Connecticut Tigers
Encyclopedia
The Connecticut Tigers are a minor league baseball
team located in Norwich, Connecticut
. They are members of the New York - Penn League
. The Connecticut Tigers are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Detroit Tigers
and play their home games at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium. They were previously known as the Oneonta Tigers
.
The Tigers ensure affiliated baseball will stay in Norwich despite the relocation of the former Double-A Eastern League's Connecticut Defenders
to Richmond
, Virginia
, where they are now called the Richmond Flying Squirrels
.
as the Wellsville Yankees. From its inception in 1942 until 1965, that team stayed in Wellsville under various names, such as the Nitros, Rockets, Senators, Braves, and Red Sox.
,under the ownership of Sam Nader becoming the Oneonta Red Sox. They became Oneonta Yankees, or O-Yanks, in 1967 when The NY Penn League became short season. an affiliation they would have for three decades. Stocked with future New York Yankees
stars, the O-Yanks won NYPL titles in 1968, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1988 1990 and 1998. Since 1991, the franchise has participated in the annual New York-Penn League Game in Cooperstown, NY. This is an official New York-Penn League game played at Doubleday Field
in conjunction with the Hall of Fame's Induction Weekend festivities. In 1999, the Yankees moved their affiliation to the Staten Island Yankees
, so the Detroit Tigers
organization moved in and changed the team's name to the Oneonta Tigers.
. Brooklyn scored the first run in the bottom of the first inning; the Tigers tied the game in the top of the fourth. Neither side scored again until the 26th inning, when the Tigers plated five runs (three earned) off of Cyclones outfielder Mark Wright, who had entered the game to pitch (the Cyclones had already used six of their regular pitchers). The Tigers had three players who went 1-for-12, including center fielder Deik Scram, whose lone hit knocked in the go-ahead run for the Tigers in the 26th inning.
The 2007 season ushered a new era for Oneonta Tiger baseball, as their stadium received a face-lift, while premiering the team's official website, www.oneontatigers.com.
On July 15, 2007, Oneonta pitcher Guillermo Moscosa threw a perfect game, only the second in league history.
In early July 2008, it was announced that long-time owner Sam Nader had sold the franchise he purchased in 1966. No discussion has been made for the prospect of the team moving out of Oneonta. The agreement allows for the Tigers to stay in Oneonta up until the 2010 season.
On July 4, 2009, the first two curtain calls in the history of Damaschke Field happened against the Aberdeen IronBirds, both for Rawley Bishop, a rookie first baseman from Middle Tennessee State and who was drafted in the 19th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2009. The first curtain call was in the 4th inning after a solo home run to make the score 1–0. The second curtain call happened in the 5th inning after a grand slam home run to make the score 5–0.
, Connecticut
for the 2010 season. The Connecticut Tigers would play their games in the newly renovated Dodd Stadium which had been vacated by the Connecticut Defenders
of the Eastern League who had left for Richmond
, Virginia
.
"Connecticut Tigers" was only expected to be used for the 2010 season with a name-the-team contest expected to be held after the season to decide a permanent name. However, at the fan forum on April 17, 2010, general manager Andrew Weber stated the team is rethinking the contest due to the positive reactions of fans to the connection to the major league Detroit Tigers. On November 22, 2010, the team's facebook page confirmed the name is to remain "Connecticut Tigers" permanently.
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
team located in Norwich, Connecticut
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
. They are members of the New York - Penn League
New York - Penn League
The New York – Penn League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a "Short-Season A" league; its season starts in June, after major-league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early...
. The Connecticut Tigers are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and play their home games at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium. They were previously known as the Oneonta Tigers
Oneonta Tigers
The Oneonta Tigers were a minor league baseball team located in Oneonta, New York. They were members of the New York - Penn League. The Tigers were the Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, and played their home games at Damaschke Field...
.
The Tigers ensure affiliated baseball will stay in Norwich despite the relocation of the former Double-A Eastern League's Connecticut Defenders
Connecticut Defenders
The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...
to Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, where they are now called the Richmond Flying Squirrels
Richmond Flying Squirrels
The Richmond Flying Squirrels are a minor league baseball team in Richmond, Virginia. The team, which is a part of the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major league club, and plays at The Diamond...
.
Origins in Wellsville
This franchise originated in Wellsville, New YorkWellsville, New York
Wellsville, New York is a village and a town in Allegany County, New York, USA.*Wellsville , New York*Wellsville , New York----For other places with this name, see Wellsville....
as the Wellsville Yankees. From its inception in 1942 until 1965, that team stayed in Wellsville under various names, such as the Nitros, Rockets, Senators, Braves, and Red Sox.
Oneonta
In 1966, the Red Sox moved from Wellsville to Oneonta, New YorkOneonta, New York
Oneonta is a city in southern Otsego County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, had a population of 13,901. Its nickname is "City of the Hills." While the word "oneonta" is of undetermined origin, it is popularly believed to mean "place of open rocks" in the Iroquois language...
,under the ownership of Sam Nader becoming the Oneonta Red Sox. They became Oneonta Yankees, or O-Yanks, in 1967 when The NY Penn League became short season. an affiliation they would have for three decades. Stocked with future 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...
stars, the O-Yanks won NYPL titles in 1968, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1988 1990 and 1998. Since 1991, the franchise has participated in the annual New York-Penn League Game in Cooperstown, NY. This is an official New York-Penn League game played at Doubleday Field
Doubleday Field
Doubleday Field is a baseball stadium in Cooperstown, New York named for Abner Doubleday and located two city blocks from the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.The grounds have been used for baseball since 1920, on what was Elihu Phinney's farm...
in conjunction with the Hall of Fame's Induction Weekend festivities. In 1999, the Yankees moved their affiliation to the Staten Island Yankees
Staten Island Yankees
The Staten Island Yankees are a minor league baseball team, located in the New York City borough of Staten Island. Nicknamed the "Baby Bombers," the Yankees are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the New York Yankees and play in the New York - Penn League at Richmond County Bank Ballpark...
, so the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
organization moved in and changed the team's name to the Oneonta Tigers.
Recent years
On July 20, 2006, the Tigers won the longest game in NYPL history: a 6-hour and 40-minute, 26-inning marathon against the Brooklyn CyclonesBrooklyn Cyclones
The Brooklyn Cyclones is a minor league baseball team in the Short-Season A classification New York - Penn League, affiliated with the New York Mets. The Cyclones play at MCU Park just off the Coney Island boardwalk in the New York City borough of Brooklyn....
. Brooklyn scored the first run in the bottom of the first inning; the Tigers tied the game in the top of the fourth. Neither side scored again until the 26th inning, when the Tigers plated five runs (three earned) off of Cyclones outfielder Mark Wright, who had entered the game to pitch (the Cyclones had already used six of their regular pitchers). The Tigers had three players who went 1-for-12, including center fielder Deik Scram, whose lone hit knocked in the go-ahead run for the Tigers in the 26th inning.
The 2007 season ushered a new era for Oneonta Tiger baseball, as their stadium received a face-lift, while premiering the team's official website, www.oneontatigers.com.
On July 15, 2007, Oneonta pitcher Guillermo Moscosa threw a perfect game, only the second in league history.
In early July 2008, it was announced that long-time owner Sam Nader had sold the franchise he purchased in 1966. No discussion has been made for the prospect of the team moving out of Oneonta. The agreement allows for the Tigers to stay in Oneonta up until the 2010 season.
On July 4, 2009, the first two curtain calls in the history of Damaschke Field happened against the Aberdeen IronBirds, both for Rawley Bishop, a rookie first baseman from Middle Tennessee State and who was drafted in the 19th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2009. The first curtain call was in the 4th inning after a solo home run to make the score 1–0. The second curtain call happened in the 5th inning after a grand slam home run to make the score 5–0.
Arrival in Norwich
On January 27, 2010, Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller announced in a press release saying that the Tigers would be leaving Oneonta for NorwichNorwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
for the 2010 season. The Connecticut Tigers would play their games in the newly renovated Dodd Stadium which had been vacated by the Connecticut Defenders
Connecticut Defenders
The Connecticut Defenders were a minor league baseball team based in Norwich, Connecticut. The team, which played in the Eastern League, was the Double-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants major-league club from 2003 until following the 2009 season, when the Defenders relocated to Richmond,...
of the Eastern League who had left for Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
"Connecticut Tigers" was only expected to be used for the 2010 season with a name-the-team contest expected to be held after the season to decide a permanent name. However, at the fan forum on April 17, 2010, general manager Andrew Weber stated the team is rethinking the contest due to the positive reactions of fans to the connection to the major league Detroit Tigers. On November 22, 2010, the team's facebook page confirmed the name is to remain "Connecticut Tigers" permanently.