Auburn Doubledays

The Auburn Doubledays are a baseball team located in Auburn, New York. From 1958 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL). They have played their home games at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park since 1995. They previously played at the original Falcon Park, which was built in 1927 on the same site. The team is owned and operated by Auburn Community Baseball.

Auburn Doubledays
Founded in 1958
Auburn, New York
Team logoCap insignia
Minor league affiliations
ClassTBD (from 2021)
Previous classes
LeagueTBD (from 2021)
Previous leagues
New York–Penn League (1958–2020)
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles (8)
  • 1962
  • 1964
  • 1966
  • 1967
  • 1970
  • 1973
  • 1998
  • 2007
Division titles (15)
  • 1964
  • 1966
  • 1967
  • 1968
  • 1970
  • 1973
  • 1985
  • 1994
  • 2002
  • 2003
  • 2004
  • 2005
  • 2006
  • 2007
  • 2011
Team data
NameAuburn Doubledays (1996–present)
Previous names
  • Auburn Astros (1982–1995)
  • Auburn Americans (1980)
  • Auburn Red Stars (1979)
  • Auburn Sunsets (1978)
  • Auburn Phillies (1972–1977)
  • Auburn Twins (1967–1971)
  • Auburn Mets (1962–1966)
  • Auburn Yankees (1958–1961)
ColorsBlue, white, red
     
MascotAbner
BallparkFalcon Park II (1995–present)
Previous parks
Falcon Park I (1958–1994)
Owner(s)/
Operator(s)
Auburn Community Baseball, LLC
General ManagerAdam Winslow [1]
ManagerTBD (from 2021)

Auburn began in the NYPL in 1958 and has since competed under various names and served as the farm team for a number of Major League Baseball teams. The Doubledays and its mascot, Abner, are named for Abner Doubleday, the Civil War general and Auburn native apocryphally credited with inventing the game of baseball. Abner wears number 96 in honor of the birth of the team in 1996. With Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Auburn was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. The city and the team's ownership group are exploring options such as independent baseball or collegiate summer baseball for 2021.

History

Early championship era

In 1958, the Auburn New York–Penn League franchise was founded as the Auburn Yankees, as an affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Yankees affiliation lasted until 1961. The club included future Major League Baseball All-Stars Jim Bouton, Joe Pepitone, and Mel Stottlemyre. The team then became affiliated with the New York Mets, as the Auburn Mets. With a roster that included Billy Wynne, Don Shaw, Tug McGraw, and Jerry Koosman, the club won the league championship three times: in 1962, 1964, and 1966.[2]

In 1967, the club changed its affiliation to the Minnesota Twins and became the Auburn Twins. The Twins won NYPL title in 1967 and 1970.

In 1972, the team was renamed the Auburn Phillies after associating with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1973, under manager Harry Lloyd, the team won league championship. Future major leaguers Luis Aguayo, Randy Lerch, Dickie Noles, Lonnie Smith, and Ozzie Virgil, among numerous others, played for the team. Managers of note included Mike Compton and Ruben Amaro.

Co-op seasons

In 1978, the team became the Auburn Sunsets and were co-operated by the Phillies and Houston Astros. Managed by Dick Rockwell, the team went achieved a 32–40 record, finishing third in the league's Yawkey Division.[3] The team featured future major league players Carmelo Castillo and Alejandro Sanchez and future major league general manager Dave Littlefield.[4]

In 1979 the club became known as the Auburn Red Stars. The team featured future MLB player Doug Frobel.[5] The Red Stars operated under a co-operative agreement. The Red Stars received players from seven different major league organizations, led by the Detroit Tigers, with seven players, and Cleveland Indians, with five.

In 1980, the Red Stars changed their name to the Auburn Americans. The team once again operated as a co-op and received 17 players from the Cleveland Indians and several from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The squad featured future MLB player Jack Fimple and finished fourth in the New York–Penn League's West Division with a 29–45 record.[6][7]

Astros era

1988 Auburn Astros team photo

Auburn returned to play in the New York–Penn League in 1982 with the Auburn Astros as an affiliate of the Houston Astros.

In 1991, with John H. Graham as general manager,[8] the team set the all-time attendance record at Falcon Park.

Doubledays

The team was renamed the Auburn Doubledays before the 1996 season and has operated under that name since.

In 1998, the Doubledays and the Oneonta Yankees were named Co-Champions of the New York–Penn League after Central New York was hit with a torrential rain storm and the fields at both parks were deemed unplayable.

Under the management of Dennis Holmberg, the Doubledays won the Pinckney Division title for six straight years in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, but failed to win the league championship for the first five of those years. After losing in the first round of the playoffs for the first three years of their streak, they advanced to the New York–Penn League championship series before being swept by the Staten Island Yankees. In 2003, the Doubledays led all of baseball in winning percentage (.757).

The Doubledays finally won the NYPL title in 2007, sweeping the Brooklyn Cyclones in the league championship series. The final game featured a stellar pitching performance by Brett Cecil and a home run by J. P. Arencibia.[9] This was the first league championship for the city of Auburn since 1973.

After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The Doubledays were not among the four teams invited to remain as full-season affiliates of the Washington Nationals, with whom they had been affiliated since 2011.[10] The city and the team's ownership group are exploring options such as independent baseball or collegiate summer baseball for 2021.[11]

Season-by-season results

YearRecordFinishManagerPlayoffs
195867–584thTom GottLost in 1st round
195958–675thBob BauerDid not qualify
196065–633rdBob BauerLost in 1st round
196152–738thLoren BabeDid not qualify
196262–573rd (tie)Dick ColeLeague Champions
196376–541stDick ColeLost in 1st round
196479–481stClyde McCulloughLeague Champions
196573–552ndClyde McCulloughDid not qualify
196680–491stClyde McCulloughLeague Champions
196752–261stTom UmphlettLeague Champions
196849–271stBoyd CoffieLost league finals
196931–427thSteve ThorntonDid not qualify
197043–261stBoyd CoffieLeague Champions
197142–282ndBoyd CoffieDid not qualify
197239–304thNolan CampbellDid not qualify
197346–231stHarry LloydLeague Champions
197434–322ndLarry RojasDid not qualify
197531–374thJune RainesDid not qualify
197624–455thMike ComptonDid not qualify
197717–5310thRuben AmaroDid not qualify
197832–406thDick RockwellDid not qualify
197922–4510thTom KotchmanDid not qualify
198029–457thBill JulioDid not qualify
198235–398thBob HartsfieldDid not qualify
198343–314thBob HartsfieldDid not qualify
198438–387thBob HartsfieldDid not qualify
198547–312ndBob HartsfieldLost league finals
198644–323rdKeith BodieLost in 1st round
198739–367thGary TuckDid not qualify
198842–335thFrank CacciatoreDid not qualify
198935–427thReggie WallerDid not qualify
199031–4611thRicky PetersDid not qualify
199138–396thSteve DillardDid not qualify
199232–4112thSteve DillardDid not qualify
199330–4614thManny ActaDid not qualify
199445–312ndManny ActaLost league finals
199540–345thManny ActaDid not qualify
199637–398thManny ActaDid not qualify
199729–4713thMike RojasDid not qualify
199843–323rdLyle YatesLeague Co-Champions
199939–378thLyle YatesDid not qualify
200032–4211thJohn MassarelliDid not qualify
200132–4211thPaul ElliottDid not qualify
200247–294thDennis HolmbergLost in 1st round
200356–181stDennis HolmbergLost in 1st round
200450–241stDennis HolmbergLost in 1st round
200545–303rdDennis HolmbergLost league finals
200642–323rdDennis HolmbergLost in 1st round
200747–293rdDennis HolmbergLeague Champions
200838–377th (tie)Dennis HolmbergDid not qualify
200926–4914thDennis HolmbergDid not qualify
201035–409thDennis HolmbergDid not qualify
201145–303rdGary CathcartLost league finals
201246–303rdGary CathcartLost in 1st round
201326–4914thGary CathcartDid not qualify
201434–419thGary CathcartDid not qualify
201536–389thGary CathcartDid not qualify
201628–4712thJerad HeadDid not qualify
201736–4512th (tie)Jerad HeadDid not qualify
201841–352ndJerad HeadLost in 1st round
201930–466thRocket WheelerDid not qualify

Playoffs

  • 1968 season: Defeated Williamsport, 1–0, in semifinals; lost to Oneonta, 1–0, in championship.
  • 1978 season: Lost to Geneva, 2–0, in championship.
  • 1985 season: Defeated Jamestown, 1–0, in semifinals; lost to Oneonta, 2–0, in championship.
  • 1986 season: Lost to St. Catharines, 1–0, in semifinals.
  • 1994 season: Defeated Watertown, 2–0, in semifinals; lost to New Jersey, 2–0, in championship.
  • 1998 season: Defeated Batavia, 2–0, in semifinals; declared co–champions with Oneonta (series rained out).
  • 2002 season: Lost to Oneonta, 2–0, in semifinals.
  • 2003 season: Lost to Williamsport, 2–0, in semifinals.
  • 2004 season: Lost to Mahoning Valley, 2–0, in semifinals.
  • 2005 season: Defeated Oneonta, 2–0, in semifinals; lost to Staten Island, 2–0, in championship.
  • 2006 season: Lost to Tri-City, 2–1, in semifinals.
  • 2007 season: Defeated Oneonta, 2–1, in semifinals; defeated Brooklyn, 2–0, to win championship.
  • 2011 season: Defeated Vermont, 2–1, in semifinals; lost to Staten Island, 2–0, in championship.
  • 2012 season: Lost to Tri-City, 2–1, in semifinals.
  • 2018 season: Lost to Hudson Valley Renegades 2–0, in semifinals.

Roster

Auburn Doubledays roster
Players Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 25 Jordan Bocko
  • 10 Gilberto Chu
  • 24 Tyler Dyson
  • 12 Rafael Gomez
  • -- Pedro Gonzalez
  • 14 Lucas Knowles
  • 11 Evan Lee
  • 27 Bobby Milacki
  • 32 Davis Moore
  • 38 Todd Peterson
  • 36 Carlos Romero
  • -- Karlo Seijas
  • 13 Trey Turner
  • 41 Amos Willingham
  • 40 Tyler Yankosky
  • 22 Eddy Yean

Catchers

  •  8 Adalberto Carrillo
  • 20 Wilmer Perez
  •  5 Anthony Peroni
  • 33 Andrew Pratt
  •  7 Onix Vega

Infielders

  •  9 Jake Alu
  •  4 J.T. Arruda
  •  1 Jack Dunn
  • 28 Junior Martina
  • 44 Jose Sanchez

Outfielders

  •  3 Ricardo Mendez
  • 30 Landerson Pena
  • 16 Jake Randa
  • 31 Caldioli Sanfler
  • 28 Eric Senior
  • 17 Jeremy Ydens

Manager

  • -- Patrick Anderson

Coaches

  • 34 Franklin Bravo (pitching)
  •  2 Mark Harris (hitting)


7-day injured list
* On Washington Nationals 40-man roster
# Rehab assignment
∞ Reserve list
‡ Restricted list
§ Suspended list
† Temporary inactive list
Roster updated January 14, 2020
Transactions
→ More rosters: MiLB  New York–Penn League
Washington Nationals minor league players

Alumni

Notable Auburn Astros players

Other notable Auburn players

Future Major League Baseball staff

Front office and staff

  • Steve DeSalvo was the team's general manager from 1982 to 1983.[12] He went on to a long career as a Minor League Baseball executive.[12]
  • Auburn native Leslie Leary was general manager from 1984 to 1987.[13] She was one of the first female general managers in Minor League Baseball.[13]
  • Baseball agent Joe Kehoskie, an Auburn native, worked for the team from 1984 to 1991.[8][14]
  • Bob Neal, previously the general manager of the Watertown Pirates and Peninsula Pilots, was general manager from early 1988 to late 1989.[15][16]
  • John H. Graham, previously the general manager of the Peninsula Pilots, was assistant general manager from early 1988 to early 1989;[15] business manager from early 1989 to late 1989;[16] and general manager from late 1989 to late 1991.[8][17]
  • Marc Techman, an Auburn native, was assistant general manager in 1991.[8]
  • Shawn Smith, currently a vice president with the NBA, was general manager from 1994 to 1995.[18][19]
  • Charlie Wride was the team's public address announcer for most of the team's 14-season existence, as well as the team historian. Wride continues to work for the team's successor, the Auburn Doubledays, in a community relations capacity.[20][21]

Wall of Fame

References

  1. "Front Office Staff". Auburn Doubledays. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  2. "The Auburn Mets - Players who played for both teams". Ultimate Mets Database. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  3. "1978 New York–Pennsylvania League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  4. "1978 Auburn Sunsets Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  5. "1979 Auburn Red Stars Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  6. "1980 New York–Pennsylvania League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  7. "1980 Auburn Americans Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  8. 1991 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1991.
  9. "Doubledays Sweep Brooklyn For NYP Title". Auburn Doubledays. September 6, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  10. Kerr, Byron (December 9, 2020). "Nats announce 2021 minor league affiliate invitations". MASN Sports. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  11. Ritzel, Justin (December 10, 2020). "MLB extends invites to minor league affiliates; Auburn Doubledays not included". Auburn Pub. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  12. "Steve DeSalvo Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  13. Anderson, Shelly (February 20, 1988). "Doors to the major leagues still hard to open". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  14. Weiman Jr., Dale (February 15, 2006). "So, you want to be the next Jerry Maguire?". Westlaw. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  15. 1988 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1988.
  16. 1989 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1989.
  17. 1990 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1990.
  18. 1994 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1994.
  19. 1995 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1995.
  20. Tobin, Dave (June 20, 2004). "Doubledays' Mr. Everything – Auburn's Baseball Club Counts on Charlie Wride". Syracuse Post-Standard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  21. "Auburn Baseball Wall of Fame". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
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