New Orleans Zephyrs

From BR Bullpen

Location: New Orleans, LA
League: American Association 1993-1997; Pacific Coast League 1998-present
Affiliation: Milwaukee Brewers 1993-1996; Houston Astros 1997-2004; Washington Nationals 2005-2006; New York Mets 2007-2008; Florida Marlins 2009-
Ballpark: Privateer Park 1993-1996; Zephyr Field 1997-present

The New Orleans Zephyrs began play in 1993 when the Denver Zephyrs of the American Association moved to the city after Denver was awarded an expansion franchise in the National League. New Orleans had previously hosted an American Association franchise called the New Orleans Pelicans, who played in the Louisiana Superdome in 1977; the name Pelicans harks back to the team of the same name which played in the Southern Association from 1901 to 1959. The Zephyrs moved to the Pacific Coast League when the American Association folded after the 1997 season. In 1998, their first season in the PCL, the team went on to win the Triple-A World Series.

In 2001, the Zephyrs had the second-best regular-season record behind the Tacoma Rainiers. They won the first round of the playoffs against the Iowa Cubs, but the finals were cancelled in the wake of the attacks of September 11 and New Orleans and Tacoma were declared co-champions. In 2005, the club cancelled its final three home games due to Hurricane Katrina.

[edit] Year-by-Year Record

Year	League	Affiliation	Record	Finish	Manager	Postseason
1993	AA	Brewers	80-64	3rd	Chris Bando
1994	AA	Brewers	78-66	3rd	Chris Bando
1995	AA	Brewers	63-79	7th	Chris Bando
1996	AA	Brewers	58-84	8th	Tim Ireland
1997	AA	Astros	74-70	5th	Steve Swisher / Matt Galante	Lost in 1st round
1998	PCL	Astros	76-66	6th	John Tamargo	PCL Champs, Triple-A World Series Champs
1999	PCL	Astros	55-85	16th	Tony Pena
2000	PCL	Astros	68-74	10th	Tony Pena
2001	PCL	Astros	82-57	2nd	Tony Pena	PCL Co-Champs
2002	PCL	Astros	75-69	5th (tie)	Chris Maloney
2003	PCL	Astros	71-73	8th	Chris Maloney
2004	PCL	Astros	66-78	13th	Chris Maloney
2005	PCL	Nationals	64-76	14th	Tim Foli
2006	PCL	Nationals	72-71	9th	Tim Foli
2007	PCL	Mets	75-69	6th	Ken Oberkfell	Lost League Finals
2008	PCL	Mets	66-75	12th	Ken Oberkfell (36-36) / Marty Scott (30-39)