Frederick Keys

History

Early professional baseball in Frederick

Frederick was one of the founding members of the Blue Ridge League, which existed from 1915 to 1930. The team, which went by the names of Hustlers, Champs and Warriors, won league championships in 1915 and 1921. Games were played at the Frederick Fairgrounds until 1924 when McCurdy Field was built. With the collapse of the Blue Ridge League in 1931, it would be several decades before professional baseball returned to Frederick.

Frederick players from this era who were major leaguers:

• Clyde Barnhart: 1915, 1916, 1917
• Tom Connolly: 1915
• Bill Lamar: 1915
• Leo Meyer: 1916
• Tom Crooke: 1917
• Clarence Blethen: 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923
• Ray Gardner: 1920, 1922, 1923, 1925
• Ray Hartranft: 1920
• Duke Sedgwick: 1922
• Jim Keesey: 1923
• Norm McNeil: 1923
• Bobby Schang: 1923
• Chick Fullis: 1924, 1925, 1926
• Karl Kolseth: 1924
• Bill Hohman: 1924
• Rollie Hemsley: 1925, 1926, 1927
• Larry Boerner:1926
• Jimmie DeShong:1928
• Joe Vosmik: 1929
• Milt Galatzer: 1930
• Bill Perrin: 1930

Minor League Baseball (1989–2020)

The team was founded in 1989 when the Baltimore Orioles decided to move their Class A Carolina League affiliate from Hagerstown, Maryland. The city of Frederick convinced the owners of the then-Hagerstown Suns to move the team to Frederick and promised a 4,000-seat stadium to be built for the 1990 season. For the 1989 season, the Keys played at McCurdy Field, a Babe Ruth League stadium, while waiting for the construction of the new stadium to be completed. The Keys opened by losing both ends of a doubleheader (including a seven-inning perfect game by Dennis Burlingame) against the Durham Bulls. Their first win came on April 11, 1989, with a 3–1 victory over the Kinston Indians in the Keys' first-ever home game.

Only two players in Keys history have been transferred directly from Frederick to the Baltimore Orioles (excluding rehab related transfers). On September 3, 1996, Eugene Kingsale's contract was purchased by the Orioles. On June 11, 2005, Jeff Fiorentino's contract was purchased by the Orioles in order to replace the injured Luis Matos.

The 2020 Minor League Baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Keys did not receive an invitation to remain in affiliated baseball as part of the 2021 reorganization of Minor League Baseball, and instead joined the newly-formed MLB Draft League.

Playoff history

Carolina League

• 1990: Defeated Kinston 3–2 to win championship.
• 1993: Lost to Wilmington 2–0 in semifinals.
• 1997: Lost to Lynchburg 2–0 in semifinals.
• 2000: Lost to Lynchburg 2–0 in semifinals.
• 2001: Lost to Wilmington 2–0 in semifinals.
• 2005: Defeated Lynchburg 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Kinston 3–2 to win championship.
• 2006: Defeated Wilmington 2–1 in semifinals; lost to Kinston 3–0 in finals.
• 2007: Defeated Wilmington 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Salem 3–1 to win championship.
• 2010: Lost to Potomac 3–1 in semifinals.
• 2011: Defeated Potomac 3–2 in semifinals; defeated Kinston 3–1 to win championship.
• 2017: Lost to Lynchburg 2–1 in semifinals.

Notable former Keys

Several Keys alumni have gone on to play in the major leagues. In their inaugural season, the opening day roster featured several future major leaguers: David Segui, Francisco de la Rosa, Luis Mercedes, Jack Voigt, and Pete Rose Jr.

Other Keys alumni include:

• Andy Van Slyke: 1995
• Arthur Rhodes: 1989, 1990
• Joe Borowski: 1989, 1990
• Rocky Coppinger: 1995
• Sidney Ponson: 1996
• Brian Roberts: 2000
• Larry Bigbie: 2000
• Tim Raines Jr.: 2000
• Eli Whiteside: 2002
• Nick Markakis: 2005
• Adam Loewen: 2005
• Nolan Reimold: 2006
• Matt Wieters: 2008
• Brad Bergesen: 2009
• Manny Machado: 2011
• Dylan Bundy: 2012
• Nicky Delmonico: 2012
• Ty Kelly: 2012
• Jason Hammel: 2012
• Kevin Gausman: 2012
• Steve Pearce: 2013
• Josh Stinson: 2013
• Ashur Tolliver: 2013
• Wilson Betemit: 2013
• Ryan Flaherty: 2013
• Zach Davies: 2013
• Mike Yastrzemski: 2014
• Jimmy Yacabonis: 2014
• Austin Wynns: 2014
• Trey Mancini: 2014
• Parker Bridwell: 2014
• Steven Brault: 2014
• Mychal Givens: 2014
• Chance Sisco: 2015
• Jonathan Schoop: 2015
• John Means: 2015
• Stefan Crichton: 2015
• Wei-Yin Chen: 2015
• David Lough: 2015
• David Hess: 2015
• Ryan Mountcastle: 2017

Roster

References

References

1. "MLB Draft League Official Colors (2021 through present)".
2. (April 15, 2025). "Keys Announce 2025 Coaching Staff". MLB Draft League.
3. (June 11, 2024). "Frederick Keys name Slater Fuchs new general manager". [[Frederick News-Post]].
4. (March 30, 2011). "New Mascot Frank Key Joins Keys".
5. Ruiz, Nathan. (January 13, 2022). "Orioles' Double-A team Bowie Baysox, former affiliate Frederick Keys change ownership". The Baltimore Sun.
6. (December 9, 2020). "Frederick Becomes Sixth Team To Join MLB Draft League". Baseball America.
7. (August 1, 2025). "Frederick Keys to return to Minor League Baseball as Orioles' High-A affiliate in 2026". [[MLB.com]].
8. "Blue Ridge League". Boys of the Blue Ridge, 2014.
9. Duggan, Paul. (January 12, 1989). "The Boys of Summers Past; Cherished Memories Resurface as Baseball Returns to Frederick". [[The Washington Post]].
10. (April 10, 1989). "Perfect Game only Half of Keys' Troubles". [[The Washington Post]].
11. Eichelberger, Curtis. (April 12, 1989). "Keys Find 1st Victory in Home Opener, 3–1". [[The Washington Post]].
12. Goff, Steve. (April 7, 1989). "Keys, Cannons Ready to Play". [[The Washington Post]].