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Winston-Salem Dash

(Redirected from Winston-Salem Spirits)

The Winston-Salem Dash are a Minor League Baseball team in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. They are a High-A team in the South Atlantic League and have been a farm team of the Chicago White Sox since 1997. The Dash began playing their home games at the Truist Stadium in 2010 after having Ernie Shore Field (now known as Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park) as their home from 1956 to 2009.

Winston-Salem Dash
Team logo Cap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassHigh-A (2021–present)
Previous classesClass A-Advanced
LeagueSouth Atlantic League (2021–present)
DivisionSouth Division
Previous leagues
Carolina League (1945–2020)
Major league affiliations
Team
Minor league titles
League titles (14)
  • 1911
  • 1913
  • 1914
  • 1928
  • 1950
  • 1951
  • 1964
  • 1970
  • 1973
  • 1976
  • 1979
  • 1986
  • 1993
  • 2003
Team data
NameWinston-Salem Dash (2009–present)
Previous names
  • Winston-Salem Warthogs (1995–2008)
  • Winston-Salem Spirits (1984–1994)
  • Winston-Salem Red Sox (1961–1983)
  • Winston-Salem Red Birds (1957–1960)
  • Winston-Salem Cardinals (1945–1953)
  • Winston-Salem Twins (1905, 1908–1917, 1920–1933, 1937–1942, 1954–1956)
ColorsPurple, black, white
     
MascotBolt
BallparkTruist Stadium (2010–present)
Previous parks
Ernie Shore Field (1956–2009)
South Side Park (1945–1955)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Diamond Baseball Holdings[1]
General managerBrian DeAngelis
ManagerGuillermo Quiroz
Websitemilb.com/winston-salem

History

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Previous baseball clubs in Winston-Salem had typically been called the "Twins", in reference to the long-since-merged "Twin Cities" of Winston and Salem since 1905. The Twins played in the Virginia-North Carolina League in 1905, the Carolina Baseball Association from 1908 to 1917 and the Piedmont League from 1920 to 1933 and again from 1937 to 1942.

The current franchise joined the Carolina League in 1945, and is the oldest continuously operating team in that circuit. Originally a St. Louis Cardinals affiliate, it retained the Twins name until 1953, when it became the Winston-Salem Cardinals. The 1950 team was recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.[2]

After a brief period (1957–60) as the Winston-Salem Red Birds, the team switched affiliation in 1961 to the Boston Red Sox. It remained with the Red Sox for 22 years, and was known until 1983 as the Winston-Salem Red Sox. In 1984, the team changed affiliates again, this time contracting with the Chicago Cubs, and changed its name to the Winston-Salem Spirits.

 
The logo of the Winston-Salem Warthogs, used from 1995 to 2008

The team initially retained the Spirits name after becoming the Cincinnati Reds A-level affiliate in 1993, winning the Carolina League championship in that same year. After the 1994 season, the club decided to change its name and sponsored a contest through the local newspaper, the Winston-Salem Journal, to come up with a new name. The winning entry, the Warthogs, became the official team name in 1995. In addition to being alliterative, it also referred to the somewhat-celebrated acquisition of some warthogs at the North Carolina Zoo around that time. As the Warthogs, they were the league champion in 2003.

When the Warthogs were about to open a new ballpark, a contest was held to give the team a new name. 3,000 suggestions were received.[3] On December 4, 2008, the team publicly announced that they would be called the Winston-Salem Dash from 2009 onward. The Dash name is rumored to be a reference to a nickname for the city of Winston-Salem, "The Dash",[citation needed] a reference to the (-) symbol used in the middle of the city's name, despite the fact that it is not a dash at all, but a hyphen. Complaints about the incorrect name began soon after the name was first used, and on May 6, 2023, for one home game, the team called itself the Winston-Salem Hyphens.[3]

As the Warthogs, the team's mascot was Wally Warthog. With the new nickname, the Dash held a name-the-mascot contest for Wally's replacement. In keeping with the image of speed implied by "The Dash", the new mascot is a lightning-themed character named Bolt.[4]

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Dash were organized into the High-A East.[5] In 2022, the High-A East became known as the South Atlantic League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[6]

Ballparks

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The club originally played at South Side Park, south of the downtown area. When that park burned, a new park was built on the north side, near the Wake Forest University campus and the RJR plant, and named Ernie Shore Field in honor of the former major leaguer who had led the fund drive for the new ballpark. Opened in 1956, Ernie Shore Field seats 6,000 fans. BB&T Ballpark was hoped to be completed for the 2009 season, or sometime within the season, but construction came to a halt due to a lack of funding. Meanwhile, Ernie Shore Field had been sold to Wake Forest and renamed as Gene Hooks Field at Wake Forest Baseball Park, compelling the Dash to lease the ballpark back for the 2009 season. On June 2, 2009, the Dash announced a new scheduled opening for the 2010 season.[7]

On February 24, 2010, the Dash announced BB&T Ballpark's official name.[7]

The Dash finally opened the new BB&T Ballpark on April 13, 2010.[8]

Year-by-year record

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(Compiled from[9])

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs League/Notes
1905 10–14 3rd J.C. "Con" Strothers / Earle Holt Virginia-North Carolina League, Salisbury-Spencer (24–28) moved to Winston-Salem July 17, League disbanded August 19, Known as "Twins"
1908 41–48 4th Robert Carter Carolina Baseball Association
1909 54–52 4th Robert Carter
1910 51–57 4th James McKivett
1911 72–37 1st Charles Clancy League Champs
1912 63–47 2nd Charles Clancy
1913 66–49 1st Charles Clancy League Champs North Carolina State League
1914 70–47 1st Charles Clancy League Champs
1915 53–69 5th Charles Clancy
1916 63–48 2nd Charles Clancy
1917 17–20 4th Charles Clancy League ceased operations May 30
1920 56–65 4th Bill Shumaker / Eddie Brennan / Jim Kelly Piedmont League
1921 62–58 4th Charles Clancy
1922 66–59 3rd Charles Clancy
1923 59–64 4th Bill Leard / Mike Fahey
1924 59–62 4th Bill Jackson
1925 77–49 1st Charles Carroll Lost League Finals
1926 64–81 5th Cy Chisolm / Red Irby / Walt Christensen / Art Bourg
1927 79–64 3rd Charles McMillan
1928 82–51 1st Bunny Hearn League Champs
1929 77–63 3rd George Whiteman
1930 70–71 4th Hal Weafer / Claude Joyner /
Charles Carroll / [Johnny Brock
1931 55–79 6th Bunny Hearn / Bob "Stuffy" McCrone
1932 18–28 — Harry Wilke Winston-Salem moved to [High Point (50–38) August 20
1933 42–99 6th Jim Poole / Art Bourg
1937 35–105 8th Alvin Crowder / Pepper Rhea /
Phil Lundeen / Walt VanGrofski
1938 46–92 8th Walt VanGrofski / Joe Prerost
1939 54–84 8th Charles Clancy
1940 48–85 8th Eddie Moore / Ray Brubaker
1941 54–82 8th Jake Atz
1942 52–81 8th Jack Tighe / Al Unser
1945 61–76 6th George Smith / George Ferrell Carolina League, Known as "Cardinals"
1946 68–72 5th Zip Payne
1947 85–57 2nd Zip Payne Lost in 1st round
1948 76–65 5th Zip Payne
1949 84–61 2nd Willie Duke / George Ferrell / Roland LeBlanc Lost in 1st round
1950 106–47 1st George Kissell League Champs
1951 81–58 2nd Harold Olt League Champs
1952 74–63 3rd Harold Olt / Jimmy Brown Lost in 1st round
1953 69–70 6th Jimmy Brown
1954 44–94 8th Ralph Hodgin / Herb Brett Known as "Twins"
1955 65–73 7th Ken Silvestri / Aaron Robinson
1956 59–91 8th George Hausmann / Lee "Pete" Peterson
1957 72–68 4th George Kissell Known as "Red Birds"
1958 69–68 5th Vern Benson
1959 67–62 4th Al Unser (baseball) Lost in 1st round
1960 61–76 5th Chase Riddle
1961 68–72 4th Elmer Yoter (33–37) / Walt Novick (35–35) none Known as "Red Sox"
1962 76–64 3rd Eddie Popowski / Mace Brown Lost in 1st round
1963 67–76 7th Matt Sczesny / Bill Slack
1964 82–57 1st Bill Slack League Champs
1965 65–79 7th Bill Slack
1966 82–58 1st Bill Slack Lost in League Finals
1967 69–68 6th (t) Bill Slack
1968 56–81 9th Bill Slack
1969 77–67 4th Matt Sczesny Lost in 1st round
1970 79–58 1st Bill Slack League Champs
1971 67–67 4th Don Lock
1972 65–74 5th Rac Slider
1973 77–62 2nd Bill Slack League Champs
1974 76–61 3rd Bill Slack
1975 81–62 2nd John Kennedy
1976 80–57 1st Tony Torchia League Champs
1977 61–77 4th Tony Torchia
1978 55–77 6th Bill Slack
1979 85–55 1st Bill Slack League Champs
1980 76–64 4th Buddy Hunter
1981 72–67 2nd Buddy Hunter
1982 45–93 7th Rac Slider
1983 74–66 3rd Bill Slack Lost in League Finals
1984 58–82 8th Bill Slack Known as "Spirits"
1985 58–81 8th Cal Emery
1986 82–56 2nd Jim Essian League Champs
1987 72–68 3rd (t) Jay Loviglio Lost in 1st round
1988 73–67 5th Jay Loviglio
1989 64–71 6th Jay Loviglio
1990 86–54 2nd Brad Mills
1991 83–57 2nd Brad Mills
1992 66–73 7th Bill Hayes
1993 72–68 3rd (t) Mark Berry League Champs
1994 67–70 4th Mark Berry Lost in League Finals
1995 69–68 3rd Mark Berry Known as "Warthogs"
1996 74–65 3rd Phillip Wellman
1997 63–77 7th Mike Heath (38–53) / Mark Haley (25–24)
1998 79–60 2nd Chris Cron Lost in League Finals
1999 63–75 7th Jerry Terrell
2000 68–71 4th Brian Dayett
2001 54–86 8th Wally Backman
2002 50–90 7th Razor Shines
2003 71–67 5th Razor Shines League Champs
2004 74–66 4th Ken Dominguez / Nick Leyva Lost in 1st round
2005 77–64 3rd Chris Cron Lost in 1st round
2006 66–72 5th Rafael Santana
2007 64–74 5th Tim Blackwell
2008 71–68 4th Tim Blackwell Lost in semi-finals
2009 73–65 3rd Joe McEwing Lost in 1st round Known as "Dash"
2010 81–58 1st Joe McEwing Lost in League Finals
2011 69–71 4th Julio Vinas
2012 87–51 1st Tommy Thompson Lost in League Finals
2013 71–69 3rd Ryan Newman
2014 61–78 8th Tommy Thompson
2015 75–63 2nd Tim Esmay Lost in semi-finals
2016 56–83 6th Joel Skinner
2017 56–84 10th Willie Harris
2018 84–54 1st Omar Visquel Lost in 1st Round
2019 72–61 3rd Justin Jirschele
2020 Season Canceled (COVID)
2021 43–76 12th Ryan Newman South Atlantic League
2022 58–74 10th Ryan Newman
2023 38-35 Guillermo Quiroz

Roster

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Winston-Salem Dash roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 18 Nick Altermatt
  • 27 Aldrin Batista
  •  4 Luke Bell
  • 28 Jack Bockenstedt
  • 34 Bryce Collins
  • 20 Tyler Davis
  •  8 Lucas Gordon
  • 25 Connor Housley
  • 39 Carson Jacobs
  • 31 Jared Kelley
  • 26 Shane Murphy
  • 30 Jose Ramirez
  • 22 Jarold Rosado
  • 11 Billy Seidl
  •  9 Hagen Smith
  • 32 Tommy Vail

Catchers

  • 29 Calvin Harris
  • 12 Colby Smelley

Infielders

  • 23 William Bergolla
  •  1 Loidel Chapelli
  • 14 Ryan Galanie
  • 10 Wes Kath
  • 13 Wilber Sanchez
  •  2 Jordan Sprinkle
  • 17 Bryce Willits

Outfielders

  • 15 Jacob Burke  
  •  5 Caden Connor
  •  7 Rikuu Nishida
  •  6 Eddie Park
  • 37 Casey Saucke
  • 21 Samuel Zavala

Manager

Coaches

  •  3 Darius Day (bench)
  •    Logan Jones (performance)
  • 16 John Kovalik (pitching)
  • 33 Jim Rickon (hitting)

60-day injured list

  • 32 Drew McDaniel (full season)
  • 85 Kohl Simas (full season)
  • 96 Vince Vannelle (full season)

  7-day injured list
* On Chicago White Sox 40-man roster
~ Development list
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporarily inactive list
Roster updated August 21, 2024
 Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB • South Atlantic League
 → Chicago White Sox minor league players

Notable alumni

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Hall of Fame alumni

Notable alumni

References

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  1. ^ "Winston-Salem Dash to Begin Next Chapter with New Owner Diamond Baseball Holdings". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. April 3, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  2. ^ "Top 100 Teams". MiLB.com. 2001. Retrieved May 9, 2017.
  3. ^ a b Sexton, Scott (April 20, 2023). "Did the Winston-Salem Dash get a new grammatically correct name?". Winston-Salem Journal.
  4. ^ "The Official Site of The Winston-Salem Dash | wsdash.com Homepage". Archived from the original on 2009-05-27. Retrieved 2009-06-08.
  5. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  6. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  7. ^ a b The Official Site of The Winston-Salem Dash | wsdash.com Homepage
  8. ^ The Official Site of The Winston-Salem Dash | wsdash.com Homepage
  9. ^ MLB Stats, Scores, History, & Records | Baseball-Reference.com
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  Media related to Winston-Salem Dash at Wikimedia Commons

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