Arizona Diamondbacks Fun Facts to WOW your friends!
The Arizona Diamondbacks have a litany of fun facts that you could use to break the ice at dinner, on a first date (well, maybe), or just to impress your family and friends of your knowledge.
- The Arizona Diamondbacks had their first game as an MLB team on March 31st, 1998 against the Colorado Rockies, losing 9-2.
- Their first manager was Buck Showalter.
- The Diamondbacks are fastest expansion team in MLB and American Big 4 Pro Sports to win the World Series/Championship in 2001.
- Chase Field used to be called Bank One Ballpark (BOB)
Was the first stadium in the MLB to have a pool.
Is actually the second highest stadium in the MLB behind only the mile-high Coors Field (Rockies home park).
Jerry Colangelo was the original owner of the Arizona Diamondbacks and also owned the Phoenix Suns at the same time.
Arizona has two retired #’s plus Jackie Robinson’s 42: 20 and 51 for Luis Gonzalez and Randy Johnson respectively.
Arizona Diamondbacks have made the post-season 6 times in a 23 year history.
Has had 2 No-Hitters: Randy Johnson’s Perfect Game in 2004 and Edwin Jackson’s No-No in 2010.
5 Cy Young Award Winners: 4 by Randy Johnson, 1 by Brandon Webb.
Chase Field and the Arizona Diamondbacks hosted the All-Star game in 2011, in which Paul Goldschmidt played in the Future’s Game.
Chase Field’s roof can be opened or closed within a 12 minute span.
The first home run to land in the pool was by Mark Grace in 1998 when he was with the Cubs.
There is a secret lounge behind home plate under the seats.
There is a playground and batting cages for fans on the third level.
Baxter the Bobcat is the Mascot; it is a bobcat since the prior stadium was nicknamed “Bob”.
Has held countless events, concerts, and festivities at the stadium.
Current broadcaster Bob Brenly was manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2001-04.
Randy Johnson was first player to be inducted into the Hall of Fame with the Diamondbacks logo.
Randy Johnson holds 8 Diamondbacks pitching records.
Luis Gonzalez holds 8 Diamondbacks hitting records.
- 20th Anniversary Team of Dbacks (Photo by Sarah Sachs/Arizona Diamondbacks/Getty Images)
They have a sister-team, the Tampa Bay Rays, who came into the MLB at the same time as the Diamondbacks.
The winningest manager in team history is Kirk Gibson (353-375).
The D-backs have held a Star Wars day for fans every year since 2013 or so.
They have a Bullpen cart that drives down the warning track of the dugout every time there is a pitcher replacement.
They play Spring Training at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale, sharing a complex with the Colorado Rockies.
This year, the Diamondbacks have used 52 players overall and 33 different pitchers in the season so far, both are records.
There have been 9 managers in team history.
There are many more facts for the Arizona Diamondbacks that I would love to share. However I hope you enjoyed all of these and perhaps I will do another fact page again sometime in the future!
Thanks for reading and let me know in the comments your favorite fact or if you know one that isn’t included! Til next time,
May the Force Be with You…