“Lots of kids today don’t even realize the Cannons existed,” says Joe McFarland, co-founder of Alberta Dugout Stories.
The Calgary Cannons played professional baseball in the shadow of McMahon Stadium from 1985 until 2002.
Competing in the Pacific Coast League, they served as the Triple-A affiliate for the Florida Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox, and, most notably, the Seattle Mariners.
“The mid 1980s until the mid 1990s was an awesome time to be a Calgary sports fan,” says Ian Wilson, also a co-founder of Alberta Dugout Stories.
He’s not wrong. The Calgary Flames hoisted the Stanley Cup in 1989. A perennial contender, the Calgary Stampeders won the Grey Cup in 1992 with Doug Flutie at quarterback and the Cannons advanced to the PCL finals in both 1987 and 1991.
The Cannons came agongizingly close to a title in 1991. The PCL Championship Series that year went down to the wire with a fifth-and-deciding game between the Cannons and the Tucson Toros.
At the time, the Cannons served as the farm team for Seattle. Ahead of Game 5 in Tucson, the Mariners called up ace Dave Fleming, who was scheduled to start for Calgary.
The Cannons lost in heart-breaking fashion with a 4-3 walk off victory for Tucson.
“The Mariners cost this city a championship,” says Cannons broadcaster Mark Stephen.
The PCL is the minor leagues, but some of the Calgary players turned into MLB superstars. Looking back, the Cannons boasted unbelievable talent, including players like Omar Vizquel, Edgar Martinez, and a 19-year-old Alex Rodriguez, arguably the best shortstop in MLB history.
The Cannons came so close to fielding first overall pick Ken Griffey Jr., but he made the Mariners out of training camp.
“We all know what he went on to do,” says Wilson.
One of the best Mariners of all-time, Griffey Jr. registered 2,781 career hits and 630 home runs through 21 seasons with Seattle and Cincinnati.
“He shouldn’t have been in Triple-A,” said Cannons owner Russ Parker. “And he knew it,”
In the 1995 playoffs, the Mariners played in the American League Division Series against the juggernaut New York Yankees. The series came down to a fifth-and-deciding game, but the importance went beyond that for the city of Seattle.
At the time, the Mariners played in a stadium called the Kingdome with rumours of relocation circulating. Fans feared losing the team to Tampa, Florida unless Seattle came up with a new ball park.
Team owners demanded a new stadium deal before the end of October 1995, or the team was gone. On the brink of missing the playoffs, the Mariners won a tiebreaker against the L.A. Angels.
They started the post-season without superstar ace Randy Johnson. After losing the first two outings at Yankee Stadium, the Mariners played what could’ve been their final two games in Seattle. Against all odds, they won both, forcing a fifth-and-deciding meeting in the Kingdome.
The Mariners captured Game 5 in dramatic fashion with an RBI double by a familiar face for fans of the Calgary Cannons. What is now known as “the double ” hit by Cannons legend Edgar Martinez, saved the Mariners.
“If it wasn’t for the Cannons one of the most memorable moments in baseball history probably wouldn’t happen,” said Wilson.
The new stadium they received as a result is still in use today. Seattle hosted the 2023 MLB All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park.
North of the border, the MLB changed up its philosophy on fielding teams in Canada back in 2001, primarily due to the harsh cold conditions in April and even May.
“We struggled to get fans early in the season every year because of the weather,” said Parker.
The weather caused problems back in 1985, the first year the Cannons played in Calgary.
“The inaugural game was postponed two days because of snow,” said Stephen.
Parker debated selling the team to one of two cities. Albuquerque, N.M. or Portland, Ore. He ultimately decided to go with Albuquerque.
On Sept. 2, 2002, the Cannons played their final game at Foothills Stadium against the Edmonton Trappers. Fans in both cities savoured one last Battle of Alberta.
The Trappers would relocate to Round Rock, Texas, following the 2004 season.
The Cannons gave the fans a proper send off by beating Edmonton 14-13 in dramatic fashion. Down four runs in the ninth inning, they came back to win the game.
“It was a very emotional night for the organization and the fans,” Stephen said. “Everyone knew this was it.”
A 21-gun salute sounded, giving the Cannons one last goodbye,
“Selling the team was a decision I regret,” Parker said. “I struggled with it for a long time.”
The Cannons moved on to Albuquerque for the beginning of the 2003 season and are still there to this day. But their legacy still lives on in Calgary over 20 years later.
“I wish Russ Parker could have brought Calgary a title,” McFarland said. “He really deserved it.”
