Lancaster Barnstormers
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lancaster Barnstormers Founded in 2005 Lancaster, Pennsylvania |
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| Owner(s)/Operated By: Opening Day Partners | |||
| General Manager: Kevin Cummings | |||
| Manager: Von Hayes | |||
| Media: Intelligencer Journal | |||
| Website: www.lancasterbarnstormers.com | |||
The Lancaster Barnstormers are a professional baseball team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The Barnstormers are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2005 season to the present, the Barnstormers have played their home games at Clipper Magazine Stadium, on the northwestern side of the city. With 8,485 fans attending their 2008 Opening Day, the Barnstormers own the Atlantic League single-game attendance record.[1]
The Barnstormers represent all of Lancaster County, though the team plays in the city of Lancaster.[2] The Barnstormers designate many of their home games to honor each of the county's smaller communities.[3]
Baseball fans in Lancaster waited 44 years for the return of baseball since the Lancaster Red Roses folded after the 1961 season. In 2003, Lancastrians chose the name "Barnstormers" over "Red Roses" in a name-the-team contest.[4] The name "Barnstormers" refers to the act of "barnstorming," which means to travel around an area appearing in exhibition sports events, especially baseball games.[5] The "Barnstormers" name was used to describe Lancaster's baseball teams as far back as 1906 by the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer: "There was a crowd of between seven and eight hundred persons out on Friday to see the Lancaster barnstormers play the Philadelphia Giants."[6] The Lancaster Barnstormers' logo was also designed with local history in mind, as the team colors of navy blue, red, and khaki were the same colors used by Lancaster's former team, the Red Roses.[7] The name and logo also reference the numerous farms in the surrounding county, many of which are Amish.[8] The Lancaster Barnstormers are sometimes given the nickname of the "'Stormers." The team management is nicknamed "The Barn."
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[edit] History of Lancaster baseball
[edit] The Beginning
Baseball first came to Lancaster County in the 1860s by soldiers returning home from the Civil War. They learned the rules while serving in the military and wanted to continue playing.[9] The very first professional baseball teams in Lancaster were the Lancaster Lancasters and the Lancaster Ironsides. The Lancasters played in the Keystone Association and the Ironsides played in the Eastern League, both starting in 1884. The following season, the Lancasters joined the Eastern League, and the two teams became bitter rivals. They competed against each other for fan support, league affiliation, and money at the gate. At its peak, insults and refusals to play against each other were the norm. The teams finally agreed to play each other at the end of the 1884 season, in which the Ironsides defeated the Lancasters after seven very close games. The Lancasters were the only team to continue play in the next season.[10]
[edit] The 1890s
In the 1894-1895 season, a team called the Lancaster Chicks played in the Keystone Association. An all-Black team called the Lancaster Giants followed in 1887, and many Lancastrians supported the team despite the social pressure of the day. The Giants hosted many exhibition games against the Philadelphia Giants of the Keystone Club.[11]
Between the years 1896 and 1899, the first team called the Lancaster Maroons played in the original Atlantic League. In 1905, the second inception of the Maroons played in the Tri-State League.[12]
[edit] Lancaster Red Roses
In 1906, the Maroons became the Lancaster Red Roses. As both teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of the Roses, the name change infuriated the rival White Roses from the nearby city of York.[13]
For more information about the team, see Lancaster Red Roses.
[edit] Lancaster's New Era: The Barnstormers
In 2003, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball formally announced an expansion franchise for Lancaster, Pennsylvania. In October of that year the team was named the Barnstormers and Lancastrians held their collective breath for the team to sign Tom Herr, a Lancaster native, to be the manager. In November 2004, the Barnstormers announced the signing of Herr as the first team manager.[14] At the press conference, Herr responded, "I have been looking forward to the return of baseball to Lancaster for quite some time. This is almost too good to be true, being able to manage in my hometown." His son, Aaron, was to play with Lancaster until he was signed by the St. Louis Cardinals before the start of the Atlantic League season, and allocated to their Class AA affiliate, the Springfield Cardinals, in 2005.[15]
The Lancaster Barnstormers' first playing season came in 2005 at the newly-built Clipper Magazine Stadium. On May 11, the Barnstormers lost their first game 4-3 to the Atlantic City Surf, in front of 7,300 fans. They finished the 2005 season with a record of 64 wins and 76 losses. In finishing the first half of the 2006 season with a record of 38-25, the Barnstormers qualified for their first Atlantic League playoff berth. They followed this feat with a second-half win, posting a record of 37-26. After besting division challenger Atlantic City in the first round of the playoffs, the Barnstormers swept the Bridgeport Bluefish on October 1, 2006 for their first ever Atlantic League championship, in only their second season. Pitcher Denny Harriger threw a complete game, breaking a franchise record for consecutive pitches. In doing so, the Barnstormers became the first Atlantic League team in history to sweep their way through both rounds of the playoffs on the way to a title. It was the city of Lancaster’s first professional championship since 1955, when the former Red Roses won the old Piedmont League title.
The Barnstormers get heavy coverage in the local newspapers and receive a significant following from Lancaster-area fans, many of whom hail the organization as family-friendly in their planning of events for game nights. Even though some in the Lancaster area have speculated the possibility of the Barnstormers organization becoming a Major League-affiliated club, the nearby affiliated Harrisburg Senators and the Reading Phillies have made it clear that they will not waive their territorial claims over Lancaster.[16]
[edit] Logos and uniforms
The team colors of the Lancaster Barnstormers are red, navy blue, and khaki. These were the same colors used by the Red Roses, Lancaster's former professional baseball team, and represent a conscious effort to make a connection between the past and the present of baseball in Lancaster County. The Barnstormers logo consists of a typical red barn outlined in navy blue with a streaking baseball. Unlike most sports logos, the city name is prominently featured rather than the team nickname. Team management decided to emphasize the Lancaster community, so that the whole county could feel a sense of ownership and pride.[17]
The Lancaster Barnstormers uniforms are traditional in design, with the caps produced by The Game and the uniforms by Rawlings. The home cap is red throughout with a stylized, cursive "L" colored white, navy blue, and khaki, interwoven with a streaking baseball centered on the front. The away cap is navy blue throughout with a stylized, cursive "L" colored red, navy blue, and khaki, interwoven with a streaking baseball centered on the front. The Barnstormers wordmark is centered on the back toward the lower edge on both of the caps. The team also has an alternate cap that features a navy blue crown with a red brim and button. The home jerseys are white with traditional red piping. The cursive "Lancaster" wordmark is prominently displayed on the front of the jersey in red outlined in khaki and navy blue. The away jersey is grey with red piping on the sleeves and the word "Lancaster" in red block letters oulined in navy blue, arched across the front. The Barnstormers wear red belts, socks, and undershirts with all uniforms.
The Lancaster Barnstormers have had three different alternate jerseys throughout their short history. In the 2005 inaugural season, the team wore navy blue alternates with the "Barnstormers" wordmark featured in white with red outline. For the 2006 season, the navy blue alternates were replaced with red, with the "Barnstomers" wordmark featured in navy blue with white outline. Sleeveless, white alternates were introduced for the 2008 season, with the "Barnstormers" wordmark across the front in red outlined in navy blue.
For the "War of the Roses" series, the Barnstormers wear throwback uniforms of the Lancaster Red Roses. The Red Roses caps are navy blue with a white, Old English "L" centered on the front. The jerseys are white with red piping and the Old English "L" centered on the left-side chest, also in red.[18]
All of the Lancaster Barnstormers' jerseys feature a U.S. flag centered above the number on the back.
[edit] Season-by-season records
| Lancaster Barnstormers - 2005 to 2007[19] | ||||
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| Season | W - L Record | Winning Percentage | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2005 | 66-76 | .464 | 3rd in South Division | - |
| 2006 | 74-51 | .592 | 1st in South Division | 6-0 (won championship) |
| 2007 | 57-69 | .452 | 3rd in South Division | - |
| Totals (2005-2007) | 197-196 | .501 | - | - |
| Playoffs | 6-0 | 1.000 | - | - |
| Playoff Series | 2-0 | 1.000 | - | - |
- 1 Atlantic League Championship (2006)
[edit] Tradition
[edit] "War of the Roses"
The South Central Pennsylvania cities of Lancaster and York have a historical rivalry in all sporting events from the high school level to the professional. As both cities are named after the English cities of Lancaster and York, the former Pennsylvania baseball teams were named for the opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses. Just as in the English battles, the Lancaster Red Roses and the York White Roses fought intense baseball matches throughout their existence. With the addition of York to the Atlantic League, the Barnstormers continue the Red Roses tradition as they battle the York Revolution for lower Susquehanna supremacy.
With the sound of cannons, the "War of the Roses" was rekindled in April 2007 in the town of Wrightsville, a town on the natural boundary between Lancaster and York counties: the Susquehanna River. The terms of the series include the losing mayor planting a rose garden in front of the winning team's ballpark using the victor's choice of rose, and singing the classic, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", during a game of the winning team. The victor’s banner is also hung above the losing city hall for one week following the clinching game. The Barnstormers and the Revolution both wear throwback uniforms for the entire first "War of the Roses" series of the season, as well as the first game in the remaining "War of the Roses" series during the rest of the season. The Lancaster Barnstormers wear 1958 Red Roses uniforms that are auctioned off to the Water Street Rescue Mission following their last home game. The winner of the "War of the Roses" series is presented with the Community Cup.[20] The Barnstormers won the first "War of the Roses" series in the 2007 season, with a record of 10-8.
[edit] "Code Red"
During the Lancaster Barnstormers 2006 playoff run, the team management created a new tradition, "Code Red." When a Code Red is called, all team management and loyal fans wear red shirts to support the Barnstormers. It is usually declared for important home games, especially when the team competes against their geographical rival, the York Revolution.[21]
[edit] Hispanic Heritage Night
As the city of Lancaster is home to a large contingent of Puerto Ricans, the Lancaster Barnstormers host a Hispanic Heritage Night celebration once every season in coordination with the city's annual Puerto Rican Festival. In addition to honoring Lancaster's Hispanic community, the Barnstormers team wears special tie-dyed jerseys, the proceeds of which are donated to the Spanish-American Lancaster Sports Association (SALSA) and Play Ball USA.[22][23]
[edit] Retired players
- Ryan Minor hit the first-ever Barnstormers home run on May 17, 2005. He played 142 games in parts of four Major League Baseball seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and Montreal Expos, batting .177 with five home runs and 27 RBI. He is known for replacing Cal Ripken, Jr., when Ripken ended his consecutive games played streak on September, 20 1998. With the Barnstormers, Minor batted .268 with 26 homers, a team best, and 99 RBI, which were second most on the Barnstormers team and tied for third in the league. Before signing with Lancaster for the 2005 season, Minor spent some time with the Newark Bears and the Atlantic City Surf. He finished his career with a lifetime .265 average, 154 homers and 567 RBI.[24] After Ryan Minor retired from professional baseball, he went on to coach the 2006 Road Warriors and the 2007-08 York Revolution.[25]
[edit] Notable Barnstormers
- Current Barnstormers' manager Von Hayes played in the Major Leagues from 1981 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians, the Philadelphia Phillies, and the California Angels. Hayes has also managed Minor League teams in South Bend, Modesto, and Midland, and was the California League Manager of the Year in 2004 and the Texas League Manager of the Year in 2005.
- The Barnstormers employ former Major Leaguer Rick Wise as the pitching coach.[26] He pitched a no-hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1971, and was the winning pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. Other than his experience with the Red Sox and Phillies, he pitched for the Cleveland Indians, the San Diego Padres, and the St. Louis Cardinals.
- Lancaster native, Tom Herr, who was a second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, Minnesota Twins, and the New York Mets,[27] was the team manager from the beginning of the inaugural 2005 season to the end of the 2006 championship season.[28] He left the Lancaster Barnstormers in the fall of 2006 to manage the Hagerstown Suns, the Class A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.[29]
[edit] Retired numbers
42, Jackie Robinson, retired throughout baseball
[edit] Quick facts
- Current uniform colors: White with red piping for home games and grey for away games. Both with the word "Lancaster" across the front and number on the back. Navy blue hats with the letter "L" with a streaking baseball. There is also a red alternate jersey with the "Barnstomers" wordmark across the front.
- Current logo design: The word "Lancaster" in script in white with navy blue and khaki outline superimposed over the peak of a red barn and a streaking baseball with the word "Barnstormers," in red, inside the khaki and navy blue streaks.
- Current mascot: Cylo (2005-present).
- Current Broadcasters: Radio: Dave Collins
- Current Radio Station: Fox Sports Radio 1490 am (WLPA)
- Current TV Station: Blue Ridge Cable-11 (select games)
[edit] Current roster
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Lancaster Barnstormers roster
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Pitchers
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Disabled List
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[edit] References
- ^ Atlantic League-Record 8,485 Attend Barnstormers' Opening Day. Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved on April 26, 2008.
- ^ Lancaster Barnstormers unveil logo. Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved on June 13, 2006.
- ^ Lancaster Barnstormers honor the smaller communities of Lancaster County. Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved on June 13, 2007.
- ^ Name Chosen for Lancaster's Baseball Team. WGAL. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Definition for "barnstorm". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved on May 1, 2006.
- ^ Lancaster's early barnstormers. Lancaster County Historical Society. Retrieved on August 18, 2007.
- ^ Lancaster Barnstormers unveil logo. Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved on June 13, 2006.
- ^ Lancaster County's Amish. 800 PA Dutch. Retrieved on June 13, 2006.
- ^ Baseball Comes to Lancaster. Lancaster County Historical Society. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Lancasters, Ironsides, and Chicks. Lancaster County Historical Society. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Black Baseball in Lancaster. Lancaster County Historical Society. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Lancaster Marooned. Lancaster County Historical Society. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Lancaster's Roses Bloom and Wither. Lancaster County Historical Society. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Barnstormers Make Herr Theirs. FOX23 News. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Aaron Herr with the Springfield Cardinals. scout.com. Retrieved on June 13, 2006.
- ^ Harrisburg, Reading clubs will not waive Territorial Rights. Ballpark Watch. Retrieved on May 31, 2006. Scroll down to the article starting with "Lancaster New Era"
- ^ Lancaster Barnstormers unveil logo. lancasterbarnstormers.com. Retrieved on June 13, 2006.
- ^ "War of the Roses". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved on April 3, 2007.
- ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_League_records
- ^ "War of the Roses". York Daily Record. Retrieved on April 6, 2007.
- ^ 2007 Code Red. Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved on December 18, 2006.
- ^ Puerto Rican Festival. Lancaster Online. Retrieved on September 18, 2006.
- ^ Hispanic Heritage Night at the Clip. Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Retrieved on September 18, 2006.
- ^ Ryan Minor. Minor League News. Retrieved on May 30, 2006.
- ^ Ryan Minor returns to coach Road Warriors. Atlantic League. Retrieved on October 11, 2006.
- ^ Barnstormers' Pitching Coach. Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved on May 26, 2006.
- ^ Tom Herr's Career. Baseball Reference. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Barnstormers Team Manager. Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved on May 6, 2006.
- ^ Tom Herr moves to Hagerstown. Washington Post. Retrieved on December 14, 2006.
[edit] External links
[edit] Official websites
[edit] Blogs
[edit] Media
- Barnstormers page from Lancaster Online
- Barnstormers page at OurSports Central
- Barnstormers game broadcasts
- Lancaster County baseball history
| Achievements | ||
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| Preceded by Somerset Patriots 2005 |
Atlantic League Champions Lancaster Barnstormers 2006 |
Succeeded by Newark Bears 2007 |
| Achievements | ||
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| Preceded by Somerset Patriots 2005 |
South Division First & Second Half Champions Lancaster Barnstormers 2006 |
Succeeded by Somerset Patriots 2007 |
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| Freedom Division | Liberty Division |
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| Lancaster Barnstormers | Newark Bears | Somerset Patriots | York Revolution | Bridgeport Bluefish | Camden Riversharks | Long Island Ducks | Southern Maryland Blue Crabs |
| Former teams: Aberdeen | Atlantic City | Lehigh Valley | Nashua | Newburgh | Road Warriors | |
| Other Independent Baseball Leagues: American Association | Can-Am | Continental | Frontier | Golden | Northern | United | |
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