Auburn Doubledays

History

Early championship era

In 1958, the Auburn New York–Penn League franchise was founded as the Auburn Yankees, as an affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Yankees affiliation lasted until 1961. The club included future Major League Baseball All-Stars Jim Bouton, Joe Pepitone, and Mel Stottlemyre. The team then became affiliated with the New York Mets, as the Auburn Mets. With a roster that included Billy Wynne, Don Shaw, Tug McGraw, and Jerry Koosman, the club won the league championship three times: in 1962, 1964, and 1966.

In 1967, the club changed its affiliation to the Minnesota Twins and became the Auburn Twins. The Twins won NYPL title in 1967 and 1970.

In 1972, the team was renamed the Auburn Phillies after associating with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1973, under manager Harry Lloyd, the team won league championship. Future major leaguers Luis Aguayo, Randy Lerch, Dickie Noles, Lonnie Smith, and Ozzie Virgil, among numerous others, played for the team. Managers of note included Mike Compton and Ruben Amaro.

Co-op seasons

In 1978, the team became the Auburn Sunsets and were co-operated by the Phillies and Houston Astros. Managed by Dick Rockwell, the team went achieved a 32–40 record, finishing third in the league's Yawkey Division. The team featured future major league players Carmelo Castillo and Alejandro Sanchez and future major league general manager Dave Littlefield.

In 1979 the club became known as the Auburn Red Stars. The team featured future MLB player Doug Frobel. The Red Stars operated under a co-operative agreement. The Red Stars received players from seven different major league organizations, led by the Detroit Tigers, with seven players, and Cleveland Indians, with five.

In 1980, the Red Stars changed their name to the Auburn Americans. The team once again operated as a co-op and received 17 players from the Cleveland Indians and several from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The squad featured future MLB player Jack Fimple and finished fourth in the New York–Penn League's West Division with a 29–45 record.

Astros era

Auburn returned to play in the New York–Penn League in 1982 with the Auburn Astros as an affiliate of the Houston Astros.

In 1991, with John H. Graham as general manager, the team set the all-time attendance record at Falcon Park.

Doubledays

The team was renamed the Auburn Doubledays before the 1996 season and has operated under that name since.

In 1998, the Doubledays and the Oneonta Yankees were named co-champions of the New York–Penn League after Central New York was hit with a torrential rain storm and the fields at both parks were deemed unplayable.

Under the management of Dennis Holmberg, the Doubledays won the Pinckney Division title for six straight years in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, but failed to win the league championship for the first five of those years. After losing in the first round of the playoffs for the first three years of their streak, they advanced to the New York–Penn League championship series before being swept by the Staten Island Yankees. In 2003, the Doubledays led all of baseball in winning percentage (.757).

The Doubledays finally won the NYPL title in 2007, sweeping the Brooklyn Cyclones in the league championship series. The final game featured a stellar pitching performance by Brett Cecil and a home run by J. P. Arencibia. This was the first league championship for the city of Auburn since 1973.

After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The Doubledays were not among the four teams invited to remain as full-season affiliates of the Washington Nationals, with whom they had been affiliated since 2011. The city and the team's ownership group are exploring options such as independent baseball or collegiate summer baseball for 2021.

Season-by-season results

Playoffs

• 1968 season: Defeated Williamsport, 1–0, in semifinals; lost to Oneonta, 1–0, in championship.
• 1978 season: Lost to Geneva, 2–0, in championship.
• 1985 season: Defeated Jamestown, 1–0, in semifinals; lost to Oneonta, 2–0, in championship.
• 1986 season: Lost to St. Catharines, 1–0, in semifinals.
• 1994 season: Defeated Watertown, 2–0, in semifinals; lost to New Jersey, 2–0, in championship.
• 1998 season: Defeated Batavia, 2–0, in semifinals; declared co–champions with Oneonta (series rained out).
• 2002 season: Lost to Oneonta, 2–0, in semifinals.
• 2003 season: Lost to Williamsport, 2–0, in semifinals.
• 2004 season: Lost to Mahoning Valley, 2–0, in semifinals.
• 2005 season: Defeated Oneonta, 2–0, in semifinals; lost to Staten Island, 2–0, in championship.
• 2006 season: Lost to Tri-City, 2–1, in semifinals.
• 2007 season: Defeated Oneonta, 2–1, in semifinals; defeated Brooklyn, 2–0, to win championship.
• 2011 season: Defeated Vermont, 2–1, in semifinals; lost to Staten Island, 2–0, in championship.
• 2012 season: Lost to Tri-City, 2–1, in semifinals.
• 2018 season: Lost to Hudson Valley Renegades 2–0, in semifinals.
• 2021 season: Defeated Utica 7–0, in quarterfinals; lost to Amsterdam 7–1, in semifinals.

Roster

(statistician) (pitching) (assistant) (broadcast)

Alumni

Notable Auburn Astros players

• Troy Afenir, 1983
• Mark Bailey, 1982
• Jeff Ball, 1990
• Ramón Castro, 1995
• Gary Cooper, 1986
• Jeff Datz, 1982, 1984
• Cameron Drew, 1985
• John Fishel, 1985
• Tom Funk, 1983
• Luis Gonzalez, 1988
• Jason Green, 1995
• Mike Grzanich, 1993
• John Halama, 1994
• Dean Hartgraves, 1987
• Chris Hatcher, 1990
• Randy Hennis, 1987
• Chris Holt, 1992
• Trent Hubbard, 1986
• Blaise Ilsley, 1985
• Chuck Jackson, 1984
• Todd Jones, 1989
• Kenny Lofton, 1988, 1989
• Julio Lugo, 1995
• Rob Mallicoat, 1984
• Dave Meads, 1984
• Brian Meyer, 1986
• Ray Montgomery, 1990
• Andy Mota, 1987, 1988
• James Mouton, 1991
• Bryant Nelson, 1994
• Al Osuna, 1987
• Shane Reynolds, 1989
• Oscar Robles, 1995
• Dave Rohde, 1986
• Sean Runyan, 1994
• Roger Samuels, 1983
• Brian Sikorski, 1995
• Mark Small, 1989
• Chris Truby, 1994
• Billy Wagner, 1993
• Jamie Walker, 1992
• Donne Wall, 1989
• Dan Walters, 1985
• Terry Wells, 1985
• Ed Whited, 1986
• Brian Williams, 1990
• Rhett Wiseman, 2015
• Robbie Wine, 1983

Other notable Auburn players

• Rick Dempsey (catcher)
• Ozzie Virgil (catcher)
• Ramon Castro (catcher)
• John Buck (catcher)
• Joe Pepitone (1st base)
• Ed Kranepool (1st base)
• David Cooper (1st base)
• Ken Boswell (2nd base)
• Aaron Hill (2nd base)
• Morgan Ensberg (3rd base)
• Ryan Roberts (3rd base)
• Julio Lugo (shortstop)
• R. C. Orlan (pitcher)
• Eugenio Vélez (shortstop)
• Cleon Jones (right field)
• Lonnie Smith (left field)
• Adam Lind (left field)
• Johan Santana (starting pitcher)
• Jerry Koosman (starting pitcher)
• Mel Stottlemyre (starting pitcher)
• Roy Oswalt (starting pitcher)
• Rollie Sheldon (starting pitcher)
• Robert Ray (starting pitcher)
• Brett Cecil (starting pitcher)
• Marc Rzepczynski (starting pitcher)
• Ricky Romero (starting pitcher)
• Shaun Marcum (starting pitcher)
• David Purcey (starting pitcher)
• Dustin McGowan (starting pitcher)
• Jesse Litsch (starting pitcher)
• Mike Zagurski (starting pitcher)
• Nick Pivetta (starting pitcher)
• Tug McGraw (bullpen)
• Billy Wagner (bullpen)
• Casey Janssen (bullpen)
• Brandon League (bullpen)
• David Bush (bullpen)
• Rafael Bautista

Future Major League Baseball staff

• Jeff Datz, an Indians, Orioles, and Mariners coach, played for the Auburn Astros in 1982 and 1984. As of 2011, Datz is the only former member of the Auburn Astros to reach MLB as both a player and a coach.
• Glenn Sherlock, a Yankees and Diamondbacks coach, played for the Auburn Astros in 1983 and 1984.
• Ken Bolek, an Indians coach in 1992 and 1993, was a coach for the 1985 Auburn Astros.
• Gary Tuck, a Yankees and Red Sox bullpen coach, was the Auburn Astros manager in 1987.
• Rick Aponte, former Nationals bullpen coach, was the Auburn Astros pitching coach in 1987.
• Ron Porterfield, head athletic trainer of the Rays, began his professional baseball career as the trainer for the 1988 Auburn Astros.
• Manny Acta, an Expos and Mets coach and then Nationals and Indians manager, managed the Auburn Astros from 1993 to 1995. He also managed the Auburn Doubledays, in 1996.

Front office and staff

• Steve DeSalvo was the team's general manager from 1982 to 1983. He went on to a long career as a Minor League Baseball executive.
• Auburn native Leslie Leary was general manager from 1984 to 1987. She was one of the first female general managers in Minor League Baseball.
• Auburn native Joe Kehoskie, a baseball agent, worked for the team from 1984 to 1991.
• Bob Neal, previously the general manager of the Watertown Pirates and Peninsula Pilots, was general manager from early 1988 to late 1989.
• John H. Graham, previously the general manager of the Peninsula Pilots, was assistant general manager from early 1988 to early 1989; business manager from early 1989 to late 1989; and general manager from late 1989 to late 1991.
• Marc Techman, an Auburn native, was assistant general manager in 1991.
• Shawn Smith, currently a vice president with the NBA, was general manager from 1994 to 1995.
• TV/radio announcer Cory Provus worked for the team in 2000.
• Charlie Wride was the team's public address announcer for most of the team's 14-season existence, as well as the team historian. Wride continued to work for the team's successor, the Auburn Doubledays, in a community relations capacity until his death in 2018 at the age of 81.

Wall of Fame

Main article: Auburn Community Baseball#Wall of Fame

References

References

1. "New York-Pennsylvania League Official Colors (1957 through 2020)".
2. "Front Office Staff". Minor League Baseball.
3. "The Auburn Mets – Players who played for both teams".
4. "1978 New York–Pennsylvania League". Baseball-Reference.com.
5. "1978 Auburn Sunsets Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
6. "1979 Auburn Red Stars Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
7. "1980 New York–Pennsylvania League". Baseball-Reference.com.
8. "1980 Auburn Americans Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
9. (1991). "1991 Auburn Astros Official Program".
10. (2007-09-06). "Doubledays Sweep Brooklyn For NYP Title". Auburn Doubledays.
11. Kerr, Byron. (December 9, 2020). "Nats announce 2021 minor league affiliate invitations".
12. Ritzel, Justin. (December 10, 2020). "MLB extends invites to minor league affiliates; Auburn Doubledays not included".
13. "Steve DeSalvo Bio". [[Minor League Baseball]].
14. Anderson, Shelly. (20 February 1988). "Doors to the major leagues still hard to open". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
15. Weiman Jr., Dale. (15 February 2006). "So, you want to be the next Jerry Maguire?". Westlaw.
16. (1988). "1988 Auburn Astros Official Program".
17. (1989). "1989 Auburn Astros Official Program".
18. (1990). "1990 Auburn Astros Official Program".
19. (1994). "1994 Auburn Astros Official Program".
20. (1995). "1995 Auburn Astros Official Program".
21. "Auburn Baseball Wall of Fame". [[Minor League Baseball]].