Connecticut Tigers

Connecticut Tigers Founded in 1942 Norwich, Connecticut
Team Logo Cap Insignia
Class-level
Short-Season A
Minor league affiliations
New York - Penn League Stedler Division
Major league affiliations
Detroit Tigers (1999-present) New York Yankees (1942-1946, 1967-1998) Boston Red Sox (1947-1948, 1963-1966) Milwaukee Braves (1953-1961) St. Louis Browns (1952) N/A (1951) Washington Senators (1950)
Name
Connecticut Tigers (2010-future) Oneonta Tigers (1999-2009) Oneonta Yankees (1967-1998) Oneonta Red Sox (1966) Wellsville Red Sox (1963-1965) Wellsville Braves (1953-1961) Wellsville Rockets (1951-1952) Wellsville Senators (1950) Wellsville Nitros (1947-1949) Wellsville Yankees (1942-1946)
Ballpark
Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium (2010-future) Damaschke Field (1966-2009) Tullar Field (1942-1965)
Minor league titles
League titles	1968, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998
Division titles
Owner(s)/Operated by: Miles Prentice
Manager: Howard Bushong
General Manager: Andrew Weber

The Connecticut Tigers are a minor league baseball team located in Norwich, Connecticut. They are members of the New York - Penn League. The Connecticut Tigers are a Short-Season A classification affiliate of the Detroit Tigers and play their home games at Senator Thomas J. Dodd Memorial Stadium. They were previously known as the Oneonta Tigers.

The Tigers ensure affiliated baseball will stay in Norwich despite the relocation of the former Double-A Eastern League's Connecticut Defenders to Richmond, Virginia, where they are now called the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

History

Origins in Wellsville

This franchise originated in Wellsville, New York^{[disambiguation needed ]} as the Wellsville Yankees. From its inception in 1942 until 1965, that team stayed in Wellsville under various names, such as the Nitros, Rockets, Senators, Braves, and Red Sox.

Oneonta

In 1966, the Red Sox moved from Wellsville to Oneonta, New York,under the ownership of Sam Nader becoming the Oneonta Red Sox. They became Oneonta Yankees, or O-Yanks, in 1967 when The NY Penn League became short season. an affiliation they would have for three decades. Stocked with future New York Yankees stars, the O-Yanks won NYPL titles in 1968, 1969, 1971, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1988 1990 and 1998. Since 1991, the franchise has participated in the annual New York-Penn League Game in Cooperstown, NY. This is an official New York-Penn League game played at Doubleday Field in conjunction with the Hall of Fame's Induction Weekend festivities.^[1] In 1999, the Yankees moved their affiliation to the Staten Island Yankees, so the Detroit Tigers organization moved in and changed the team's name to the Oneonta Tigers.

Recent years

On July 20, 2006, the Tigers won the longest game in NYPL history: a 6-hour and 40-minute, 26-inning marathon against the Brooklyn Cyclones.^{[citation needed]} Brooklyn scored the first run in the bottom of the first inning; the Tigers tied the game in the top of the fourth. Neither side scored again until the 26th inning, when the Tigers plated five runs (three earned) off of Cyclones outfielder Mark Wright, who had entered the game to pitch (the Cyclones had already used six of their regular pitchers). The Tigers had three players who went 1-for-12, including center fielder Deik Scram, whose lone hit knocked in the go-ahead run for the Tigers in the 26th inning.

The 2007 season ushered a new era for Oneonta Tiger baseball, as their stadium received a face-lift, while premiering the team's official website, www.oneontatigers.com.

On July 15, 2007, Oneonta pitcher Guillermo Moscosa threw a perfect game, only the second in league history.^{[citation needed]}

In early July 2008, it was announced that long-time owner Sam Nader had sold the franchise he purchased in 1966. No discussion has been made for the prospect of the team moving out of Oneonta. The agreement allows for the Tigers to stay in Oneonta up until the 2010 season.^{[citation needed]}

On July 4, 2009, the first two curtain calls in the history of Damaschke Field happened against the Aberdeen IronBirds, both for Rawley Bishop, a rookie first baseman from Middle Tennessee State and who was drafted in the 19th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2009.^{[citation needed]} The first curtain call was in the 4th inning after a solo home run to make the score 1–0. The second curtain call happened in the 5th inning after a grand slam home run to make the score 5–0.

Arrival in Norwich

On January 27, 2010, Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller announced in a press release saying that the Tigers would be leaving Oneonta for Norwich, Connecticut for the 2010 season. The Connecticut Tigers would play their games in the newly renovated Dodd Stadium which had been vacated by the Connecticut Defenders of the Eastern League who had left for Richmond, Virginia.

"Connecticut Tigers" was only expected to be used for the 2010 season with a name-the-team contest expected to be held after the season to decide a permanent name. However, at the fan forum on April 17, 2010, general manager Andrew Weber stated the team is rethinking the contest due to the positive reactions of fans to the connection to the major league Detroit Tigers. On November 22, 2010, the team's facebook page confirmed the name is to remain "Connecticut Tigers" permanently.

Unveiling of the team's logo and uniforms at 4/1/10 press conference NY-Penn League

Current roster

Connecticut Tigers rosterview · talk · edit
Players				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 13 Nicholas Avila 57 Jeff Barfield 54 Tyler Barrett 58 Daniel Bennett 52 Fernando Celis 59 Matt Crouse 23 Drew Gagnier 20 Rayni Guichardo -- Guido Knudson 44 Melvin Mercedes 48 Wilsen Palacios 40 Pedro Perez 56 Luis Angel Sanz 35 Brennan Smith 11 Ryan Woolley		Catchers 49 Curtis Casali 10 Patrick Leyland Infielders 55 Javier Azcona 19 Dean Green 27 Jeff Holm  7 Colin Kaline 39 Jason King -- Alexander Nunez 12 Matt Perry 15 Eugenio Suarez Outfielders 29 Edwin Gomez 18 Bo McClendon  1 P. J. Polk 28 Samir Rijo 26 Les Smith 30 Chad Wright		Manager 17 Andrew Graham Coaches 44 Jorge Cordova (pitching)  9 Scott Dwyer (hitting) 7-day disabled list * On Detroit Tigers 40-man roster ∞ Reserve list § Suspended list ‡ Restricted list # Rehab assignment Roster updated July 13, 2011 Transactions → More rosters

References

1. ^ Carr, Samantha (2008-07-23). "Oneonta, Tri-City to Square Off at Doubleday Field". National Baseball Hall of Fame. http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080723&content_id=8235&vkey=hof_news. Retrieved 2008-07-28. ^{[dead link]}

External links

• Official website
• League press release announcing the move to Norwich
• MiLB.com writeup about the Tigers' 26-inning game
• Box score from the 26-inning game
• TigsTown.com