Québec Capitales

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Québec Capitales
Quebec Capitales.PNG
Information
LeagueFrontier League (2020-present) (East Division)
LocationQuebec City
BallparkStade Canac
Year founded1999
League championships(7) 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017
Division championships(4) 2002, 2004, 2005, 2017
Former league(s)Northern League (1999-2002)

Northeast League (2003-04)

Can-Am League (2005-19)
ColoursGold, blue, white
     
MascotCapi the Lion
Playoff berths
16
2000
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2015
2016
2017
2018
OwnershipJean Tremblay, Pierre Tremblay, Marie-Pierre Simard
ManagerPatrick Scalabrini
General ManagerMichel Laplante
MediaLe Journal de Québec
Le Soleil
Websitecapitalesdequebec.com

The Québec Capitales (French: Les Capitales de Québec) are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Capitales have been members of the Frontier League since the 2020 season after a merger between the Can-Am League and the Frontier League in October 2019. Since the 1999 season, the Capitales have played their home games at Stade Canac.

The team was established in 1999 as a member of the independent Northern League. Their mascot is Capi the Lion.

History of baseball in Quebec City[]

Québec City has been home to many baseball teams. The Québec Athletics played in the Québec Provincial League during the 1940 season, and in the Canadian-American League from 1941 to 1942. The Québec Alouettes followed as a member of the Canadian-American League from 1946 to 1948. The Quebec Braves played from 1949 to 1950, as they too were part of the Canadian-American League, and from 1950 to 1951 in the Provincial League. The Québec Indians played in the Provincial League from 1958 to 1970. The Québec Carnavals were the AA affiliate of the Montreal Expos from 1971 through 1975, as members of the Eastern League. In 1976, the team changed its name to the Québec Metros and continued to play until 1977.

Quebec Capitales[]

Capitales game at Stade Canac in July 2019.

In 1999, the Capitales joined the Northern League (East Division) as an expansion team. The Capitales are one of two Canadian teams in the league, the other being the Trois-Rivieres Aigles. As of 2019, the Capitales are the most successful team in the Can-Am League on and off the field, having won the League championship more times (7) than any other team and being among the tops in attendance every season averaging over 3,000 fans per game since 2001. Since 2000, the Capitales have made the playoffs 16 times.

In 2006, the Capitales won their first championship in team history. Although the team had the second-worst record in team history they still qualified for last postseason spot with a 44–44 record. They defeated the top seed North Shore Spirit in dramatic come from behind fashion winning the last two games to win the series 3 games to 2. In the championship series, the Capitales took a 2 games to none advantage before the Brockton Rox came back to even the series. In the final and decisive game, the Capitales defeated the Rox on their home field by coming from behind and won by a score of 5–4 to win the Can-Am League Championship 3 games to 2.

Jonathan de Marte on the mound during a Quebec Capitales game, August 2019

In 2009 the Capitales became the first franchise in the reborn Can-Am League to win multiple championships and the fourth team in the entire history of the Northeast/Can-Am League to win more than one championship (joining the New Jersey Jackals, who won two Northeast League and two Northern League championships, the Albany-Colonie Diamond Dogs, who won the first Northeast League Championship and one Northern League Championship, and the Adirondack Lumberjacks, who won one Northeast League and one Northern League championship). The Capitales won the 2nd half regular-season championship and finished the season with the 3rd best overall record (53-41). The Capitales eliminated the Brockton Rox 3 games to 1 in the opening round. In a rematch of the 2005 championship, the Capitales got revenge by eliminating the Worcester Tornadoes 3 games to 1. In 2010, the Capitales obtained a second consecutive championship, passing by the Pittsfield Colonials 3 games to 1. In 2011, the Capitales won their third championship in a row (fourth in all) by defeating the New Jersey Jackals 4 games to 1. In 2012, the team again defeated the Jackals 4 games to 1, thus winning their fourth championship in a row. A fifth championship in a row materialized in 2013, the Capitales defeating again the New-Jersey Jackals 4 games to 3. In 2017, the Capitales captured their seventh championship in franchise history by sweeping the Rockland Boulders 3–0.

In 2020, the Capitales moved to the Frontier League following the merger of the Can-Am League with the Frontier League. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and extended closure of the Canada–United States border, the league announced that the Capitales (along with the Trois-Rivières Aigles) would be unable to compete for the 2020 season (which was later cancelled).[1] The club later announced they intended to organize a separate league in Québec for the summer as an alternative, but these plans were eventually scrapped by both clubs.

Season-by-season record[]

Records as of May 11, 2022

Season League Division Regular season Post-season
Wins Losses Win% Finish
1999 Northern North 43 43 .500 3rd Did not qualify
2000 Northern North 48 37 .565 2nd Lost Opening round (Adirondack Lumberjacks) 3–1
2001 Northern North 44 47 .484 2nd Did not qualify
2002 Northern North 52 38 .578 1st Lost Opening round (Adirondack Lumberjacks) 3–2
2003 Northeast North 49 40 .551 3rd Lost Opening round (North Shore Spirit) 3–0
2004 Northeast North 58 34 .630 1st Lost Opening round (North Shore Spirit) 3–2
2005 Can-Am North 59 33 .552 1st Won Opening round (Brockton Rox) 3–0
Lost Championship (Worcester Tornadoes) 3–0
2006 Can-Am none 44 44 .500 1st Won Opening round (North Shore Spirit) 3–2
Won Championship (Brockton Rox) 3–2
2007 Can-Am none 49 45 .521 5th Did not qualify
2008 Can-Am none 58 36 .617 1st Won Opening round (Atlantic City Surf) 3-1
Lost Championship (Sussex Skyhawks) 3–0
2009 Can-Am none 53 41 .563 3rd Won Opening round (Brockton Rox) 3–1
Won Championship (Worcester Tornadoes) 3–1
2010 Can-Am none 57 37 .606 1st Won Opening round (New Jersey Jackals) 3–0
Won Championship (Pittsfield Colonials) 3–1
2011 Can-Am none 64 26 .711 1st Won Opening round (Brockton Rox) 3–0
Won Championship (New Jersey Jackals) 3-1
2012 Can-Am none 66 34 .660 1st Won Championship (New Jersey Jackals) 4–1
2013 Can-Am none 56 42 .571 1st Won Championship (New Jersey Jackals) 4–3
2014 Can-Am none 46 50 .479 3rd Did not qualify
2015 Can-Am none 54 42 .563 2nd Lost Opening Round (New Jersey Jackals) 3–2
2016 Can-Am none 56 44 .560 3rd Lost Opening Round (Rockland Boulders) 3–2
2017 Can-Am none 65 35 .650 1st Won Opening Round (Sussex County Miners) 3–0
Won Championship (Rockland Boulders) 3–0
2018 Can-Am none 58 44 .569 2nd Won Opening Round (Rockland Boulders) 3–1
Lost Championship (Sussex County Miners) 3–1
2019 Can-Am none 36 59 .379 6th Did not qualify
2020 Didn't play due to COVID-19 -- -- -- -- -- --
20211 Frontier Atlantic 52 44 .542 1st Lost Division Series (Washington Wild Things) 3-2
2022 Frontier East -- -- -- -- --

1: played 2021 season as Équipe Québec, combining them and the Trois-Rivières Aigles.

Logos and uniforms[]

Andrew Scheer with Capitales mascot, Capi the Lion

The official colours of the Québec Capitales are navy blue and gold. The primary logo consists of a white baseball diamond with navy blue pinstripes. The "Capitales" wordmark is superimposed over the diamond in navy blue outlined in gold. The wordmark is underlined by a navy blue ribbon with the word "Québec" centred on it in white, with the French word "de" centred in between. A navy blue fleur-de-lis is centred above the wordmark, with a stylized depiction of home plate centred below.

The Québec Capitales uniforms are traditional in design. The caps are navy blue throughout with the scripted "Q" cap logo centred on the front in gold with a white centre incorporating a navy blue fleur-de-lis and red baseball threading. The home jerseys are white with navy blue pinstripes, with the "Capitales" cursive script wordmark centred across in navy blue with gold outline. The alternate jersey is navy blue with gold piping with the cap logo centred on the left-side chest.

Rivalries[]

Over the years, the Capitales have had several rivalries. One significant rivalry is against the New Jersey Jackals. They have both won four league championships in their histories. The Capitales defeated the Jackals three times in the championship series, 2011, 2012, and 2013.

The Capitales also have a rivalry with the Trois-Rivières Aigles. This is because both teams are geographically in the same province of Quebec.

Another rivalry was against the Ottawa Voyageurs. Even though the Voyageurs played in the Can-Am League for only two seasons, it was still a significant rivalry due to both teams playing in the same country and the closeness of both provinces of Ontario and Quebec. When the Ottawa Champions were formed in 2015, this sparked another rivalry for the Capitales.

Current roster[]

Québec Capitales roster
Active (24-man) roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • -- Samuel Adames
  • -- Kyle Armsworthy
  • -- Michael Austin
  • 10 Miguel Cienfuegos
  • -- Marcos Encarnacion
  • 15 Nick Horvath
  • 27 Stephen Knapp
  • 36 Henry Omana
  • 17 Codie Paiva
  • 50 Evan Rutckyj
  • -- Carlos Sano
  •  3 Marshall Shill
  • -- Jacob Sims ‡
  • -- John Witkowski Injury icon 2.svg


Utility players

  • -- Josh McAdams
  

Catchers

  • 16 Ruben Castro ‡
  • 29 Jeffry Parra

Infielders

  • 14 David Glaude
  • 37 Jesse Hodges
  •  8 Jonathan Lacroix
  • -- Webb Little
  • 11 Gift Ngoepe

Outfielders

  • -- Peddro Gonzalez
  • 48 Jhalan Jackson ‡
  • -- Marc-Antoine Lebreux
  

Manager

  •  5 Patrick Scalabrini

Coaches

Injury icon 2.svg Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

Roster updated February 27, 2022
 Transactions

Broadcasting[]

Capitales games can be heard on the CHYZ 94.3 FM radio station, and all home games are presented on the CHYZ 94.3 FM website and app.[2]

Notable alumni[]

Attendance[]

As of September 6, 2021

Season Games Total Average
2010 45 147,978 3,288
2011 49 149,330 3,048
2012 49 152,663 3,116
2013 47 141,396 3,008
2014 42 121,305 2,888
2015 51 130,510 2,559
2016 53 146,946 2,773
2017 50 141,923 2,838
2018 53 126,483 2,386
2019 50 119,060 2,381
2020 DID NOT PLAY DUE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC
2021* 10** 22,882 2,288

*played with limited capacity (2,800 people)[3]

**only counts Équipe Québec games played at Stade Canac

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "QUEBEC CITY, TROIS-RIVIERES ORGANIZING QUEBEC PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP". frontierleague.com. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  2. ^ "Capitales de Québec - CHYZ 94,3 FM".
  3. ^ Tardif, Carl (29 July 2021). "Retour d'Équipe Québec: plus gros qu'un match d'ouverture, selon Michel Laplante". Le Soleil (in French). Retrieved 4 January 2022.

External links[]

Achievements
Preceded by Can-Am League Champions
Québec Capitales
2006 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Can-Am League Champions
Québec Capitales
2009 		Current holder
Retrieved from ""