Aberdeen IronBirds
- Location: Aberdeen, MD
- League: New York-Penn League 2002-2019; High-A East 2021; South Atlantic League 2022-
- Affiliation: Baltimore Orioles 2002-
- Ballpark: Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium
Team History[edit]
The Aberdeen IronBirds, formerly of the Short Season-A New York-Pennsylvania League, briefly in High-A East, and now in the High-A South Atlantic League, are owned by Baltimore Orioles great Cal Ripken, Jr.'s company. The Orioles farmhands play their home games at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, MD.
MLB's 2021 Minor League Reorganization raised the Birds two levels. They are one of three clubs from the decommissioned NYPL to survive the reorganization.
Ripken Baseball bought the Utica Blue Sox - once owned by Boys of Summer author Roger Kahn and the subject of his later book Good Enough to Dream - and moved them to Aberdeen in time for the 2002 season. Ripken renamed them "IronBirds" for his "Iron Man" consecutive games-played streak and their connection with the Orioles. Ripken once said he wanted to buy 10 teams in 10 leagues in 10 years, but he stopped at three in 2008 and later sold the other two. RB, co-owned by his brother Billy, also owns The Ripken Experience youth baseball camps in Pigeon Forge, TN, Myrtle Beach, SC, and Aberdeen.
A more successful "10" was that the IronBirds sold out every game of their first 10 campaigns.
In their inaugural season, the IronBirds drew 231,935 - second in the NYPL - despite a 31-45 record and being outscored 360-283. Neal Stephenson hit .310/.349/.459 with 3 homers and 40 RBIs for the club, and Val Majewski (the Orioles top pick in the 2002 amateur draft) hit .300/.376/.464 with 8 stolen bases. Reliever Jim Cooney went 3-1 with a 1.36 ERA and 4 saves in 25 appearances, and John Maine (1-1, 1.74) struck out 21 batters in just 10 1/3 innings with the Birds.
In 2003, the club improved to a .500 record while their attendance increased to 234,143 - again the NYPL's second best. They were outscored 308-294. Outfielder Nick Markakis hit .283/.372/.359 with 28 RBIs and was named team MVP, while outfielder Jarod Rine (.252/.313/.357) displayed some speed, stealing 20 bases. Baseball America labeled Markakis the top prospect in the league. On the mound, top draft pick Adam Loewen (0-2) posted a 2.70 ERA and struck out 25 in 23 1/3 innings, and Zach Dixon went 4-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 70 strikeouts.
Former Oriole Don Buford took over as the IronBirds skipper in 2004, but the team fell back below .500. Attendance remained second-best at 228,925. Despite the disappointing seasons, third baseman Rob Marconi hit .325/.406/.491 while showing impressive defensive skills, and closer David Haehnel went 3-1 with a 1.21 ERA and 16 saves as the team's first league All-Star, tying for the league lead in saves as well.
The next season, the former manager of the Birds' then farm-mate Bluefield Orioles of the Appalachian League, Andy Etchebarren, became manager of the IronBirds. Despite more struggles on the field - a club-worst 27-48 - they drew 239,748 fans - second, as usual, to the Brooklyn Cyclones). Outscored 356-296, they had the weakest offense in the league. First baseman Mark Fleisher, the team MVP, hit .277/.356/.420 with seven homers and 32 RBIs, and outfielder Nolan Reimold (.294/.392/.550) hit a club record nine home runs. Reimold was named the league's top prospect by Baseball America. Radhames Liz anchored the pitching staff with 5 wins, a 1.77 ERA, and 82 strikeouts, and closer Blake Owen (1-2) posted a 1.57 ERA and notched eight saves before a mid-season promotion.
In 2006, the IronBirds won 41 games, their most ever. First baseman Chris Vinyard hit .284/.366/.489 with 26 doubles, eight homers and club-record 47 RBIs, and pitcher Luis Lebron (0-2, 1.17) saved a league-best 20 games.
Year-by-Year Record[edit]
Further Reading[edit]
- Greg Larson: Clubbie: A Minor League Baseball Memoir, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, 2021. ISBN 978-1496224293
External Links[edit]
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