Tri-City ValleyCats

From BR Bullpen

TriCityValleycats.jpg

Team History[edit]

Cats mascot Southpaw

Baseball returned to Troy, NY for the first time in 86 years with the Tri-City ValleyCats, the Class A affiliate of the Houston Astros in the New York-Penn League, who began play in 2002. Previously known as the Pittsfield Astros, they were renamed when they moved to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in Troy. The team moved from Pittsfield following the city's decision not to replace ancient Wahconah Park. A name-the-team contest was held with ValleyCats winning over entrants such as Titans, Haymakers and Des-Troy-ers.

The Tri-City name represents Troy, NY, Albany, NY and Schenectady, NY. Founded in 1977 in Little Falls, NY, this franchise was one of the two the NYPL issued as part of the American League's Seattle/Toronto expansion. The operation moved to Pittsfield, MA in 1989 before finally settling in Troy.

The ValleyCats operation joined the Frontier League after MLB's 2021 Minor League Reorganization eliminated them and most other New York-Pennsylvania League teams. A week later, they sued their ex-parent Houston Astros. A New York court tossed some of the case in August 2021, but the remainder is still pending. Then, in December, the 'Cats and three other dropped teams jointly filed a new suit against MLB itself. One of the others, the Staten Island Yankees, also has a pending suit against its former parent, and the other two - the Norwich Sea Unicorns and Salem-Keizer Volcanoes - are taking their first legal action.[1]

Founded in 1977 in Little Falls, NY as the Little Falls Mets, this franchise was one of two the NYPL issued as part of the American League's Seattle/Toronto expansion. The operation moved to Pittsfield, MA, in 1989, as the Pittsfield Mets before settling in Troy until the reorganization.

Year-by-Year Record[edit]

A soldier salutes the Flag during a game on the July 4th, 2009 weekend.
Year Record Finish Manager Playoffs Hitting coach Pitching coach
2002 27-48 13th Ivan DeJesus
2003 44-32 5th Ivan DeJesus Brian Dayett
2004 50-25 2nd Gregg Langbehn Lost League Finals Jorge Orta
2005 34-42 9th Gregg Langbehn Jorge Orta Don Alexander
2006 43-31 2nd Gregg Langbehn Lost League Finals Joel Chimelis Don Alexander
2007 27-47 14th Pete Rancont Joel Chimelis Don Alexander
2008 28-45 13th Pete Rancont Joel Chimelis Don Alexander
2009 27-48 13th Jim Pankovits Joel Chimelis Gary Ruby
2010 38-36 6th Jim Pankovits League Champs Joel Chimelis Gary Ruby
2011 33-42 11th Stubby Clapp Mark Bailey Gary Ruby
2012 51-25 2nd Stubby Clapp Lost League Finals Mark Bailey Rick Aponte
2013 44-32 2nd Ed Romero League Champs Russ Steinhorn Doug White
2014 48-28 1st Ed Romero Lost League Finals Russ Steinhorn Chris Holt
2015 42-33 2nd Ed Romero Lost in 1st Round Russ Steinhorn Chris Holt
2016 38-38 7th (t) Lamarr Rogers Dillon Lawson / Danny Ortega Drew French
2017 34-39 10th Morgan Ensberg Jeremy Barnes Bill Murphy
2018 42-33 3rd Jason Bell League Champs Jeremy Barnes Erick Abreu
2019 32-42 12th Ozney Guillen Sean Godfrey John Kovalik
2020 Season cancelled
2021 50-46 7th Pete Incaviglia
2022 54-41 5th (t) Pete Incaviglia
2023 Pete Incaviglia

Related Sites[edit]