State College Spikes

MiLB infobox
name = State College Spikes
founded = 1988
city = University Park, Pennsylvania
misc =

uniform
class level = A
past class level=
current league = New York-Penn League
conference =
division = Pinckney Division
past league =
majorleague = Pittsburgh Pirates (2007-present)
pastmajorleague = St. Louis Cardinals (2006)
uniform =
nickname = State College Spikes (2006-present)
* New Jersey Cardinals (1994-2005)
* Glens Falls Redbirds (1987-1993)
pastnames =
ballpark = Medlar Field at Lubrano Park
pastparks = Skylands Park
leaguechamps =
divisionchamps =
misc6 =
owner = Curve Baseball LP
manager = Brad Fischer
coach = Sid Bream
pitching coach = Wilson Alvarez
gm =

The State College Spikes are a Short-Season A classification American minor league baseball team originally affiliated with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006. On September 21, 2006, it was announced that they would be affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates beginning in 2007. [http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=5445863&nav=menu158_10] They are a member of the New York - Penn League playing at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park in University Park, Pennsylvania since June 2006.

In October 2005, the owners of the New Jersey Cardinals agreed to sell the club to a group headed by the principal partners of the class double-A Eastern League Altoona Curve. This allowed for a professional team to share the new Medlar Field at Lubrano Park with the host Nittany Lions of Pennsylvania State University, on whose campus the park stands.

The name "Spikes" has a threefold meaning. The club's official logo depicts a young white-tailed deer, for whom a "spike" is an undeveloped antler, symbolic of a young team member who may develop into a Major League Baseball player. The name also refers to a railroad spike, similar to the way the name "Altoona Curve" commemorates the famous Horseshoe Curve on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Finally, baseball players have long worn shoes with spikes. The official colors are Penn State navy blue, cardinal, old gold, and moonlight yellow.

eason records

(Place listed is finish in the six-team Pinckney Division)
*2006: 39-36 (3rd), manager Mark DeJohn
*2007: 36-39 (3rd), manager Turner Ward

External links

* [http://www.statecollegespikes.com State College Spikes official site]
* [http://www.frontiernet.net/~rochballparks4/statecollege/statecollege.htm Photographs of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, home of the State College Spikes - "Rochester Area Ballparks"]