August 31 Birthdays

Former New York-Penn League prospects who were born on this date.

Tom Dukes: Born in 1942. Played for the 1961 Auburn Yankees (7-5, 3.96 ERA). Pitched in the majors during 6 seasons with the Houston Astros (1967-68), San Diego Padres (1969-70), Baltimore Orioles (1971) and California Angels (1972).

Topps Co. via The Trading Card Database

Topps Co. via The Trading Card Database

Bill Nahorodny: Born in 1953. Played for the 1972 Auburn Phillies (.805 OPS). Played in the majors during 9 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (1976), Chicago White Sox (1977-79), Atlanta Braves (1980-81), Cleveland Indians (1982), Detroit Tigers (1983) and Seattle Mariners (1984).

Mike Hartley: Born in 1961. Pitched in 7 games for the Erie Cardinals in 1983 (1-3, 6.75 ERA). He played in the majors during 6 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1989-91), Philadelphia Phillies (1991-92), Minnesota Twins (1993), Boston Reds and Baltimore Orioles (1995).

Pat Howell: Born in 1968. Played for the 1989 Pittsfield Mets (.290/.318/.346). He played in 31 games for the New York Mets in 1992.

Gabe Kapler: Born in 1975. Played for the Jamestown Jammers in 1995. He played 12 seasons in the majors with the Detroit Tigers (1998-99), Texas Rangers (2000-2002), Colorado Rockies (2002-03), Boston Red Sox (2003-06), Milwaukee Brewers (2008) and Tampa Bay Ray (2009-10). He is currently in his second season as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Tim Drew: Born in 1978. Pitched in one game for the 1997 Watertown Indians. He pitched in the majors during 5 seasons for the Cleveland Indians (2000-01), Montreal Expos (2002-03) and Atlanta Braves (2004).

Ramon Santiago: Born in 1979. Played in 12 games for the 1999 Oneonta Tigers (.340/.377/.500). He played 13 seasons in the majors with the Detroit Tigers (2002-03, '06-'13), Seattle Mariners (2004-05) and Cincinnati Reds (2014).

Dennis Dove: Born in 1981. Played for the New Jersey Cardinals during two seasons (2003-04). He pitched in 3 games for the 2007 St. Louis Cardinals.

Matt Adams: Born in 1988. Played for the 2009 Batavia Muckdogs (.917 OPS). He is in his 8th major league season and is currently playing for the Washington Nationals.

Erik Gonzalez: Born in 1991. Played in 60 games for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2012. He is in his fourth major league season and is currently with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Dillion Peters: Born in 1992. Pitched for the 2015 Batavia Muckdogs (1-4, 3.60 ERA). He is in his third major league season and is currently playing for the Los Angeles Angels.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

August 30 Birthdays

The following former New York-Penn League prospects were born on this date.

Carmen Fanzone: Born in 1941. Played in 82 games for the 1964 Wellsville Red Sox (21 HR, 71 RBI, .386/.472/.693). Fanzone played in the majors during five seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1970) and Chicago Cubs (1971-74). He was an accomplished jazz musician after he retired from baseball.

Credits: Topps Co via The Trading Card Database

Credits: Topps Co. via The Trading Card Database

Tug McGraw: Born in 1944. Pitched in 3 games for the 1964 Auburn Mets (1-2, 1.89 ERA). He pitched for 19 seasons in the majors with the New York Mets (1965-67, 1969-74) and Philadelphia Phillies (1975-84). He died on January 5, 2004, at the age of 59.

Willie Mueller: Born in 1956. Played for the 1974 Newark (NY) Co-Pilots (7 games, 15 IP, 0-0, 6.00 ERA). He pitched in the majors during two seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers (1978, '81). He portrayed a New York Yankees pitcher (The Duke) in movie Major League.

Credits: Miller Brewing via The Trading Card Database

Andy Cook: Born in 1967. Pitched for the Oneonta Yankees in 1988 (8-4, 3.62 ERA). Cook pitched in 4 games for the 1993 New York Yankees.

Jose Herrera: Born in 1972. Played in 3 games for the St. Catharines Blue Jays in 1991 (.333/.455/.444). He played for the Oakland Athletics during the 1995 and 1996 seasons.

Marlon Byrd: Born in 1977. Played for the 1999 Batavia Muckdogs (13 HR, 50 RBI, .296/.376/.535). He played 15 seasons in the majors with the Philadephia Phillies (2002-05, '14), Washington Nationals (2005-06), Texas Rangers (2007-09), Chicago Cubs (2010-12), Boston Red Sox (2012), New York Mets (2013), Pittsburgh Pirates (2013), Cincinnati Reds (2015), San Francisco Giants (2015), Cleveland Indians (2016).

Russ Adams: Born in 1980. Played in 30 games for the 2002 Auburn Doubledays (.354/.464/.469). He played for the Toronto Blue Jays during 5 seasons (2004-07, '09).

Roberto Hernandez: Born in 1980. Played in 3 games for the 2002 Mahoning Valley Scrappers. He pitched in majors during 11 seasons for the Cleveland Indians (2006-12), Tampa Bay Rays (2013), Philadelphia Phillies (2014), Los Angeles Dodgers (2014), Houston Astros (2015), and Atlanta Braves (2016).

Billy Burns: Born in 1989. Played for the 2011 Auburn Doubledays (.722 OPS). He has played in the majors during 4 seasons with the Oakland Athletics (2014-16) and the Kansas City Royals (2016-17). He is currently assigned to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRoaders.

Shane Carle: Born in 1991. Pitched for the Jamestown Jammers in 2013 (1-0, 2.15 ERA). He has played in the majors during 3 seasons with the Colorado Rockies (2017) and Atlanta Braves (2018-19) and is currently assigned to the AAA Nashville Sounds in the Texas Rangers organization.

Taylor Hearn: Born in 1994. Pitched for the 2015 Auburn Doubledays (1-5, 3.98 ERA). Currently on the 60 Day Injured List with the Texas Rangers.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

New York-Penn League Prospects who made it to the Majors: Randy Lerch

Credits: Topps Co via The Trading Card Database

Randy Lerch was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 8th round of the 1973 draft and assigned to the Auburn Phillies in the New York-Penn League. Lerch pitched in 16 games for Auburn (9-2, 2.91 ERA).

He made his major league debut in 1975, appearing in three games with the Philadelphia Phillies. He pitched in the majors for 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (1975-80, ’86), Milwaukee Brewers (1981-82), Montreal Expos (1982-83), San Francisco Giants (1983-84).

Source: Baseball Reference

NY-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 Prospect's Birthdays on August 28

Credits: Topps via The Trading Card Database

Tony Gonzalez: Born in 1936 in Central Cunagua, Cuba. Played in the New York-Penn League in 1957 with the Bradford Beagles/Hornell Redlegs (22 HR, .275 BA). He played 12 seasons in the majors with the Cincinnati Reds (1960), Philadelphia Phillies (1960-68), San Diego Padres (1969), Atlanta Braves (1969-70) and California Angels (1970-71). Read a complete bio at SABR Bio Project.

Tom Shearn: Born in 1977. Played for the 1997 Auburn Doubledays (14 games, 82.1 IP, 4-6, 3.50 ERA). He pitched in the majors for seven games for the 2007 Cincinnati Reds (3-0, 4.96 ERA).

Credit: Choice via The Trading Card Database

T.J. Beam: Born in 1980. Played for the Staten Island Yankees (2003-04). Beam pitched in the majors during two seasons with the New York Yankees (2006) and Pittsburgh Pirates (2008).

Ryan Madson: Born in 1980. Played for the 1999 Batavia Muckdogs (5-5, 4.72 ERA). He pitched 13 seasons in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies (2003-11), Kansas City Royals (2015), Oakland Athletics (2016-17), Washington Nationals (2017-18) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2018).

Matt Dominguez: Born in 1989. Played for the Jamestown Jammers in 2007. He played five seasons in the major leagues with the Florida Marlins (2011), Houston Astros (2012-14) and Toronto Blue Jays (2016).

Kelvin Gutierrez: Born in 1994. Played during two seasons with the Auburn Doubledays (2015-16). He played in 20 games with the Kansas City Royal in 2019, and is currently assigned to the Omaha Storm Chasers in the AAA Pacific Coast League.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

New York Penn League Prospect's Birthdays on August 27

Credits: Topps Co via The Trading Card Database

Credits: Topps Co via The Trading Card Database

Joe McCabe: Born in 1938. Played in the New York-Penn League in 1960 for the Erie Sailors (69 games, 3 HR, 42 RBI, .235/.375/.366). Played in 28 games in the majors over two seasons for the Minnesota Twins (1964) and Washington Senators (1965). After he retired from baseball, he was a pilot for PanAm for several years.

Ray Peters: Born in 1946 (died May 4, 2019). Graduate of Harvard University. Pitched for the Newark (NY) Co-Pilots in 1969 (4 games/19 IP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA, 8 BB, 23 SO). He pitched in 2 games for the 1970 Milwaukee Brewers (0-2, 31.50 ERA).

Mike Edwards: Born in 1952. Played for the 1974 Niagara Falls Pirates (69 games, 3 HR, 28 RBI, .313/.362/.436). Played in the majors during four seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1977) and Oakland Athletics (1978-80).

Willie Smith: Born in 1967. Played for the 1987 Watertown Pirates (4-1, 2.49 ERA). Pitched in eight games for the 1994 St. Louis Cardinals (101, 9.00 ERA).

Credits: TriStar via The Trading Card Database

Jordy Mercer: Born in 1986. Played in six games for the 2008 State College Spikes. Has played eight seasons in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2012-18) and Detroit Tigers (2019).

Seth Frankoff: Born in 1988. Pitched for the Vermont Lake Monsters in 2011 (14 games, 73 IP, 6-3, 2.34 ERA, 27 BB, 63 SO). He pitched in 1 game for the 2017 Chicago Cubs.

Nick Tropeano: Born in 1990. Pitched for the Tri-City ValleyCats in 2011 (12 games, 53.1 IP, 3-2, 2.36 ERA, 21 BB, 63 SO). He has pitched in the majors for five seasons with the Houston Astros (2014) and Los Angeles Angels (2015-16, '18-'19).

Patrick Wisdom: Born in 1991. Played for the Batavia Muckdogs in 2012 (65 games, 6 HR, 32 RBI, .282/.373/.465). He has played in the majors with the Texas Rangers during two seasons (2018-19).

Sam Travis: Born in 1993. Played in 40 games for the 2014 Lowell Spinners (4 HR, 30 RBI, .333/.364/.448). He has played three seasons in the majors (2017-19).


Source: Baseball Reference

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

New York-Penn League Birthdays: August 26

Credits: Bowman via The Trading Card Database

Happy 94th Birthday to former PONY (New York-Penn since 1957) League prospect Billy DeMars (Olean Oilers, 1943). DeMars went on to play in the majors for the Philadelphia Athletics (1948) and St. Louis Browns (1950-51). He managed in the minor leagues for several years and coached for the Philadelphia Phillies (1969-81,  Montreal Expos (1982-84) and Cincinnati Reds (1985-87.

Credits: Topps Co via The Trading Card Database

Happy 78th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Fred Wenz (Olean Red Sox, 1961). Wenz played three seasons in the majors with the Boston Red Sox (1968-69) and Philadelphia Phillies (1970).

Source: Baseball Reference

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

New York-Penn League Prospects who made it to the Major Leagues: Ken Hunt

Credit: Topps Co.

The New York Yankees signed Ken Hunt in 1952 out of high school. He received a $10,000 signing bonus and was assigned to the Olean Yankees in the PONY (New York-Penn since 1957), where he batted .500 in 30 games before being promoted to Joplin Miners in the Western Association.

He spent the 1955 and '56 seasons in the Army and returned to organized baseball in 1957. He played two seasons with the New York Yankees (1959-60) before being drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in 1960 expansion draft.

Hunt played for the Los Angeles Angels during three seasons (1961-63) before finishing out his major league career with the Washington Senators during the 1963 and '64 seasons.

After baseball, he had a brief acting career before being employed in the aerospace industry in Southern California. He died of a heart attack in 1997 at the age of 62.

Sources: Baseball Reference; SABR Bio Project

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

New York-Penn League prospects who made it to the major leagues: Ike Brown

Credit: Topps Co.

The Detroit Tigers obtained Ike Brown in 1962 from the Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League. He played in nine games with the Jamestown Tigers during the 1962 season (.273/.385/.394, 1 HR, 6 RBI).

After advancing thru the minor leagues, Brown made his major league debut with Detroit in 1969. He played six seasons with the Tigers and was released on October 8, 1974.

Brown died on May 19, 2001 in Memphis, Tennessee at the age of 59.



Source: Baseball Reference

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

Birthdays on August 22

Credit: Pro Cards

Former New York-Penn League (NYPL) prospects and managers who were born on August 22:

Luke Owens: Born in 1923 in Buffalo, New York. Died on November 19, 2010. Played in the PONY (NYPL since 1957) for the Lockport Cubs and Bradford Bees in 1942, and Batavia Clippers in 1943, before entering military service during World War II.

Gary Beare: Born in 1952 in San Diego, California. Pitched in the NYPL for the Newark Co-Pilots in 1974 (4-4, 4.38 ERA). Played two seasons in the majors with the Milwaukee Brewers (1976-77).

Mark Gilbert: Born in 1956 in Atlanta, Georgia. Played for the Geneva Cubs in the NYPL in 1978 (.338/.444/.407). He played in seven games for the 1985 Chicago White Sox. 

Gary Scott: Born in 1968 in New Rochelle, New York. Played for the Geneva Cubs in 1989 (.280/.385/.520). Played in 67 games for the Chicago Cubs (1991-92).

Steve Kline: Born in 1972 in Sunbury, Pennsylvania. Played for the Watertown Indians in 1993 (5-4, 3.19 ERA). He pitched in the majors for 11 seasons for the Cleveland Indians (1997), Montreal Expos (1997-2000), St. Louis Cardinals (2001-04), Baltimore Orioles (2005), and San Francisco Giants (2006-07).

Dusty Wathan: Born in 1972 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was the manager for the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2008. Prior to managing in the minor leagues, he played in three games for the 2002 Kansas City Royals.

Jeff Weaver: Born in 1976 in Northridge, California. Pitched for the Jamestown Jammers in 1998 (1-0, 1.50 ERA). Played in the majors during 11 seasons for the Detroit Tigers (1999-2002), New York Yankees (2003-04), Los Angeles Dodgers (2004-05; 2009-10), Los Angeles Angels and St. Louis Cardinals (2006), and Seattle Mariners (2007).

Randy Wolfe: Born in 1976 in Canoga, California. Pitched for the 1997 Batavia Clippers (4-0, 1.58 ERA). Played in the majors for 16 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (1999-2006), Los Angeles Dodgers (2007, '09), San Diego Padres and Houston Astros (2008), Milwaukee Brewers (2010-12), Baltimore Orioles (2012), Miami Marlins (2014), and Detroit Tigers (2015).

Miguel Negron: Born in 1982 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. Played for the Auburn Doubledays in 2001 (.253/314/.312). Played in the minor leagues for 12 seasons.

Jhon Florentino: Born in 1983 in Azua, Dominican Republic. Played for the Tri-City ValleyCats in 2006 (.221/.282/.347). Played in the minor leagues for six seasons.

David Huff: Born in 1984 in Huntington Beach, California. Played for the 2006 Mahoning Valley Scrappers (0-1, 5.87 ERA). Pitched in the majors for eight seasons with the Cleveland Indians (2009-13), New York Yankees (2013-14), San Francisco Giants (2014), Los Angeles Dodgers (2015), and Los Angeles Angels (2016).

Sandy Rosario: Born in 1985 in Salcedo, Dominican Republic. Pitched for the Jamestown Jammers in 2009 (4-2, 1.70 ERA). He pitched in the majors for four seasons with the Florida/Miami Marlins (2010-12) and San Francisco Giants (2013).

Karexon Sanchez: Born in 1987 in Caracas, Venezuela. Played in 11 games for the 2007 Mahoning Valley Scrappers (.333/.488/.515). He played six seasons in the minors.

Kurt Yacko: Born in 1987 in Costa Mesa, California. Played for the Jamestown Jammers in 2013 (2-1, 3.18 ERA). Played six seasons in the minor leagues.

Kurt Wunderlich: Born in 1989 in Des Peres, Missouri. Pitched for two seasons with the Vermont Lake Monsters (2011-12).

Ryan Carpenter: Born in 1990 in Glendale, Arizona. Pitched for the 2011 Hudson Valley Renegades (2-1, 0.76 ERA). He has pitched for the Detroit Tigers during the 2018 and '19 seasons and is currently assigned to the Toledo Mudhens.

Drew Hutchison: Born in 1990 in Lakeland, Florida. Pitched for the 2010 Auburn Doubledays. Has played in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays (2012, '14-'16, '18), Pittsburgh Pirates (2016), Philadelphia Phillies & Texas Rangers (2018). He is currently pitching for the AAA Salt Lake Bee.

Logan Moore: Born in 1990 in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Played in 38 games for the 2012 Williamsport Crosscutters. Spent eight seasons in the minor league advancing to AAA.

Colton Eastman: Born in 1996 in Fresno, California. Played for the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2018 (0-2, 3.00 ERA). Currently assigned to the Reading Fightin Phils in the AA Eastern League.

Source: Baseball Reference

Photo: The Trading Card Data Base

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

Update: Average Attendance in the New York-Penn League, 2005 to 2019 All-Star Break

Monongalia County Ballpark - Granville, WV (August 8, 2019)

Here is an update of my posts on July 14, and August 1, 2019, regarding attendance figures in the New York-Penn League. The regular season concludes on September 2, so the averages won't move much.

The New York-Penn League provides some the most cost effective, family entertainment available. Here is a link to ticket information to a game near you. Link

	2019	2018	2017	2016	2015	2010	2005
Aberdeen	3,157	3,483	3,964	4,031	4,216	6,548	6,309
Auburn	1,075	1,204	1,281	1,427	1,408	1,535	1,835
Batavia	1,120	784	806	811	921	1,017	1,127
Brooklyn	4,689	5,329	5,190	5,614	6,234	7,147	7,522
Connecticut	1,798	2,049	2,225	2,291	2,311	1,486	1,296#
Hudson Valley	4,104	4,004	3,998	4,231	4,426	4,415	4,526
Lowell	3,075	3,381	3,516	3,782	3,796	5,446	5,000
Mahoning Valley	2,856	2,700	2,997	2,632	3,002	3,015	4,159
State College	3,146	3,243	3,247	3,313	3,363	3,709	3,030*
Staten Island	1,870	2,083	2,040	2,250	3,221	5,806	4,204
Tri-City	3,766	4,119	4,083	4,281	4,269	4,314	3,241
Vermont	2,213	2,209	2,362	2,332	2,243	2,524	2,876
West Virginia	1,644	1,827	2,029	2,188	2,265	1,213**	1,442**
Williamsport	1,919	1,902	1,797	1,727	1,780	1,774	2,086

#team located in Oneonta, New York
*team located in Augusta, New Jersey
**team located in Jamestown, New York

Source: MiLB.com

Photo: New York-Penn League History

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