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Greenville Drive Founded in 1977 Greenville, South Carolina
Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Current	A
Minor league affiliations
League	South Atlantic League
Division	Southern Division
Major league affiliations
Current	Boston Red Sox (2005–present)
Previous	New York Mets (1981–2004) Pittsburgh Pirates (1979–1980) Cincinnati Reds (1977–1978)
Minor league titles
League titles .mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal} (4)	1986 1991 1998 2017
Division titles (1)	2017
Team data
Nickname	Greenville Drive (2006–present)
Previous names	Greenville Bombers (2005) Capital City Bombers (1993–2004) Columbia Mets (1983–1992) Shelby Mets (1981–1982) Shelby Pirates (1979–1980) Shelby Reds (1977–1978)
Mascot	Reedy Rip'it (2006-present) Bomber the Mouse (1989-2005) Ace the Eagle (2003-2005)
Ballpark	Fluor Field at the West End (2006–present)
Previous parks	Greenville Municipal Stadium (2005) Capital City Stadium (1983–2004) Veterans Field (1977–1982)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	Craig Brown
Manager	Iggy Suarez
General Manager	Eric Jarinko

The Greenville Drive are a Minor League Baseball team based in Greenville, South Carolina. They are a Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and a member of the South Atlantic League. Prior to the 2005 SAL season, the team played in Columbia, South Carolina, was affiliated with the New York Mets from 1981 to 2004, and was known as the Capital City Bombers. Their mascot is a frog named Reedy Rip'it. In 2017, the team defeated the Kannapolis Intimidators 3 games to 1 to win the franchise's first championship since becoming the Greenville Drive in 2006.

History

The Drive began their history in 1977 in Shelby, North Carolina, as the Shelby Reds. In 1983, the team moved to Columbia, which had lacked a minor league team since the departure of the Columbia Reds in 1961. The team was originally known as the Columbia Mets and made their home at Capital City Stadium. In 1993, the team changed its name to the Bombers to honor members of the Doolittle Raiders, who had conducted their initial training in Columbia. The Bombers won the South Atlantic League championship in 1986, 1991, and 1998.

Following the 2004 season, the Bombers changed affiliations and became the affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, who had previously been affiliated with the Augusta GreenJackets, also of the South Atlantic League. On February 11, 2005, Minor League Baseball announced that the Bombers had been granted permission to move to Greenville, where a new park opened in 2006. The Bombers would play in Greenville Municipal Stadium in 2005.

On October 27, 2005, the Bombers announced the team's name would change to the Drive.^[1] The name was chosen due to the presence of BMW US Manufacturing and Michelin in the area and, more generally, due to Greenville's rich automotive past.^[2] An alternative name was chosen after Shoeless Joe Jackson called the Joes but Major League Baseball vetoed the name due to his role in the Black Sox Scandal in 1919.^[3]

In 2008, outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin became the first Drive player to be selected to the annual All-Star Futures Game, which took place on July 13 at Yankee Stadium. Lin hit a two-run home run on the first pitch he saw that helped the World team beat the US Team, 3–0. He finished 2-for-2 and was named the game's Most Valuable Player. Former pitcher Clay Buchholz participated in the 2007 edition, a season after playing for the Drive.^[4]

In 2009, Ryan Lavarnway played for the Drive, hitting 21 home runs and a .540 slugging percentage (both tops for Red Sox minor leaguers) and 87 RBIs in 404 at bats.^[5][6]

On May 8, 2012 Greenville made history as three pitchers combined to toss the club's first ever no-hitter. Miguel Pena (six innings), Hunter Cervenka (two) and Tyler Lockwood (one) joined forces to defeat the Rome Braves (Atlanta), 1–0. A solo home run by Keury De La Cruz off David Filak in the sixth inning counted for the only run of the game.^[7]

Stadium

Capital City Stadium in downtown Columbia, was the home of the Bombers. The stadium was originally built in 1927, but was completely rebuilt in 1991. Capital City Stadium has a seating capacity for 6,000 spectators, has a grass surface and features the following fence dimensions: (LF) 330 ft., CF 400 ft., RF 320 ft.

The stadium often proved inadequate for baseball due to poor field conditions.^{[citation needed]} Situated in a low-lying area, Capital City Stadium features poor drainage and heavy rains often resulted in a flooded infield.

The Bombers had sought assistance from the City of Columbia in building a new stadium located in the Congaree Vista area of Columbia. Efforts to construct a stadium to be shared with the University of South Carolina's baseball team fell through when the University demanded the Bombers pay $6 million in fees upfront.^{[citation needed]} Following this, Bombers owner Rich Mozingo sought to relocate the team.

Mozingo's efforts paid off when, in 2005, the Bombers relocated to Greenville, South Carolina, (see above). Following the move, the Bombers played their home contests in Greenville Municipal Stadium in Greenville, then moved to Fluor Field at the West End, in the heart of downtown Greenville. The stadium was named "Ballpark of the Year" for the 2006 season by Baseballparks.com, beating out such stadiums as St. Louis's Busch Stadium and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in State College, Pa.^[8]

The stadium shares the dimensions of their parent club's major league park, Fenway Park, and boasts its own "Green Monster" complete with manual scoreboard and "Pesky's Pole" in right field.^[9]

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Season-by-season records

What follows are records of the Shelby Reds, Shelby Pirates, Shelby Mets, Columbia Mets, Capital City Bombers, Greenville Bombers, and Greenville Drive for each season.^[10]

Shelby Reds/Pirates/Mets

Season	Affiliation	League	Division	Record	Pct.	Division finish	League finish	Manager	Playoffs
1977	Reds	Western Carolinas League		60–79	.432	5th		Jim Lett
1978	Reds	Western Carolinas League		75–64	.540	2nd		Jim Lett	None held
1979	Pirates	Western Carolinas League		56–78	.418	6th		Tom Zimmer
1980	Pirates	South Atlantic League	North	58–80	.420	4th	8th	Joe Frisina
1981	Mets	South Atlantic League	South	59–83	.415	5th	9th	Dan Monzon
1982	Mets	South Atlantic League	North	77–63	.550	2nd		Rich Miller

Source: ^[11]

Columbia Mets

Season	Division	Record	Pct.	Division finish	League rank	Manager	Playoffs
1983	South	88–54	.620	1st	1st	John Tamargo	Lost to Gastonia Expos, 3–2
1984	South	82–57	.590	1st	1st	Rich Miller
1985	South	79–57	.581	2nd	2nd	Bud Harrelson Rich Miller	Lost to Florence Blue Jays, 2–0
1986	South	90–42	.682	1st	1st	Tucker Ashford	Defeated Asheville Tourists, 3–1 League Champions
1987	South	64–75	.460	6th	10th	Butch Hobson
1988	South	74–63	.540	4th	5th	Butch Hobson
1989	South	73–67	.521	2nd	4th	Bill Stein
1990	South	83–60	.580	1st	1st	Bill Stein	Lost to Savannah Cardinals, 2–0
1991	South	86–54	.614	1st	2nd	Tim Blackwell	Defeated Columbus Indians, 2–0 Defeated Charleston Wheelers, 3–0 League Champions
1992	North	79–59	.572	1st	1st	Tim Blackwell

In 1984 and 1992, the team did not qualify for the playoffs because they did not win their division in either half of the season.
Harrelson was named third base coach of the 1985 Mets on May 17, and was replaced by Miller.^[12]

Source: ^[11]

Capital City Bombers

Season	Division	Record	Pct.	Division finish	League rank	Manager	Playoffs
1993	South	64–77	.454	6th	10th	Ron Washington
1994	South	59–76	.437	5th	12th	Ron Washington
1995	South	72–68	.514	3rd	8th	Howie Freiling
1996	Central	82–57	.590	2nd	2nd	Howie Freiling	Lost to Asheville Tourists, 2–0
1997	Central	77–63	.550	1st	3rd	Doug Mansolino John Stephenson	Lost to Greensboro Bats, 2–0
1998	Central	90–51	.638	1st	1st	Doug Davis	Defeated Piedmont Boll Weevils, 2–0 Defeated Hagerstown Suns, 2–1 Defeated Greensboro Bats, 2–1 League Champions
1999	Central	83–58	.589	1st	2nd	Dave Engle	Defeated Greensboro Bats, 2–1 Lost to Cape Fear Crocs, 2–0
2000	South	56–81	.409	7th	13th (t)	John Stephenson
2001	South	62–73	.459	6th	11th	Ken Oberkfell
2002	South	75–64	.540	3rd	6th	Tony Tijerina	Lost to Columbus RedStixx, 2–1
2003	South	73–65	.529	5th	7th	Tony Tijerina
2004	South	89–47	.654	1st	1st	Jack Lind	Defeated Charleston RiverDogs, 2–0 Lost to Hickory Crawdads, 3–0

The team was known as the "Columbia Bombers" during the 1994 season.
Mansolino resigned on June 18, at the request of the Mets, following the alcohol-related death of player Tim Bishop in April; he was replaced by Stephenson.^[13]

Source: ^[11]

Greenville Bombers

Season	Division	Record	Pct.	Division finish	League rank	Manager	Playoffs
2005	North	72–66	.522	2nd (t)	6th (t)	Chad Epperson

Source: ^[11]:720

Greenville Drive

Season	Division	Record	Pct.	Division finish	League rank	Manager	Playoffs
2006	South	67–73	.479	6th	11th	Luis Alicea
2007	South	58–81	.417		14th	Gabe Kapler
2008	South	70–69	.504		8th	Kevin Boles
2009	Southern	73–65	.529		5th	Kevin Boles	Lost in the league finals
2010	Southern	77–62	.554		3rd	Billy McMillon	Lost in the league finals
2011	Southern	78–62	.557		4th	Billy McMillon
2012	Southern	66–73	.475	6th	9th	Carlos Febles
2013	Southern	51–87	.370	7th	14th	Carlos Febles
2014	Southern	60–79	.432	5th	10th	Darren Fenster
2015	Southern	72–68	.514	3rd	6th	Darren Fenster
2016	Southern	70–69	.504	3rd (t)	8th (t)	Darren Fenster
2017	Southern	79–60	.568	1st	1st	Darren Fenster	Defeated Charleston in semifinals, 2–1 Defeated Kannapolis in finals, 3–1 League Champions[14]
2018	Southern	64–75	.460	7th	12th	Iggy Suarez
2019	Southern	2-2	.500			Iggy Suarez

Source: ^[15]
Division finish and league rank columns are based on overall regular season records. The South Atlantic League utilizes a split-season, with first-half winners and second-half winners of each division meeting in the playoffs; if the same team wins both halves of the season, the team with the next best overall record is selected.^[16]

Roster

Greenville Drive roster v t e
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 37 Yoan Aybar 44 Brayan Bello 31 Logan Browning 29 Alex Demchak 48 Rio Gomez 20 Hunter Hayworth 28 Chris Machamer  7 Oddanier Mosqueda 47 Dominic LoBrutto 33 Angel Padron 19 Yorvin Pantoja 40 Yasel Santana 18 Alex Scherff -- Chase Shugart ‡ 51 Thad Ward		Catchers 39 Kole Cottam 16 Alan Marrero 21 Samuel Miranda Infielders 12 Korby Batesole 38 Triston Casas 17 Devlin Granberg 35 Brandon Howlett 36 Kevin Suarez  4 Grant Williams Outfielders 10 Cole Brannen 24 Tyler Dearden 25 Tyler Esplin  3 Jordan Wren		Manager -- Iggy Suarez Coaches -- Bob Kipper (pitching) -- Nelson Paulino (hitting) 7-day injured list * On Boston Red Sox 40-man roster # Rehab assignment ∞ Reserve list ‡ Restricted list § Suspended list † Temporary inactive list Roster updated April 4, 2019 Transactions → More rosters: MiLB • South Atlantic League → Boston Red Sox minor league players

Notable Greenville alumni

Hall of Fame alumni

In popular culture

In the second season of the Netflix series House of Cards, Frank Underwood describes an embarrassing episode in his life where he threw out the first pitch at a Greenville Drive game.

References

Further reading

• 
  Rabasco, Nick (September 15, 2017). "Cup of Coffee: Drive capture South Atlantic League title". SoxProspects.com. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  

External links

• 
  http://www.ballparkdigest.com/visits/greenville.htm – Ballpark Digest visit to West End Field


• 
  http://www.greenvilledrive.com – Official website of the Greenville Drive


• 
  http://news.greenvilleonline.com/blogs/bwright/archives/2005_11.html – Bart Wright's criticism of name change to "Greenville Drive."