On This Date in PONY (New York-Penn) League History: February 7, 1957

The Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York (PONY) League may change its name to the the New York-Penn League (it did).

Source: The Ithaca Journal via Newspapers.com  

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

 

Today's Birthday - February 6: Smoky Burgess (Lockport Cubs, 1944)

Credits: Bowman Gum via Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Smoky Burgess was born on this date in 1927. He batted .325 for the 1944 Lockport Cubs as a 17 year old rookie.

He played 18 years in the majors (1951-67) with the Chicago Cubs, Philadephia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox.

Burgess died on September 15, 1991, at the age of 64.

Source: Baseball Reference 

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

Today's Birthday - February 5: Mike Heath (Oneonta Yankees, 1974)

 

Credits: Oakland Athletics via Trading Card Database

Happy 66th birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Mike Heath. He played in 65 games for the 1974 Oneonta Yankees.

Heath played majors for 14 seasons with the New York Yankees (1978), Oakland Athletics (1979-85), St. Louis Cardinals (1986), Detroit Tigers (1986-90) and Atlanta Braves (1991).

After his playing days, he managed in the minors for the Birmingham Barons (1996) and Winston-Salem Warthogs (1997)

Source: Baseball Reference 

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

 

 

Today's Birthday: Chris Bando (Mahoning Valley Scrappers manager, 2002)

Credits: Cleveland Indians via Trading Card Database

Happy 65th birthday to former New York-Penn League manager Chris Bando. He managed to the 2002 Mahoning Valley Scrappers to a 46-30 record.

Bando played in the majors during 9 seasons for the Cleveland Indians (1981-88), Detroit Tigers (1988), and Oakland Athletics (1989). He is brother of former major leaguer, Sal Bando.

Source: Baseball Reference 

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

 

Today's Birthday - February 3: Dick Tracewski (Hornell Dodgers, 1954)

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Happy 86th birthday to former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Dick Tracewski. He played in 18 games for the 1954 Hornell Dodgers.

Tracewski played in the majors for 8 seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers (1962-65) and Detroit Tigers (1966-69). 

After his playing days were over, Tracewski managed in the minor leagues for the 1970 Lakeland Tigers and 1971 Montgonery Rebels. He was a coach for the Detroit Tigers for 24 years, managing two games in 1979, in an interim capacity.

Source: Baseball Reference 

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

 

Today's Birthday - February 2: Don Buford (Aberdeen IronBirds manager, 2004)

Credits: Baltimore Orioles via Trading Card Database

Happy 84th birthday to former New York-Penn League manager Don Buford. He managed the 2004 Aberdeen IronBirds to a 35-40 record.

Buford played in the majors for 10 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (1963-67) and Baltimore Orioles (1968-72). He is the father of former major leaguer Damon Buford and minor leaguer Don Buford, Jr.

Source: Baseball Reference 

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

 

Today's Birthday - February 1: Bob Smith (Wellsville Nitros, 1948 & Hornell Maple Leafs, 1949)

Credits: Topps Co. via Trading Card Database

Former PONY (New York-Penn) League prospect Bob Smith was born on the date in 1930. He played for the 1948 Wellsville Nitros and 1949 Hornell Maples Leafs.

Smith pitched in the majors for the Boston Red Sox (1955), St. Louis Cardinals (1957), Pittsburgh Pirates (1957-59), and Detroit Tigers (1959)

He died on April 1, 2013, at the age of 83.

Source: Baseball Reference 

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