The Arizona Diamondbacks are one of two newest expansion franchises in Major League Baseball, joining the league in 1998 at the same time as the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Arizona didn’t take long to find success. The Diamondbacks dominated the schedule to win the World Series in 2001, becoming the fastest expansion team to be crowned baseball’s best. Their early success wasn’t a flash in the pan; although they’ve only won one National League Pennant, the Diamondbacks have five division titles to their name.Ballpark / Stadium – Chase Field
Since they joined the league, the D-Backs have called Chase Field home. To beat the Arizona heat, the stadium is equipped with a retractable roof, making Chase Field the first U.S. stadium with this feature. Rogers Centre, home of the Toronto Blue Jays, was the first stadium in the world with a retractable roof. Chase Field has made news not only for its roof, but also for its swimming pool in right-center field. The park has an official capacity of 48,633.
Arizona Diamondbacks Roster
Because of their relatively short existence, the team doesn’t have any players in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Notable players to fill the Arizona Diamondbacks roster over the years, however, include Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Matt Williams and Luis Gonzalez. Recent stars to suit up for the D-Backs include Paul Goldschmidt, Justin Upton and Chris Young.
Spring Training
The Diamondbacks Spring Training ballpark is Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, located in the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community outside of Scottsdale, AZ. The park, which has a capacity of 11,000, opened in 2011 and is commonly regarded as one of the best Spring Training facilities. The Colorado Rockies share the same Spring Training facility. The Diamondbacks Minor League Baseball affiliates are the Triple-A Reno Aces, Double-A Mobile BayBears, Advanced-A Visalia Rawhide, Class-A South Bend Silver Hawks, Short-Season A Hillsboro Hops and rookie league Missoula Osprey, Arizona League Diamondbacks and Dominican Summer League Diamondbacks.
The Ballpark Guide hasn’t visited the Arizona Diamondbacks yet, but hopes to in the near future. If you’re excited to read a fan guide to Chase Field, check out the many ways you can support The Ballpark Guide on future baseball road trips.