Rochester Red Wings

From BR Bullpen

RochesterRedWings.jpg
RochesterRedWings52.jpg

Team History[edit]

The Rochester Red Wings, of the International League and briefly in Triple-A East, date to 1899 - the minors' oldest continuously operating franchise. The Washington Nationals farmhands play their home games at Innovative Field in Rochester, NY.

The Wings and the Nats signed nine days after the Minnesota Twins dropped their longtime affiliate in MLB's 2021 Minor League Reorganization. The Twins' move allowed them to bring the nearby St. Paul Saints in from independent ball, while the Nats were happy to get any closer team: the minor league system that was being overhauled had last paired them with the Fresno Grizzlies.

The nickname "Red Wings" pre-dates Detroit's Original Six NHL team by three years. They scheduled a 2020 "Maureen Callahan Night" after the New York Post writer labeled Rochester "grim and depressing". The Coronavirus pandemic killed that whole season, but the club hosted "Grim and Depressing Night" on August 21, 2021, with Callahan in attendance.

The Wings play Copa de la Diversión Hispanic engagement campaign games as Cocos Locos de Rochester (Rochester Crazy Coconuts).

Year-by-Year Record[edit]

Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs
1928 90-74 1st Billy Southworth none League Champs
1929 103-65 1st Bill McKechnie (60-38) / Billy Southworth (43-27) none League Champs
1930 105-62 1st Billy Southworth none League Champs
1931 101-67 1st Billy Southworth none League Champs
1932 88-79 5th Billy Southworth (43-45) / Specs Toporcer (45-34) none
1933 88-77 2nd Specs Toporcer Lost League Finals
1934 88-63 2nd Specs Toporcer Lost League Finals
1935 61-91 7th Eddie Dyer (18-27) / Burt Shotton (43-64)
1936 89-66 2nd Ray Blades Lost in 1st round
1937 74-80 6th Ray Blades
1938 80-74 3rd Ray Blades Lost in 1st round
1939 84-67 2nd Billy Southworth League Champs
1940 96-61 1st Billy Southworth (31-13) / Estel Crabtree (9-11) / Mike Ryba (1-1) / Tony Kaufmann (55-38) Lost in 1st round
1941 84-68 4th Tony Kaufmann Lost in 1st round
1942 59-93 8th Tony Kaufmann (12-23) / Estel Crabtree (10-11) / Ray Hayworth (37-59)
1943 74-78 5th Pepper Martin
1944 71-82 7th Ken Penner
1945 64-90 8th Burleigh Grimes
1946 65-87 7th Burleigh Grimes (19-27) / Benny Borgmann (46-60)
1947 68-86 5th Cedric Durst
1948 78-75 4th Cedric Durst Lost in 1st round
1949 85-67 2nd Johnny Keane Lost in 1st round
1950 92-59 1st Johnny Keane Lost League Finals
1951 83-69 2nd Johnny Keane Lost in 1st round
1952 80-74 3rd Harry Walker League Champs
1953 97-57 1st Harry Walker Lost League Finals
1954 86-68 3rd Harry Walker Lost in 1st round
1955 76-77 4th Harry Walker (21-16) / Lou Kahn (1-1) / Dixie Walker (54-60) League Champs
1956 83-67 2nd Dixie Walker League Champs
1957 74-80 5th Cot Deal
1958 77-75 3rd Cot Deal Lost in 1st round
1959 74-80 5th Cot Deal (53-59) / Bob Keegan (0-2) / Clyde King (21-19)
1960 81-73 3rd Clyde King Lost League Finals
1961 77-78 4th Clyde King Lost League Finals
1962 82-72 4th Clyde King Lost in 1st round
1963 75-76 7th Darrell Johnson
1964 82-72 4th Darrell Johnson League Champs
1965 73-74 5th Darrell Johnson
1966 83-64 1st Earl Weaver Lost in 1st round
1967 80-61 2nd Earl Weaver Lost in 1st round
1968 77-69 3rd Billy DeMars Lost in 1st round
1969 71-69 5th Cal Ripken Sr.
1970 76-64 3rd Cal Ripken Sr. Lost in 1st round
1971 86-54 1st Joe Altobelli League Champs
1972 76-68 4th Joe Altobelli Lost in 1st round
1973 79-67 2nd Joe Altobelli Lost in 1st round
1974 88-56 2nd Joe Altobelli League Champs
1975 85-56 2nd Joe Altobelli Lost in 1st round
1976 88-50 1st Joe Altobelli Lost in 1st round
1977 67-73 6th Ken Boyer
1978 68-72 6th Ken Boyer (5-6) / Al Widmar (5-2) / Frank Robinson (58-64)
1979 53-86 8th Doc Edwards
1980 74-65 3rd Doc Edwards Lost in 1st round
1981 69-70 4th Doc Edwards Lost in 1st round


Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs Hitting Coach Pitching Coach Coach
1982 72-68 4th Lance Nichols Lost League Finals Tom Chism Ken Rowe
1983 65-75 6th Lance Nichols Tom Chism Mark Wiley
1984 52-88 8th Frank Verdi Jim Hutto Mark Wiley
1985 58-81 7th Frank Verdi (18-40) / Mark Wiley (40-41) Sandy Valdespino Mark Wiley
1986 75-63 2nd John Hart Lost League Finals Curt Motton Dom Chiti
1987 74-65 3rd John Hart Lost in 1st round Curt Motton Dom Chiti
1988 77-64 1st (t) Johnny Oates League Champs Curt Motton Dom Chiti
1989 72-73 5th Greg Biagini Curt Motton Dick Bosman
1990 89-56 1st Greg Biagini League Champs Curt Motton Al Jackson
1991 76-68 4th Greg Biagini Mike Young Dick Bosman
1992 70-74 5th Jerry Narron Mike Young Steve Luebber
1993 74-67 4th Bob Miscik Lost League Finals Joe Altobelli Steve Luebber
1994 67-74 7th Bob Miscik Curt Motton Steve Luebber
1995 73-69 3rd Marv Foley Lost in 1st round Ross Grimsley
1996 72-69 4th Marv Foley Lost League Finals Butch Davis Ross Grimsley
1997 83-58 1st Marv Foley League Champs Dave Cash Fred Dallimore
1998 70-74 9th Marv Foley Dave Cash Larry McCall
1999 61-83 12th Dave Machemer Dave Cash Larry McCall
2000 65-79 10th (t) Marv Foley Dave Cash Larry McCall
2001 60-84 14th Andy Etchebarren Butch Davis Larry McCall
2002 55-89 14th Andy Etchebarren Butch Davis Grant Jackson
2003 68-75 9th Phil Roof Mike Hart Bobby Cuellar
2004 73-71 5th (t) Phil Roof Rich Miller Bobby Cuellar
2005 75-69 6th (t) Phil Roof (6-7) / Rich Miller (69-62) Rich Miller / Bill Springman Bobby Cuellar
2006 79-64 3rd Stan Cliburn Lost League Finals Rich Miller Stew Cliburn
2007 77-67 5th Stan Cliburn Rich Miller Stew Cliburn
2008 74-70 5th (t) Stan Cliburn Riccardo Ingram Stew Cliburn
2009 70-74 10th Stan Cliburn Riccardo Ingram Bobby Cuellar
2010 49-95 14th Tom Nieto Floyd Rayford Bobby Cuellar
2011 53-91 14th Tom Nieto Floyd Rayford Bobby Cuellar
2012 72-72 8th Gene Glynn Tom Brunansky Bobby Cuellar
2013 77-67 4th (t) Gene Glynn Lost in 1st round Tim Doherty Marty Mason
2014 77-67 5th Gene Glynn Tim Doherty Marty Mason
2015 77-67 5th(t) Mike Quade Tim Doherty Marty Mason
2016 81-63 4th Mike Quade Chad Allen Stew Cliburn
2017 80-62 3rd (t) Mike Quade Chad Allen Stew Cliburn Toby Gardenhire
2018 64-76 10th (t) Joel Skinner Chad Allen Stew Cliburn Mike McCarthy
2019 70-70 8th Joel Skinner Javier Valentin Stew Cliburn Mike McCarthy
2020 Season cancelled
2021 47-69 17th (t) Matthew LeCroy 2-8 Brian Daubach Michael Tejera
2022 67-81 17th Matthew LeCroy Brian Daubach Rafael Chaves Billy McMillon
2023 66-80 18th Matthew LeCroy Brian Daubach Rafael Chaves Billy McMillon


Navy sailor throws out the first pitch at a game in May 2009
During the National Anthem, the mascot pauses as well.

Awards and Honors[edit]

  • In 1994, Jeff Manto was named International League MVP.[1]
  • In 1996 and 1997, general manager Dan Mason was named International League Executive of the Year.[2] Mason won the award a third time in 2012.[2]
  • In 1998, Rochester was named "Baseball City, U.S.A." by Baseball America.[3]
  • In 2008, team COO and chairman Naomi Silver was named Minor League Executive of the Year by Baseball America.[4]
  • In 2012, longtime team comptroller Darlene Giardina (1990–present) was named Rawlings Woman Executive of the Year by Minor League Baseball.[5]

References[edit]

  1. Red Wings Hall of Fame: K–R. Rochester Red Wings. Retrieved on 26 March 2013.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Mandelaro, Jim (19 September 2012). Red Wings GM Dan Mason named International League Executive of the Year. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved on 26 March 2013.
  3. Mandelaro, Jim. Step Up To The Plate, Watch Your Red Wings. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved on 26 March 2013.
  4. Staff report (5 December 2008). Red Wings exec Naomi Silver named minor league baseball's top exec. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved on 26 March 2013.
  5. Richmond, Giardina honored by MiLB. MiLB.com (5 November 2012). Retrieved on 26 March 2013.

Further Reading[edit]

  • Dan Barry: Bottom of the 33rd: Hope, Redemption, and Baseball's Longest Game, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, NY, 2011. ISBN 978-0062014481
  • Jim Mandelaro and Scott Pitoniak: Silver Seasons and a New Frontier: the Story of the Rochester Red Wings, Syracuse University Press, Syracuse, NY, 2010.

External Links[edit]