Established
1998
City
Phoenix
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1998 – 1999 / National League
Team History
1998 – Present / Arizona Diamondbacks
Nickname
Diamondbacks – The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of the most beloved teams in Major League Baseball, and their nickname has a unique origin story. The team was founded in 1998 as an expansion franchise, with the name being chosen to reflect both Arizona’s climate and its status as a western state.
The expansion franchise’s ownership group asked fans to vote from among a list of nicknames that included Coyotes, Diamondbacks, Phoenix, Rattlers, and Scorpions. A Diamondback, specifically Crotalus atrox, is a rattlesnake which is a very common sight in the Arizona desert and a fearsome symbol. A baseball field is also called a “diamond”. Owner Jerry Colangelo, really liked the idea of the club having a nickname with a bite to it.
The “Diamondbacks” moniker is derived from two sources: firstly, it pays homage to the rattlesnake that is native to many parts of Arizona - particularly those areas near Tucson where much of the original fan base hailed from; secondly, it also references baseball itself – specifically how diamonds form part of every major league diamond-shaped field. Furthermore this particular species (the Western Diamondback Rattlesnake) can be found on certain pieces of official merchandise worn by players during games or used for promotional activities such as bobblehead giveaways! This creates an even stronger connection between fans and their favorite team's identity - making them feel more connected than ever before!
Beyond just being symbolic though there are some practical reasons why this nickname works well too – namely because it rolls off easily when spoken aloud which makes for better radio broadcasts etcetera… Additionally since snakes have long been associated with danger they evoke feelings that could potentially rally support behind any given cause/team (in this case our beloved D-Backs!). Ultimately then we can see why choosing such an iconic title was so important not only aesthetically but practically speaking too!
Championship
World Series 1
2001
Stadium
2005 – Present / Chase Field
1998 – 2005 / Bank One Ballpark
Owner
2005 – Present / Ken Kendrick
1998 – 2005 / Jerry Colangelo
- 1998
- 1998
- 2001
- 2004
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Arizona Diamondbacks Team Formation
In the fall of 1993, Jerry Colangelo, the majority owner of the Phoenix Suns, the area’s NBA franchise, announced he was assembling an ownership group, “Arizona Baseball, Inc.”, to apply for a Major League Baseball expansion team. This was after a great deal of lobbying by the Maricopa County Sports Authority, a local group formed to preserve Cactus League spring ... -
Chase Field
Chase Field is a stadium located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona, and is the home of the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball. It opened in 1998, in time for the Diamondbacks’ first game as an expansion team. Chase Field was the first stadium built in the United States with a retractable roof over a natural-grass playing surface. The park was ... -
World Series Winner 2001
In 2001, the team was led by two of the most dominant pitchers in all of baseball: Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling. Arizona had postseason victories over the St. Louis Cardinals (3 – 2 in the NLDS) and the Atlanta Braves (4 – 1 in the NLCS) to advance to the World Series where, in the wake of the September ... -
Colangelo Sells to Kendrick
By this time Colangelo and the other partners were embroiled in a dispute over the financial health and direction of the Diamondbacks and notably including over $150 million in deferred compensation to many players who were key members of the 2001 World Series-winning team and others. Colangelo’s willingness to go into debt and acquire players through free agency had led ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks, home to some of Major League Baseball's greatest players, have a storied history in the league. Since its inception in 1998, the team has won one World Series Championship (2001), five National League West Division titles (1999, 2001, 2002, 2007, and 2011), and four NL Wild Card berths (1999-2002). The Diamondbacks also boast an impressive alumni list, including MLB Greatest Players such as Hall of Famers Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, along with All-Stars Luis Gonzalez and Matt Williams.
In its early years, the team was led by manager Buck Showalter who guided them to two consecutive postseason appearances in 1999 & 2000. They were then taken over by Bob Brenly, who would lead them to their first-ever World Series title against the New York Yankees in 2001 with help from future Hall Of Famers Randy Johnson & Curt Schilling on what became known as “the greatest pitching staff ever assembled.”
After several seasons without much success following their championship run, they made it back into contention under new manager Kirk Gibson winning another division title before eventually being eliminated from playoff contention after losing game 5 of the NLCS to eventual champions St Louis Cardinals during the 2011 season.
Although they haven't been able to replicate that level of success since then, they remain competitive thanks to players like Paul Goldschmidt, Patrick Corbin, Zack Greinke & A J Pollock. With continued strong performances from these core group players, along with some key acquisitions this offseason, there is no reason why Arizona can not make a return trip deep into October baseball sometime soon!
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Retired Number
20 / Luis Gonzalez
42 / Jackie Robinson
51 / Randy Johnson
*Blue is this team’s history