It was May 27 when the most experienced club the Winnipeg Goldeyes had ever fielded boarded the bus for Sioux Falls, where they would open the 1999 season the following day against the Canaries. Every starter had played at least one year in the Northern League, making this the team to beat on paper. But it wasn't long before this team discovered games are won on grass and not on paper.
After splitting the first two games with Sioux Falls, then watching the third game postponed due to rain, the Goldeyes headed down to Sioux City and promptly took two of three from the Explorers. They then returned to Winnipeg to christen brand new CanWest Global Park against those aforementioned Canaries, yet the new park was anything but home, sweet home for the Goldeyes.
Sioux Falls took three of four from Winnipeg, including a 14-5 thumping in the home opener, then Fargo-Moorhead came in and took two of three. With his club sporting a gaudy 5-7 record, manager Hal Lanier had seen enough. He made a series of player moves that had an immediate impact, as the Goldeyes went on a 13-3 run to overtake both Sioux City and Fargo-Moorhead for first place in the West. Once on top, Winnipeg stayed there to clinch the first-half title, qualifying for the playoffs for the sixth time in six years.
The turnaround was thanks to the work of pitchers and position players alike. Starter Rick Forney returned from a stint in the Atlanta organization to light a fire opposing hitters were unable to douse, while relievers Dan Guehne and Alan Ochsner offered a solid left-right punch out of the bullpen. At the plate, newcomers Darin Everson, Nolan Lane and Chad Thornhill worked with returnees Brian Duva, Troy Fortin and Chris Kokinda to keep opposing pitchers guessing.
When the second half began on July 16, Winnipeg played more like the team that began the first half than the one that ended it. They were never more than two games above .500 and, when the all-star break ended on August 4, they were at or below .500 for the rest of the season. Having posted the worst second half record in team history, the 1999 Goldeyes were headed for the shortest post-season in team history. Or so it appeared.
Facing second-half champion Sioux City in the first round of the playoffs, the Goldeyes made short work of the Explorers by sweeping them in three games. They then made equally short work of Fargo-Moorhead, setting up a trip to the Northern League final for the fourth time in six years, where they would meet East Division champion Albany-Colonie.
The Diamond Dogs were the underdogs, and that seemed to suit them just fine. They split with the Goldeyes at home, then came to Winnipeg and took games three and four to win their first Northern League title. Each of their three wins were by a 7-6 score, affording the East Division the respect it hadn't received to date from its counterparts in the Central Division.
It didn't end the way is was supposed to, but 1999 was still a great season for the Goldeyes. As a team, they sold out 24 home games and played before a club record 248,488 fans during the regular season, then hosted another 36,000 in the playoffs to post the highest overall attendance in the Northern League.
On an individual basis, Everson, Forney, Ochsner and Thornhill represented the Goldeyes at the 1999 Northern League All-Star Game. And if that wasn't a big enough thrill for the rookie, Ochsner got an even bigger one two days later when his contract was picked up by the New York Yankees.
Additionally, Everson, Forney and Thornhill were named to the Central Division post- season all-star team. And Forney and Thornhill were both recognized by Baseball America as two of the top indy players in North America, each earning a spot on the magazine's All-Independent second team. It was a first for Thornhill, while Forney was named to either the first or second team for the third straight year.
Season-By-Season Review | Roster History | Distinguished Alumni
