2007 Arizona Diamondbacks

Even as we say “Congratulations” to the Colorado Rockies, winners of the National League Championship Series, we want to say a big “Thank you” to the Arizona Diamondbacks, winners of the West Division, for the amazing season they had!

In the 2006 MLB season the Arizona Diamondbacks tied for last place in the National League West with a win average of .469, which many contributed to lack of a good starting pitcher. But Snakes fans have every reason to be optimistic about this year’s season because four-time NL Cy Young award winner and former World Series co-MVP Randy Johnson has been brought back to lead the team to victory in 2007. Johnson returns to an already award winning team that includes two-time Gold Glove Award recipient Orlando Hudson and 2006’s NL Cy Young Award winner and All-Star Brandon Webb. With a line up like that you’ll want to get your tickets to Chase Field today to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks in action in 2007!

The Arizona Diamondbacks, a 1998 National League expansion team, stunned the world of Major League Baseball by winning the West Division title in 1999, an unheard-of feat for a second-year team. Further incredible success followed, including the thrilling 2001 World Series victory over the New York Yankees, but that first glow of triumph has given way to Arizona's weakest team to date, which lost 111 games in 2004. The roster has undergone a shakeup and the rebuilding will continue because the Arizona Diamondbacks are a quality organization.

With so many Major League Baseball teams playing in Arizona for spring training, it was finally time for the baseball-hungry citizens of Phoenix to get a chance to follow a team all season. The long wait for a Major League team was worthwhile, as the Diamondbacks have been perennial contenders in the National League West. Their most successful year was 2001, when they beat the New York Yankees to win an exciting World Series in the bottom of the ninth of Game 7. The memory of Luis González blooping a single over Derek Jeter's head to score Jay Bell for the Series victory will replay itself over and over in the minds of Diamondbacks fans.

The manager of that team was former catcher and broadcaster Bob Brenly who, in his first year, led the Diamondbacks to the World Series. The backbone of that Diamondbacks team was the strong pitching of Curt Schilling and five-time Cy Young Award winner Randy Johnson. The main hitting star of the Diamondbacks was left-handed slugger Luis González. He had a breakout year in 2001, finishing the season with 57 home runs.

The Arizona Diamondbacks' stadium was formerly called Bank One Ball Park (the BOB); it is located in the heart of downtown Phoenix. The ballpark first opened in 1998 and is known for the pool located in right center field as well as its retractable roof. The roof allows fans going to the game to enjoy the weather on a nice spring day, but avoid the horrendous desert summer heat.

Chase Field is a baseball-only facility, and therefore its sight lines are second to no other facility. More than 80 percent of the seats are inside the foul poles, and there is no upper deck around the outfield. Chase's Infiniti Diamond Level concourse is designed to serve as a continuous lounge and dining area servicing approximately 4,400 club seats. Above those seats are 69 private luxury suites designed to offer the utmost in comfort and catering. One floor up from the suite level, the upper concourse will seat approximately 20,000 fans. Escalators on the west side of the ballpark will take guests to either of the upper levels.

If you're in Phoenix, you can also go see other sporting events. The Phoenix Suns of the NBA play in US Airways Center and the Phoenix Coyotes of the NHL play at Jobing.com Arena. The Arizona Cardinals of the NFL play in Tempe, which is just a short drive from Phoenix. They formerly played at Sun Devil Stadium, home of the Arizona State Sun Devils, and also the Fiesta Bowl, a member of the Bowl Championship Series. The University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale is now their home venue.