Name change could be in store for the Stars

Victoria Sun

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2000 | 11:44 a.m.

The Albuquerque Dukes were the top farm team of the Los Angeles Dodgers from 1972-2000. In that time, the Dodgers had nine National League Rookies of the Year:

"And now, ladies and gentlemen, introducing your Las Vegas ... Dodgers."

That's right: Dodgers.

A name change from Stars to Dodgers for Las Vegas' triple-A baseball team hasn't happened yet. But the next time you head to Cashman Field, the team might be called the Dodgers, or possibly something else.

That much was revealed Wednesday at Cashman Field when Los Angeles Dodgers assistant general manager Bill Geivett talked about the Dodgers' four-year contract with Mandalay Sports Entertainment that will have Los Angeles' triple-A team relocating to Las Vegas. Previously, the Dodgers' triple-A team played in Albuquerque while the Las Vegas Stars were affiliated with the San Diego Padres.

"Donnie (Logan, the Stars' president) and I talked a little bit about it and you know, I've always been partial to 'Dodgers' myself," Geivett said of a possible name change. "I think it has a great ring to it, if you ask me.

"There's no doubt I would be in favor of that. Stars is a good name, too, but I'm in favor of the Dodgers."

Logan said there may be several changes in store for the franchise.

"We're going to examine changing the name of the team," Logan said. "It's something we're definitely going to consider.

"I think it's a good opportunity -- if you're going to do something like a name change or even a color change this is when you should do it."

The Stars have been affiliated with the Padres for their entire 18-year existence. The team finished 73-70 this season, but has had 12 losing seasons in 18 years.

The Dodgers moved their triple-A team to Albuquerque in 1972. The Albuquerque Dukes won the Pacific Coast League's Midwest Division by 11 1/2 games this year. But the Dodgers needed a new home for their top farm club when the Albuquerque franchise was sold to a group of businessmen in Portland, Ore., where it will operate as the Padres' triple-A club next season.

From 1992-96, the Dodgers' farm system produced five consecutive National League Rookies of the Year, including New York Mets catcher Mike Piazza and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Raul Mondesi.

Geivett expects the Dodgers' triple-A team to duplicate that kind of success in Las Vegas.

"We're just used to winning ... up and down our minor league organization, we had five of our seven teams make it to the playoffs and three of them won championships," Geivett said. "This is what we're used to and what we pride ourselves on is our guys go out every night to win.

"I think our players will give people a good show and over the long haul, we'll win more than we lose."

Logan said he also talked to the Anaheim Angels, the Padres, the San Francisco Giants, the Minnesota Twins and the Florida Marlins, but the Dodgers were the most logical choice. Having a team with a tradition of winning and Las Vegas' proximity to Los Angeles are two reasons Logan thinks being associated with the Dodgers will help raise interest within the community and boost attendance.

On most nights, unless there has been a giveaway or special promotion, the seats at Cashman Field have been mostly empty.

"I've been hearing it since the day I got here in 1984 that 'I wish you were with the Dodgers,' or 'If you were with the Dodgers, more people would come out,' " Logan said.

"And Vegas is certainly a Dodger town. The number of people that come in and out of Las Vegas that live in Southern California, particularly in the greater LA area, the San Fernando Valley, that's Dodger country and that's the No. 1 source of visitors for Las Vegas.

"It just makes sense. I think this is something our fans have wanted a long time and now they've got it."