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Tri-City ValleyCats

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The Tri-City ValleyCats (colloquially known as the ‘Cats) are a professional baseball team based in Troy, New York. The ValleyCats compete in the Frontier League (FL) as a member of the North Division in the Atlantic Conference, and play their home games at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

Tri-City ValleyCats
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
LeagueFrontier League (2021–present) (North Division)
LocationTroy, New York
BallparkJoseph L. Bruno Stadium (2002–present)
Founded2002
Nickname(s)Tri-City ValleyCats (2002–present)
League championships
  • 2010
  • 2013
  • 2018
Division championships
  • 2004
  • 2006
  • 2010
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2018
Former league(s)New York–Penn League (2002–2020)
ColorsScarlet, black, tan, silver, white
         
Playoff berths
9
2004
2006
2010
2012
2013
2014
2015
2018
2024
OwnershipBill Gladstone
ManagerGreg Tagert
General ManagerMatt Callahan

From 2002 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Houston Astros. With MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, the ValleyCats were not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. They joined the independent Frontier League for the 2021 season, which was designated as an MLB Partner League that year.

Team history

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Before Tri-City

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Prior to their arrival in Troy, the club was based first in Little Falls, New York, as the Little Falls Mets (1977–1988), and then in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as the Pittsfield Mets (1989–2000) and Pittsfield Astros (2001).

2002 season

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The ValleyCats played their first game on the road in Lowell, Massachusetts, on June 18, 2002, against their rival the Lowell Spinners. The Spinners had a 3–1 lead going into the eighth inning, but a triple by Aneudi Cuevas down the right field line drove in three runs leading the ValleyCats to a 5–4 victory.

2006 season

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A 2006 ValleyCats game

In their 2006 season, the ValleyCats registered an attendance of 129,126 in 37 contests, averaging 3,489 fans per game. On July 4, 2006, the ValleyCats set a new all-time home attendance mark as 6,123 people attended a game against the Lowell Spinners which was later broken in the following years.

2008 season

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All-Star game

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The Valley Cats hosted the fourth annual New York–Penn League All-Star Game at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in 2008. The game was played between teams made up of the affiliates of National League (NL) and American League (AL) teams. The ValleyCats, affiliates of the National League's Houston Astros, were part of the NL squad. Four ValleyCats were voted to play in the game: first baseman Phil Disher, left fielder Jack Shuck, pitcher Philip Rummel, and center fielder Thomas Steele. However, Steele was injured two weeks before the game and was replaced by Tri-City third baseman David Flores. The NL All-Stars won the game on a walk-off RBI by Tri-City's David Flores. Flores was also voted MVP of the game.[1]

No-hitter

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On June 21, 2008, pitchers Shane Wolf, David Miller, and Ashton Mowdy combined to throw the first no-hitter in the franchise's history. Wolf is a native of nearby Lansing. The ValleyCats won, 10–0, over the Oneonta Tigers.[2]

Attendance

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On July 4, 2008, The ValleyCats broke their single-game attendance record drawing 6,630 to the ballpark, 2,130 more than the listed capacity. The ValleyCats won, 9–2, against the Jamestown Jammers.[3] The team also set a season attendance record in 2008 with 140,631 fans in attendance despite missing many games due to rain.

2009 season

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The ValleyCats once again broke attendance records in 2009. Their single-game attendance record was broken again on July 4 against the Brooklyn Cyclones. A crowd of 6,838 fans attended the 2–1 ValleyCats loss.[4] They also set a new single season attendance record, attracting 145,976 fans to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium that season.[5] Tri-City finished the season in fourth place in the Stedler Division, 18 games behind first-place Lowell.[6]

2010 Championship season

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After three losing seasons, the ValleyCats finally turned around to be one of the front runners in the Stedler Division. Led by manager Jim Pankovits, they were the underdog in the 2010 NYPL playoffs with a 38–36 record, and having won their division by only a half game over the Connecticut Tigers. They reached the championship series for the third time in their short history, and beat the heavy favorite Brooklyn Cyclones (51–24), two games to none.

2015 season

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The second no-hitter in ValleyCats history was thrown on August 6, 2015. Pitchers Kevin McCanna, Ralph Garza, and Zac Person combined for the road win against the Aberdeen IronBirds at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium, 5–0.[7]

2021 and beyond

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After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The ValleyCats were not among the teams invited to continue in affiliated baseball.[8] On January 7, 2021, the team announced that it would be joining the Frontier League, an independent MLB Partner league, for the 2021 season.[9] The 2021 and 2022 seasons were disappointing for the ValleyCats as they missed the playoffs both years. In the 2023 season, the ValleyCats attempted to get into the playoffs. However, they were beaten by the Sussex County Miners for the third and final playoff spot. Despite both clubs having the same record in the East Division, the Miners had a longer winning streak than the Valley Cats. This meant that the ValleyCats missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. In 2024, the Valley Cats clinched the playoffs for the first time since 2018, placing second in the East Division. However, they lost to the Ottawa Titans in the Wild Card game 5-2.

Mascots

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Left to right: Sammy, Ribbie, and SouthPaw

The ValleyCats have several mascots, the three most prominent being SouthPaw, his grandfather, Pappy, and his best friend, Ribbie. SouthPaw is a jersey-wearing cat, representing the "ValleyCat", the team's nickname. Another fan-favorite is Sammy Baseball who wears a patriotic costume and resembles Uncle Sam, reputedly derived from Samuel Wilson who operated a meat packing plant in Troy. The Tri-City Mayors, large caricature heads representing the current Mayors of Troy, Albany, and Schenectady, race (and dance) on a nightly basis at the ballpark. Ketchup, Mustard, and Relish mascots participate in a hot dog race. Other mascots include Spiedie the Chicken, Zoggy the Dinosaur, and Rowdy the River Rat, obtained when the Albany River Rats moved to Charlotte, North Carolina.[10]

Season results

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Season League Manager Record
2002 NYPL Iván DeJesús 27–48, 4th place Stedler
2003 NYPL Iván DeJesús 44–32, 2nd place Stedler
2004† NYPL Gregg Langbehn 50–25, 1st place Stedler
2005 NYPL Gregg Langbehn 34–42, 3rd place Stedler
2006† NYPL Gregg Langbehn 43–31, 1st place Stedler
2007 NYPL Pete Rancont 27–47, 4th place Stedler
2008 NYPL Pete Rancont 28–45, 4th place Stedler
2009 NYPL Jim Pankovits 27–48, 4th place Stedler
2010‡ NYPL Jim Pankovits 38–36, 1st place Stedler
2011 NYPL Stubby Clapp 33–42, 3rd place Stedler
2012† NYPL Stubby Clapp 51–25, 1st place Stedler
2013‡ NYPL Ed Romero 44–32, 1st place Stedler
2014† NYPL Ed Romero 48–28, 1st place Stedler
2015§ NYPL Ed Romero 42–33, 1st place Stedler
2016 NYPL Lamarr Rogers 38–38, 3rd place Stedler
2017 NYPL Morgan Ensberg 34–39, 3rd place Stedler
2018‡ NYPL Jason Bell 42–33, 1st place Stedler
2019 NYPL Ozney Guillen 32–42, 4th place Stedler
2020 Season not played due to COVID-19
2021 Frontier Pete Incaviglia 50–46, 2nd place Atlantic
2022 Frontier Pete Incaviglia 54–41, 5th place East
2023 Frontier Pete Incaviglia 55–40, 4th place East
2024 Frontier Greg Tagert 52–41, 2nd place East
NY–Penn League champions (‡) NY–Penn League finalists (†) Stedler Division champions (§) Wild Card winner (*)

Postseason results

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  • 2004: Defeated Brooklyn Cyclones, 2 games to 1; lost to Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2 games to 0, in championship round.
  • 2006: Defeated Auburn Doubledays, 2 games to none; lost to Staten Island Yankees, 2 games to 1, in championship round.
  • 2010: Defeated Batavia Muckdogs, 2 games to 1; defeated Brooklyn Cyclones, 2 games to 0, in championship round.
  • 2012: Defeated Auburn Doubledays, 2 games to 1; lost to Hudson Valley Renegades, 2 game to 1, in championship round.
  • 2013: Defeated Aberdeen IronBirds, 2 games to 0; defeated State College Spikes, 2 games to 1, in championship round.
  • 2014: Defeated the Connecticut Tigers, 2 games to none; lost to the State College Spikes, 2 games to 1.
  • 2015: Lost semi-finals to Staten Island Yankees, 2 games to 0.
  • 2018: Defeated Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2 games to 0; defeated Hudson Valley Renegades, 2 games to 0, in championship round.
  • 2024: Lost East Division Wild Card Game to Ottawa Titans 5-2.

Fast facts

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  • Total Attendance
    • Joseph L. Bruno Stadium
      • 2002 – 108,409
      • 2003 – 103,984
      • 2004 – 110,497
      • 2005 – 116,674
      • 2006 – 129,126
      • 2007 – 136,809
      • 2008 – 140,631 (7th most in NY–Penn League).[11]
      • 2009 – 145,976 (6th most in NY–Penn League).[12]
      • 2010 – 155,315 (5th most in NY–Penn League).[13]
      • 2011 – 156,297 (6th most in NY–Penn League).[14]
      • 2012 – 159,966 (5th most in NY–Penn League).[15]
      • 2013 – 156,712 (4th most in NY–Penn League).[16]
      • 2014 – 161,171 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).[17]
      • 2015 – 153,692 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).[18]
      • 2016 – 149,847 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).[19]
      • 2017 – 142,922 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).[20]
      • 2018 – 140,036 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).[21]
      • 2019 - 131,529 (3rd most in NY-Penn League).[22]
      • 2020 - SEASON CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19.[23]
      • 2021 - 100,519 (2nd most in Frontier League).[24]
      • 2022 - 134,617 (5th most in Frontier League).[25]
      • 2023 - 136,231 (4th most in Frontier League).[26]
  • Ballpark Dimensions
    • LF – 325 feet (99 m)
    • CF – 400 feet (122 m)
    • RF – 325 feet (99 m)
  • First Game
    • Tuesday, June 18, 2002 vs Lowell Spinners (at LeLacheur Park, Lowell, Massachusetts – W 5–4)
  • Season Records (2002–present)
    • Hits
      • 2022 – Brantley Bell (138)
    • Doubles
      • 2022 – Brantley Bell (30)
    • Triples
      • 2015 – Aaron Mizell (7)
      • 2017 – Andy Pineda (7)
    • Home runs
    • Runs Batted In
    • Stolen Bases
      • 2023 – Jaxon Hallmark (33)
    • Wins
      • 2004 – Ronnie Ventura (11)
    • Saves
      • 2021 – Trey Cochran-Gill (24)
    • Strikeouts
      • 2022 – Joey Gonzalez (128)

Current roster

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Tri-City ValleyCats roster
Active roster Coaches/Other

Pitchers

  • 22 Wes Albert
  • -- Angelo Baez ‡
  • 24 Dan Beebe
  • 29 Chas Cywin
  • 35 Nick DeCarlo
  • 21 Austin Dill
  • -- Aaron Ernst ‡
  •  6 Rolando Heredia-Bustos  
  • -- Tyler Jeans ‡
  • 27 Easton Klein
  • 26 Arlo Marynczak
  • 18 Nathan Medrano
  • 38 Caden O'Brien ‡
  • 23 Tom Peltier  
  • 25 Alfredo Ruiz
  • 32 Gino Sabatine
  • 34 Jhon Vargas  
  • -- Greg Veliz ‡
  • 33 Zeke Wood
  • -- Jolon Zhao ‡



  

Catchers

  •  4 Chris Burgess
  • 12 Oscar Campos  
  • 20 Jeff Nicol

Infielders

  • 14 Ryan Cash
  • 13 Tyson Gingerich
  •  2 Robbie Merced
  • 16 Kyle Novak
  •  7 Elvis Peralta
  •  8 Ian Walters

Outfielders

  • 11 Dylan Broderick
  •  1 Jaxon Hallmark
  • 10 Demias Jimerson
  •  9 Bradley Roberto
  •  3 Javeyan Williams
  

Manager

Coaches

  •  5 Tom McManus (fundamentals)
  • 28 J.T. Scara (bench)
  • 30 Tom Thornton (pitching)
  • 15 Joe Torre (third base)

  Disabled list
‡ Inactive list
§ Suspended list

 updated July 16, 2024
 Transactions

Notable alumni

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Former/Current notable baseball players who played for the ValleyCats as a minor league affiliate, the year they played for the ValleyCats, and the team they debuted with (If debuted yet).

Former/Current notable baseball players who played for the ValleyCats in the Frontier League, the year they played for the ValleyCats, and the team they returned with.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Flores sends All-Star fans home happy". New York–Penn League. August 20, 2008.
  2. ^ "Three ValleyCats Combine for First No-Hitter in Franchise History". Tri-City ValleyCats. June 21, 2008.
  3. ^ "ValleyCats Bats Explode In Front of Record Crowd". Tri-City ValleyCats. July 5, 2008.
  4. ^ "'Cats Shatter Single Game Attendance Record". Tri-City ValleyCats. July 4, 2009. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022.
  5. ^ "ValleyCats Set Season Attendance Record for Sixth Consecutive Season". Tri-City ValleyCats. September 1, 2009. Archived from the original on January 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "2009 New York–Pennsylvania League". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Archived from the original on April 19, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2009.
  7. ^ "New York-Penn League No-Hit Games". New York–Penn League. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  8. ^ Singelais, Mark (December 9, 2020). "ValleyCats lose bid to affiliate with Major League Baseball team". Times Union. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  9. ^ Schott, Ken (January 7, 2021). "ValleyCats will join Frontier League". Daily Gazette. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  10. ^ "ValleyCats adopt Rowdy the Rat". Tri-City ValleyCats. Retrieved April 28, 2014.
  11. ^ "2008 Affiliated Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. June 26, 2009.
  12. ^ "2009 Affiliated Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. September 23, 2009.
  13. ^ "2010 Affiliated Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. September 10, 2010.
  14. ^ "2011 Affiliated Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. September 12, 2013.
  15. ^ "2012 Affiliated Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. September 7, 2013.
  16. ^ "2013 Affiliated Attendance by Average". Ballpark Digest. September 9, 2013.
  17. ^ "2014 Affiliated Attendance by Average". Ballpark Digest. September 5, 2014.
  18. ^ "2015 Affiliated Attendance by Average". Ballpark Digest. September 9, 2015.
  19. ^ "2016 Affiliated Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. September 9, 2016.
  20. ^ "2017 Affiliated Attendance by Total". Ballpark Digest. September 10, 2017.
  21. ^ "2018 Affiliated Attendance by Average". Ballpark Digest. September 17, 2018.
  22. ^ "2019 Affiliated Attendance by Average". Ballpark Digest. September 9, 2019.
  23. ^ "ValleyCats season canceled". Times Union. June 30, 2020.
  24. ^ "2021 MLB Partner League attendance by average". Ballpark Digest. October 12, 2021.
  25. ^ "2022 MLB Partner League attendance by average". Ballpark Digest. September 20, 2022.
  26. ^ "2023 MLB Partner League attendance by total". Ballpark Digest. September 19, 2023.
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