Albany-Colonie Yankees

From BR Bullpen

AlbanyColonieYankees.jpg


In 1985 the former Albany-Colonie A's switched affiliations to the New York Yankees. The Eastern League team became known as the Albany-Colonie Yankees. Their first season as the Albany Yankees they broke the league attendance record, which had stood for 56 years. With Brad Arnsberg winning Pitcher of the Year honors, Orestes Destrade clubbing 23 homers and good pitching from Doug Drabek and Scott Pattersnon, the club drew 324,003. The old record had been 317,249 by the 1939 Scranton Red Sox. Perhaps the funniest moment of the 1985 season was when Albany PA announcer Jay Silverman was physically removed from the press box by team owner Ben Bernard for announcing "Touch em all, Ellis Burks", after the visiting player hit a home run against the Yankees. The team won titles in '88, '89 and '91. The 1989 team featured Bernie Williams and several pitchers who had big years but did not amount to much in the majors, the most recognizable being Scott Kamieniecki. Managed by Buck Showalter, they won 70 of their first 90 games that season, took the pennant by 19 games then won 7 of 8 in the playoffs.

They were replaced in 1995 by the Norwich Navigators


Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs Hitting Coach Pitching Coach
1985 82-57 1st Barry Foote Lost in 1st round Jim Saul Dave LaRoche
1986 65-74 6th Jim Saul John Kennedy Bill Monbouquette
1987 64-75 5th Tommy Jones Jerry McNertney Bill Monbouquette
1988 72-66 4th Tommy Jones (25-24) / Stump Merrill (47-42) League Champs Deron Johnson Tony Cloninger
1989 92-48 1st Buck Showalter League Champs Bob Mariano Russ Meyer
1990 79-60 1st Rick Down (24-21) / Dan Radison (55-39) Lost in 1st round Joe Lefebvre Russ Meyer
1991 76-64 3rd Dan Radison League Champs Bob Mariano Dave Jorn
1992 71-68 4th Dan Radison Lost in 1st round Rob Thomson Dave Jorn
1993 70-68 4th Mike Hart (36-35) / Bill Evers (34-33) Lost in 1st round Rob Thomson Brian Butterfield Dave Schuler
1994 71-70 5th Bill Evers Gary Denbo Dave Schuler

Team Radio Broadcasters[edit]

Year Station Broadcaster
1985 WTRY Phil Lewis (announcer)
1985 WTRY Phil Pivnick
1985 WTRY Mike Smith (announcer)
1988 WABY Jack LaFavre (announcer)
1989 WABY Dale McConachie(announcer)
1992-1994 WTRY John Thomas (announcer)