Today's New York-Penn League Birthday: Alex Nunez (Batavia Muckdogs, 2002)

Credit: The Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Alex Nunez, who was born on this date in 1981, in Valencia, Venezuela.

Nunez played in 15 games for the 2002 Batavia Muckdogs (1 HR, 6 RBI, .255/.410/.383). He was originally signed by the Minnesota Twins and after they released him in 2002, he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.

He played in the minor leagues for four seasons and went on to play several seasons in the independent Canadian-American League and the Venezuelan Winter League. 

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.

Minor League Baseball in 1939

UPI article in Munster (IN) Times via newspaper.com

The Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League (renamed New York-Penn in 1957) was formed in 1939, and was one of four new minor leagues that began play that season.

According to this United Press article, minor league baseball was thriving in 1939 with "40 leagues operating in 279 cities in 40 states". A total of 15,500,000 fans attended games in minor league ballparks in 1938.

How does that compare with minor league baseball today? According the Minor League Baseball website, there are currently "160 teams and 17 leagues around the U.S., Canada and the Dominican Republic".

Attendance at minor league regular season games during the 2018 season was over 40,000,000 according to the Number Tamer website. (this is an excellent resource, if you are interested in baseball attendance).

Today, minor league baseball is still one of best entertainment values in America. Opening day in the New York-Penn League is June 14.

See you at the ballpark.

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: Wes Gardner (Little Falls Mets, 1982)

TCMA Ltd. via The Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Wes Gardner, who was born on this date in 1961, in Benton, Arkansas.

He was drafted by the New York Mets in the 22nd round of the 1982 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and pitched in 23 games for the 1982 Little Falls Mets (77.2 IP, 3-6, 3.71 ERA, 29 BB, 77 SO).

Gardener went on to an eight year major league career with the New York Mets (1984-85), Boston Red Sox (1986-90), San Diego Padres (1991), Kansas City Royals (1991).

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: Michael Ongarato (Elmira Pioneers, 1976)

Credits: TCMA Ltd. via The Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Michael Ongarato, who was born on this date in 1955.

Ongarato was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 20th round in the 1976 Major League Amateur Draft out of California Polytechnic State University. He played in 62 games for Elmira in 1976 (4 HR, 40 RBI, .358/.413/.469).

He played six seasons in the minor leagues, reaching the AAA Pawtucket Red Sox in 1980-81.

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.

New York-Penn League Birthdays on April 27, 2019

Monongalia County Ballpark - Home of the WV Black Bears (photo by author)

There are a total of 14 birthdays today of former New York-Penn (know as PONY prior to 1957) League prospects. Here is the complete list. You can link to more information about each player by clicking on their names.

Normally, I only list one or two, but it was a slow day yesterday, so I researched the entire birthday list at Baseball Reference.

Bill Higdon (Bradford Blue Wings, 1946). Born in 1924. Died April 30, 1986. Played in 11 games for the 1949 Chicago White Sox.

Frank Wurm (Olean Oilers, 1942). Born in 1924. Died September 19, 1993. Pitched in one game for the 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers.

Fred Koenig (Hamilton Cardinals, 1951). Born in 1931. Died Januayr 12, 1993. Played 13 seasons in the minor leagues.

Credits: O-Pee-Chee via The Trading Card Database

Willie Upshaw (Oneonta Yankees, 1975). Happy 62nd birthday. Played ten seasons in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays (1978, 1980-87) and the Cleveland Indians (1988).

Brian Giles (Little Falls Mets, 1978). Happy 59th birthday. Played six seasons in the majors with the New York Mets (1981-83), Milwaukee Brewers (1985), Chicago White Sox (1986), and Seattle Mariners (1990).

Bill Kazmierczak (Geneva Cubs, 1986). Happy 55th birthday. Played four seasons in the minor leagues.

Bob MacDonald (St. Catharines Blue Jays, 1987). Happy 54th birthday. Played six seasons in the majors with the Toronto Blue Jays (1990-92), Detroit Tigers (1993), New York Yankees (1995), New York Mets (1996).

Bob Ayrault (Batavia Clippers, 1989). Happy 53rd birthday. Played in the majors during two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies (1992-93) and the Seattle Mariners (1993).

Eric Hillman (Little Falls Mets, 1987. Happy 53rd birthday. Played three seasons for the New York Mets (1992-94)

Credits: ProCards via The Trading Card Database

Tom Singer (St. Catharines Blue Jays, 1990). Happy 50th birthday. Played five seasons in the minor leagues (1990-94).

Casey Janssen (Auburn Doubledays, 2004). Happy 38th birthday. Played nine years in the major leagues with the Toronto Blue Jay (2006-07, '09-'14) and Washington Nationals (2015).

Anthony Hewitt (Williamsport Crosscutters, 2009). Happy 30th birthday. Played eight years in the minor leagues.

Cody Dickson (Jamestown Jammers, 2013). Happy 27th birthday. Played five seasons in the minor leagues.

J.D. Davis (Tri-City ValleyCats, 2014) Happy 26th birthday. Davis is in his third year playing in the majors (Houston Astros, 2017-18) and New York Mets (2019).

Source: Baseball Refernce



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: Amos Otis (Oneonta Red Sox, 1966)

Credits: NY Mets via The Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Amos Otis, who was born on this date in 1947 in Mobile, Alabama.

Otis was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 1965 MLB Amateur Draft. He played in the New York-Penn League for the Oneonta Red Sox during the 1966 season (116 games, 3 home runs, 46 RBI, .270/.335/.365).

The New York Mets drafted him from Boston on November 29, 1966. Otis played in the major leagues during 17 seasons with the Mets (1967, '69), Kansas City Royals (1970-83) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1984).

Otis was a five-time All-Star with the Kansas City Royals and played for them in the 1980 World Series (3 home runs, 7 RBI, .478/.538/.957.)

He was elected to the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame in 1986.

Sources: Baseball Reference, SABR

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: Bob Johnson (Auburn Mets, 1964-65)

Topps Co. via The Trading Card Database

Happy Birthday to former New York-Penn League prospect Bob Johnson, who was born on this date in 1943 in Aurora, Illinois.

Johnson played baseball for two years at Bradley University and was signed by the New York Mets as an amateur free agent in 1964. He pitched for the Auburn Mets in 1964 (10-9, 4.13 ERA) and '65 (7-1, 3.45 ERA.

He went on to play in the major leagues for the New York Mets (1969), Kansas City Royals (1970), Pittsburgh Pirates (1971-73, including the 1972 World Series for the World Champion Pirates), Cleveland Indians (1974), and Atlanta Braves (1977).

Sources: Baseball Reference; SABR


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.