| Syracuse Chiefs Founded in 1934 Syracuse, New York |
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| League titles | 1935, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1954, 1969, 1970, 1976 | ||
| Division titles | 1989 | ||
| Owner(s)/Operated by: Anthony "Tex" Simone (Executive VP/COO) | |||
| Manager: Tony Beasley | |||
| General Manager: John Simone | |||
The Syracuse Chiefs are a minor league baseball team based in Syracuse, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. Their home stadium is Alliance Bank Stadium (formerly known as P&C Stadium) located north of downtown Syracuse at the corner of One Tex Simone Drive and Alliance Bank Parkway, off of either Park St or Hiawatha boulevard.
Syracuse has been represented in professional baseball since 1877, when the Syracuse Stars competed in the League Alliance, an early minor league. Syracuse fielded two major league versions of the Stars, in the 1879 National League and the 1890 American Association. Apart from those seasons, however, the Stars were members of high minor leagues such as the Eastern League (forerunner to the International) and the New York State League through 1917. From 1918-27, they competed in the International League and were an early farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals. But in 1928 the IL franchise moved to Montreal and became the Montreal Royals. The Stars moved down one classification to the New York-Pennsylvania League for 1½ seasons before moving to Utica, New York.[1]
The Chiefs date to 1934 when the International League's Jersey City Skeeters moved to Syracuse and were renamed the Chiefs. The franchise played for 22 consecutive seasons in the IL, through 1955, and won five championships, including in 1954. But it was sold and moved to Miami, Florida, as the Marlins for the 1956 campaign. A team known as the Chiefs competed briefly in the Class A Eastern League, then two levels below the IL, in 1956-57 but moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 1957.[1] Syracuse was without baseball until the 1961 season, when the Montreal Royals franchise was abandoned by its owners, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and moved to Syracuse.
The Chiefs have played in Syracuse uninterrupted since their rebirth in 1961. The team was rebranded as the SkyChiefs in 1997. The name reverted to the original "Chiefs" in December 2006.[2]
From 1978 to 2008, the Chiefs were the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. On September 20, 2008, the Chiefs signed a two-year affiliation agreement with the Nationals, ending their 31-season relationship with the Blue Jays. The Toronto–Syracuse affiliation was the longest of the 11 major league affiliations the Chiefs have had since 1936.
The Chiefs played at MacArthur Stadium from 1934 to 1996. They moved to then-P&C Stadium in 1997.
In 2008, the Chiefs wore a decal on their uniform with the letters HB on it to commemorate Harold Berman, a former member of the Chiefs' Board of Directors, who died between the 2007 and 2008 baseball seasons.
In 2009, the Chiefs wore a decal on their uniform with the letters HM on it to commemorate Hy Miller, a former State Assemblyman for New York and a former director on the Chiefs' Board of Directors, who died between the 2008 and 2009 baseball seasons.
In 2010, the Chiefs celebrated their 50th season of community owned baseball (1961–2010). They wore jerseys from the 1961 during every Thursday home game. They also brought back some radio announcers from the past, such as Syracuse University alumun Sean McDonough, Dan Hoard, and others. The Chiefs went 76-67, one-half game better than the 2009 record of 76-68 because one game against Scranton/Wilkes Barre was canceled late in the season due to weather. 2010 also was the season that top pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg played for the Chiefs and went 2-1 in five appearances.
In 2011, The Chiefs played in their 51st season of community ownership. The team wore throwback jerseys at every Thursday home game in celebration of the 35th anniversary of their last International League Governors Cup Championship team from 1976, which was managed by current Syracuse Wall of Fame member and Future MLB Hall Of Fame inductee, manager Bobby Cox. The Chiefs have added four other alternate jerseys to their rotation this season. One in conjunction with the celebration of Latin American day, one in conjunction with Jackie Robinson day, paying tribute to Negro League uniforms, One that was worn on American celebratory holidays such as July 4 and Memorial day, and one which the Chiefs wore in support of breast cancer awareness night. The Chiefs played the Pawtucket Red Sox on August 20 at 5:30pm in Boston, MA at Fenway Park as part of a doubleheader of minor league baseball in conjunction with the 6th annual Futures at Fenway event, featuring games involving Boston Red Sox Minor League teams. The Chiefs behind starter Brad Meyers defeated the Paw Sox 3-1 in front of over 29,000 fans. At Alliance Bank Stadium, the Chiefs have added a "Home Plate Club" to the stadium which consist of the first four rows behind home plate being used as premium seating and including a waitstaff for merchandise and concessions. These seats cost US$20 per game. On Saturday May 14 Chiefs DH Micheal Aubrey went 4 for 4 all hits being Homeruns, becoming only the second player in team history to hit Four homeruns in a game. The other player was Gene Locklear who hit his four at McArthur Stadium in 1977. On August 27, Stephen Strasburg pitched his only rehab game for the Chiefs vs the Rochester Redwings. He gave up 2 hits in the 6th inning, both his only hits of the game and to the final two batters he faced before departing with the Chiefs ahead 1-0. He received the No Decision in Syracuse's 4-3 win which sealed the Thurway Cup Championship for 2011. The Clubs final record for the season was 66-74 finishing 14.0 games out of first place and forth in the six team north division. A total of four games were canceled and never played in the 2011 season, 2 against Durham and 2 against Scranton/Wilkes Barre.
In 2012 The Chiefs will open up at home against the rival Rochester Red Wings on April 5, 2012, The same day Major League Baseball begains play. At a recent stockholders meeting held in the Hank Saur room on the 15th of November 2011 it was announced that the prospects of a new videoboard would be added to Alliance Bank Stadium, Also Centreplate would no longer be in charge of conessions and that a group of students affiliated with Syracuse University will be chosen to help in marketing and promotions. Randy Knorr will also not be returning for his second season as manager instead Tony Beasley has been promteted from the Harrisburg Senators to manage. In 2012 the Chiefs will play all 16 games against the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees at Alliance Bank Stadium.
Two players in Chiefs history have hit four homeruns in one ball game. On July 14, 1977 Gene Locklear hit four home runs in one game and until 2011 was the only player to do so. On May 14, 2011 Micheal Aubrey hit four homeruns in four at bats in a 11-0 Chiefs win over the Durham Bulls. The final 2 games of the series were canceled due to rain making that the only victory for the Chiefs over the Durham Bulls losing the season series 5-1.
1999 446,025#, 2001 423,405#, 1998 420,488#, 2010 416,382#, 2002 413,566#, 2000 402,450#, 1997 400,804#, 2009 392,518#, 2008 392,028#, 2005 382,896#, 2007 380,152#, 1994 368,971*, 2004 364,648#, 2003 356,303#, 2006 347,699#, 1991 307,922, 1995 300,589, 1996 300,405, 1992 276,786, 1993 265,486, 1970 257,650*, 1990 250,048, 1989 233,161*, 1985 232,073*, 1971 216,115*, 1987 211,315, 1964 208,956*, 1975 201,725*, 1977 200,302, 1981 198,101, 1979 196,228*, 1976 196,121*, 1980 189,250, 1986 187,758, 1988 184,967, 1973 184,461, 1982 184,297, 1974 182,082*, 1963 180,971*, 1972 179,048, 1983 163,859, 1978 160,427, 1967 152,781, 1969 152,201*, 1965 152,072*, 1968 150,295, 1984 142,571, 1961 126,016, 1966 106,669, 1962 103,191
1: 5/7/10 14,098, 2: 5/24/10 13,288, 3: 7/17/93 13,124, 4: 5/29/10 13,115, 5: 7/17/67 13,082, 6: 7/25/67 13,063, 7: 8/17/95 12,711, 8: 7/30/10 12,674, 9: 6/28/95 12,659, 10: 7/14/01 12,455, 11: 6/28/01 12,368, 12: 8/17/99 12,344, 13: 8/22/72 12,322, 14: 8/16/61 12,321, 15: 8/14/09 12,288, 16: 7/11/98 12,255, 17: 7/23/94 12,224, 18: 8/1/08 12,208, 19: 7/13/01 12,121, 20: 4/3/97 12,112, 21: 5/29/94 12,112, 22: 7/18/94 11,899, 23: 7/11/94 11,679, 24: 8/20/94 11,485, 25: 7/9/63 11,476, 26: 8/30/94 11,469, 27: 7/10/95 11,455, 28: 5/9/70 11,398, 29: 6/25/02 11,356, 30: 6/29/00 11,295, 31: 8/18/99 11,228, 32: 6/22/99 11,219, 33: 7/13/70 11,144, 34: 6/27/77 11,100, 35: 5/5/06 11,012, 36: 7/16/81 10,835, 37: 5/15/99 10,767, 38: 6/22/71 10,677, 39: 7/7/80 10,657, 40: 7/12/97 10,656
The Chiefs have won the Governors' Cup, the championship of the IL Playoffs, eight times, and have played in the championship series 17 times.
The Chiefs have won the International League pennant—finishing the regular season with the best record in the league—eight times. The first Chiefs pennant was in 1885, and the most recent was in 1989.
YEAR, WIN-LOSS, WINNING PERCENTAGE, POSITION,MANAGER, GM or OWNER, ATTENDENCE. W/Playoffs (gms)
The I-90 Thruway Series is the name given to all the games played between the Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings, and Syracuse Chiefs. The Series became official when the Buffalo Bisons joined the International League in 1998 after moving from the Triple A American Association. All teams are located in cities along the New York State toll road and all within less than 90 minutes of each other with the exception of Syracuse and Buffalo which are both at the furthest ends and 150 minutes driving time from each stadium. Each year the team that has the best record amongst the games played between this three cities is crowned the Thruway Cup Champion. The Chiefs only have three Thruway Cups and they were in 1999, 2010, and 2011.
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The Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame was established in 1998 in conjunction with the 140th anniversary of the first organized baseball team in Syracuse. The categories for induction are: -First 75 years of professional baseball (1858–1933) -Former Chiefs/SkyChiefs player (1934–present) -Professional baseball player or person affiliated with professional baseball Contributor to the game of baseball.[3]
Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame Committee: Ron Gersbacher, John Simone, Tex Simone, Bob Snyder
1998 Grover Cleveland Alexander Red Barrett, Bill Dinneen, Dave Giusti, Mack Jones, Hank Sauer
1999 Jim Bottomley, Rob Gardner, Bill Kelly, Dutch Mele, Jimmy Outlaw, Lawrence Skiddy, Frank Verdi
2000 Jack Corbett, Jewel Ens, Tom Henke, Willie Horton, Bob Shawkey, Ed Shokes, Hooks Wiltse
2001 Len Boehmer, Johnny Gee, Dave Lemanczyk, Frank McCormick, Jim Northrup, Frank Schulte, Tex Simone
2002 Rick Bladt, Wally Cazen, Frank DiPino, Mike Dorgan, Anthony Henninger, Dixie Howell, Jim Walsh
2003 Mike Barlow, Dave Bergman, Tony Fernandez, Sandy Griffin, Henry McCormick, Red Parton, Goody Rosen
2004 Mike Bragman, Dutch Dotterer, Howard Ehmke, Jack Fifield, Carden Gillenwater, Mickey Klutts, Willie Smith
2005 Dom Dallessandro, John Harmon, John Johnstone, Pepper Martin, Thurman Munson, Jim Owens, Vic Willis
2006 Alan Closter, Steve Grilli, Tom Higgins, Bob Keegan, Conny Murphy, Doc Scanlan, Frank Tepedino
2007 Dutch Dotterer, Jr., Ron Guidry, Fred McGriff, Dick Rockwell, Specs Toporcer, Otto Velez
2008 Bobby Cox, Pat Gillick, Ted Kleinhans, Vic Power, Tommy Thevenow, Greg "Boomer" Wells, Terry Whitfield
2009 Cupid Childs, Babe Dahlgren, William Hofmann, Sr., Rick Leach, Gino Petralli, Jon Ratliff, Randy St. Claire
2010 Shawn Green, Earl Harrist, Chris Jones, Dick Ryan, Mickey Stanley, Don Waful
2011 Jerry Brooks, Lou Johnson, Joseph Kren, Gene Locklear, Gus Mancuso, Jim Prendergast
| Number | Player | Notes |
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| #9 | Hank Sauer | |
| #42 | Jackie Robinson | Retired throughout Baseball |
All Chiefs games are heard locally in central New York on 1260 AM The Score and www.thescore1260.com, broadcast by Jason Benetti. In Addition all Chiefs home games and road games are seen on MILB.TV, an internet video subscription service. Select games are broadcast live on Time Warner Cable SportsNet a central New York regional sports channel provided on Time Warner Cable services throughout the Central and Northern New York area. The games on TWCS are called by Jason Benetti and Syracuse Wall of Fame member and former Major Leaguer Steve Grili. All games versus thurway rivals Rochester or Buffalo are broadcast on TWCS and feed between the cities, with the host city providing the presentation and announcers.
Writer Ken Levine based the Springfield Isotopes minor league team in The Simpsons episode Dancin' Homer on experiences as an announcer for the Syracuse Chiefs. The episode includes references to former announcer Dan Hoard and owner Anthony "Tex" Simone (named Antoine "Tex" O'Hara in the episode).
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| Washington Nationals franchise | |||
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| Triple-A | Double-A | Class A | Rookie |
| Syracuse Chiefs | Harrisburg Senators |
Potomac Nationals Hagerstown Suns Auburn Doubledays |
GCL Nationals DSL Nationals |
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