Altoona Rail Kings

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Altoona Rail Kings 1996 – 1997 Altoona, Pennsylvania
Team Logo Cap Insignia
Class-Level
Independent (1996-1997)
Minor League affiliations
Heartland League (1997) Northern Division North Atlantic Baseball League (1996)
Major League affiliations
Name
Altoona Rail Kings (1996-1997)
Ballpark
Vets Field (1996-1997)
Minor League titles
League titles

Altoona Rail Kings were a former Independent baseball team, playing their home games from Vets Field in Altoona, Pennsylvania. The stadium's full name is Veteran's Memorial Field. They played two seasons, 1996 in the North Atlantic Baseball League, and 1997 in the Heartland League. In 1996 the Rail Kings finished 36-42. In 1997, they finished 22-14 in the Northern Division's first half, and 14-22 in the second. They did make the playoffs, losing in two straight games to the Anderson Lawmen.

Players for the initial season included:

Jeff Andrews C Montgomery, AL R/R 5'11" 185 24

Eric Burroughs OF Thomasville, AL L/L 5'10" 165 25

Mike Cacciotti P Altoona, PA L/L 5'11" 190 23

Peter Dallas P Deerfield, IL R/R 6'3" 190 22

Howard Hill OF Saraland, AL L/L 6'4" 212 22

Mark Hilyard P Rahway, NJ R/R 5'11" 178 21

Anthony Iasparro P West Covina, CA R/R 6'3" 230 26

Karun Jackson SS Mobile, AL R/R 5'10" 185 24

Farley Love P Eight Mile, AL R/R 6'6" 215 22

Travis Maxwell 2B Trenton, NJ R/R 5'10" 160 22

Carlos Mirabal P Englewood, NJ R/R 6'1" 180 23

Tim Mitchell 1B Los Angeles, CA L/L 6'2" 230 25

Paul Neatrour OF Johnstown, PA R/R 6'1" 200 21

Manny Perez C North Bergen, NJ R/R 6'1" 210 22

Billy Reed SS Birmingham, AL R/R 5'9" 160 23

Stanley Scales P Talladega, AL R/R 6'1" 195 24

Ray Schmittle P Altoona, PA L/L 5'11" 195 21

Anthony Sharer P Tyrone, PA R/R 6'0" 185 21

John Smith 3B Auburn, NY R/R 6'2" 215 19

Doug Smyly P Miami, FL R/R 6'5" 200 23

Tony Webster 3B/SS/OF Birmingham, AL R/R 6'2" 200 23

Eric Yelding OF Daphne, AL R/R 6'0" 175 31. Former player with the Astros and Cubs.

Management included: Owner/President: Eric Reichert General Manager: Mike Richmond Director of Media Relations: Dave Shannon Director of Sales and Marketing: Shawn McIntire Account Executive: Eddie Depp Manager: Tommy Hearn Coach: Michael Richmond

When the Pittsburgh Pirates-affliated AA franchise was awarded to Altoona, the Rail Kings relocated to Huntingdon, West Virginia for the 1998 season. They retained the Rail King name but redesigned their logo to feature a crowned H rather than an A. The Kings remained in the Heartland League. They did not finish the season, closing due to poor attendance. The Altoona Curve arrived in Altoona in 1999. Today, the Rail Kings name lives on at Blair County Ballpark, where the best seats are designated "Rail King." The Rail Kings mascot was R.K. Two other names considered for the team were used later by affiliated teams; Spikes by State College and Curves, used by the current AA team.