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.
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, owner Doug Emmans relocated the team south and it became the Medford Athletics (or A's) in 1979.
A name change to Southern Oregon Athletics (or A's) came in 1988, 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.Fred Herrmann's Linfield College Hall of Fame biography
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.Medford Mail Tribune: Timberjacks' move gains steam (March 16, 1998) However, the plans fell through on both occasions and the team remained in Medford.Medford Mail Tribune: TJ's: 1 more year (October 16, 1998)
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.Medford Mail Tribune: Timberjacks go north; owner courts replacement (October 27, 1999) 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.Vancouver Canadians media guide page
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.Medford Mail Tribune: Herrmann shut out on new team (March 30, 2000) 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 SeasonPDCDivisionFinishWinsLossesWin%PostseasonManagerAttendance Medford Athletics1979OAKSouth2nd3833 .535Rich Morales 34,6561980 OAKSouth4th2248 .314 Brad Fischer27,1181981 OAKSouth1st4228.600Defeated Bellingham in championship series 2–1Brad Fischer 54,2431982 OAKSouth1st5317 .757Lost to Salem in championship series 0–2Dennis Rogers 58,053 1983 OAKOregon1st5018 .735Defeated Bellingham in championship series 2–0Dennis Rogers 73,2781984 OAKSouth1st4529 .608Lost to Tri-Cities in championship 0–1Dennis Rogers 66,7381985 OAKOregon4th 3341 .446Grady Fuson 64,7201986 OAKOregon2nd4331 .581Dave Hudgens 70,5901987 OAKNorth3rd 3145 .408Dave Hudgens 72,729Southern Oregon Athletics1988OAKSouth1st4630.605Lost to Spokane in champion series 1–2Lenn Sakata 64,9741989 OAKSouth1st4530 .600Lost to Spokane in champion series 1–2Grady Fuson69,6411990 OAKSouth2nd4036 .526Grady Fuson69,2471991 OAKSouth3rd4036.526 Grady Fuson70,1641992 OAKSouth3rd3937 .513 Chris Pittaro 77,0981993 OAKSouth3rd3739.487 Dick Scott 78,2021994 OAKSouth2nd3838.500Tom Dunton88,3631995 OAKSouth4th3343 .434Tony DeFrancesco 84,682Southern Oregon Timberjacks1996OAKSouth4th2947.382Tony DeFrancesco77,4371997 OAKSouth2nd4135 .539John Kuehl68,757 1998 OAKSouth2nd4333.566Greg Sparks 71,8221999 OAKSouth2nd3838.500Greg Sparks 69,495
Division winner League champions
Notable alumni
Rod Beck (1986–1987) 3 x MLB All-Star Mike Bordick (1986) MLB All-Star Scott Brosius (1987) MLB All-Star; 1998 World Series Most Valuable Player Eric Byrnes (1998) Greg Cadaret (1983) Jose Canseco (1983) 6 x MLB All-Star; 1986 AL Rookie of the Year; 1988 AL Most Valuable Player Ron Coomer (1987) MLB All-Star 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 Tim Hudson (1997) 4 x MLB All-Star; 222 Wins Gerald Laird (1999) Charlie O'Brien (1982) Steve Ontiveros (1982) MLB All-Star; 1994 AL ERA Title Craig Paquette (1989) Lenn Sakata (1988, MGR) Scott Spiezio (1994) Terry Steinbach (1983) 3 x MLB All-Star Kevin Tapani (1986) Miguel Tejada (1995) 6 x MLB All-Star; 2002 AL Most Valuable Player Todd Van Poppel (1990) Dave Veres (1986) Luis Vizcaino (1997) Curt Young (1981)
Former players Medford A's players (1979–1987) Southern Oregon A's players (1988–1995) Southern Oregon Timberjacks players (1996–1999)
References
External links Southern Oregon Timberjacks Minor League Geek Southern Oregon Timberjacks' original website (archive.org) Southern Oregon Timberjacks' profile at Minor League baseball website (1998) (archive.org) Southern Oregon Timberjacks year-by-year records, statistics and rosters at The Baseball Cube Northwest League Team History (1990–1997) Northwest League Team History (1998–2005)