PONY League: June 28, 1939

Bradford Baby Bees upcoming schedule. Box seats only 65 cents!

 

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record & 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: Clay Christiansen, Oneonta Yankees (1980)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (64th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Clay Christiansen. He played for the 1980 Oneonta Yankees.

Christiansen pitched in 24 games for the New York Yankees in 1984.

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: June 27, 1939

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record & 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: Roy Johnson, Jamestown Expos (1980)

Donruss & Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Roy Johnson was born on this date in 1959. He played for the 1980 Jamestown Expos.

Johnson went on to play in 36 games for the Montreal Expos during three seasons (1982, '84-'85). 

He died of a heart attack on January 26, 2009, at the age of 49.

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 the PONY League: June 26, 1939

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record & 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: Steve Bowling, Newark Co-Pilots (1974)

Miller Brewing & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (70th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Steve Bowling. He played for the 1974 Newark Co-Pilots.

Bowling played for the Milwaukee Brewers (1976), and Toronto Blue Jays (1977).

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

PONY League News: June 19, 1939

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record & 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: Craig Smastria, Niagara Falls Sox (1982)

Pucko Cards and Trading Card Database

Happy Father's Day! This will be the last post until next week (taking some time off).

Happy Birthday (60th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Craig Smajstria. He played for the Niagara Falls Sox in 1982.

Smajstria played in 8 games for the Houston Astros in 1988.

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: Tom McCarthy, Elmira Pioneers (1979-80)

TCMA & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (61st) to former New York-Penn League prospect Tom McCarthy. He played for the Elmira Pioneers in 1979 and 1980.

McCarthy played for the Boston Red Sox in 1985 and Chicago White Sox in 1988 and 1989.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

 

PONY League News: June 17, 1939

Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League standings on June 17, 1939.

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record & 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: Manuel Lee, Little Falls Mets (1983)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (57th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Manuel "Manny" Lee. He played for the 1983 Little Falls Mets.

Lee played in the majors during 11 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays (1985-92), Texas Rangers (1993-94), and St. Louis Cardinals (1995).

He played in 6 games in the 1992 World Series for the World Champion Toronto Blue Jays.

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: June 16, 1939

Source: Bradford Evening Star and Daily Record & 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: Tom Ragland, Geneva Senators (1966-67)

Society for American Baseball Research

Happy Birthday (76th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Tom Ragland. He played for the Geneva Senators in 1966 and 1967.

Ragland played in the majors during three seasons with the Washington Senators (1971), Texas Rangers (1972), and Cleveland Indians (1973).

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 June 15, 1939

Mizell "Whitey" Platt played in the majors during 5 seasons with the Chicago Cubs (1942-43), Chicago White Sox (1946), and St. Louis Browns (1948-49).

Source: The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, FL) & 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: Wade Boggs, Elmira Pioneers (1976)

National Baseball Hall of Fame & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (64th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Wade Boggs. He played for the 1976 Elmira Pioneers. 

Boggs played in the majors for 18 seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1982-92), New York Yankees (1993-97), and Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-99). 

He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005, and the New York-Penn League Hall of Fame in 2012.

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: Luis Aponte, Elmira Pioneers (1973)

Fleer & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (69th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Luis Aponte. He played for the 1973 Elmira Pioneers.  

Aponte pitched in the majors during 5 seasons for the Boston Red Sox (1980-83) and Cleveland Indians (1984).

After his playing career, Aponte was a scout for the Cleveland Indians.

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: Ernie Whitt, Williamsport Red Sox (1972)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (70th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Ernie Whitt. He played in one game for the Williamsport Red Sox in 1972.

Whitt played in the majors during 15 seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1976), Toronto Blue Jays (1977-78, '80-'89), Atlanta Braves (1990), and Baltimore Orioles (1991).

After his playing days, he was the roving minor league catcher coach for the Toronto Blue Jays (1997-2004) and managed in the minors in 1997 and 2008. He coached for the Toronto Blue Jays (2005-08) and was the minor league catching coordinator for the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 and 2011.

Whitt was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2009.

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: George Kontos, Staten Island Yankees (2006)

Choice & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (37th) to former New York-Penn League prospect George Kontos. He played for the 2006 Staten Island Yankees.

Kontos played in the majors during 8 seasons with the New York Yankees (2011, '18), San Francisco Giants (2012-17), Pittsburgh Pirates (2017-18), and Cleveland Indians (2018).

He pitched in one game in the 2012 World Series for the world champion San Francisco Giants.

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: John Doherty, Niagara Falls Rapids (1989)

Bill Pucko Cards & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (55th) to former New York-Penn League prospect John Doherty. He played for the Niagara Falls Rapids in 1989.

Doherty pitched in the majors during 5 seasons for the Detroit Tigers (1992-95) and Boston Red Sox (1996).

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: Randy Johnson, Little Falls Mets (1978)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Randy Johnson. He played in 5 games for the Little Falls Mets in 1978.

Johnson played for the Atlanta Braves during three seasons (1982-84).

After retiring as a player, he worked in the front offices of several major league teams.

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: Randy Winn, Elmira Pioneers (1995)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (48th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Randy Winn. He played for the Elmira Pioneers in 1995.

Winn spent 13 seasons in the major leagues with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays (1998-2002), Seattle Mariners (2003-05, San Francisco Giants (2005-09), New York Yankees (2010), and St. Louis Cardinals (2010).

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 June 8, 1949

Source: Scranton Tribune & 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: Joe Grzenda, Jamestown Falcons (1955)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Former Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York (PONY) League prospect Joe Grzenda was born on this date in 1937. He played for the Jamestown Falcons in 1955. 

Grzenda played in the majors during 8 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (1961), Kansas City Athletics (1964, '66), New York Mets (1967), Minnesota Twins (1969), Washington Senators (1970-71), and St. Louis Cardinals (1972).

He was the last pitcher in the history of the Washington Senators in 1971.

Grzenda died on July 12, 2019, at the age of 82.

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 New York-Penn League: June 7, 2012

Source: New York Daily News & 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: Heathcliff Slocumb, Little Falls Mets (1984, '86)

ProCards & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (56th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Heathcliff Slocumb. He played for the Little Falls Mets during the 1984 and '86 seasons.

He pltched in the majors during 10 seasons with the Chicago Cubs (1991-93), Cleveland Indians (1993), Philadelphia Phillies (1994-95), Boston Red Sox (1996-97), Seattle Mariners (1997-98), Baltimore Orioles (1999), St. Louis Cardinals (1999-2000), and San Diego Padres (2000).

He was a National League All Star in 1995, and pitched in two games for the Seattle Mariners in the post-season during the 1997 season.

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: Jim Deidel, Oneonta Yankees (1968-69)

WIZ and Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (73rd) to former New York-Penn League prospect Jim Deidel. He played for the Oneonta Yankees in 1968 and 1969.

Deidel played in 2 games for the New York Yankees in 1974.

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: Dennis Blair, Jamestown Falcons (1972)

Topps Co. & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Dennis Blair. He pitched in one game for the Jamestown Falcons in 1972.

Blair played in the majors for the Montreal Expos (1974-76), and San Diego Padres (1980).

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: Rick Wilkins, Geneva Cubs (1987)

ProCards & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (55th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Rick Wilkins. He played for the Geneva Cubs in 1987.

Wilkins played in the majors during 11 seasons for the Chicago Cubs (1991-95), Houston Astros (1995-96), San Francisco Giants (1996-97), Seattle Mariners (1997-98), New York Mets (1998), Los Angeles Dodgers (1999), St. Louis Cardinals (2000), and San Diego Padres (2001).

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: Robert Machado, Utica Blue Sox (1992)

Metal Universe & Trading Database

Happy Birthday (49th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Robert Machado. He played for the 1992 Utica Blue Sox.

Machado played in the majors during 9 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1996-98), Montreal Expos (1999), Seattle Mariners (2000), Chicago Cubs (2001-02), Milwaukee Brewers (2002), and Baltimore Orioles (2003-04).

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: Jack O'Connor, Jamestown Expos (1977)

Montreal Expos & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (64th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Jack O'Connor. He played for the Jamestown Expos in 1977. 

O'Connor played in the majors during 6 seasons with the Minnesota Twins (1981-84), Montreal Expos (1985), and Baltimore Orioles (1987).

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 New York-Penn League on June 1, 2003

Source: Bloomsburg Press Enterprise & 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: Andrew Stevenson, Auburn Doubledays (2015)

Choice & Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday (28th) to former New York-Penn League prospect Andrew Stevenson. He played for the 2015 Auburn Doubledays.

Stevenson played for the Washington Nationals during 5 seasons (2017-21). He is currently a member of the AAA Rochester Red Wings.

Source: Baseball Reference

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