2004 Lancaster JetHawks Hall of Fame Class Announced
Published on February 11, 2004 under California League (CalL1)
Lancaster JetHawks News Release
(Lancaster, CA) - The Lancaster JetHawks announced today that four new members will be enshrined in the Lancaster JetHawks Hall of Fame later this summer.
The 2004 class is former JetHawks manager Rick Burleson, pitcher Ken Cloude, outfielder Juan Pierre, who was a member of the Lancaster Stealth of the California Fall League, and the Flight Crew Booster Club. Information and bios of the new members can be found on the following page.
The 2004 class will be honored later this summer on Hall of Fame Night, when their induction ceremonies will take place before the JetHawks game against the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on Saturday, July 24th.
The new class will join the inaugural Hall of Fame class of which included owners Mike and Judy Ellis, Matt and Shelley Ellis, and Clutch Play Baseball LL.C. The City of Lancaster, Lancaster City Manager Jim Gilley, former public address announcer Larry Thornhill, Major League pitcher and former JetHawks pitching coach Jim Slaton were also honored as integral members of JetHawks history. Past players that were honored included former JetHawks players Jose Cruz Jr, the first JetHawks alum to reach the major league level, and Joe Mays, a pitcher now with the Minnesota Twins.
The JetHawks will open the 2004 season at home on Thursday April 8th. The opening eight-game home stand features four games with the High Desert Mavericks and concludes with four games against the Lake Elsinore Storm. Great season tickets and mini-plans are currently available. For more information on the upcoming 2004 JetHawks season, please contact the JetHawks by calling (661) 726-5400.
2004 Lancaster Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees
Rick Burleson
Rick Burleson led the JetHawks as manager in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. During his tenure he compiled an overall record of 153-128. Under his leadership, the JetHawks qualified for the California League playoffs for the first time in franchise history. Burleson is currently a coach in the Cincinnati Reds organization.
Ken Cloude
Ken Cloude anchored the inaugural JetHawks starting rotation in 1996. He was the starting and winning pitcher in the first JetHawks game ever played in Lancaster Municipal Stadium on April 16, 1996. Cloude went on to win a franchise single-season high 15 games that year and finished with a 15-4 record for the season. Cloude made his Major League debut on August 9, 1997 vs. the Chicago White Sox, not allowing a hit over the first 6.0 innings of work.
Juan Pierre
Juan Pierre becomes the first member of the California Fall League champion Lancaster Stealth to be elected to the Lancaster Baseball Hall of Fame. While with the Stealth, Pierre showed many of the skills that has made him one of the biggest offensive threats at the major league level. After being traded to the Florida Marlins last winter, Pierre became the first former Lancaster player to appear in the World Series and be a part of a World Series championship when the Marlins beat the Yankees in 2003.
The Flight Crew Booster Club
The Flight Crew Booster Club has been the back bone of support for the team since the first year in the Antelope Valley. Performing such tasks as providing meals after games to making sure the players have furnishing for the apartments, the Flight Crew has spent thousands of hours each year in support of the players from the day they arrive in town until the end of each season.
California League Stories from February 11, 2004
- 2004 Lancaster JetHawks Hall of Fame Class Announced - Lancaster JetHawks
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