September 20, 2006
Snakes and Chickens
Tucson has long been associated with minor league baseball. From the modest beginnings in 1915 baseball has been a part of this city. When the Arizona Diamondbacks were formed in 1995 they needed to establish a farm system for each level of play. The organization immediately looked south to Tucson for their AAA affiliate. At the time the Tucson Toros were the affiliate of the Houston Astros but that was about to change as in 1997 the Toros signed a one-year agreement with the Milwaukee Brewers. The stars all converged in 1998 and the Arizona Diamondbacks announced that Tucson would be their new AAA club and the team name would be changed to the Tucson Sidewinders. For the past nine years the Tucson fans have watched as the Diamondbacks best minor league players filled the Sidewinders roster. They had heard about the great farm system that the Diamondbacks had but none of that talent necessarily meant winning. The Sidewinders had not made the play-offs since they established their relationship with the Diamondbacks. The 2006 season would end that drought.
