New York Mets]], Chicago Cubs, and [[Tampa Bay Rays]]
* [[F.P. Santangelo]] (1993–95; 1998) – Outfielder/[[second baseman]] for Montreal, San Francisco, [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], and Oakland
* [[Curtis Pride]] (1993–95; 2001) – Outfielder/designated hitter for Montreal, Detroit, Boston, [[Atlanta Braves|Atlanta]], New York Yankees, and [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim]]
* [[Ugueth Urbina]] (1995–96) – [[Pitcher]] for Montreal, Boston, Texas, Florida, Detroit, and [[Philadelphia Phillies|Philadelphia]]
* [[José Vidro]] (1997–98) – Second baseman/[[third baseman]]/designated hitter for Montreal/[[Washington Nationals|Washington]] and [[Seattle Mariners|Seattle]]
* [[Orlando Cabrera]] (1997–98; 2000) – Gold Glove shortstop for Montreal, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and San Francisco Giants
* [[Javier Vázquez (baseball)|Javier Vázquez]] (1999) – Pitcher for Montreal, New York Yankees, [[Arizona Diamondbacks|Arizona]], and [[Chicago White Sox]]
* [[Michael Barrett (baseball)|Michael Barrett]] (2000) – Catcher for Montreal, Chicago Cubs, and [[San Diego Padres|San Diego]]
* [[Jamey Carroll]] (2000–02) – Third baseman/shortstop/second baseman for Montreal/Washington, Cleveland Indians, and [[Colorado Rockies|Colorado]]
* [[Brandon Phillips]] (2002) – 2-time Gold Glove winner at second base for [[Cincinnati Reds|Cincinnati]]
* [[Rick Bauer]] (2003–05; 2007) – Pitcher for [[Baltimore Orioles|Baltimore]] and Texas
* [[Eli Whiteside]] (2005–06) – Catcher for Baltimore and San Francisco
* [[Adam Loewen]] (2006) – Baltimore Orioles pitcher and outfielder, Toronto outfielder
* [[Hayden Penn]] (2006) – Pitcher for Baltimore and Florida
* [[Chris Coste]] (2007) – Houston Astros [[catcher]]
* [[Zack Segovia]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[J. D. Durbin]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[Clay Condrey]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[Mike Zagurski]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[Yoel Hernández (baseball)|Yoel Hernández]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[Brian Sanches]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[Kane Davis]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[Chris Roberson (baseball)|Chris Roberson]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies outfielder
* [[Fabio Castro]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[Geoff Geary]] (2007) – Pitcher for Philadelphia and [[Houston Astros|Houston]]
* [[John Ennis (baseball)|John Ennis]] (2007) – Philadelphia Phillies pitcher
* [[J. A. Happ]] (2007) – Pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and Minnesota Twins.

== See also ==
* [[Ottawa Rapidz]], an independent baseball team active in 2008
* [[Ottawa Fat Cats]], a semi-professional baseball team active from 2010 to 2012
* [[Ottawa Champions]], an independent baseball team active from 2015 to 2019

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040318135247/http://www.ottawalynx.com/ Ottawa Lynx Former official website (Internet Archive)].

[[Category:Ottawa Lynx| ]]
[[Category:Baseball teams established in 1993]]
[[Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 2007]]
[[Category:Defunct International League teams]]
[[Category:Baseball teams in Ottawa|Lyn]]
[[Category:Montreal Expos minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Baltimore Orioles minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Philadelphia Phillies minor league affiliates]]
[[Category:Defunct baseball teams in Canada]]
[[Category:Baseball teams in Ontario]]
[[Category:1993 establishments in Ontario]]
[[Category:2007 disestablishments in Ontario]]