Rochester Red Wings
From BR Bullpen
- Location: Rochester, NY
- League: International League 1928-2019; Triple-A East 2021; International League 2022-
- Affiliation: St. Louis Cardinals 1928-1960; Baltimore Orioles 1961-2002; Minnesota Twins 2003-2019; Washington Nationals 2021-
- Ballpark: Silver Stadium 1928-1996; Innovative Field 1997-present
- Famous Alumni: George Sisler, Johnny Mize, Stan Musial, Red Schoendienst, Tim McCarver, Bob Gibson, Jim Palmer, Don Baylor, Ron Shelton, Mike Flanagan, Dennis Martinez, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken, Jr., Steve Finley, Curt Schilling, Mike Mussina, Gregg Zaun, Armando Benitez, Justin Morneau
- Managerial Alumni: Billy Southworth, Bill McKechnie, Earl Weaver, Cal Ripken, Sr., Joe Altobelli, Frank Robinson, Johnny Oates, Jerry Narron
- Front Office & Broadcast Alumni: Joe Altobelli, Jack Buck, Bing Devine, Glenn Geffner, Warren Giles, Howie Haak, Joe Kehoskie, Josh Lewin, George Sisler Jr.
Team History[edit]
The Rochester Red Wings, of the International League and briefly in Triple-A East, date to 1899 - they are the oldest minor league, or independent league franchise in North America, in any sport. 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 |
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]
- ↑ Red Wings Hall of Fame: K–R. Rochester Red Wings. Retrieved on 26 March 2013.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Mandelaro, Jim. Step Up To The Plate, Watch Your Red Wings. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved on 26 March 2013.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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]
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