Declining attendance in Granville: nothing new

Credit: New York-Penn League History

As I noted in my post on September 1, 2019 (Declining Attendance in Granville: How low will it go?), attendance at Monongalia County Ballpark has declined each year since the inaugural championship season.

But declining attendance is nothing new for the New York-Penn League affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates (located in Jamestown, New York and known as the Jammers until their relocation to Granville, West Virginia in 2015). With the exception of two seasons (2007 and 2015) attendance has declined each season since 2005 (see table below).

	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Jamestown/West Virginia	1,442	1,410	1,421	1,414	1,409	1,213	1,137	1,031	1,076	758	2,265	2,188	2,029	1,827	1,699

Source: MiLB.com

Baseball fans who haven't seen a minor league game at Monongalia County Ballpark might want to make the trip next season. If a proposal by Major League Baseball is approved, 42 Minor League teams and the New York-Penn League will be eliminated. See more details about the proposal at this link to the recent article in Baseball America.

Unfortunately, I suspect that attendance will continue to decline in Granville, if their approach to promoting their product doesn't change.

I hope I'm wrong. See you at the ballpark......

Photo Credit: New York-Penn League History

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Former NYPL Prospects in the 2019 World Series

After reading the shocking proposal by Major League League to eliminate the New York-Penn League (NYPL), I took a look at the rosters for this year's World Series.

I count 19 former NYPL prospects playing in the Series this season. Let me know if I missed anyone

Here is the list of former NYPL prospects playing in this year's World Series.

George Springer - Credit: MiLB

Houston Astros

Bryan Abreu (Tri-City ValleyCats, 2018)
Brad Peacock (Vermont Lake Monsters, 2008)
Ryan Pressly (Lowell Spinners, 2009)
Hector Rondon (Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2011)
Joe Smith (Brooklyn Cyclones, 2006)
Jose Urquidy (Tri-City ValleyCats, 2015, 2018 rehab assignment)
Jose Altuve (Tri-City ValleyCats, 2009)
Michael Brantley (Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2016 rehab assignment)
George Springer (Tri-City ValleyCats, 2011)

Victor Robles - Credit: MiLB

Washington Nationals

Roenis Elias (Lowell Spinners, 2017 rehab assignment)
Anibal Sanchez (Lowell Spinners, 2004)
Austin Voth (Auburn Doubledays, 2013, 2017 rehab)
Yan Gomes (Auburn Doubledays, 2009)
Matt Adams (Batavia Muckdogs, 2009)
Asdrubal Cabrera (Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2010 rehab)
Jake Noll (Auburn Doubledays, 2016)
Anthony Rendon (Auburn Doubledays, 2012)
Victor Robles (Auburn Doubledays, 2015, 2018 rehab)
Juan Soto (Auburn Doubledays, 2016)






Photo Credits: MiLB.com

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

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Follow New York-Penn League History on Twitter at @NYPennNews

Photo Credits: The Trading Card Database

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Jim Rooker (Jamestown Tigers, 1961)

Happy 76th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Jim Rooker.

Credits: Topps Co. via The Trading Cards Database

Rooker played in the New York-Penn League for the 1962 Jamestown Tigers. He played in the majors during 13 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1968), Kansas City Royals (1969-72), and Pittsburgh Pirates (1973-80). He pitched in two games during the 1979 World Series.

After his playing days, he was a broadcaster for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1981 to 1993.

Source: Baseball Reference 

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Jerry Zimmerman

Former PONY (New York-Penn since 1957) League prospect Jerry Zimmerman was born on this date in 1934.

Credits: Topps Co. via The Trading Card Database

He played for the Corning Red Sox in the PONY League in 1954 (.302/.302/.439). He played 8 seasons in the majors with the Cincinnati Reds (1961) and Minnesota Twins (1962-68), and appeared in two World Series (Reds 1961) and Twins (1965).

In 1969, Zimmerman was one or the original coaches of the Montreal Expos and later coached for the Minnesota Twins. He also scouted for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles.

Zimmerman died September 9, 1998 at the age of 63.

Sources: Baseball Reference and SABR

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday: Ed Phillips (Oneonta Red Sox, 1966)

Former New York-Penn League prospect Ed Phillips was born on this date in 1944.

Credits: Society for American Baseball Research

He played in the New York-Penn League in 1966 for the Oneonta Red Sox (4-4, 2.80 ERA). He went on to pitch in 18 games for the 1970 Boston Red Sox.

Phillips was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979 and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

He died on his birthday, September 20, 2017.

Sources: Baseball Reference and SABR

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Today's Birthday

Former New York-Penn League prospect and manager Ken Brett was born on this date in 1948.

Credits: Topps Co. via The Trading Card Database

He was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 1966 MLB June Amateur Draft and was assigned to the Oneonta Red Sox.

He pitched in the majors during 14 seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1967, '69-'71), Milwaukee Brewers (1972), Philadelphia Phillies (1973), Pittsburgh Pirates (1974-75), New York Yankees (1976), Chicago White Sox (1976-77), California Angels (1977-78), Minnesota Twins (1979), Los Angeles Dodgers (1979), and Kansas City Royals (1980-81).

His brother, George Brett was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

Ken Brett managed in the New York-Penn League for the Utica Blue Sox in 1985. He died on November 18, 2003, at the age of 55.

Source: Baseball Reference
   

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.

Updated: Former New York-Penn League Players, Managers and Coaches assigned to Arizona Fall League

Here is an updated list (thru September 16, 2019) of players, managers, and coaches assigned to the 2019 Arizona Fall League with ties to the New York-Penn League. The season begins on Wednesday, September 18.

Credit: Arizona Fall League

Name	Position	Arizona Fall League Team	Current MLB Organization	New York-Penn League Team & Year
Henderson, Jim	Pitching Coach	Glendale Desert Dogs	Milwaukee Brewers	Vermont Expos 2003-04
Hartson, Brock	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Cleveland Indians	Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2015
Hurtado, Jhenderson	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Oakland Athletics	Vermont Lake Monsters 2017, ’18. ‘19
McCarty, Kirk	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Cleveland Indians	Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2017
Pinto, Wladimir	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Detroit Tigers	Connecticut Tigers 2017
Szkutnik, Trent	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Detroit Tigers	Connecticut Tigers 2015
Zambrano, Jesus	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Oakland Athletics	Vermont Lake Monsters 2016
Clement, Ernie	Infielder	Mesa Solar Sox	Cleveland Indians	Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2017
Jones, Nolan	Infielder	Mesa Solar Sox	Cleveland Indians	Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2017
Rivas, Alfonso	Infielder	Mesa Solar Sox	Oakland Athletics	Vermont Lake Monsters 2018
Azocar, Jose	Outfielder	Mesa Solar Sox	Detroit Tigers	Connecticut Tigers 2015
Deichmann, Greg	Outfielder	Mesa Solar Sox	Oakland Athletics	Vermont Lake Monsters 2017
Hill, Derek	Outfielder	Mesa Solar Sox	Detroit Tigers	Connecticut Tigers 2014
Rabelo, Mike	Manager	Mesa Solar Sox	Detroit Tigers	Oneonta Tigers 2001; Connecticut Tigers 2014-16 (manager)
Vermilyea, Jamie	Pitching Coach	Mesa Solar Sox	Chicago Cubs	Auburn Doubledays 2003
Esposito, Jason	Coach	Mesa Solar Sox	Cleveland Indians	Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2018 (coach)
Abyar, Yoan	Pitcher	Peoria Javelinas	Boston Red Sox	Lowell Spinners 2016-17, ‘18
Fletcher, Aaron	Pitcher	Peoria Javelinas	Seattle Mariners	Auburn Doubledays 2018
Houck, Tanner	Pitcher	Peoria Javelinas	Boston Red Sox	Lowell Spinners 2018
Mears, Nick	Pitcher	Peoria Javelinas	Pittsburgh Pirates	West Virginia Black Bears 2018
Sanabria, Carlos	Pitcher	Peoria Javelinas	Houston Astros	Tri-City ValleyCats 2016
Delay, Jason	Catcher	Peoria Javelinas	Pittsburgh Pirates	West Virginia Black Bears 2017
Shaver, Colton	Catcher	Peoria Javelinas	Houston Astros	Tri-City ValleyCats 2017
Chatham, C.J.	Infielder	Peoria Javelinas	Boston Red Sox	Lowell Spinners 2016
Matijevic, J.J.	Infielder	Peoria Javelinas	Houston Astros	Tri-City ValleyCats 2017
Pena, Jeremy	Infielder	Peoria Javelinas	Houston Astros	Tri-City ValleyCats 2018
Duran, Jarren	Outfielder	Peoria Javelinas	Boston Red Sox	Lowell Spinners 2018
Oliva, Jared	Outfielder	Peoria Javelinas	Pittsburgh Pirates	West Virginia Black Bears 2017
Turgeon, Dave	Manager	Peoria Javelinas	Pittsburgh Pirates	Oneonta Yankees 1987; Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2001 (mgr.); State College Spikes 2011-12 (mgr.); Jamestown Jammers 2013 (mgr.)
Wimberly, Corey	Coach	Peoria Javelinas	Boston Red Sox	Lowell Spinners 2018 (manager)
Aiello, Vincenzo	Pitcher	Salt River Rafters	Miami Marlins	Batavia Muckdogs 2017
Carter, C.J.	Pitcher	Salt River Rafters	Miami Marlins	Batavia Muckdogs 2018
Chalmers, Dakota	Pitcher	Salt River Rafters	Minnesota Twins	Vermont Lake Monsters 2016
Strotman, Drew	Pitcher	Salt River Rafters	Tampa Bay Rays	Hudson Valley Renegades 2017
Valverde, Alex	Pitcher	Salt River Rafters	Tampa Bay Rays	Hudson Valley Renegades 2017
Vesia, Alex	Pitcher	Salt River Rafters	Miami Marlins	Batavia Muckdogs 2018
Beer, Seth	Infielder	Salt River Rafters	Arizona Diamondbacks	Tri-City ValleyCats 2018
Walls, Taylor	Infielder	Salt River Rafters	Tampa Bay Rays	Hudson Valley Renegades 2017
Encarnacion, Jerar	Outfielder	Salt River Rafters	Miami Marlins	Batavia Muckdogs 2018
Gilliam, Ryler	Pitcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	New York Mets	Brooklyn Cyclones 2018
Howard, Spencer	Pitcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	Philadephia Phillies	Williamsport Crosscutters 2017
Peterson, David	Pitcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	New York Mets	Brooklyn Cyclones 2017
Romero, JoJo	Pitcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	Philadephia Phillies	Williamsport Crosscutters 2016
Seabold, Connor	Pitcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	Philadephia Phillies	Williamsport Crosscutters 2017
Szapucki, Thomas	Pitcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	New York Mets	Brooklyn Cyclones 2016
Sanchez, Ali	Catcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	New York Mets	Brooklyn Cyclones 2016
Bohm, Alec	Infielder	Scottsdale Scorpions	Philadephia Phillies	Williamsport Crosscutters 2018
Carpio, Luis	Infielder	Scottsdale Scorpions	New York Mets	Brooklyn Cyclones 2016
Maton, Nick	Infielder	Scottsdale Scorpions	Philadephia Phillies	Williamsport Crosscutters 2017
Martin, Cezar	Manager	Scottsdale Scorpions	Toronto Blue Jays	Auburn Doubledays 2002
Bergesen, Brad	Pitching Coach	Scottsdale Scorpions	Philadephia Phillies	Aberdeen IronBirds 2005
Kline, Steve	Coach	Scottsdale Scorpions	San Francisco Giants	Watertown Indians 1993
Bies, Daniel	Pitcher	Surprise Saguaros	Texas Rangers	Staten Island Yankees 2018
Lee, Andrew	Pitcher	Surprise Saguaros	Washington Nationals	Auburn Doubledays 2015
Otto, Glenn	Pitcher	Surprise Saguaros	New York Yankees	Staten Island Yankees 2017
Raquet, Nick	Pitcher	Surprise Saguaros	Washington Nationals	Auburn Doubledays 2017
Sharpe, Sterling	Pitcher	Surprise Saguaros	Washington Nationals	Auburn Doubledays 2016, 2019 (rehab)
Wells, Alex	Pitcher	Surprise Saguaros	Baltimore Orioles	Aberdeen IronBirds 2016
Reetz, Jakson	Catcher	Surprise Saguaros	Washington Nationals	Auburn Doubledays 2015
McCoy, Mason	Infielder	Surprise Saguaros	Baltimore Orioles	Aberdeen IronBirds 2017
Wagner, Brandon	Infielder	Surprise Saguaros	New York Yankees	Staten Island Yankees 2015
Banks, Nick	Outfielder	Surprise Saguaros	Washington Nationals	Auburn Doubledays 2016
Joyce, Ken	Hitting Coach	Surprise Saguaros	New York Yankees	Utica Blue Sox 1998-99 (mgr.); Staten Island Yankees 2018-19 (Hitting Coach
Moore, Kyle	Coach	Surprise Saguaros	Baltimore Orioles	Aberdeen IronBirds 2011
Pardo, Larry	Coach	Surprise Saguaros	Washington Nationals	Utica Blue sox 1999 (Pitching Coach)
McGarity, Aaron	Pitcher	Surprise Saguaros	New York Yankees	Staten Island Yankees 2018-19
Stephen, Josh	Outfielder	Scottsdale Scorpions	Philadephia Phillies	Willamsport Crosscutters 2017
Warren, Zach	Pitcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	Philadephia Phillies	Williamsport Crosscutters 2017
Ramirez, Roel	Pitcher	Glendale Desert Dogs	St. Louis Cardinals	Hudson Valley Renegades 2015
Teaney, Jonathan	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Cleveland Indians	Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2017
Taylor, Blake	Pitcher	Scottsdale Scorpions	New York Mets	Brooklyn Cyclones 2015
Rosenblum-Larson, Simon	Pitcher	Salt River Rafters	Tampa Bay Rays	Hudson Valley Renegades 2018
Diehl, Phillip	Pitcher	Salt River Rafters	Colorado Rockies	Staten Island Yankees 2016
Gossett, Daniel	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Oakland Athletics	Vermont Lake Monsters 2014
Vest, Will	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Detroit Tigers	Connecticut Tigers 2017
Sulser, Beau	Pitcher	Peoria Javelinas	Pittsburgh Pirates	West Virginia Black Bears 2017
Alvarez, Manuel	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Cleveland Indians	Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2018
Angulo, Argenis	Pitcher	Mesa Solar Sox	Cleveland Indians	Mahoning Valley Scrappers 2016
Brujan, Vidal	Infielder	Salt River Rafters	Tampa Bay Rays	Hudson Valley Renegades 2016-17

Sources: Arizona Fall League, Minor League Baseball, Baseball Reference

New York-Penn League History is not affiliated in any way with Minor League Baseball, the New York-Penn League, or any of its teams.