After a 36-year run in Waterloo (IA), the Midwest League Waterloo Diamonds couldn't come to a new lease agreement for its franchise, forcing the team to relocate two weeks before the 1994 season. Springfield (IL), still reeling from the loss of its original Midwest League franchise to Madison (WI), welcomed the Diamonds to central Illinois, and the Sultans of Springfield were born. The origins for the name remain unclear, but the team's "reversed order" name and unique purple and silver color combination made Springfield's third and final MiLB Club stand out. After two seasons and without a viable ballpark plan in Springfield, the Sultans' owners moved the franchise to Lansing (MI), where the Lugnuts continue to play today.
