Today's Birthday: Tippy Martinez

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Happy 70th birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Tippy Martinez. Martinez played in two games for the 1972 Oneonta Yankees (1-0, 2.00 ERA).

He went on to play in the majors for 14 seasons with the New York Yankees (1974-76), Baltimore Orioles (1976-86) and Minnesota Twins (1988). He was a 1983 All-Star and appeared in two World Series (1979, '83).

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: John Felske

Credits: Tastykake via Trading Card Database

Happy 78th birthday to former New York-Penn League manager John Felske. He managed the 1974 Newark (New York) Co-Pilots to a 30-36 record and a 5th place finish.

Felske played in the major leagues during three seasons (Chicago Cubs, 1968 and Milwaukee Brewers, 1972-73) and later managed the Philadelphia Phillies for three seasons (1985-87).

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: Williard Schmidt

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Willard Schmidt was born on this date in 1928. Schmidt pitched for the 1949 Hamilton Cardinals, winning 22 games (9 losses) and had a 2.91 ERA.

Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

He played in the majors for seven seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals (1952-53, '55-'57) and Cincinnati Reds (1958-59). According to Baseball Reference, "Willard Schmidt was the first known player to get hit by a pitch twice in the same inning by two different pitchers. It happened on April 26, 1959, playing for the Cincinnati Redlegs when Bob Rush and Lew Burdette of the Milwaukee Braves hit him."

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.

News from the New York-Penn League: May 28, 1962

The Batavia Pirates swept the Auburn Mets in a doubleheader yesterday, 9-3 and 5-2. Ron Woods homered for Batavia.

Source: The Evening Times (Sayre, Pennsylvania) via Newspapers.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.

Today's Birthday: George O'Donnell

Credits: Darigold Farms via Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect George O'Donnell was born on this date in 1929. He pitched for the 1949 Olean Oilers (6-10, 3.49 ERA).

O'Donnell pitched in 29 games for the 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates (3-9, 4.53 ERA).

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.

News from the PONY (New York-Penn) League on May 27, 1944

Errors in loss to Lockport cause Erie to drop out of first place. Jamestown, Olean and Hornell all win.

Source: Elmira Star-Gazette via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn League: May 26, 1962

New York-Penn League teams went on a rampage last night, scoring 55 runs on 65 hits in the three games scheduled.

Source: The Evening Times (Sayre, Pennsylvania) via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn League on May 25, 1959: Three games rained out over the weekend

Source: Wellsville Daily Reporter via Newspapers.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.

Today's Birthday - May 24: Milt Jordan

Credits: Glendale Hot Dogs via The Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Milt Jordan was born on this date in 1927.

Jordan pitched for the Jamestown Falcons in 1948 (14-6, 3.10 ERA) and played in 8 games for the 1953 Detroit Tigers.

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.

On this date in PONY (New York-Penn) League History: May 22, 1940

Batavia leads the PONY League with a 10-1 record, 4 games up on the Olean Oilers.

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record via Newspapers.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.

On this date in New York-Penn League History: May 20, 1961

Sinkewicz sinks the Sailors. The Batavia Pirates defeat Erie.

Source: The Evening News (Sayre, PA) via Newspapers.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.

This date in New York-Penn History: May 19, 1962

The Geneva Redlegs win their 9th in the last 10 games, defeating the Auburn Mets 4-3.

Source: Wellsville Daily Reporter via Newspapers.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.

Today's Birthday: Mike Modak

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Mike Modak was born on this date in 1922.

Source: Indiana University Archives

Modak spent two seasons in the PONY League playing for the Hornell Maples, Jamestown Falcons and Wellsville Yankees in 1943 and the Wellsville Yankees in 1944.

He pitched in 20 games for the 1945 Cincinnati Reds, finishing his major league career with a 1-2 record and a 5.74 ERA.

Source: Baseball Reference

Today's Birthday: Danny Monzon

Former New York-Penn League prospect and manager Danny Monzon was born on this date in 1946 in the Bronx, New York.

Monzon played for the Auburn Twins in the New York-Penn League during the 1967 season. He went on to play for Minnesota Twins for two seasons (1972-73).

Source: TCMA via The Trading Card Database

After his playing days were over, Monzon managed for five seasons in the minor leagues including one season (1980) in the New York-Penn League with the Little Falls Mets.

He died in an automobile accident on January 21, 1996 at the age of 49.

Source: Baseball Reference

News from the New York-Penn League on May 16, 1957

New York-Penn League president Vince McNamara announced that the Bradford franchise has been recalled because the team failed to meet its financial obligation.

(Note: The franchise located to Hornell later in May and became an affiliate of the Cincinnati Redlegs)

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record via Newspapers.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.

News from the PONY League on May 15, 1941

The 1941 Bees could be best team ever assembled in Bradford.

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record via Newspapers.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.

News from the PONY (New York-Penn League) on May 13, 1950

Hamilton Cardinals defeat Bradford Phillies, 6-3.

Source: Bradford Era via Newspapers.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.

News from the PONY (New York-Penn) League on May 12, 1942

Bradford Bees trounce Hornell 17-6. Jametown moves in second place with win over Wellsville 10-4. Batavia defeats Hamilton 5-4.

Source: Olean Times Herald via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn League on May 8, 1967

New York-Penn League opening day is June 23. Teams will play an 80 game schedule and there will be no playoffs or championship series.

Source: Pottstown Mercury via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn League on May 7, 1972

Baseball's first woman umpire to debut in the New York-Penn League on June 23.

Source: Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, Arizona) via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn League on May 6, 1961

Geneva Redlegs wins fourth in a row. Jamestown Tigers defeat Elmira Pioneers.

Source: Sayre Evening Times via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn League on May 5, 1958

The Erie Sailors snapped a three losing streak last night by defeating the Auburn Yankees 7-4.

Source: Kingston Daily Freeman via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn League on May 4, 1963

Wellsville Red Sox move into tie for first place with win over Erie. Red Sox home opener is scheduled for tomorrow.

Source: Wellsville Daily Reporter via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn League on May 3, 1961

Snow causes postponement of  Batavia-Auburn game.

Source: Elmira Advertiser via Newspapers.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.

News from the New York-Penn on May 2, 1959

Batavia defeats Elmira, 10-6 to take over first place in New York-Penn League.

Source: Wellsville Daily Reporter via Newspapers.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.

News from the PONY (New York-Penn) League on May 1, 1939

Inaugural PONY League season to open on May 10. Bradford Bees prepare for opening day game against Olean Dodgers.

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record via Newspapers.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.