Albany-Colonie Yankees
(Redirected from Albany Yankees)
- Location: Albany, NY
- League: Eastern League
- Affiliate: New York Yankees 1985-1994
- Ballpark: Heritage Park
- Famous Alumni: Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera, Bernie Williams, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada, Doug Drabek, Deion Sanders
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) |
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