Today's Birthday: Paul Toth (Hamilton Cardinals, 1955)

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Paul Toth was born on this date in 1935. He pitched for the Hamilton Cardinals in 1955 (7-7, 3.83 ERA).

He played in the majors during three seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (1962) and Chicago Cubs (1962-64), finishing with a career record of 9-12 and a 3.80 ERA.

After his baseball career, Toth worked for a beer distributor.

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: Bobby Morgan (Olean Oilers, 1944)

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Happy 94th Birthday to former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Bobby Morgan! He played in 105 games for the 1944 Olean Oilers (.254/.371/.373; 6 HR, 63 RBI).

Morgan played in the major leagues during 8 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers (1950, '52-'53), Philadelphia Phillies (1954-56, '57), St. Louis Cardinals (1956), Chicago Cubs (1957-58).

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: Greg Sims (Batavia Pirates, 1965)

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Happy 74th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Greg Sims. He appeared in 85 games for the 1965 Batavia Pirates (.302/.421/.473, 7 HR, 48 RBI).

Sims played in 7 games for the Houston Astros in 1966.

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: Elmo Plaskett (Jamestown Falcons, 1957)

Credits: Pittsburgh Press via Newspapers.com

Former New York-Penn League prospect Elmo Plaskett was born on this date in 1938. He appeared in 27 games for the 1957 Jamestown Falcons.

Plaskett played for the Pittsburgh Pirates during two seasons (1962-63).

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: Bill Robinson (Wellsville Braves, 1961)

Credits: Topp Co. via Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Bill Robinson was born on this date in 1943.

Robinson played in 67 games for the Wellsville Braves in 1961 (.239/.306/.355, 2 HR, 25 RBI).

He spent 16 seasons in the major leagues, playing for the Atlanta Braves (1966), New York Yankees (1967-69), Philadelphia Phillies (1972-74, 1982-83) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1975-82)

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 on June 25, 1959

Geneva and Elmira split doubleheader. Erie and Corning win.

Source: Wellsville Daily Reporter via Newspapers.com

NY-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: Jack Banta

Credits: Bowman Gum Co via Trading Card Database

Former PONY League prospect (1944 Olean Oilers) and manager (1953 Hornell Dodgers) Jack Banta was born on this date in 1925.

Banta pitched for the Brooklyn Dodgers during four seasons (1947-50).

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: Karl Spooner (1951 Hornell Dodgers)

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn League) prospect Karl Spooner was born on this date in 1931. He pitched for the Hornell Dodgers in 1951 (10-12, 4.18 ERA).

He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 and '55 and finished his major league career with a record of 10-6 and a 3.09 ERA. He appeared in two games during the 1955 World Series.

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: Jake Wood (Erie Sailors)

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Happy 83rd Birthday to former New York Penn League prospect Jake Wood. He played for the Erie Sailors in 1957.

Wood played in the major leagues for 7 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1961-67) and Cincinnati Reds (1967).

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.

Today's Birthday: Charlie Moore

Credits: Gardner's Bread via Trading Card Database

Happy 67th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Charlie Moore. He played for the 1971 Newark Co-Pilots.

Moore played in the major leagues during 15 seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers (1973-86) and Toronto Blue Jays (1987).

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.

Today's Birthday: Clem Koshorek

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Former PONY League prospect Clem Koshorek was born on this date in 1925. He played for the Jamestown Falcons in 1946.

Koshorek played in 98 games for the 1952 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1 game for the Pirates in 1953.

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.

News from the New York-Penn League (June 19, 1958)

The Olean Oilers ends Corning's win streak at 7 games.

Source: Wellsville Daily Reporter via Newspapers.com

NY-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: Paul Brown

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Happy 79th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Paul Brown. He pitched for the 1960 Elmira Pioneers (11-9, 3.95 ERA).

He played for the Philadelphia Phillies during four seasons (1961-63, '68), appearing in a total of 36 games (0-8, 6.00 ERA).

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.

Today's Birthday: Victor Mata

Credits: TCMA via Trading Card Database

Happy 59th birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Victor Mata. He played two seasons for the Oneonta Yankees (1978-79).

He went on to play for the New York Yankees in a total of 36 games during the 1984 and '85 seasons.

Mata managed in the Dominican Summer League in 1992 and '93 and has worked as a scout for the New York Yankees.

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.

News from the New York-Penn League on June 16, 1960

It was "cliff hanger" night in the New York-Penn League.

Source: Ithaca Journal via Newspapers.com

NY-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: Gene Baker

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League manager Gene Baker was born on this date in 1925. Baker managed the Batavia Pirates in 1961 (47-35) and 1964 (33-97). He was the first black minor league manager with an affiliated team.

Baker played in the majors for 8 seasons with the Chicago Cubs (1953-57) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1957-58, '60-'61).

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.

News from the PONY League on June 14, 1944

The Erie Sailors defeated the Wellsville Yankees last night 6-1 behind strong pitching from John Tramelli.

Source: Scranton Times-Tribune via Newspapers.com

NY-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: Bob Strampe

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

Photo Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

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.

News from the PONY League on June 12, 1953

League officials decide not to extend season despite several rainouts early in the season.

Source: Lancaster (Pennsylvania) Intelligencer via Newspapers.com

NY-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 June 11, 1946

The Bradford Blue Wings win both games of a doubleheader over the Batavia Clippers before 1,065 fans.

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

NY-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: Alex Konikowski

Credit: Society for American Baseball Research

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Alex Konikowski was born on this date in 1928. He played for two seasons in the PONY League with the Erie Sailors (1944-45).

Konikowski pitched for the New York Giants during three seasons (1948, '51 & '54), finishing his major league career with a 2-3 win/loss record and a 6.93 ERA in 35 games.

After his baseball career was over, he worked as a plumber and died on September 27, 1997 at the age of 69.

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.

News from the PONY (New York-Penn) League on June 5, 1939

The Batavia Clippers and Jamestown Pirates split a doubleheader yesterday before 1,000 fans.

Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle via Newspapers.com

NY-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: Frank Verdi

Credits: The Wiz via Trading Card Database

Former PONY prospect (1946 Wellsville Yankees) and New York-Penn League manager (1966 Binghamton Triplets and 1967 Oneonta Yankees) Frank Verdi was born on this date in 1926.

Verdi appeared in one game for the New York Yankees in 1953.

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.

Today's Birthday: Hal Smith

Note: This was first posted on June 1, 2019. How time flies when you are having fun.

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Cards Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn League) prospect Hal Smith was born on this date in 1931, in Barling, Arkansas. He was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1949 and played in 79 games in the PONY League for the 1950 Hamilton Cardinals.

Smith went on to play six seasons in the majors with the St. Louis Cardinals 1956-61 and was a National League All-Star in 1957 and 1959. He played in four games while coaching for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1965.

Smith died on April 12, 2014, in Fort Smith, Arkansas at the age of 82.

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.