The National Pastime in the City of the Hills

The National Pastime in the City of the Hills

            The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Upstate New York and is widely recognized as the birthplace of baseball. Every summer the best players come to this quaint little town in order to witness the yearly Hall of Fame induction ceremonies. While a majority of the stories of upstate baseball belong to this town, the city of Oneonta, just a half an hour from Cooperstown, has a rich tradition of its own.

Oneonta Red Sox: 1966       

While baseball has existed in Oneonta before the inception of the Oneonta Red Sox in 1966, that is when people were starting to recognize the “City of the Hills” as a place that can support a professional baseball team, albeit being a minor league team. This Red Sox Class A affiliate only lasted one year, finishing with a record of 66-59 in the New York-Pennsylvania League, not enough to make the playoffs.

The Red Sox had a few notable players on this team that went on to have some major league success. Ken Brett, the fourth overall pick of the Boston Red Sox in the 1966 MLB Draft, struggled in his lone season in Oneonta. He compiled a record of 1-4 and a 5.81 ERA, but went on to have a fruitful career in Major League Baseball. In a 14-year career, Brett finished with an 83-85 record and a 3.93 ERA with the Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox, California Angels, Minnesota Twins, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Kansas City Royals.

 Another player who went on to pay in the MLB after playing with the in Oneonta in 1966 was Amos Otis. Otis batted .270, along with three home runs and 46 RBIs. He also went on to have success in the majors, batting a career .277, with 193 homers and 1007 RBIs. In his 17 seasons in professional baseball with the New York Mets, Red Sox and Royals, Otis played in five All-Star games and won one Gold Glove Award. But after just one season in Oneonta, the Red Sox moved, but creating a vacant spot that would be taken by the Oneonta Yankees, just one year later.

Oneonta Yankees: 1967-1998

It should be noted that there is some kind of irony as the Yankees replaced the Red Sox as the team representing Oneonta. Throughout Boston’s and New York’s storied history there have been plenty of events on the major league level that have defined baseball’s most well-known rivalry. From Boston selling Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920 for $100,000, leading to the “Curse of the Bambino,” to the Red Sox epic comeback in the 2004 American League Championship Series while trailing the series 3-0, these have been two teams that did not like each other. Who would have thought the rivalry would go down to the Single A level as well?

For 31 years the Yankees called Damaschke Field home with varying degrees of success. They had 10 seasons (1978-81, 85-86, 88, 90, 97-98) in which they made the playoffs. In addition, they had ten seasons in which they had over 50,000 fans come to the ballpark.

Through their existence many players and managers have played for the Oneonta Yankees en their route to the MLB. Some of these notable names are Don Mattingly (first base), Bernie Williams (center field), Jorge Posada (catcher) and Andy Pettitte (starting pitcher) all went on to have great careers for the “Bronx Bombers.” Posada, Pettitte and Williams won multiple World Series Championships for in New York, and Mattingly had his number 23 retired at Yankee Stadium, while remaining a fan favorite.

In 1979, Mattingly’s lone year in Oneonta, he batted .349, with three home runs and 31 RBIs, in 53 games. During Williams’ short 1987 stint in “Oney,” he had a .344 batting average and 15 RBIs.   In 1991, Posada struggled during his time in Single A, compiling and average of .235, while belting five balls out of the park.  Also in 1991, Pettitte went a respectable 2-2, with a 2.18 ERA in six starts. The four ball players spent some of their young career in the small city of Oneonta before making their way into primetime, playing in front of 50,000 fans a night.

Alex Hoysradt is a senior at SUNY Onoenta and is an avid baseball fan, but was unaware of the rich tradition that baseball had in his temporary home city. He has never visited Damaschke Field in his four years as a student.

“I did not know that (so many famous names played for the Oneonta Yankees) and never realized it. It’s pretty cool that big names like theirs actually played ball in Oneonta,” said Hoysradt.  The trio of Williams (51), Pettitte (46) and Posada (20) will also have their numbers retired and given a plaque in Monument Park at Yankee Stadium this year.

But in a strange turn of events, the most famous Oneonta Yankee alumni did not even stay in the game of baseball. John Elway played for the Yankees in 1982, while batting .345 in 45 games. But he chose to play professional football instead, having a Hall of Fame career as the quarterback for the Denver Broncos, winning two Super Bowls in the process.

After playing 31 years in Upstate New York, the Oneonta Yankees moved to Staten Island where they still play today. But one year later there would be another team calling Oneonta home.

Oneonta Tigers: 1999-2009

After the era of the Red Sox and Yankees in Oneonta, the city then got a chance to watch the Oneonta Tigers, the affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. In their 10-year existence the Tigers made the playoffs four times (2002-03, 05, 07), before they moved the franchise to Connecticut for the 2010 season. Even though there is currently no MLB affiliated team calling Oneonta its home, Hoysradt believes that one can succeed in this city.

“While I am not a believer in giving many places second or third chances with sports teams (Los Angeles and the National Football League), I do believe Oneonta could support a minor league team. There is really no other team in the immediate area and the team could draw people from nearby towns and of course us students,” said Hoysradt.

Hoysradt went on to say that if there was still a minor league team here, then he would go and watch the games. “It would be really fun to go down there and watch potential major league stars. Who knows we could see the next big thing before he becomes a star?”

Oneonta Outlaws: 2011-????

After the Tigers left for Connecticut, residence of Damaschke Field was taken up by the Oneonta Outlaws, a team made up of college players playing summer baseball. They originally played in the New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL) in 2011, before moving to the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League in 2012, before returning back to the NYCBL, where they currently reside. Throughout the Outlaws’ existence they have won three NYCBL championships in 2006, 2011 and 2013.

According to the NYCBL’s official website, their league is “a summer wood bat development league for professional baseball.  Major League Baseball funds a small portion of the league’s annual budget. The league gives college players who have not yet signed a professional contract the opportunity to develop their skills at a higher level of play, gain experience with wood bats, and be evaluated by scouts.”

It is a 46 game season from June to July and the playoffs take place in August.

In the 13 team league the Outlaws finished the 2014 season with a record of 27-19, good enough for second place in the Eastern Division, only finishing behind the Geneva Red Wings.

The prices that a fan needs to pay in order to get entry in to the park are very reasonable. For general admission for an adult it costs $4.00 per game and $2.00 for ages 13-18. And for any child 12 or under, a ticket costs just $1.00. For a reserved box seat it will cost $5.00 per person. A family season pass costs $100.00 dollars for up to six people, $50.00 for an adult season pass and $25.00 for ages 13-18 and senior citizens.

Damaschke Field:

After first opening its doors in 1939, Damaschke Field has been a staple of Oneonta. While they have been home to all of the Oneonta minor league affiliates since its inception, it has recently under gone a renovation to help bring it to the modern age. In 2007, the bleachers were replaced, putting backs on them so the viewer can lean back, along with a new grandstand in order to give a more optimal experience. The parking lot was also moved closer to the field to create a quicker and more pleasant walk for the fans. With an official seating capacity of 3,700, this stadium provides a pleasant baseball experience for the baseball fans of Oneonta and people who just want to go out and enjoy a nice day.

If I Were Commissioner of the NHL…

Bobby Lemaire

 Originally Posted on 15 April 2015.

Every sports fan has their favorite sport and league to watch. My number one sport is hockey and I am a fan of the NHL (let’s go Rangers). While I do enjoy watching any NHL game that is on, there are definitely a few changes that can be made in order to make viewing a game a more pleasant experience. If I were the commissioner these are some of the rule changes I would make:

1) Get rid of the delay of game penalty. Ever since the NHL lockout that cancelled the 2004-2005 season, one of the most ridiculous rules is clearly the delay of game penalty. If a defensive player shoots the puck over the glass in their defensive zone, they are automatically sent to the penalty box for two minutes. The theory behind this rule is that players used to purposely clear the puck into the stands when their team was tired and needed a line change.

But the rule in place is simply too extreme. Too many players have been penalized for accidentally shooting the puck over, often times costing his team a chance to win the game. The best rule change would be to treat shooting the puck out of play as an icing. When the puck is shot into the stands, that team would not be allowed to make a line change. It would prevent a cheap attempt to stop play and would not penalize a team for an accident.

2) Make the playing surface bigger. The size of every NHL rink is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide. This has been the regulation size of the rink since the NHL’s inaugural season in 1917. But as time has passed the average players has gotten bigger, creating less room on the ice for skilled players to make plays.

In international play, however, the rinks are bigger, measuring 200 feet by 100 feet. This creates much more room for the players, but also allows them to skate up and create more odd man rushes and exciting plays. The reason why this change has not occurred is because NHL owners are selfish and unwilling to take away seats in order to create a bigger rink. It is all about the money.

3) Get rid of the shootout. Before the 2004-2005 lockout, the games that were tied after the five minute, four on four overtime period ended in a tie. But, in order to help coax angry fans back to the arena, the league implemented the shootout, a breakaway skills competition in order to determine the winner. While it was first an exciting thing to watch, it became clear among the majority of fans that this was an unfair way to determine who wins regular season games.

The NHL is currently tinkering with the overtime period, possibly having two shortened periods, one four on four and the other three on three, and then going to a shootout. I am partially on board with that. Although if I was in charge, I would implement a five minute four on four period, followed by a five minute three on three period. If no one scores, then the game would end in a tie.

4) Allow players to kick the puck in the net. Under the current NHL rules, a player is allowed to use his feet to put the puck in the goal as long as there is “no distinct kicking motion.” But throughout the season the referees have been inconsistent in what that constitutes a kicking motion. Players, fans and announcers have looked dumbfounded on calls that have been overturned into a goal or called back. If they just allow players to use their feet at all costs, then this problem would go away entirely.

I love hockey and am a big fan of the NHL and like a majority of rules the NHL has.  But if they made these rule changes, it would benefit everyone involved.

Up Next, the Playoffs

Bobby Lemaire

Originally Posted on 15 April 2015.

The New York Rangers ended their 2014 playoff run with a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Kings in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals. After Kings defenseman Alec Martinez put the puck past Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist in double overtime, Ranger fans were understandably distraught, but knew that good times were still ahead. Even though they lost forward Brian Boyle and defenseman Anton Stralman to the Tampa Bay Lightning via free agency, two key factors to their previous playoff run, there was still a solid core intact.

But the early parts of the regular season were far from spectacular. They started the season with a mediocre record of 11-10-4, treading towards the bottom end of the Metropolitan Division.

Head coach Alain Vigneault had to do some line juggling as defensemen, recently named captain Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Klein and Dan Boyle all missed significant time due to various injuries. On offense, their top line center, Derek Stepan, broke his leg during training camp, forcing him to miss more than a month of play. There was poor defensive play due to the lack of team chemistry often leaving goalie Henrik Lundqvist out to dry.

Since the Rangers slow start, they have been one of, if not the best, team in the NHL, compiling a record of 49-11-3. They have recently been awarded the Presidents’ Trophy. This means that for as long as the Rangers are in the playoffs they will have home ice advantage, a key factor if a series goes to a decisive Game 7.

Why have they been so good? One of the major reasons has been the play of Rick Nash. Nash, who seemed invisible in the 2014 playoffs, only scoring one goal, has exploded during this year’s campaign, scoring a career high 43 goals. Along with Nash, the most important player has been backup goalie Cam Talbot, who became the temporary starter after Lundqvist took a puck to the throat, straining a blood vessel. This season Talbot has compiled a record of 21-9-4, with a 2.21 goals-against average (GAA) and a .926 save percentage. Lundqvist has since returned from his injury and reclaimed the starting role.

Oneonta senior and Rangers fan Dan Romanczyk has loved the play of these two, “Other than number 61 (Nash) setting a career high in goals, Nash has been noticeable in all three zones…There isn’t enough to be said about Talbot’s play over the course of time he was in the spotlight. He propelled the team into first place and brought a cool and calm demeanor to the team,” Romanczyk said.

On the final day before the trade deadline, general manager Glen Sather made a blockbuster trade, acquiring defenseman Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes for prospect Anthony Duclair, defenseman John Moore and a first round pick. Yandle is one of the best passers in the league and was brought in to help fix a struggling power play.

The Rangers are headed to the playoffs once again and will face the Pittsburgh Penguins with hopes of finishing off what they couldn’t last year, bringing the Stanley Cup back to Madison Square Garden. Game 1 is on Thursday.

Cam’s the Man

Bobby Lemaire

 Originally Posted on 25 March 2015

New York Rangers players, coaches and fans collectively held their breath on January 31 at Madison Square Garden. In a freak play against the Carolina Hurricanes, starting goalie Henrik Lundqvist took a puck to the neck after his neck guard was accidentally lifted by the stick of Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh. Lundqvist stayed down for several minutes eventually getting up on his own to the roar of the Ranger faithful. He stayed in the game as the Rangers went on to defeat the Hurricanes 4-1 and won their next game two days later against the Florida Panthers, 6-3.

But that game against the Panthers would be the last Lundqvist played for a while. After, it was revealed that he tore a blood vessel in his neck, forcing him to miss over a month of hockey.

With one of the best goalies in the National Hockey League going down, Ranger fans were nervous for what would come next. Cam Talbot has been revered as one of the best backup goalies in all of hockey, but could he handle the pressure of being the number one goalie, night in and night out in the heat of a playoff race?

It turns out he can.

Since Lundqvist went down Talbot has compiled a record of 15-3-3, with a 2.23 goals-against average and a .945 save percentage. He has won important games against the Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, New York Islanders and Washington Capitals, all of whom are in a playoff position as of now.

It has been a pretty impressive feat, considering that Talbot was signed as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Alabama-Huntsville, not exactly known as a hockey school. He has looked calm in goal, controlling his rebounds and never giving up on a play. His most impressive save came in a game against the Capitals on March 11, while the Rangers were down two men. In front of the net, Capitals forward Joel Ward made a pass across the crease to Nicklas Backstrom who fired a one timer into what seemed to be a gaping net. But in a move of desperation, Talbot stuck out his glove and robbed Backstrom, catching the puck before it crossed the goal line.

On March 17, it was announced that Lundqvist could finally start full practices with the team, the next step before he gets to play in regular season games. When he comes back, will there be a goalie controversy?

No.

As well as Talbot has been playing this is still Lundqvist’s team. He is the goalie who has consistently led the Rangers to deep playoff runs and it will still be his job when he is ready to come back. This season Lundqvist has gone 25-11-3, with a 2.25 goals-against average and a .922 save percentage. But when Lundqvist returns the Rangers will have the same confidence regardless of who is playing in goal.

This leaves an interesting situation for Talbot. He has one more year on his contract and there are teams who are interested in obtaining a new goalie. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Edmonton Oilers have struggled in the goalie department for the past few years. It may be in the Rangers’ best interest to trade him in the offseason for a draft pick in order to get something in return for his inevitable departure.

Talbot has done a solid job keeping the Rangers on track for yet another playoff berth in hopes to make it back to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row.

Three More to Monument Park

Bobby Lemaire

 Originally Posted on 25 February 2015.

The New York Yankees are the most successful franchise in Major League Baseball history. Since their inception in 1903, the “Bronx Bombers” have accumulated 27 World Series titles behind the legendary names of Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and a host of others. As of now, 18 former Yankee players have had their number retired in Yankee Stadium’s famed “Monument Park.”

After he retired, it was all but guaranteed that former shortstop Derek Jeter would receive that same honor. But in an announcement made by the Yankee organization on February 16, three more Yankees will also have their number retired.

Former players Jorge Posada (catcher, number 20), Bernie Williams (center fielder, number 51) and Andy Pettitte (starting pitcher, number 46) will have their numbers retired and a plaque unveiled in Monument Park. Williams will be honored on May 24, Pettitte on August 22 and Posada just one day later on August 23.

While all three of these players may not be considered “great,” they each played an important role in the Yankees’ success at some point from the mid-1990s to their most recent World Series title in 2009. Throughout this run the Yankees were undoubtedly the most successful New York sports team, winning five world championships (1996, 1998-2000, 2009).

So let’s take a look at these three players and the impact they have had in the Bronx.

Williams spent his entire 16-year career with the Yankees, accumulating a .297 career batting average, with 287 home runs and 1,257 RBIs. He was a five-time all-star (1997-2001) and spent time as the cleanup hitter behind Paul O’Neill. While he was a force at the plate, Williams also won four Gold Gloves in center field (1997-2000). He last played for the Yankees in 2006, ending his relationship on a sour note when New York was only willing to invite him to spring training as a non-roster invitee.

But in 2008 the relationship was mended during the last game at the old Yankee Stadium. While the Yankees were honoring past players, Williams was the last player announced and then received a one minute 42 second standing ovation from the crowd. At the end of his career Williams was ranked in the top 10 in doubles, walks, hits and home runs in Yankee history.

While Pettitte will never be regarded as a true “number one starter” for the Yankees, his stats speak for themselves. For his Yankee career, Pettitte finished with a record of 219-127, along with a 3.94 ERA and three all-star appearances. But his true worth came in the postseason.

During October, Pettitte was one of the most dominant pitchers in baseball. His record of 19-11 with a 3.81 ERA does not seem much better off the top, but it needs to be acknowledged that all of these games were pitched against the best teams in the MLB, under the highest pressure in sports.

The one drawback to his career was that he was caught taking human growth hormone (HGH), which is illegal in the MLB. He finished his career with the New York third all-time in career victories (217) and first in strikeouts (2,020).

Posada spent his entire 17-year career with the Yankees (1995-2011), while being named to five all-star teams and winning two Silver Slugger awards. He finished with a career .273 batting average, along with 275 home runs and 1,065 RBIs. He was not one of the most defensively savvy catchers, but did a good job calling a game for egotistical pitchers (Randy Johnson, Roger Clemens etc.).

Some people will argue that the main reason these players are getting their numbers retired is to get fans to come to the park. The 2015 Yankees are not expected to contend for a playoff spot and honoring former players of the glory years will have fans pay exuberant prices for seats at Yankee Stadium. But regardless of what people believe, these three players played an important part in one of the franchises’ best eras. They resembled a team that played the game for each other, and as this era ended the Yankee management switched to a style in which they signed the best player available, regardless of cost or attitude.

Strong Island

Bobby Lemaire

Posted on 18 February 2015.

The New York Islanders were consistently one of the biggest jokes in the National Hockey League.

Were.

As a franchise they have not won a playoff series since defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1993 Campbell Division Finals. They were a team that was bought by John Spano, a man who lied about his fortune and was unable to actually keep the team after he instilled so much hope in a fan base that was desperate to fill the outdated Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum. A franchise which won four consecutive Stanley Cups from 1980-1983, led by iconic names such as Mike Bossy, Bobby Nystrom, Clark Gillies and Billy Smith, while being coached by Al Arbour, one of the best of all-time.

Their former general manager, Mike Milbury, from the late 90s to the mid-2000s is widely mocked as one of the worst in NHL history. After trading future superstars such as Zdeno Chara, Todd Bertuzzi, Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen for an extended list of players past their prime, the Coliseum struggled with keeping attendance up. These issues have gone on as late as 2012 when it was announced that they would be leaving Nassau County to go to Brooklyn at the end of the 2014-2015 season to play at the Barclays Center.

So how is it possible that the Islanders have spent a majority of the 2014-2015 NHL season, currently with a record of 37-19-1, atop the Metropolitan Division and heading towards the playoffs and a legitimate threat to make a run?

While the team was still struggling, the turnaround can be pinpointed to the 2009 NHL Draft. The Islanders, with the first overall pick, drafted John Tavares, a can’t miss forward out of the Ontario Hockey League. At the time of the draft he was already drawing comparisons to Sidney Crosby, the undisputed best player in hockey. But as Tavares (now their captain) was definitely their most important move, the Islanders have been very successful in building through the draft.

Looking at their roster today, the impact of the players they have picked is clear to see. Kyle Okposo, Brock Nelson, Anders Lee and Ryan Strome (all offensive players) have become important members, seeming to contribute on a nightly basis. New York is fourth in the NHL in total offense, averaging 3.02 goals per game, with four different lines capable of putting the puck in the back of the net. Tavares leads the team with 56 points (27 goals, 29 assists), making all of the players around him better. But one of the biggest surprises this season has been Nelson, always regarded as a solid player, breaking out with 15 goals and winning key faceoffs.

It always seemed like just a matter of time before the Islanders offense turned into one of the most effective in the league. The biggest questions were at the other end of the ice. Just last season they were ranked 28th in league in team defense, giving up 3.18 goals per game. It was necessary for general manager Garth Snow to address issues on both defense and in goal. On May 4, 2014, the Islanders traded a fourth round pick to the Washington Capitals for starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak. Halak has always been a consistent goaltender and finally got his shot to be the number one man. After the trade, Halak signed a four-year deal with Islanders, giving them stability in goal for the first time since Rick DiPietro was an all-star in 2008.

Then, just before this year’s regular season started, Snow made two more moves that turned their defense around. On October 4, he made two trades, one with the Boston Bruins for Johnny Boychuk (for two second round picks) and one with the Chicago Blackhawks for Nick Leddy (for a couple of prospects). These players, both of whom won Stanley Cups in the past, brought legitimacy to their defense.

This year Halak has put up sparkling numbers with a 31-12 record and a 2.48 goals against average, was named to this year’s all-star game. Boychuk has also provided an offensive spark, putting up 26 points this season. These moves have improved the Islanders defense to 23rd this year, giving up 2.78 goals per game.

Will this be the year the Islanders finally advance to the second round? It is tough to say. There are plenty of good teams in the Eastern Conference and advancing will be no sure bet. But there has been a clear change in the Islanders organization and the Nassau Coliseum is going to be loud for its final season.

Victory for Oneonta Men’s Soccer

Bobby Lemaire

 Originally Posted on 12 November 2014.

The Oneonta State Men’s Soccer team was officially crowned SUNYAC champions after defeating the Cortland State Red Dragons 2-1 in a thrilling final at Red Dragon Field on Saturday, November 8.  Led by Head Coach Ian Byrne, Oneonta finished the regular season schedule with a 16-0-2 record (8-0-1), earning them the number one seed in the SUNYAC tournament and a bye to the semi-finals. Oneonta won the semi-final matchup 4-0 with relative ease against the Knights of Geneseo.

But the matchup against Cortland was going to be much tougher, considering one of Oneonta’s only two ties came in the previous “Battle of the Red Dragons” matchup. Oneonta took an early 1-0 lead during the eleventh minute on Jake Sutherland’s seventh goal of the season (remember that name), beating Cortland goalie Tim Beauvais. But Cortland struck back quickly, tying the game less than two minutes later off the foot of Robby Reiser, beating Oneonta goalie Vincent Pellegrino.

The first half ended in a 1-1 tie, with O-State controlling most of the play. There were various opportunities to take the lead, but many shots were off target, missing the net. The second half remained scoreless until Oneonta took the lead off a corner kick taken by Anthony Passiatore as the ball eventually landed on the head of, you guessed it, Sutherland, for his second goal of the game. While the rest of the game was mostly controlled by Oneonta, Cortland did have their opportunities. Pellegrino finished the game with four saves and the defense did a solid job defending set pieces.

As time was running out, the pro-Oneonta crowd could sense what was coming. While the team held possession, precious seconds were ticking away as the Cortland team and fans were getting visibly frustrated with the stifling defense they faced. This has been a theme throughout the whole season as Oneonta has only given up nine goals in the 18 games they have played, while scoring 50. When time ran out there was sheer pandemonium. While the players celebrated, some fans stormed the field to take part in the festivities.

After the ceremonial handshake between the two teams, Oneonta was officially given the SUNYAC trophy as

Sutherland was named tournament MVP with his championship performance.

But their season is not over yet. With their conference championship victory, the Red Dragons have officially qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament. While they would have qualified regardless of this match’s outcome, it was much sweeter defeating their rivals in front of a home crowd. As the number three ranked team in the country, the team will likely be hosting more home games as they try to continue this magical run. Oneonta will have a first round bye and will play the winner of the Nichols College/ UMass-Boston matchup on November 16.