Auburn Community Baseball
Encyclopedia
Auburn Community Baseball (formally: Auburn Community Owned Non-Profit Baseball Association, Inc.) is the parent organization of the Auburn Doubledays
and its predecessor Auburn, New York
teams in the New York-Penn League dating back to 1958.
Auburn Community Baseball is based at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park
, which is located at 130 North Division Street in Auburn.
teams which are owned by one or more private individuals and/or companies, Auburn Community Baseball is owned by the City of Auburn, New York. In large part because of the team's rare community-owned status, Auburn was immune to the wave of team relocations that saw many communities lose their affiliated baseball teams during the new-stadium construction boom in the 1990s and early 2000s. As a result, Auburn — 2010 population: 27,700 — is one of the smallest communities in the United States
with an affiliated minor league baseball team.
, in 1951, Auburn went without professional baseball from 1952 to 1957. In the late 1950s, a group of Auburn residents undertook an effort to bring professional baseball back to Auburn. Among this group were Leo Pinckney, Ed Ward, and Dr. Thomas Stapleton. The group collected money by selling stock in the team, sometimes by going door to door.
In late 1957, they convinced New York Yankees
executive Lee MacPhail
to locate a Yankees farm team in Auburn, with games to be played at the original Falcon Park
. The Auburn Yankees began play in 1958, which began a long run of New York-Penn League baseball in Auburn that, with the exception of a one-year absence from professional baseball in 1981, has continued almost uninterrupted to the present day.
Player category:
Contributor category:
Auburn Doubledays
The Auburn Doubledays are a minor league baseball team in Auburn, New York, USA, that is owned and operated by Auburn Community Baseball. They are a member of the Short-Season Class A New York-Penn League and have been a farm team of the Houston Astros , the Toronto Blue Jays , and Washington...
and its predecessor Auburn, New York
Auburn, New York
Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States of America. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 27,687...
teams in the New York-Penn League dating back to 1958.
Auburn Community Baseball is based at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park
Falcon Park
Falcon Park is a stadium in Auburn, New York. The stadium is primarily used for baseball and is the home field of the Auburn Doubledays minor league baseball team. The Auburn Maroons varsity baseball team also plays its home games at the stadium....
, which is located at 130 North Division Street in Auburn.
Background
Unlike most professional sportsProfessional sports
Professional sports, as opposed to amateur sports, are sports in which athletes receive payment for their performance. Professional athleticism has come to the fore through a combination of developments. Mass media and increased leisure have brought larger audiences, so that sports organizations...
teams which are owned by one or more private individuals and/or companies, Auburn Community Baseball is owned by the City of Auburn, New York. In large part because of the team's rare community-owned status, Auburn was immune to the wave of team relocations that saw many communities lose their affiliated baseball teams during the new-stadium construction boom in the 1990s and early 2000s. As a result, Auburn — 2010 population: 27,700 — is one of the smallest communities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with an affiliated minor league baseball team.
History
After losing its last professional baseball team, the Auburn Falcons of the Border LeagueBorder League
For the defunct baseball league, see Border League The Border League, is the oldest established rugby union league in the World, having been formed in 1901...
, in 1951, Auburn went without professional baseball from 1952 to 1957. In the late 1950s, a group of Auburn residents undertook an effort to bring professional baseball back to Auburn. Among this group were Leo Pinckney, Ed Ward, and Dr. Thomas Stapleton. The group collected money by selling stock in the team, sometimes by going door to door.
In late 1957, they convinced New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
executive Lee MacPhail
Lee MacPhail
Leland Stanford MacPhail, Jr. is an American retired front-office executive in Major League Baseball...
to locate a Yankees farm team in Auburn, with games to be played at the original Falcon Park
Falcon Park
Falcon Park is a stadium in Auburn, New York. The stadium is primarily used for baseball and is the home field of the Auburn Doubledays minor league baseball team. The Auburn Maroons varsity baseball team also plays its home games at the stadium....
. The Auburn Yankees began play in 1958, which began a long run of New York-Penn League baseball in Auburn that, with the exception of a one-year absence from professional baseball in 1981, has continued almost uninterrupted to the present day.
Teams
Auburn Community Baseball's entry in the New York-Penn League has operated under the following names:- Auburn Yankees (1958–1961)
- Auburn MetsAuburn Mets* Location: Auburn, NY* League: New York-Penn League 1962-1966* Affiliation: New York Mets 1962-1966* Ballpark: Falcon Park...
(1962–1966) - Auburn TwinsAuburn TwinsThe Auburn Twins, affiliated with the Minnesota Twins were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1967 to 1971. They played in the New York-Penn League and were located in Auburn, New York. They played their home games at Falcon Park....
(1967–1971) - Auburn Phillies (1972–1977)
- Auburn Sunsets (1978)
- Auburn Red Stars (1979)
- Auburn Americans (1980)
- Auburn AstrosAuburn AstrosThe Auburn Astros were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1982 to 1995. The team played in the New York–Penn League and was affiliated with the Houston Astros. The team was located in Auburn, New York; played home games at Falcon Park; and was owned and operated by Auburn Community...
(1982–1995) - Auburn DoubledaysAuburn DoubledaysThe Auburn Doubledays are a minor league baseball team in Auburn, New York, USA, that is owned and operated by Auburn Community Baseball. They are a member of the Short-Season Class A New York-Penn League and have been a farm team of the Houston Astros , the Toronto Blue Jays , and Washington...
(1996–present)
League champions
Auburn Community Baseball's entry in the New York-Penn League has won league championships in the following years:- 1962, 1964, 1966 – Auburn Mets
- 1967, 1970 – Auburn Twins
- 1973 – Auburn Phillies
- 1998 (co-champs), 2007 – Auburn Doubledays
Wall of Fame
The Auburn Community Baseball Wall of Fame was created in 2006. The following people have been honored with induction:Player category:
- Mel StottlemyreMel StottlemyreMelvin Leon Stottlemyre, Sr. is a former Major League Baseball pitcher and pitching coach. He played 11 years in the Major Leagues, all of them with the New York Yankees...
(2006) - Tug McGrawTug McGrawFrank Edwin "Tug" McGraw Jr. was a Major League Baseball relief pitcher and the father of Country music singer Tim McGraw and actor/TV personality Mark McGraw and Cari McGraw...
(2007) - Jerry KoosmanJerry KoosmanJerome Martin Koosman is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1967 and 1985...
(2008) - Ed KranepoolEd KranepoolEdward Emil Kranepool is a former first baseman who spent his entire Major League Baseball career with the New York Mets....
(2009)
Contributor category:
- Leo Pinckney
- Vince Klein
- Dr. Thomas Stapleton
- Bill Graney
- Charlie Wride (2007)
- State Sen. Michael NozzolioMichael NozzolioMichael F. Nozzolio is a New York State Senator for the 54th district. He is a Republican. He was first elected in 1992. The 54th district includes parts of the city of Auburn, New York, Geneva, New York, and part or all of the following counties, Wayne County, Ontario County, Cayuga County,...
- Chuck Savage
- Barney Hearn
- Art Fritz
- Charlie Lynch
- Joe Graceffo
- Pat Penafeather (2010)