New York–Penn League

Updated on Jan 18, 2024

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Sport Baseball No. of teams 14 Most recentchampion(s) State College Spikes		Founded 1939 Country USA Most titles Oneonta Yankees (10)

The New York–Penn League is a Minor League Baseball league which operates in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a Class A Short Season league; its season starts in June, after major league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early September.

As of the 2016 season, the league includes 14 teams from eight different states. In addition to New York and Pennsylvania, from which the league draws its name, the NYPL also has clubs in Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont, West Virginia, and Connecticut.

The State College Spikes are the most recent league champions, defeating the Hudson Valley Renegades on September 12, 2016, by a score of 2-1 to win the series 2-0. It is their second title since moving to State College in 2006.

History

The league was founded in 1939 with the name Pennsylvania – Ontario – New York League in a hotel in Batavia, New York. This was generally shortened to PONY League. The original teams included the Batavia Clippers, Bradford Bees, Hamilton Red Wings, Jamestown Jaguars, Niagara Falls Rainbows, and Olean Oilers; all were based in or near Western New York. The Oilers, a Brooklyn Dodgers affiliate, won both the regular-season and playoff championships. As of 2016, only Batavia remains in the league; their team, now known as the Muckdogs, is also seeking an exit from their home market.

The Hamilton Red Wings folded early in the 1956 season, and with no more teams in Ontario, the league adopted its current name in 1957. The league crossed back into Canada with the formation of the St. Catharines Blue Jays in 1986. They were joined by the Hamilton Redbirds in 1987 and the Welland Pirates in 1989, but all three clubs had moved back to the United States by 2000.

Player limits and requirements

New York–Penn League teams may have no more than three players on their active lists that have four or more years of prior combined Major League/Minor League service, with the exception of position players changing roles to become pitchers and vice versa. Teams can eliminate up to one year of Minor League service for players who have spent time on the disabled list.

By July 1 of each year, all clubs must have at least 10 pitchers.

The maximum number of players under team control is 35, 30 of whom may be active. However, only 25 may be in uniform and eligible to play in any given game.

League champions by year

¹co-champions were named in 1998, as torrential rains in Central New York made both Auburn's and Oneonta's fields unplayable²co-champions were named in 2001, as the championship series was cancelled due to the September 11th attacks with Brooklyn leading one game to none

Cities represented

(Current teams in bold)

Connecticut

Norwich: 2010–present (5 seasons)

Maryland

Aberdeen: 2002–present (11 seasons)

Massachusetts

Lowell: 1996–present (17 seasons)

Pittsfield: 1989–2001 (13 seasons)

New Jersey

Augusta: 1994–2005 (12 seasons)

New York

Albany: 2002–present (11 seasons)

Auburn: 1958–1980, 1982–present (54 seasons)

Batavia: 1939–1959, 1960–present (70 seasons)

Binghamton: 1964–66 (3 seasons)

Brooklyn: 2001–present (12 seasons)

Corning: 1951–60, 1968–69 (12 seasons)

Elmira: 1957–61, 1973–95 (28 seasons)

Geneva: 1958–73, 1977–93 (33 seasons)

Glens Falls: 1993 (1 season)

Jamestown: 1939–57, 1962–1973, 1977–2014 (67 seasons)

Hornell: 1942–57 (16 seasons)

Little Falls: 1977–88 (12 seasons)

Lockport: 1942–50 (9 seasons)

Newark: 1968–79, 1983–87 (17 seasons)

Niagara Falls: 1939–40, 1970–79, 1982–85, 1989–93 (21 seasons)

Olean: 1939–59, 1961–66 (27 seasons)

Oneonta: 1966–2009 (44 seasons)

Queens: 2000 (1 season)

Staten Island: 1999–present (14 seasons)

Utica: 1977–2001 (25 seasons)

Wappingers Falls: 1994–present (19 seasons)

Watertown: 1983–98 (16 seasons)

Wellsville: 1942–1961, 1963–65 (23 seasons)

Ohio

Youngstown: 1999–present (14 seasons)

Pennsylvania

Bradford: 1939–42, 1944–57 (18 seasons)

Erie: 1954–63, 1967, 1981–93, 1995–98 (28 seasons)

State College: 2006–present (7 seasons)

Williamsport: 1968–72, 1994–present (24 seasons)

Vermont

Burlington: 1994–present (19 seasons)

West Virginia

Morgantown: 2015–present (1 season)

Ontario

Hamilton: 1939-42, 1946–56, 1988–92 (20 seasons)

London: 1940–42 (2 seasons)

St. Catharines: 1986–1999 (14 seasons)

Welland: 1989–94 (5 seasons)