Yonkers Hoot Owls
Encyclopedia
The Yonkers Hoot Owls were a minor league
baseball team based in Yonkers, New York
, playing in the independent Northeast League (now the Can-Am League
.) The team existed just one season in 1995 and played its home games at Fleming Field
in Yonkers, arguably the worst facility ever to host professional baseball.
; however, a proposed team in Mount Vernon, New York
never got off the ground. The league then turned to Adele Leone, a former literary agent, who lived most of her life in Yonkers. Although it was the fourth-most populous city in New York, Yonkers had not hosted pro ball since having a Class C team in the Hudson River League
in 1907. Leone and the Northeast League would immediately start their short relationship off on the wrong foot: she wanted to call the team the Blue Bandits, but the league, who had already come up with the Hoot Owls name and logo for the abortive Mount Vernon team, forced her to name them the Yonkers Hoot Owls.
Unable to find a professional-quality stadium in Yonkers, Leone made plans for the Hoot Owls to play their home games at Fleming Field. The field, which has been called "the worst stadium ever in the history of professional baseball", was essentially a city park. It had concrete slab seating, no permanent concessions, no permanent restrooms, no dugouts and no permanent lighting (Leone would spend thousands of dollars of her own money to install lights for the field). Even more incredibly, the field had no infield grass, making the Owls possibly be the only pro team in history to play their home games on an all-dirt infield. Also, since there was very little parking around the field, Leone paid for off-site parking with shuttle bus service to and from the field.
The seating would cause financial problems for the team from the very beginning: Fleming Field could only comfortably seat about five hundred, with potential overflow seating of maybe another 300-500. Even if the team sold out every game, they would still be close to last in the league in attendance. As it would turn out, overflow crowds in Yonkers were never a problem, especially since general admission tickets were a pricey six dollars.
was named the manager of the club. Most of the players, however, were local residents in their late teens and early twenties; only a handful had any professional experience. The only recognizable face on the team was former Cincinnati Reds
outfielder Leo Garcia
, seven years removed from his last major league game (for Yonkers, he batted just .158 in 25 games). One of the Owls' few good players, Pete Bifone, quit the club in disgust in July, taking his .329 batting average with him.
Throughout the season, the Hoot Owls received little to no fan support, drawing only about 5,000 fans for the entire season, or less than 200 per game. Also, Leone was unable to gain support from local businesses; the outfield walls were nearly empty of advertisements, as were the game programs.
In the end, Yonkers would end the 1995 season with a disastrous 12-52 record, dead last in the six-team league, 37 games out of first place. It was the worst record of any pro baseball club (major, minor or independent) in 1995, and one of the worst by any team in modern times.
Leone had no choice but to fold the team after the 1995 season; Yonkers' spot in the NEL was taken by Bangor, Maine
in 1996.
Minor league
Minor leagues are professional sports leagues which are not regarded as the premier leagues in those sports. Minor league teams tend to play in smaller, less elaborate venues, often competing in smaller cities. This term is used in North America with regard to several organizations competing in...
baseball team based in Yonkers, New York
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
, playing in the independent Northeast League (now the Can-Am League
Can-Am League
Can-Am League is the nickname of two baseball leagues:* Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball , a modern independent league.* Canadian-American League , a class C circuit league....
.) The team existed just one season in 1995 and played its home games at Fleming Field
Fleming Field (Yonkers)
Fleming Field is a baseball stadium in Yonkers, New York.The ballpark was constructed and mainly suited for high school, and amateur baseball. However in 1995 it would host minor league baseball for the first time...
in Yonkers, arguably the worst facility ever to host professional baseball.
History
When the NEL was formed with six teams (all in New York State), it desired to have a presence in or near New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
; however, a proposed team in Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon, New York
Mount Vernon is a city in Westchester County, New York, United States. It lies on the border of the New York City borough of The Bronx.-Overview:...
never got off the ground. The league then turned to Adele Leone, a former literary agent, who lived most of her life in Yonkers. Although it was the fourth-most populous city in New York, Yonkers had not hosted pro ball since having a Class C team in the Hudson River League
Hudson River League
The Hudson River League was formed in 1903 as a class D minor league. Upgraded to class C the next season, it continued through 1907 before collapsing. There were twelve cities that represented the league during the five year run; eleven came from New York State and one from Massachusetts...
in 1907. Leone and the Northeast League would immediately start their short relationship off on the wrong foot: she wanted to call the team the Blue Bandits, but the league, who had already come up with the Hoot Owls name and logo for the abortive Mount Vernon team, forced her to name them the Yonkers Hoot Owls.
Unable to find a professional-quality stadium in Yonkers, Leone made plans for the Hoot Owls to play their home games at Fleming Field. The field, which has been called "the worst stadium ever in the history of professional baseball", was essentially a city park. It had concrete slab seating, no permanent concessions, no permanent restrooms, no dugouts and no permanent lighting (Leone would spend thousands of dollars of her own money to install lights for the field). Even more incredibly, the field had no infield grass, making the Owls possibly be the only pro team in history to play their home games on an all-dirt infield. Also, since there was very little parking around the field, Leone paid for off-site parking with shuttle bus service to and from the field.
The seating would cause financial problems for the team from the very beginning: Fleming Field could only comfortably seat about five hundred, with potential overflow seating of maybe another 300-500. Even if the team sold out every game, they would still be close to last in the league in attendance. As it would turn out, overflow crowds in Yonkers were never a problem, especially since general admission tickets were a pricey six dollars.
1995 season
Former All-Star Major Leaguer Paul BlairPaul Blair
Paul Blair may refer to:*Paul Blair , U.S. swim coach*Paul Blair , U.S. baseball player*Paul Blair , Canadian politician*Paul Blair , in the film Outpost...
was named the manager of the club. Most of the players, however, were local residents in their late teens and early twenties; only a handful had any professional experience. The only recognizable face on the team was former Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
outfielder Leo Garcia
Leo Garcia
Leo Garcia was a Major League Baseball player who played outfield for the Cincinnati Reds in 1987 and 1988. He was born November 6, 1962 in Santiago, Dominican Republic. He debuted on April 6, 1987 and managed 1 RBI in his debut. His last game in the majors was June 1, 1988. He is currently the...
, seven years removed from his last major league game (for Yonkers, he batted just .158 in 25 games). One of the Owls' few good players, Pete Bifone, quit the club in disgust in July, taking his .329 batting average with him.
Throughout the season, the Hoot Owls received little to no fan support, drawing only about 5,000 fans for the entire season, or less than 200 per game. Also, Leone was unable to gain support from local businesses; the outfield walls were nearly empty of advertisements, as were the game programs.
In the end, Yonkers would end the 1995 season with a disastrous 12-52 record, dead last in the six-team league, 37 games out of first place. It was the worst record of any pro baseball club (major, minor or independent) in 1995, and one of the worst by any team in modern times.
Leone had no choice but to fold the team after the 1995 season; Yonkers' spot in the NEL was taken by Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
in 1996.