When the Winnipeg Goldeyes opened the 2001 Northern League season at CanWest Global Park on May 24, any fan in attendance would have needed a scorecard to figure out who all the new players were. But it wasn't long before any fan in attendance discovered that all those new players would help make this year's squad as successful as any that had played in Winnipeg since the Northern League's return in 1994.

On the 22 players on the opening day roster, 14 were new to the Goldeyes and two in particular would stand among their independent peers at year end as being the best. Outfielder Carmine Cappuccio and pitcher Rafael Gross had record-breaking seasons, but both would be quick to point out their success was secondary to that of the team, and this team did succeed - on and off the field.

By virtue of a league-best 29 wins in the first half, the Goldeyes captured the North Division title and ensured themselves of a spot in the playoffs for the eighth time in as many years. They did so with big contributions from the likes of second baseman Brian Myrow, shortstop Brent Sachs and pitcher Shawn Onley, players the fans had come to know, as well as those they were getting to know in catcher Ryan Robertson, first baseman Luis Ortiz and closer Steve Thomas.

With the team having succeeded in the first half, the organization succeeded in late July by staging the best All-Star Game in league history. Cappuccio, Gross, Onley, Sachs and Robertson joined outfielder Derek Kopacz and second baseman Peter Prodanov as well as manager Hal Lanier and coach Chad Thornhill in Goldeyes colors for two nights, entertaining more than 5,000 fans at the July 30 Skills Competition and another 6,942 (the largest Northern League crowd in ballpark history) the following night at the game itself. Those two crowds were part of the 362,848 that came to CanWest Global Park in 2001, helping the Goldeyes set single-season league records for average attendance and total attendance.

The two-day celebration came during Winnipeg's worst slump of the year, one that seemed indicative of the entire second half. Inconsistent baseball plagued the club and only a 7-6 victory over Schaumburg on the last day of the year prevented the Goldeyes from establishing a club record for losses in a season. It didn't get any better in the playoffs, as two quick losses in the first round to Fargo-Moorhead made a very sudden end to a very successful year seem very real. And then the first-half Goldeyes returned.

Rallying from the two-game deficit like they did against the RedHawks in 1997, the Goldeyes won three straight to capture the North Division title. Up next in the Central Conference final was Lincoln, the only club to post a winning record against Winnipeg this year, but the Saltdogs found themselves out in four games. All that stood between the Goldeyes and their second Northern League title were the Eastern Conference-champion New Jersey Jackals.

Heading east for the first two games, Winnipeg went in as the favorites, but came home down 2-0 after the Jackals rallied in both games to win. With their backs again to the wall, the Goldeyes took game three and looked poised to win game four, but another late New Jersey rally sent the Jackals home happy with their first Northern League championship.

The lack of a title notwithstanding, it was still a very successful year. On an individual basis, Cappuccio set single-season records for hits and doubles and Gross for wins, with both players being named by Baseball America to its All-Independent First Team for their efforts. Additionally, Cappuccio was named to the Central Conference post- season all-star team, and was joined by Robertson and Sachs. As an organization, there were those record crowds and the All-Star Game, not to mention a very flattering piece by Reader's Digest in the July issue of its Canadian edition. As well, Myrow and Ortiz had their contracts purchased by Major League organizations, the first time in team history two players were picked up in mid-season.

The 2001 season also saw the most popular player in franchise history become the first to have his jersey retired. Under a sunny sky, former second baseman Brian Duva was in attendance on Friday, July 20 as the No. 5 he wore in his six years with Winnipeg was given a permanent home above the outfield wall in left-centrefield.

Duva retired following the 2000 season the holder of one single-game, two single- season and three career league records, as well as one single-game, three single- season and eight career franchise records.

In addition to his statistical accomplishments, Duva also appeared in two Northern League all-star games (1997 & 1998) and was in both of those seasons named to the NL post-season all-star team. He was also twice recognized as one of independent baseball's elite. In both 1997 & 1988, Baseball America named him to its All-Independent Second Team.

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