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Minor League Baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball (MLB) and provide opportunities for player development and a way to prepare for the major leagues. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses. Most are members of the umbrella organization known as Minor League Baseball (MiLB), which operates under the Commissioner of Baseball within the scope of organized baseball. Several leagues, known as independent baseball leagues, do not have any official links to Major League Baseball.
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, in the United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in the state of New York following New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, and Yonkers.
Triple-A or Class AAA is the highest level of play in Minor League Baseball in the United States and Mexico. Before 2008, Triple-A leagues also fielded teams in Canada. A total of 30 teams play in the Triple-A International League (IL) and Pacific Coast League (PCL), with 14 teams in the IL and 16 in the PCL. The MLB-independent Mexican League fields 16 teams. Triple-A teams are typically located in large metropolitan areas that do not have Major League Baseball teams, such as San Antonio; Austin; Columbus; and Indianapolis.
The team is owned by and an affiliate of the New York Mets. Throughout most of their existence, the team was known as the Syracuse Chiefs, though they were briefly known as the Syracuse SkyChiefs from 1997 through 2006. The club was rebranded the Syracuse Mets in October 2018.[4]
The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Mets are one of two Major League clubs based in New York City; the other is the New York Yankees of the American League East.
The first Syracuse Chiefs baseball team was established in 1934, when the Jersey City Skeeters moved to Syracuse and were renamed the Chiefs. The team played in the International League (IL) through 1955 (winning five championships), but was sold and moved to Miami as the Marlins for the 1956 campaign.
The Jersey City Skeeters were a minor league baseball team which operated in Jersey City, New Jersey. The club started in the 1860s and by 1870 joined the National Association of Base Ball Players.
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the eastern United States and is headquartered in Dublin, Ohio. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.
Another team known as the Syracuse Chiefs competed in the Class A Eastern League (then two levels below the IL) during 1956–57, but moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania on July 13, 1957.[5]
The Eastern League is a Minor League Baseball league, which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the Double-A level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923, as the New York–Pennsylvania League. In 1936, the first team outside the two original states was created, when the York White Roses of York, Pennsylvania, moved to Trenton, New Jersey, and was renamed the Trenton Senators. In 1938, when the Scranton Miners of Scranton, Pennsylvania, moved to Hartford, Connecticut, and became the Hartford Bees, the league was renamed the Eastern League.
Allentown is a city located in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is Pennsylvania's third most populous city and the 231st largest city in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 118,032 and is currently the fastest growing city in all of Pennsylvania. It is the largest city in the metropolitan area known as the Lehigh Valley, which had a population of 821,623 residents as of 2010. Allentown constitutes a portion of the New York City Combined Statistical Area and is the county seat of Lehigh County. In 2012, the city celebrated the 250th anniversary of its founding in 1762.
Syracuse was without professional baseball until the 1961 season, when the Montreal Royals franchise was abandoned by its owners (the Los Angeles Dodgers) and relocated to Syracuse as the top affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, becoming the Syracuse Chiefs.
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team in Montreal, Quebec, from 1897–1917 and 1928–60. A member of the International League, the Royals were the top farm club of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1939; pioneering African-American player Jackie Robinson was a member for the 1946 season. The 1946 Royals were recognized as one of the 100 greatest minor league teams of all time.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in Brooklyn, New York, the team moved to Los Angeles before the 1958 season. They played for four seasons at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum before moving to their current home of Dodger Stadium in 1962.
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The team competes in the Central division of the American League (AL), and is named after the Twin Cities area comprising Minneapolis and St. Paul. The franchise won the World Series in 1924 as the Washington Senators, and in 1987 and 1991 as the Twins. The franchise moved from Washington, D.C. to Minnesota for the start of the 1961 season.
Rebirth
The Chiefs have played in Syracuse without interruption since their rebirth in 1961. The team was renamed the SkyChiefs in 1997 before reverting to the original "Chiefs" in December 2006.[6]
From 1978 to 2008, the Chiefs were the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The three-decade Toronto–Syracuse affiliation is the longest of the 11 major league affiliations the Chiefs have had since 1936. While the Chiefs reached three Governors Cup finals during this time, many of the players who helped lead the Blue Jays to consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993 passed through Syracuse.
The Chiefs played at MacArthur Stadium from 1934 to 1996, moving to then-P&C Stadium in 1997.
Washington Nationals
On September 20, 2008 the Chiefs signed a two-year affiliation agreement with the Washington Nationals, ending their relationship with the Blue Jays. That season the players wore a decal on their uniforms with the letters "HB" to commemorate Harold Berman, former member of the team's board of directors, who died after the 2007 season. In 2009 the Chiefs wore a decal on their uniforms with the letters "HM" to commemorate Hy Miller, former state assemblyman and former member of the team's board of directors, who died after the 2008 season.
In 2010 the Chiefs celebrated their 50th season of community-owned baseball (1961–2010), wearing 1961 jerseys for every Thursday home game. The team brought back radio announcers from the past, such as Dan Hoard and Syracuse University alumnus Sean McDonough. They had a 76–67 won-lost record, with pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg winning two games and losing one in five appearances.
In 2011 the Chiefs, playing their 51st season of community ownership, wore throwback jerseys for every Thursday home game to commemorate the 35th anniversary of their last International League Governors' Cup championship team (managed by Syracuse Wall of Fame member Bobby Cox). The Chiefs added four alternate jerseys to their rotation for the season: one for Latin American Day, a second for Jackie Robinson Day (commemorating Negro League uniforms), a third for national holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day and a fourth for Breast Cancer Awareness Night. The team played the Pawtucket Red Sox on August 20 at Fenway Park as part of a doubleheader in conjunction with the sixth annual Futures at Fenway event, featuring games involving Boston Red Sox minor-league teams. The Chiefs, behind starter Brad Meyers, defeated the PawSox 3–1 before more than 29,000 fans. At Alliance Bank Stadium (now NBT Bank Stadium) the Chiefs added a "Home Plate Club" to the stadium: premium seating in the first four rows behind home plate, with waitstaff for merchandise, food and drink.
On May 14 Chiefs DHMichael Aubrey went four for four, hitting four home runs in an 11–0 victory over the Durham Bulls and becoming the second player in team history to hit four home runs in a game; Gene Locklear was the first, on July 14, 1977. On August 27 Stephen Strasburg pitched his only rehab game for the Chiefs, against the Rochester Red Wings. Giving up two hits in the sixth inning (his only hits allowed before departing, with the Chiefs leading 1–0), he received no decision in Syracuse's 4–3 win (which won the Thruway Cup for the third time; the team's other wins were in 1999 and 2010). The club's record for the season was 66–74, 14 games out of first place and fourth place in the six-team North Division.
On April 5, 2012, the Chiefs opened at home against the Rochester Red Wings. Top pick Bryce Harper, later that month promoted to the Nationals, made the opening-day roster. Randy Knorr did not return for a second season as manager, and Tony Beasley was promoted from the Harrisburg Senators. The Chiefs played all 16 of its games against the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees at Alliance Bank Stadium due to stadium renovation in Moosic, Pennsylvania. On May 7 the Chiefs unveiled a new high-definition video board in left field, replacing the board which had existed since the stadium's 1997 opening.
The 2013 season, with manager Tony Beasley in his second season with the team, began on April 4 in Allentown, Pennsylvania against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs; the Chiefs' home opener was eight days later against the IronPigs. On Throwback Thursdays, the team wore jerseys from 1983 to 1996.
Fireworks following Syracuse Chiefs home game, August 2016
On September 30, 2013, it was announced that 16-year general manager John Simone and any family members associated with the team (including assistant GM Mike Vounitas) were fired. On October 8 it was announced that former Auburn Doubledays general manager Jason Smorol would become the Chiefs' GM, with Jason Horbal his assistant. It was the first time since 1970 that someone not named Simone was general manager of Syracuse; John Simone had taken over the job from his father, Anthony (Tex) Simone, in 1997.
The Chiefs opened their 2014 season on April 3 with a loss at home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and finished the season with the best record (81-62) in the International League and clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 1998 and the first IL North Division title since 1989. NBT Bank Stadium hosted its first ever playoff game on September 5, 2014, a 7-6 loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox which capped off a 3-0 first round series sweep for the Red Sox. The season featured an aggressive promotional campaign, including Social Media Monday, Two-for-One Tickets on Tuesday, Winning Wednesday, Dollar Thursday, Fireworks Friday, Giveaway Saturday and Family Sunday. The Chiefs sold out the outfield wall, the dugouts and the field tarp, earning $500,000 in advertising. On July 1 the Chiefs introduced Tattoo Night, sponsored by Carmelo's Ink City.
The 2015 season saw the Chiefs finish in 4th place in the 6 team IL North division with a record of 66-78. The Chiefs early season struggles including a 11-game losing streak extending from May to June hurt the Chiefs too much to rebound despite going 39-26 after July 1 including an 11-game win streak in Mid July. Billy Gardner Jr. managed the Chiefs in his second season with the team. Stephen Strasburg went 1-1 with the Chiefs in two rehab starts. In the two games Strasburg pitched 9.2 innings with an ERA of 4.66. The team's best pitcher by record was Bruce Billings who went 8-5 in 27 games. The best pitcher by ERA with more than 25 innings pitched was Evan Meek who had an ERA of 2.15 in 30 games, with a record of 2-4. The Chiefs player with the most hits in 2016 was Darin Mastroianni with 114 hits. The Chiefs player with the best average with over 100 At Bats was Trea Turner, with an AVG of .314 in 188 at bats, including 3 home runs, 7 doubles and 15 RBI.
The 2016 season saw the Chiefs finish last in the 6 team IL North division with a record of 61-82, their worst record since the 1997 season. Billy Garnder Jr. managed his third season with the team. Players such as Ryan Zimmerman and Jose Lobaton rehabbed for the Chiefs that season. The Chiefs also had three all stars that season, which included Trea Turner, Brian Goodwin and Rafael Martin. Matt Skole also won a Gold Glove for his fielding performance at 1st Base. The Chiefs players with the most hits in 2016 were Matt Skole and Brian Goodwin with 122 hits. The Chiefs player with the best average with over 100 At Bats was Goodwin, with an AVG of .280 in 119 at bats, including 14 home runs, 25 doubles and 68 RBI. The team's best pitcher by record was A.J. Cole who went 8-8 in 22 games. The best pitcher by ERA with more than 25 innings pitched was Sean Burnett who had an ERA of 2.27 in 40 games, with a record of 0-3.
The 2017 season saw the Chiefs finish last in the 6 team IL North division with a record of 59-87, their worst record since the 1966 season. Billy Garnder Jr. managed his fourth season with the team. Players such as Trea Turner and Jayson Werth rehabbed for the Chiefs that season. The Chiefs players with the most hits in 2017 were Brandon Snyder with 110 hits. The Chiefs player with the best average with over 100 At Bats was Irving Falu, with an AVG of .280 in 382 at bats, including 9 home runs, 19 doubles and 44 RBI. The team's best pitcher by record was Austin Adams who went 6-2 in 44 games coming out of the bullpen. The best pitcher by ERA with more than 25 innings pitched was Wander Suero who had an ERA of 1.70 in 36 games, with a record of 3-1.
In October 2017, the New York Mets, headed by Jeff Wilpon, agreed to purchase the Chiefs for approximately $18million pending approval by team shareholders. A vote was held on November 17, 2017, in which 88 percent of shareholders voted in favor of selling the team, thus meeting the required two-thirds vote needed for approval.[9] The Mets organization assumed ownership in early 2018.[10]
Community Baseball Club, Inc.
Previously, the Chiefs were owned by the Community Baseball Club of Central New York, Inc., "a community-owned club, controlled by a [13-person] board of directors,"[11][12][13] acting on behalf of approximately 4,000 shareholders, who together held 15,857 shares from 1961 to 2017.[13]
Shares
According to Dick Ryan, a "former club chairman of the board and treasurer", a majority of the Community Baseball Club shares were "owned by people who own one or two shares."[11] Shares in the club were first sold in 1961, at a price of $10 each; as of 2011, shares had a resale value of approximately $126, but are not publicly traded. A provision in the Chief's certificate of corporation states that "no one may vote more than 500 shares."[11] This provision was intended to make it difficult for the club to be sold and moved to another location, as happened earlier in its history.[11]
Management
Officers of the Syracuse Chiefs/ Community Baseball Club of Central New York, Inc., included:
Among those serving on the organization's Board of Directors were Stephen A. Rogers, Chairman, Syracuse Media Group;[12] and Crandall Melvin III, "a software executive from Syracuse and the team's largest single shareholder with 502 shares."[13]
Dutch is a partner in Chiefs First LLC, an investment company established in September 2013, which loaned the Chiefs $500,000 in return for 600 shares and control of the team's new, 13-member board.[14]
Finances
The Chiefs operated at a loss from 2006, except for the 2010 season when they ended the season $100,000 in the black. The team lost $973,516 in the 2013 season, on operating expenses of $3.1 million.[15][16] Under general manager Jason Smorol, their losses were reduced to $241,584 in 2014, and $169,011 in 2015.[17]
Locally games are broadcast on the Chiefs' flagship station, WSKO "The Score" 1260 AM, and globally on SyracuseChiefs.com All games are broadcast by Eric Gallanty and Steve Grilli. In addition, all Chiefs' games are broadcast on MiLB.TV, an internet video subscription service. Select games were broadcast live on Spectrum Sports, a central New York regional sports channel provided on Spectrum Cable services throughout the Central and Northern New York area until Spectrum ceased operations of its sports channels in the state sometime around 2017. The games on Spectrum Sports were called by Steve Grilli, Syracuse Wall of Fame member and former Major Leaguer. All games against thruway rivals Rochester or Buffalo were broadcast on Spectrum Sports and fed between the cities, with the host city providing the presentation and announcers.[citation needed]
In popular culture
Writer Ken Levine based the Springfield Isotopes minor league team in The Simpsons episode Dancin' Homer on experiences as an announcer for the Syracuse Chiefs. The episode includes references to former announcer Dan Hoard and owner Anthony "Tex" Simone (named Antoine "Tex" O'Hara in the episode).
The Chiefs gained national media attention for a promotion planned for 2014's Tattoo Appreciation Night, where anyone who got a tattoo of their "C" logo would receive free tickets to Chiefs games for life.[21]
The Oklahoma City Dodgers are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and play their home games at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark which opened in 1998 in the city's Bricktown entertainment district.
NBT Bank Stadium is a publicly owned, 11,071-seat, minor league baseball stadium in Syracuse, New York. It is the home stadium for the Syracuse Mets Triple-A baseball team of the International League. The stadium, owned and at times operated by Onondaga County, opened on April 10, 1997, replacing the aging MacArthur Stadium which had served as home to Syracuse's professional baseball teams since 1934 and which was demolished in 1997.
The 1962 New York Mets season was the first regular season for the Mets, as the National League returned to New York City for the first time since 1957. They went 40–120 (.250) and finished tenth and last in the National League, 601⁄2 games behind the NL Champion San Francisco Giants, who once called New York home. The Mets were the latest team to be 60+ games behind in a division before the 2018 Baltimore Orioles finished 61 games behind the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. The Mets' 120 losses are the most by any MLB team in one season since the 1899 Cleveland Spiders. Since then, the 2003 Detroit Tigers and 2018 Orioles have come the closest to matching this mark, at 43–119 (.265), and 47-115 (.290), respectively. The Mets' starting pitchers also recorded a new major league low of just 23 wins all season.
Stephen James Strasburg is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball (MLB). Strasburg was selected by Washington with the first pick in the 2009 MLB Draft, and he made his MLB debut with the Nationals in 2010.
The 2016 Washington Nationals season was the Nationals' 12th season as the baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, the ninth season at Nationals Park, and the 48th since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They won the National League East division title for the third time in five years, posting a 95–67 record, and were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games in the Division Series.
The 2018 Washington Nationals season was the Nationals' 14th season as the baseball franchise of Major League Baseball in the District of Columbia, the 11th season at Nationals Park, and the 50th since the original team was started in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The regular season began on March 29, 2018, and ended on September 30, 2018.
References
↑ Previously known as Alliance Bank Stadium (2005–2013), and P&C Stadium (1997–2005)
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