York Revolution
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Founded in 2006 York, Pennsylvania | |||||
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| Owner(s)/ Operator(s): | Opening Day Partners | ||||
| General Manager: | Eric Menzer | ||||
| Manager: | Mark Mason | ||||
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| York Daily Record, York Dispatch | |||||
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The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2007 season to the present, the Revolution has played its home games at Santander Stadium, located in the Arch Street neighborhood. The team has won the league championship twice, most recently over the Long Island Ducks on October 1, 2011.[1]
Before the Revolution's inaugural season, baseball fans in York had waited 38 years for the return of the sport since the York White Roses folded after the 1969 season. In 2006, Yorkers chose the name "Revolution" in a team-sponsored fan ballot.[2] The name originally referred to the city's colonial heritage, especially because the Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation in York during the Revolutionary War. At the time of the American Revolution, York was one of the first capitals of the United States.[3] In 2012, the Revolution unveiled a new brand to emphasize York's more recent contributions to the Industrial Revolution with a secondary emphasis on patriotism. The region is home to industrial manufacturers such as Harley Davidson, Stauffer's, and York International/Johnson Controls.[4] Many Yorkers also see the Revolution name as a symbol of the city's renaissance efforts.[5]
History of York baseball
York White Roses
The York White Roses, also known as the York Pirates in their last two seasons of existence, played from 1884 to 1969. The White Roses were bitter rivals of the Red Roses of the nearby city of Lancaster. Both teams were named after the two factions of England's historic Wars of the Roses.
A Revolution
York tried for ten years to bring professional baseball back to the city. The process looked promising in 2003, until politics halted the project. The new baseball stadium was to be located at Small Athletic Field, on York City School District property, but the district's board voted negatively as they did not believe the ballpark would be the best use of district money and land. For three years, political and financial discussions continued to delay the project. A new site for the stadium was agreed upon in the Arch Street neighborhood, with all of the pieces falling into place. Other sites that were considered but did not come to fruition were Hoffman Field and the Ohio Blenders of PA, Inc.
In April 2006, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball formally announced an expansion team for the city of York.[6] One of the prominent members of the team's ownership group is Brooks Robinson, who played with the York White Roses and later with the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977. The entrance to the team's stadium is called Brooks Robinson Plaza in his honor.[7]
The Revolution's inaugural season was respectable for a new franchise, as they had a .469 winning percentage and placed third in the former South Division. The team also lost the War of the Roses series to their local rival in Lancaster.
The sophomore season was an exciting campaign for the Revolution. Despite their record of 71 wins and 69 losses, the team earned its place at the top of the Freedom Division and its very first playoff series. However, the Somerset Patriots swept the Revolution in two games, and eventually won the Atlantic League Championship Series. York was victorious in capturing the Community Cup versus the Barnstormers, and won the very first Route 30 Showdown.
In the 2009 preseason, the Revolution joined the two other Atlantic League teams in holding their spring training at home instead of the traditional site in Lakeland, Florida. The respective ownership groups of the three teams came to this decision so as to cut costs, citing the 2008 economic recession.
The York Revolution defeated the Bridgeport Bluefish to win the 2010 Atlantic League Championship Series, three games to nil. This was the city of York's first professional baseball championship since the 1969 York Pirates' Eastern League victory, a span of forty-one years. This was also the Revolution's first Atlantic League championship.[8]
Logos and uniforms
The team colors of the York Revolution are navy blue, gold, white, and silver. The "Revolution" wordmark colored white in an industrial script centered on a navy blue background. The word "York" is featured above in white with a baseball standing in for the letter "O". The entire wordmark is outlined in silver. Centered above the wordmark is a patriotic-themed bald eagle holding a baseball bat, which is white with navy blue and gold detailing.
The York Revolution wear caps produced by The Game Headwear and uniforms by New Balance. The caps are navy blue throughout with a stylized "Y", colored white with silver shadowing, with an eagle's head clutching a baseball centered above. The entire cap logo is outlined in navy blue and gold. The Revolution wordmark is centered on the back toward the lower edge of the cap. The home jerseys are white with navy blue and gold paneling, and feature a wordmark that pays tribute to the Baltimore Orioles script with cursive serif letters in navy blue outlined in gold. The away jersey is gray with navy blue and gold paneling with the cursive "York" wordmark is in navy blue outlined in gold with a traditional underscore. The alternate jersey is navy blue with gold sleeves with the full "York Revolution" wordmark centered across the front in white with navy blue and gold, outline.
For the first few seasons, the York Revolution's colors were navy blue, red, white, brass, and silver. The original brand focused exclusively on symbols such as the United States flag and the Bald Eagle.
Season-by-season records
| York Revolution – 2007–2013[9] | ||||
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| Season | W–L Record | Winning Percentage | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2007 | 58–68 | .460 | 3rd in South Division | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| 2008 | 71–69 | .507 | 1st in Freedom Division | 0–2 (lost division final) |
| 2009 | 53–87 | .379 | 4th in Freedom Division | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| 2010 | 69–71 | .493 | 2nd in Freedom Division | 3–2 over Somerset, 3–0 over Bridgeport; |
| 2011 | 73–51 | .589 | 1st in Freedom Division | 3–2 over Lancaster, 3–1 over Long Island |
| 2012 | 79–61 | .564 | 2nd in Freedom Division | 0-3 (Lost in Divisional Series to Lancaster) |
| 2013 | 65-75 | .464 | 5th in Freedom Division | Did not qualify for playoffs |
| Totals (2007–2013) | 468–482 | .498 | 12–10 | |
| War of the Roses | 59–57 | .509 | ||
- 2 Atlantic League Championships (2010 and 2011)
Tradition
War of the Roses
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The South Central Pennsylvania cities of York and Lancaster have a historical rivalry in all sporting events from the high-school level to the professional. Since both cities are named after the English cities of York and Lancaster, the former Pennsylvania baseball teams were named for the opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses. As a metaphor, the "War of the Roses" describes the intense baseball matches between the York White Roses and the Lancaster Red Roses. With the addition of the York Revolution to the Atlantic League, the team continues the White Roses' tradition as they battle the Lancaster Barnstormers for lower Susquehanna supremacy.
The "War of the Roses" was rekindled with the sound of notional cannon-fire at the start of the 2007 Atlantic League season in Wrightsville, a borough located on the Susquehanna River, the natural boundary between York and Lancaster counties. The winner of the "War of the Roses" is presented with the Community Cup, while the defeated team is obligated to sing the ballpark classic "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" and plant a rose garden at the opponent's ballpark with their representative color: white for York, red for Lancaster. The first Community Cup was championed by the Barnstormers in the 2007 season, though the Revolution avenged them by winning it in 2008.[10] The clubs also compete in the Route 30 Showdown, an annual cross-county doubleheader inadvertently created at the conclusion of the 2008 season by a rain-delay.[11]
| Year | Series Winner | Revolution W | Barnstormers W | Notes |
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| 2007 | Barnstormers | 8 | 10 | first Community Cup |
| 2008 | Revolution | 11 | 9 | |
| 2009 | Barnstormers | 6 | 14 | |
| 2010 | Revolution | 16 | 4 | the earliest Cup win; July 24 |
| 2011 | Barnstormers | 8 | 10 | |
| 2012 | Tie | 10 | 10 | |
| Overall | Barnstormers (3–2) | 59 | 57 |
Philanthropy
The Revolution benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters youth mentoring organization annually by wearing purple jerseys that are auctioned off immediately following the Purple Jersey Night game.[13] Additionally, the team also partnered with Columbia Gas to donate $50 to the York Red Cross for each scored run by a Revolution player.[14]
Radio
The official broadcast home of the York Revolution is WOYK 1350 AM, with Darrell Henry as the "Voice of the Revolution." Prior to the 2010 season, games were heard on WSBA 910 AM.
On-field entertainment
Mascots
The York Revolution's official mascot is an anthropomorphic, blue creature named DownTown. He wears the team's home jersey, the primary cap worn backwards, with blue and white sneakers. DownTown debuted on March 31, 2007 at the "Mascot: The Musical" production at the DreamWrights Theater. His full name is DownTown Yorkie, and is the result of a sponsorship deal with Downtown Inc, a partnership of community-minded companies that work to improve and celebrate downtown York.[15][16] The mascot was designed by the Raymond Entertainment Group, which also produces the Phillie Phanatic's costume. The Revolution also host a character named Cannonball Charlie, who fires a cannon after each home run or home game victory by the team. He wears the uniform of a period Continental Army soldier.[17] He has a cousin named SmallTown who debuted in 2009 and wears the number 1/2.[citation needed]
The Big Hitters
Additional fan entertainment is provided by the Big Hitters, an all-male performance and dance team who receive professional instruction from a local studio called B*Dazzled. The group is made up of heavyset, enthusiastic men who dance to popular music and provide lighthearted comedy.[18]
Current Roster
| York Revolution roster | |||||||||
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| Active (25-man) roster | Coaches/Other | ||||||||
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Pitchers
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Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
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Manager
Coaches
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Retired numbers
- 42 (Jackie Robinson)
- 2B, Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997
- 8 (Andy Etchebarren)
- M, Retired at the end of the 2012 season
References
- ↑ "Revs are Atlantic League champions!!!". Atlantic League. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- ↑ "York Baseball Team Name Announcement". York Revolution. Retrieved July 10, 2006.
- ↑ "The Straight Dope: York, Pennsylvania: First capital of the United States?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved August 14, 2006.
- ↑ "York Revolution introduce new logos, uniforms, and modified colors". York Revolution. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
- ↑ "Other Possible References to York's Revolution". York Revolution. Retrieved July 10, 2006.
- ↑ "York to Play Ball in 2007". York Revolution. Retrieved August 2, 2006.
- ↑ "Brooks Robinson Plaza". York Revolution. Retrieved August 2, 2006.
- ↑ "Revs are Atlantic League champions!!!". Atlantic League. Retrieved October 4, 2010.
- ↑ Atlantic League information
- ↑ "Revs uniforms". York Revolution. Retrieved May 5, 2007.
- ↑ "Route 30 Showdown". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
- ↑ Community Cup
- ↑ Purple Jersey Night
- ↑ Supporting Our Neighbors
- ↑ ""DownTown" Introduced as Revolution Mascot". York Revolution. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ↑ "Downtown Inc sponsors". Downtown Inc. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
- ↑ "Cannonball Charlie". Atlantic League. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
- ↑ "The Big Hitters". York Revolution. Retrieved February 200.
External links
| Achievements | ||
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| Preceded by York Revolution 2010 |
Atlantic League Champions York Revolution 2011 |
Succeeded by Long Island Ducks 2012 |
| Preceded by Somerset Patriots 2009 |
Atlantic League Champions York Revolution 2010 |
Succeeded by York Revolution 2011 |
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Somerset Patriots 2010 |
Freedom Division York Revolution 2011 |
Succeeded by Lancaster Barnstormers 2012 |
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| Atlantic League of Professional Baseball | ||||
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| Freedom Division | Liberty Division | |||
| Lancaster Barnstormers | Bridgeport Bluefish | |||
| Southern Maryland Blue Crabs | Camden Riversharks | |||
| Sugar Land Skeeters | Long Island Ducks | |||
| York Revolution | Somerset Patriots | |||
| Expansion: Loudoun Hounds | ||||
| Annual events: Championship Series · All-Star Game | ||||
| Other: Alumni · Final standings · Records | ||||
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