Eugene Emeralds

Eugene Emeralds Founded in 1955 Eugene, Oregon
Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Current	Class A-Short Season (1974–present)
Previous	AAA (1969–1973) Short-season A (1966–1968) A (1963–1965) B (1955–1962)
Minor league affiliations
League	Northwest League (1955–1968, 1974–present)
Division	South Division
Previous leagues	Pacific Coast League (PCL) (1969–1973)
Major league affiliations
Current	Chicago Cubs (2015–present)
Previous	San Diego Padres (2001–2014) Chicago Cubs (1999–2000) Atlanta Braves (1995–1998) Kansas City Royals (1984–1994) Cincinnati Reds (1975–1983) Philadelphia Phillies (1967–1973) Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals (1966) Philadelphia Phillies (1964–1965) Chicago White Sox (1963) San Francisco Giants (1959–1962)
Minor league titles
League titles (5)	1955 1974 1975 1980 2016
Division titles (14)	1955 1957 1964 1969 1974 1975 1978 1980 1985 1986 1996 2000 2011 2016
Team data
Nickname	Emeralds (1955–present)
Colors	Black, dark green, neon green, white
Ballpark	PK Park (2010–present)
Previous parks	Civic Stadium (1969–2009) Bethel Park (1955–1968)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	David Elmore
Manager	Jesús Feliciano
General Manager	Allan Benavides

The Eugene Emeralds (nicknamed the Ems) are a minor league baseball team in the northwest United States, based in Eugene, Oregon. Members of the Northwest League, they are currently the Class A short-season affiliate of the Chicago Cubs. From 2001 through 2014, the team was affiliated with the San Diego Padres.

Created 62 years ago in 1955 as a charter member of the Northwest League, the Emeralds were named in a contest, won in January by eleven-year-old Blair Bowen. They won the inaugural pennant as an independent, and remained in the NWL for 14 seasons, through 1968.

The Emeralds played in northwest Eugene in 4,000-seat Bethel Park, at Roosevelt Boulevard and Maple Street (44°03′52″N 123°08′43″W / 44.0644°N 123.1454°W / 44.0644; -123.1454), later torn down for the construction of a highway that wasn't built. In 1950 and 1951, Bethel Park was the home of the Eugene Larks of the Class D Far West League; its outfield is present-day Lark Park. Its final game in 1968 on August 29 drew 897 fans for a one-hitter and a 7-0 Emeralds win. The NWL changed to a short season league in 1966, and that season opened in Eugene against the Lewiston Broncs. The second pick in the 1966 MLB draft, future hall of famer Reggie Jackson played his first professional games at Bethel Park, as a 20-year-old center fielder, following his sophomore season at Arizona State. Hitless in the opener, the next game he got his first pro hit, a single in the first, and later a home run to right field in the ninth.