In 1981, Mike Agganis purchased the team for $48,000.[2] For the 1983 season, the team rebranded as the Pirates, due to their one-year affiliation with the Pittsburgh Pirates. After the 1983 season, the franchise moved to Burlington, Vermont and became the Vermont Reds, playing at Centennial Field. As the Reds, the franchise won three more Eastern League titles in five seasons. In 1988, they were known as the Vermont Mariners, again due to a change in their major league affiliate. After the 1988 season, the franchise moved to Canton, Ohio and became the Canton–Akron Indians, playing at newly opened Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium and changing affiliation to the Cleveland Indians, an affiliation they would keep for years to come.[3]
Akron Aeros (1997-2013)
In the early-1990's, then-Akron, Ohio Mayor Don Plusquellic made it a priority to bring a stadium to downtown Akron. Plusquellic chose a 8.2-acre (3.3ha) site situated between South Main Street and the Ohio and Erie Canal. After conversations with Agganis to initially relocate the team to Akron in 1987 did not materialize, a deal was reached on November 22, 1994[3] with Agganis for a $20 million, 8,500 seat baseball stadium in downtown Akron. Poor field drainage at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium was cited as one of the reasons for the relocation.[2]
In anticipation of the move, the team considered several new names, with "Blast" serving as the initial selection. This name was rejected by the community as Akron-native Judy Resnik was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion in 1986.[2] "Spirit" and "Quest" were also considered before "Aeros" was ultimately chosen due to Ohio's relevant history in aerospace.[2][4][3] The Aeros debuted on Opening Day on April 10, 1997. With 9,086 fans in attendance, the Aeros and Harrisburg Senators played the first game at Canal Park. The Aeros finished their first season with a record of 51–90. Despite the last place record, the team drew a Double-A league-leading 473,272 fans that season. The Aeros' opening day pitcher that year, Jaret Wright,[3][5] would pitch for the Cleveland Indians later that year in the World Series and finish second in American League Rookie of the Year voting.
The following year, the Aeros put together a 30-game "worst-to-first" turnaround; after finishing the prior year 34½ games back, they proceeded to win the Southern Division in 1998 by 8½ games.[1] However, after losing in the playoffs that year, it would be three more years until the Aeros found their way back to the postseason.
On September 6, 1999, the Aeros set an Eastern League attendance record for three straight seasons and once again led all Double-A teams after 522,459 fans attended Canal Park in 1999.[3]
In 2002, the team posted a 93–48 record, the third-highest win total in the Eastern League in 50 years. Their success continued, as they won two league championships (their first since moving to Ohio) in 2003 and 2005. In 2006, the Aeros again posted the best regular-season record in the league, but lost the playoff title to the Portland Sea Dogs after taking the series to a deciding fifth game.
From 2005 to 2008, the Aeros advanced to the Eastern League Championship Series (ELCS). Although the Aeros won the ELCS in 2005, they were defeated in three consecutive trips from 2006 to 2008.
In 2009, the Aeros again advanced to the league championship and defeated the Connecticut Defenders (three games to one) capping a 95-win season and their third title in the last seven years. Jared Head was named the playoff MVP.
In their first three seasons in Canal Park, the Aeros led all of Double-A in attendance, becoming the first team at that level to draw a half-million fans in a single season.
For the 2011 season, Homer, a large purple pigeon, was added as a secondary mascot to Orbit.[6]
The team was sold by Mike Agganis to Ken Babby in October 2012.[3][7]
On October 29, 2013, the Akron Aeros officially changed their name to the Akron RubberDucks, paying homage to Akron as the original "Rubber Capital of the World" and celebrating the family entertainment aspect of Minor League Baseball.[8] The team introduced a color scheme of Blue Flame, Racing Yellow, Fire Orange and Tire Black, the first team in professional baseball to hold this combination.[9][10] Webster was announced as a new mascot of the team, joining Orbit and Homer that were carried over from the Aeros branding.[11]
At the conclusion of the 2014 season, the RubberDucks were awarded the "Best New Logo/Branding" from Ballpark Digest, a leading publisher of baseball news and business. The team also recognized a 15.7% year over year attendance increase following the rebrand, totaling 350,704 people across 68 games.[10]
The organization added a fourth mascot in 2016, a female duck named Rubberta.[12] Later that year, the RubberDucks won their first Eastern League Championship under the new name, sweeping the Trenton Thunder, 3–0. Akron also hosted the 2016 Eastern League All-Star Game at Canal Park.
In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the RubberDucks were placed into the Double-A Northeast.[13] They won the Southwest Division title with a 73–46 record.[14] They qualified for the championship playoffs by possessing the league's best record.[15] Akron defeated the Bowie Baysox, 3–0, in the best-of-five series to win the Double-A Northeast championship.[16]Rouglas Odor was selected as the league's Manager of the Year.[17] In 2022, the Double-A Northeast reverted back to the Eastern League name, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to 2021.[18]
2021: 73–46 (1st), manager Rouglas Odor • Defeated Bowie 3–0 in Double-A Northeast Championship Series
2022: 79–59 (2nd), manager Rouglas Odor
2023: 65–73 (5th), manager Rouglas Odor
2024: 80–58 (1st), manager Greg DiCenzo • Lost to Erie 2–1 in first round of playoffs
Note: Place indicates finish in Eastern League's Northern Division from 1980 to 1982; in division-less Eastern League from 1983 to 1993; in Eastern League's Southern Division from 1994 to 2009; in Eastern League's Western Division from 2010 to 2020; in Double-A Northeast/Eastern League's Southwest Division in 2021 to present.
Over the off-season between the 2010–2011 season, the Aeros received national attention after introducing a number of new promotions as well as menu items at Canal Park. The team was featured in a segment titled "Back in Black" during The Daily Show performed by comedian Lewis Black. In the segment, Black talks about several of the menu items including The "Three Dog Night" consisting of a hot dog in a Bratwurst in a Kielbasa, and "The Nice to Meat You Burger". The food was also covered by CNBC Sports reporter Darren Rovell.
For the 2016 season, several different promotions were announced, including Thirsty Thursdays, Star Wars Night on May 4, Shooter McGavin Bobblehead Night, and an action-filled two days for the Eastern League All-Star Game.
Media
Games are broadcast on WHLO AM 640 and iHeartRadio's app. The team's broadcasters are Jim Clark, in his 32nd year in 2025[update], and Marco LaNave.[19]
Attendance
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: needs current attendance (is available on Baseball Reference and other sources). Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(August 2025)
On August 12, 2017, the RubberDucks reported their highest single-game attendance since rebranding of 8,396 fans.[20]
Established in 1894 Former names (all in Cleveland unless noted) - Grand Rapids Rustlers, Lake Shores, Bluebirds, Bronchos, Naps, Indians Based in Cleveland, Ohio
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