Today's New York-Penn League Birthday: John Baumgartner (Jamestown Falcons)

Credit: John Baumgartner

Happy Birthday to former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect John Baumgartner, who was born on this date in 1931 in Birmingham, Alabama.

He was signed by the Detroit Tigers in 1950 as an amateur free agent and played in 65 games for the Jamestown Falcons (.307/.307/.445, 6 home runs).

Baumgartner played in seven games for the 1953 Detroit Tigers.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

Today's New York-Penn League Birthday: Buddy Booker (Batavia Pirates, 1961)

Credit: yesterdaysgame.net

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Buddy Booker, who was born on this date in 1942, in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Booker was signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent on September 3, 1960, and played in 118 games in the New York-Penn League for the 1961 Batavia Pirates (.294/.373/.452, 14 HR, 75 RBI).

He played in a total of 23 in the major leagues over two seasons with the Cleveland Indians (1966) and Chicago White Sox (1968).

Source: Baseball Reference

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

Some names to look for on opening day in the New York-Penn League

Credit: MLB.com

Based on Baseball America's mock draft, here are some names to look for on June 14, when play opens in the New York-Penn League.

Adley Rutschman, Oregon State (Aberdeen IronBirds?)

J.J. Bleday, Vanderbilt (Batavia Muckdogs?)

Andrew Vaughn, California (Connecticut Tigers?)

Zack Thompson, Kentucky (Brooklyn Cyclones?)

George Kirby, Elon (Williamsport Crosscutters?)

Logan Davidson, Clemson (State College Spikes?)

Michael Bush, North Carolina (Hudson Valley Renegades?)

Will Wilson, North Carolina State (Mahoning Valley Scrappers?)

Greg Jones, UNC-Wilmington (Vermont Lake Monsters?)

The 2019 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft begins on June 3, and can be watched on MLB Network.  

Draft order is based on the reverse order of 2018 regular-season standings and is listed below. Most of the players on New York-Penn League rosters will be determined  by draft results. The league opens play on June 14 and you can link to ticket information for a game near you at the New York-Penn League website. 

1. Baltimore Orioles (47-115) (Aberdeen IronBirds)

4. Miami Marlins (63-98) (Batavia Muckdogs)

5. Detroit Tigers (64-98) (Connecticut Tigers)

12. New York Mets (77-85) (Brooklyn Cyclones)

14. Philadelphia Phillies (80-82) (Willamsport Crosscutters)

17. Washington Nationals (82-80) (Auburn Doubledays)

18. Pittsburgh Pirates (82-79) (West Virginia Black Bears)

19. St. Louis Cardinals (88-74) (State College Spikes)

22. Tampa Bay Rays (90-72) (Hudson Valley Renegades)

24. Cleveland Indians (91-71) (Mahoning Valley Scrappers)

29. Oakland Athletics (97-65) (Vermont Lake Monsters)

30. New York Yankees (100-62) (Staten Island Yankees)

32. Houston Astros (103-59) (Tri-City ValleyCats)

33. Boston Red Sox (108-54) (Lowell Spinners)

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

Today's New York-Penn League Birthday: Terry Collins, Niagara Falls Pirates

Credits: Pirates Fire Safety via The Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Terry Collins, who was born on this date in 1949, in Midland, Michigan.

Collins played four seasons for Eastern Michigan University (1968-71) including the 1970 NAIA National Championship team. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 19th round of the 1971 MLB Amateur Draft and assigned to the Niagara Falls Pirates in the New York-Penn League. He played in 70 games for Niagara Falls (.306/.390/.385).

After playing in minor leagues for 10 seasons, he managed for several seasons (1981-91) in the minors and coached for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1992-93). He managed in the majors with the Houston Astros (1994-96), Anaheim Angels (1997-99), and New York Mets (2011-17). He also managed in Japan (2007-09).

He was elected to the Eastern Michigan University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.

Source: Baseball Reference


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

Today's New York-Penn League Birthday #2: Al Yates

Credits: Miller Brewing via The Trading Card Database

Former New York-Penn League prospect Al Yates was born on this date in 1945, in Jersey City, New Jersey.

He was signed by the New York Mets in 1964 as an amateur free agent out of Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. He played in the New York-Penn League for the Auburn Mets during two seasons (1964-65).

After playing in the minor leagues for eight seasons, he appeared in 24 games for the 1971 Milwaukee Brewers.

Yates died on November 23, 2007, in Miami, Florida at the age of 62.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

Today's New York-Penn League Birthday: Jim Mahoney

Credit: Washington Senators via Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Jim Mahoney, who was born on this date in 1934 (not to be confused with the other Jim Mahoney).

Mahoney played two seasons in the PONY League for the Bradford Phillies (1953) and Corning Red Sox (1954).

He went on to play in 120 games in the major leagues over four seasons with the Boston Red Sox (1959), Washington Senators (1961), Cleveland Indians (1962), and Houston Astros (1965).

Following his playing career, Mahoney managed for several years in the minor leagues and coached for the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners.

Source: Baseball Reference

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

Upcoming MLB draft will determine New York-Penn League Rosters

Credit: Major League Baseball

The 2019 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft begins on June 3, and can be watched on MLB Network.

Draft order is based on the reverse order of 2018 regular-season standings and is listed below. Most of the players on New York-Penn League rosters will be determined  by draft results. The league opens play on June 14 and you can link to ticket information for a game near you at the New York-Penn League website.

Here is a link to yesterday's article from draft expert Jim Callis, which lists the top 200 draft prospects (link).

1. Baltimore Orioles (47-115) (Aberdeen IronBirds)

4. Miami Marlins (63-98) (Batavia Muckdogs)

5. Detroit Tigers (64-98) (Connecticut Tigers)

12. New York Mets (77-85) (Brooklyn Cyclones)

14. Philadelphia Phillies (80-82) (Willamsport Crosscutters)

17. Washington Nationals (82-80) (Auburn Doubledays)

18. Pittsburgh Pirates (82-79) (West Virginia Black Bears)

19. St. Louis Cardinals (88-74) (State College Spikes)

22. Tampa Bay Rays (90-72) (Hudson Valley Renegades)

24. Cleveland Indians (91-71) (Mahoning Valley Scrappers)

29. Oakland Athletics (97-65) (Vermont Lake Monsters)

30. New York Yankees (100-62) (Staten Island Yankees)

32. Houston Astros (103-59) (Tri-City ValleyCats)

33. Boston Red Sox (108-54) (Lowell Spinners)

Photo credit: MLB.com

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