Team logo Cap insignia | Division Pinckney Division | |
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Current Short-Season A (1967–present) Previous Class A (1963-1966)Class D (1958-1962) Previous Toronto Blue Jays (2001–2010)Houston Astros (1982–2000)Co-op: Various teams (1979–1980)Co-op: Phillies and Astros (1978)Philadelphia Phillies (1972–1977)Minnesota Twins (1967–1971)New York Mets (1962–1966)New York Yankees (1958–1961) | ||
Auburn doubledays baseball
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 (1982–2000), the Toronto Blue Jays (2001–2010), and Washington Nationals (from 2011).
Contents
- Auburn doubledays baseball
- Highlights auburn doubledays edge tri city valleycats 2 0
- History
- Early championship era
- Co op seasons
- Astros era
- Doubledays
- Future Major League Baseball staff
- Front office and staff
- Playoffs
- References
The Doubledays are the most recent name of the Auburn entry in the New York-Penn League that dates back to 1958. From 1982–1995, the team operated as the Auburn Astros.
The Doubledays play home games at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park. The "new" Falcon Park opened in June 1995, replacing the original Falcon Park which was built in 1927 on the same site. Falcon Park seats 2,800 fans. In 2008, new blue box seats were installed.
The team and its mascot are named after 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.
Highlights auburn doubledays edge tri city valleycats 2 0
History
Baseball in Auburn dates back to at least 1958. The current franchise began operations in 1982.
Early championship era
In 1958, the team was founded as the Auburn Yankees, as an affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Yankees affiliation lasted until 1961 and the club included future major league 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.
In 1967 the club changed affiliation again to the Auburn Twins, and were affiliated with the Minnesota Twins. The Twins won league title in 1967 and 1970.
In 1972, the team was renamed the Auburn Phillies and were associated with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1973, under manager Harry Lloyd, the team won its only 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 32-40, finishing third in the league's Yawkey Division. The team featured future Major League Baseball players Carmelo Castillo and Alejandro Sanchez and future Major League general manager Dave Littlefield. In 1979 the club became known as the Auburn Red Stars. The team featured future Major League Baseball player Doug Frobel. The Red Stars operated under a co-operative agreement. The Red Stars received players from about 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 Major League Baseball player Jack Fimple and finished fourth in the NY-Penn League's West Division with a 29-45 record.
Astros era
Auburn returned to play in the New York-Penn League in 1982 with the Auburn Astros.
In 1991, with John H. Graham as general manager, the team set the all-time attendance record at Falcon Park.
At the end of the 1995 season, the team was renamed the Auburn Doubledays, the name under which it has operated from 1996 to the present.
Doubledays
In 1998 the Doubledays and the Oneonta Yankees were named Co-Champions of the NY Penn League after Central New York was hit with a torrential rain storm and the fields at both parks were deemed unplayable.
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 NY Penn League 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. This was the first league championship for the city of Auburn since 1973.