Auburn Doubledays

The Auburn Doubledays are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) that is located in Auburn, New York. From 1958 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL). They have played their home games at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park since 1995. They previously played at the original Falcon Park, which was built in 1927 on the same site. The team is owned and operated by Auburn Community Baseball.

Auburn Doubledays
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeaguePGCBL (2021–present) (Central Division)
LocationAuburn, New York
BallparkFalcon Park II (1995–present)
Year founded1958
Nickname(s)Auburn Doubledays (1996–present)
League championships(NYPL): 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1998, 2007
(PGCBL): None
Division championships(NYPL): 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970, 1973, 1985, 1994, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011
(PGCBL): None
Former name(s)
  • Auburn Astros (1982–1995)
  • Auburn Americans (1980)
  • Auburn Red Stars (1979)
  • Auburn Sunsets (1978)
  • Auburn Phillies (1972–1977)
  • Auburn Twins (1967–1971)
  • Auburn Mets (1962–1966)
  • Auburn Yankees (1958–1961)
Former league(s)NYPL (1958–2020)
Former ballparksFalcon Park I (1958–1994)
ColorsBlue, white, red
     
MascotAbner
OwnershipAuburn Community Baseball, LLC
ManagerBen Julian (2021–present)
General ManagerAdam Winslow [1]

Auburn began in the NYPL in 1958 and has since competed under various names and served as the farm team for a number of Major League Baseball teams. The Doubledays and its mascot, Abner, are named for Abner Doubleday, the Civil War general and Auburn native apocryphally credited with inventing the game of baseball. Abner wears number 96 in honor of the birth of the team in 1996. With Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Auburn was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball; they signed a deal to become members of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) starting in 2021.

History

Early championship era

In 1958, the Auburn New York–Penn League franchise was founded as the Auburn Yankees, as an affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Yankees affiliation lasted until 1961. The club included future Major League Baseball All-Stars Jim Bouton, Joe Pepitone, and Mel Stottlemyre. The team then became affiliated with the New York Mets, as the Auburn Mets. With a roster that included Billy Wynne, Don Shaw, Tug McGraw, and Jerry Koosman, the club won the league championship three times: in 1962, 1964, and 1966.[2]

In 1967, the club changed its affiliation to the Minnesota Twins and became the Auburn Twins. The Twins won NYPL title in 1967 and 1970.

In 1972, the team was renamed the Auburn Phillies after associating with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1973, under manager Harry Lloyd, the team won league championship. Future major leaguers Luis Aguayo, Randy Lerch, Dickie Noles, Lonnie Smith, and Ozzie Virgil, among numerous others, played for the team. Managers of note included Mike Compton and Ruben Amaro.

Co-op seasons

In 1978, the team became the Auburn Sunsets and were co-operated by the Phillies and Houston Astros. Managed by Dick Rockwell, the team went achieved a 32–40 record, finishing third in the league's Yawkey Division.[3] The team featured future major league players Carmelo Castillo and Alejandro Sanchez and future major league general manager Dave Littlefield.[4]

In 1979 the club became known as the Auburn Red Stars. The team featured future MLB player Doug Frobel.[5] The Red Stars operated under a co-operative agreement. The Red Stars received players from seven different major league organizations, led by the Detroit Tigers, with seven players, and Cleveland Indians, with five.

In 1980, the Red Stars changed their name to the Auburn Americans. The team once again operated as a co-op and received 17 players from the Cleveland Indians and several from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The squad featured future MLB player Jack Fimple and finished fourth in the New York–Penn League's West Division with a 29–45 record.[6][7]

Astros era

1988 Auburn Astros team photo

Auburn returned to play in the New York–Penn League in 1982 with the Auburn Astros as an affiliate of the Houston Astros.

In 1991, with John H. Graham as general manager,[8] the team set the all-time attendance record at Falcon Park.

Doubledays

The team was renamed the Auburn Doubledays before the 1996 season and has operated under that name since.

In 1998, the Doubledays and the Oneonta Yankees were named co-champions of the New York–Penn League after Central New York was hit with a torrential rain storm and the fields at both parks were deemed unplayable.

Under the management of Dennis Holmberg, the Doubledays won the Pinckney Division title for six straight years in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, but failed to win the league championship for the first five of those years. After losing in the first round of the playoffs for the first three years of their streak, they advanced to the New York–Penn League championship series before being swept by the Staten Island Yankees. In 2003, the Doubledays led all of baseball in winning percentage (.757).

The Doubledays finally won the NYPL title in 2007, sweeping the Brooklyn Cyclones in the league championship series. The final game featured a stellar pitching performance by Brett Cecil and a home run by J. P. Arencibia.[9] This was the first league championship for the city of Auburn since 1973.

After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The Doubledays were not among the four teams invited to remain as full-season affiliates of the Washington Nationals, with whom they had been affiliated since 2011.[10] The city and the team's ownership group are exploring options such as independent baseball or collegiate summer baseball for 2021.[11]

Season-by-season results

YearLeagueRecordFinishManagerPlayoffsMisc
1958NYPL67–584thTom GottLost in 1st roundDebut season and first season as members of NYPL
1959NYPL58–675thBob BauerDid not qualify
1960NYPL65–633rdBob BauerLost in 1st round
1961NYPL52–738thLoren BabeDid not qualify
1962NYPL62–573rd (tie)Dick ColeLeague Champions
1963NYPL76–541stDick ColeLost in 1st round
1964NYPL79–481stClyde McCulloughLeague Champions
1965NYPL73–552ndClyde McCulloughDid not qualify
1966NYPL80–491stClyde McCulloughLeague Champions
1967NYPL52–261stTom UmphlettLeague Champions
1968NYPL49–271stBoyd CoffieLost league finals
1969NYPL31–427thSteve ThorntonDid not qualify
1970NYPL43–261stBoyd CoffieLeague Champions
1971NYPL42–282ndBoyd CoffieDid not qualify
1972NYPL39–304thNolan CampbellDid not qualify
1973NYPL46–231stHarry LloydLeague Champions
1974NYPL34–322ndLarry RojasDid not qualify
1975NYPL31–374thJune RainesDid not qualify
1976NYPL24–455thMike ComptonDid not qualify
1977NYPL17–5310thRuben AmaroDid not qualify
1978NYPL32–406thDick RockwellDid not qualify
1979NYPL22–4510thTom KotchmanDid not qualify
1980NYPL29–457thBill JulioDid not qualify
1981NYPLNo Season Played
1982NYPL35–398thBob HartsfieldDid not qualify
1983NYPL43–314thBob HartsfieldDid not qualify
1984NYPL38–387thBob HartsfieldDid not qualify
1985NYPL47–312ndBob HartsfieldLost league finals
1986NYPL44–323rdKeith BodieLost in 1st round
1987NYPL39–367thGary TuckDid not qualify
1988NYPL42–335thFrank CacciatoreDid not qualify
1989NYPL35–427thReggie WallerDid not qualify
1990NYPL31–4611thRicky PetersDid not qualify
1991NYPL38–396thSteve DillardDid not qualify
1992NYPL32–4112thSteve DillardDid not qualify
1993NYPL30–4614thManny ActaDid not qualify
1994NYPL45–312ndManny ActaLost league finals
1995NYPL40–345thManny ActaDid not qualify
1996NYPL37–398thManny ActaDid not qualify
1997NYPL29–4713thMike RojasDid not qualify
1998NYPL43–323rdLyle YatesLeague Co-Champions
1999NYPL39–378thLyle YatesDid not qualify
2000NYPL32–4211thJohn MassarelliDid not qualify
2001NYPL32–4211thPaul ElliottDid not qualify
2002NYPL47–294thDennis HolmbergLost in 1st round
2003NYPL56–181stDennis HolmbergLost in 1st round
2004NYPL50–241stDennis HolmbergLost in 1st round
2005NYPL45–303rdDennis HolmbergLost league finals
2006NYPL42–323rdDennis HolmbergLost in 1st round
2007NYPL47–293rdDennis HolmbergLeague Champions
2008NYPL38–377th (tie)Dennis HolmbergDid not qualify
2009NYPL26–4914thDennis HolmbergDid not qualify
2010NYPL35–409thDennis HolmbergDid not qualify
2011NYPL45–303rdGary CathcartLost league finals
2012NYPL46–303rdGary CathcartLost in 1st round
2013NYPL26–4914thGary CathcartDid not qualify
2014NYPL34–419thGary CathcartDid not qualify
2015NYPL36–389thGary CathcartDid not qualify
2016NYPL28–4712thJerad HeadDid not qualify
2017NYPL36–4512th (tie)Jerad HeadDid not qualify
2018NYPL41–352ndJerad HeadLost in 1st round
2019NYPL30–466thRocket WheelerDid not qualify
2020NYPLSeason canceled due to COVID-19
2021PGCBL27–202ndBen JulianLost in semi-finalsFirst season as members of PGCBL

Playoffs

  • 1968 season: Defeated Williamsport, 1–0, in semifinals; lost to Oneonta, 1–0, in championship.
  • 1978 season: Lost to Geneva, 2–0, in championship.
  • 1985 season: Defeated Jamestown, 1–0, in semifinals; lost to Oneonta, 2–0, in championship.
  • 1986 season: Lost to St. Catharines, 1–0, in semifinals.
  • 1994 season: Defeated Watertown, 2–0, in semifinals; lost to New Jersey, 2–0, in championship.
  • 1998 season: Defeated Batavia, 2–0, in semifinals; declared co–champions with Oneonta (series rained out).
  • 2002 season: Lost to Oneonta, 2–0, in semifinals.
  • 2003 season: Lost to Williamsport, 2–0, in semifinals.
  • 2004 season: Lost to Mahoning Valley, 2–0, in semifinals.
  • 2005 season: Defeated Oneonta, 2–0, in semifinals; lost to Staten Island, 2–0, in championship.
  • 2006 season: Lost to Tri-City, 2–1, in semifinals.
  • 2007 season: Defeated Oneonta, 2–1, in semifinals; defeated Brooklyn, 2–0, to win championship.
  • 2011 season: Defeated Vermont, 2–1, in semifinals; lost to Staten Island, 2–0, in championship.
  • 2012 season: Lost to Tri-City, 2–1, in semifinals.
  • 2018 season: Lost to Hudson Valley Renegades 2–0, in semifinals.
  • 2021 season: Defeated Utica 7-0, in quarterfinals; lost to Amsterdam 7-1, in semifinals.

Roster

Active roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 20 Carson Ashby
  • 35 Chris Auclair
  • 28 Carson Gerhardy
  • 17 Robert Gruber
  •  9 Adam Hoechstetter
  • 16 Sam Hough
  • 27 Dan Johnson
  • 37 Bobby Lavely
  • 25 Brandon Matthews
  • 15 Ryan O’Connell
  •  1 Eddie Rives
  • 22 Cameron Sheets
  • 34 Mitsuki Shimonishi
  • 18 Mitch Stone
  • 36 Alec Teska


Utility players

  • 12 Tyler Attal
  • 24 Erik Charnetski
 

Catchers

  • 19 Austin Davison
  •  3 Carson Dunkel
  • 14 John Nowak

Infielders

  • 23 Noah Campanelli
  •  2 Pierce Hendershot
  •  4 Genki LeClair
  • 39 Matt Livingston
  •  6 Marcus Maristela
  •  8 Logan Matson
  • 33 Brian Norsen
  • 30 Griffin O'Ferrall
  • 11 Conor Smith

Outfielders

  • 13 Kelvin Cortez
  •  7 Dymitri Kanellakis
  • 32 Evan McDonald
  • 26 Garrett Prosper
 

Manager

  • -- Ben Julian

Coaches

  • -- Noah Ackerman (statistician)
  • -- Evan McAndrew (pitching)
  • -- John Rizzo (assistant)
  • -- Braden York (broadcast)

Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated July 30, 2021

Alumni

Notable Auburn Astros players

Other notable Auburn players

Future Major League Baseball staff

Front office and staff

  • Steve DeSalvo was the team's general manager from 1982 to 1983.[12] He went on to a long career as a Minor League Baseball executive.[12]
  • Auburn native Leslie Leary was general manager from 1984 to 1987.[13] She was one of the first female general managers in Minor League Baseball.[13]
  • Auburn native Joe Kehoskie, a baseball agent, worked for the team from 1984 to 1991.[8][14]
  • Bob Neal, previously the general manager of the Watertown Pirates and Peninsula Pilots, was general manager from early 1988 to late 1989.[15][16]
  • John H. Graham, previously the general manager of the Peninsula Pilots, was assistant general manager from early 1988 to early 1989;[15] business manager from early 1989 to late 1989;[16] and general manager from late 1989 to late 1991.[8][17]
  • Marc Techman, an Auburn native, was assistant general manager in 1991.[8]
  • Shawn Smith, currently a vice president with the NBA, was general manager from 1994 to 1995.[18][19]
  • TV/radio announcer Cory Provus worked for the team in 2000.
  • Charlie Wride was the team's public address announcer for most of the team's 14-season existence, as well as the team historian. Wride continued to work for the team's successor, the Auburn Doubledays, in a community relations capacity until his death in 2018 at the age of 81.[20][21]

Wall of Fame

References

  1. "Front Office Staff". Auburn Doubledays. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  2. "The Auburn Mets – Players who played for both teams". Ultimate Mets Database. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  3. "1978 New York–Pennsylvania League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  4. "1978 Auburn Sunsets Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  5. "1979 Auburn Red Stars Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  6. "1980 New York–Pennsylvania League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  7. "1980 Auburn Americans Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  8. 1991 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1991.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. "Doubledays Sweep Brooklyn For NYP Title". Auburn Doubledays. September 6, 2007. Retrieved August 28, 2008.
  10. Kerr, Byron (December 9, 2020). "Nats announce 2021 minor league affiliate invitations". MASN Sports. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  11. Ritzel, Justin (December 10, 2020). "MLB extends invites to minor league affiliates; Auburn Doubledays not included". Auburn Pub. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  12. "Steve DeSalvo Bio". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  13. Anderson, Shelly (February 20, 1988). "Doors to the major leagues still hard to open". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  14. Weiman Jr., Dale (February 15, 2006). "So, you want to be the next Jerry Maguire?". Westlaw. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  15. 1988 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1988.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  16. 1989 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1989.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  17. 1990 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1990.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  18. 1994 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1994.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  19. 1995 Auburn Astros Official Program. Auburn, New York. 1995.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  20. Tobin, Dave (June 20, 2004). "Doubledays' Mr. Everything – Auburn's Baseball Club Counts on Charlie Wride". Syracuse Post-Standard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2012. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  21. "Auburn Baseball Wall of Fame". MiLB.com. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
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