The Rochester Bronchos were a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York, from 1899 [1] to 1911. [2]
In 1899, the franchise was purchased by a syndicate of local businessmen doing business as the "Flower City Baseball Company": George W. Sweeney, the president of the Rochester Trotting Association, John Nash, F. E.Youngs, Edward F. Higgins, and John H. Callahan, [3] and the team was renamed the Bronchos. The owners hired Al Buckenberger as manager, and, despite having been a last-place team the previous year, the Bronchos won the Eastern League title. [4] [5] They also won the Eastern League title in 1901. [6]
In 1903, the nickname was changed to Beau Brummels. However, the team's fortunes did not improve, and the 1904 Beau Brummels were named the worst team in Rochester history, with a record of 28-105. [4] : 14–15 In 1909, the Bronchos again managed to go from last to first, improving from 55-82 to 90-61. They won the pennant the next two years as well, with 92-61 and 98-54 seasons.
Buckenberger returned to the Bronchos in 1905, but the team continued to flounder. In 1908, he was summarily fired during a game and replaced by the shortstop, Eddie Holly. In 1909, John "Big Jawn" Ganzel became the manager, and the team was renamed the Rochester Hustlers. The move was a success, with the team winning three straight Eastern League pennants in 1909–1911. [4] In 1909, the team bore the nickname Camels. [7]
Until 1908, the team played at Culver Field. That year, they moved to the newly constructed "Baseball Park". [8]
| Season | Record | Manager | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1899 [1] | 72-43 | Al Buckenberger | Won Eastern League title. |
| 1900 [9] | 77-56 | Al Buckenberger | |
| 1901 [10] | ? | Al Buckenberger | Won Eastern League title. |
| 1902 [11] | ? | Hal O'Hagan and Ed McKean | |
| 1903 [12] | ? | Al Johnson, Arthur Irwin and George Smith | |
| 1904 [13] | 28-105 [4] | George Smith | |
| 1905 [14] | ? | Al Buckenberger | |
| 1906 [15] | 77-62 | Al Buckenberger | |
| 1907 [16] | 59-76 | Al Buckenberger | |
| 1908 [17] | 55-82 | Ed Holly | Finished last of eight teams. |
| 1909 [18] | 90-61 | John Ganzel | Finished first of eight teams. |
| 1910 [19] | 92-61 | John Ganzel | Finished first of eight teams. |
| 1911 [2] | 98-54 | John Ganzel | Finished first of eight teams. |
