Today’s Birthday: Derek Lee (Utica Blue Sox, 1988)

Credits: Bill Pucko via Trading Card Database

Happy 55th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Derek Lee. He played for the 1988 Utica Blue Sox.

Lee played in 15 games for the 1993 Minnesota Twins. After his playing career, he worked as a scout for the Texas Rangers.

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 Knox (Batavia Trojans, 1970)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 73rd Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect John Knox. He played in 70 games for the 1970 Batavia Trojans.

Knox spent four seasons with Detroit Tigers (1972-75), playing in a total of 124 games and retiring with a career batting average of .274. He is the father of Michael Knox, who pitched in the New York Yankees organization.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Rob Lukachyk (Utica Blue Sox, 1988)

Pucko Cards & Trading Card Database

Happy 53rd Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Rob Lukachyk. He played for the 1988 Utica Blue Sox.

Lukachyk appeared in two games for the Montreal Expos, batting twice and striking out once.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today’s Birthday: Hank Allen (Elmira Pioneers, 1960-61)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy 81st Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Hank Allen. He played for the Elmira Pioneers during two seasons (1960-61).

Allen played in the majors for 7 seasons with the Washington Senators (1966-70), Milwaukee Brewers (1970) and Chicago White Sox (1972-73).

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today’s Birthday: R.C. Stevens (Batavia Clippers, 1952)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect R.C. Stevens was born on this date in 1934. He appeared in 110 games for the 1952 Batavia Clippers (.246/.246/.338).

Stevens played in the majors during four seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1958-60) and Washington Senators (1961).

He died on November 30, 2010, at the age of 76.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Mike Cubbage, Geneva Senators (1971) & Little Falls Mets (1983)

Kahn's Meats & Trading Card Database

Happy 71st birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect (Geneva Senators, 1971) and manager (Little Falls Mets, 1983) Mike Cubbage.

He played in the majors for 8 seasons and managed the 1991 New York Mets for 7 games.

Cubbage is currently special assistant to Washington Nationals president of baseball operations and general manager Mike Rizzo.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Curt Kaufman (Oneonta Yankees, 1979)

Donruss & Trading Card Database

Happy 64th birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Curt Kaufman. He pitched for the Oneonta Yankees in 1979 (4-1, 0.90 ERA)

Kaufman played in the majors during three seasons for the New York Yankees (1982-83) and California Angels (1984).

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Butch Edge, Newark Co-Pilots (1974)

Topps Co & Trading Card Database

Happy 65th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Claude "Butch" Edge. He played for the 1974 Newark Co-Pilots.

Edge pitched in 9 games for the Toronto Blue Jays in 1979 (3-4, 5.23 ERA).

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today’s Birthday: Bobby Thigpen (Niagara Falls Sox, 1985)

Donruss & Trading Card Database

Happy 58th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Bobby Thigpen. He played for the Niagara Falls Sox in 1985.

Thigpen pitched in the major leagues for 9 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1986-93), Philadelphia Phillies (1993), and Seattle Mariners (1994).

After his playing career, he managed in the minors and coached in the minor and major leagues.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Len Okrie (Lockport White Sox, 1942; Corning Cor/Red Sox (manager), 1959-60)

 

Society of American Baseball Research

 

Former PONY/New York-Penn League prospect and manager Len Okrie was born on this date in 1923. He played for the Lockport White Sox in 1942, and after his playing career, returned to the New York-Penn League to manage the Corning Cor-Sox (1959) and Red Sox (1960).

Okrie played 42 games in the majors over four seasons with the Washington Senators (1948; '50-'51) and Boston Red Sox (1952).

He died on April 12, 2018, at the age of 94.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Donn Clendenon (Jamestown Falcons, 1957)

Kahn's Wieners & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Donn Clendenon was born on this date in 1935. He played for the Jamestowns Falcons in 1957.

Clendenon went on to a 12 year major league career, playing for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1961-68), Montreal Expos (1969), New York Mets (1969-71), and St. Louis Cardinals (1972).

After retiring from baseball, he attented law school at Duquesne University and practiced law in Dayton, Ohio. He died on September 17, 2005 at the age of 70.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Ken Hunt, Olean Yankees (1952)

Leaf & Trading Card Database

 

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Ken Hunt was born on this date in 1934. He was a 17 year old rookie with the 1952 Olean Yankees.

He played in the majors during 6 seasons with the New York Yankees (1959-60), Los Angeles Angels (1961-63) and Washington Senators (1963-64).

He died on June 8, 1997 at the age of 62. 

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Mike Page, Corning Cor-Sox (1959)

Atlanta Braves & Trading Card Database

 

Happy 81st Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Mike Page. He played for the 1959 Corning Cor-Sox.

Page appeared in 20 games for the 1968 Atlanta Braves.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

News from the PONY League on July 9, 1941

Source: Bradford Evening Star & Daily Record and newspapers.com

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

 

Today's Birthday: Jerry Dybzinski, Batavia Trojans (1977)

Cleveland Indians & Trading Card Database

Happy 66th birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Jerry Dybzinski. He played in 58 games for the 1977 Batavia Trojans.

He played in the majors during 6 seasons with the Cleveland Indians (1980-82), Chicago White Sox (1983-84) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1985).

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Lance Johnson, Erie Cardinals (1984)

Credits: Donruss via Trading Cards

Happy 58th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Lance Johnson. He played in 71 games for the 1984 Erie Cardinals.

Johnson played in the major leagues during 14 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals (1987), Chicago White Sox (1988-95), New York Mets (1996-97), Chicago Cubs (1997-99) and New York Yankees (2000).

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

Today's Birthday: Don DeMola, Oneonta Yankees (1971)

O-Pee-Chee & Trading Card Database

Happy 69th birthday to former New York-Penn League propsect Don DeMola. He pitched for the Oneonta Yankees during the 1971 season.

He pitched for the Montreal Expos during the 1974 and '75 seasons, finishing his major league career with a 5-7 record and a 3.77 ERA.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

New York-Penn League News: July 3, 1990

 Source: Binghamton Press and Sun Bulletin and newspapers.com

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

 

Today's Birthday: Billy Rohr, Wellsville Red Sox (1964)

 

Boston Red Sox & Trading Card Database

Happy 76th Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Billy Rohr. He pitched for the 1964 Wellsville Red Sox.

Rohr played for the Boston Red Sox (1967) and Cleveland Indians (1968). He is remembered for almost pitching a no-hitter against the New York Yankees on April 14, 1967 (link to boxscore).

After his playing days he worked as an attorney.

Sources: Baseball Reference,  Society for American Baseball Research, Retrosheet.org

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