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Expansion | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008
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Expansion |
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On March 9, 1995, the owners vote to award two new expansion franchises to Phoenix, Arizona, and Tampa, Florida, to start play in the 1998 season. On that same day, the team name and logo are announced. The colors are officially known as Purple, Arizona Turquoise, Black, Metallic Copper, and White. (Note that while these are the official names, I will sometimes use other descriptions, such as teal and cream, throughout the website).
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When the logo and colors are first introduced, the team is scheduled to wear three caps, classified as home (white/purple), road (black/turquoise), and alternate (turquoise/purple). However, this will change before a game is ever played, as a new all purple is introduced as the official home cap, and the white/purple cap becomes an alternate. Also during this time, the "A" logo is reduced in size.
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Home |
Road |
Alternate |
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The new home cap, released after the original three. With this addition, the white/purple cap is re-classified as an alternate. |
The team identidy begins to take place when Buck Showalter is named manager on November 15, 1995. The American League Manager of the Year in 1994, Showalter had just led the Yankees to the first playoff appearance in over a decade, but was replaced in New York by Joe Torre. The deal is originally for 7 years, though it will not last that long. During his tenure, Showalter will have much influence on the on-field appearance, such as requiring players to wear traditional stirrups and banning facial hair (though an exception will be made once the team acquires Randy Johnson in 1999). Another of his ideas was to add the "A" logo to the socks, though not every player would wear them. It was used most often during 1998 and 1999.
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New manager Buck Showalter is introduced and displays the home jersey and cap (the purple hat was created later). |
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Even though the white cap was rarely worn on the field, it was still used in many promotional shots, and it even made its way onto many baseball cards, espacially those of minor leaguers. The caps used were usually the first editions with large logos. Most hats in retail shops and those still available online are also the ones with large logos. |
The caps worn in games had a much smaller logo. |
After being declared a free agent, first baseman Travis Lee signs with the Diamondbacks on October 11, 1996. As the first major signing by the team, Lee will become the face of the franchise leading up to their first game, still a full season away. Because the Diamondbacks don't yet have a class-AAA minor league affiliate, Lee will play the 1997 loaned out to other team's affiliates. On November 18, 1997, the Diamondbacks and Devil Rays hold their expansion draft, each selecting 35 players to fill their rosters. The team will further take shape on December 1, when they acquire third baseman Matt Williams from the Cleveland Indians.
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Travis Lee, the first major acquisition by the team. Note the special 1998 patch on the sleeve. This patch was a prototype and was never actually worn during a game. More information can be found in the "Patches" page. |