| Rochester Red Wings Founded in 1899 Rochester, New York |
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| League titles | 1899, 1901, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1928, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1939, 1940*, 1952, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1988, 1990, 1997 | ||
| Division titles | 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1997 | ||
| Owner(s)/Operated by: Rochester Community Baseball, Inc. | |||
| Manager: Stan Cliburn | |||
| General Manager: Dan Mason | |||
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The oldest and longest running minor league franchise in the history of professional sports, the team plays in the International League, and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester. The Red Wings were an affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals for 33 years (1928-1960), then spent 42 years (1961-2002) as a farm club of the Baltimore Orioles. The franchise played from 1929 through 1996 at Silver Stadium before moving to the modern facilities at Frontier Field in 1997. Baseball in Rochester dates back to 1877 with the "Rochesters" of the International Association, and Rochester has had a franchise in the league now known as the International League as early as 1885. The current franchise has been playing in Rochester since 1899, when the team was known as the Rochester Bronchos and won the league championship in its inaugural season. Incidentally, according to Rochester sports historian Douglas Brei, only six franchises in the history of North American professional sports have been playing in the same city and same league continuously and uninterrupted since the 1800s: the Rochester Red Wings, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals. He also reports that, along with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League, the Red Wings are one of only two franchises in North American professional sports to have captured a league championship[1] in every decade of the 20th century.
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Ownership
The club is one of a very few current professional sports franchises that are publicly owned (the Green Bay Packers of the NFL are the most notable example of this). Rochester Community Baseball, Inc. owns and operates the team and is comprised of fans of the team as shareholders. The organization was formed in the fall of 1956 in response to the then owners, the St. Louis Cardinals, putting the team up for sale. Morrie Silver, a Rochester businessman, spearheaded a drive to sell shares in Rochester Community Baseball to raise money to buy the team and its stadium from the Cardinals and keep the franchise in Rochester. The organization retains sole ownership of the team to this day. Red Wing Stadium was renamed Silver Stadium in honor of Morrie Silver in August 1968.
Longest baseball game ever
The Rochester Red Wings, along with the Pawtucket Red Sox, hold the record for the longest professional baseball game, lasting a total of 33 innings and 8 hours, 25 minutes over the course of three different days. The game was held at McCoy Stadium, beginning on April 18, 1981. It was suspended at 4 o'clock the next morning, and Rochester lost 3-2 when the game resumed on June 23.
Titles
The Red Wings have played for the Governors' Cup, the championship of the International League, 21 times, winning 10. Both numbers are IL records.
- 1933 - Lost to Buffalo
- 1934 - Lost to Toronto
- 1939 - Defeated Newark
- 1950 - Lost to Baltimore
- 1952 - Defeated Montréal
- 1953 - Lost to Montréal
- 1955 - Defeated Toronto
- 1956 - Defeated Toronto
- 1960 - Lost to Toronto
- 1961 - Lost to Buffalo
- 1964 - Defeated Syracuse
- 1971 - Defeated Tidewater
- 1974 - Defeated Syracuse
- 1982 - Lost to Tidewater
- 1986 - Lost to Richmond
- 1988 - Defeated Tidewater
- 1990 - Defeated Columbus
- 1993 - Lost to Charlotte
- 1996 - Lost to Columbus
- 1997 - Defeated Columbus
- 2006 - Lost to Toledo
Current Roster
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Pitchers:
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Catchers
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Infielders
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Outfielders
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Coaching Staff
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Retired Numbers
- 26 Joe Altobelli
- 36 Luke Easter
- 8222 Morrie Silver, Team President (1957-1968) represents the original number of shareholders of Rochester Community Baseball, Inc.
Notable alumni
- Joe Altobelli
- Brady Anderson
- Don Baylor
- Steve Bechler
- Mark Belanger
- Armando Benitez
- Paul Blair
- Curt Blefary
- Mike Boddicker
- Ken Boyer (player and manager)
- Steve Dalkowski
- Luke Easter
- Matt Garza
- Bob Gibson
- Bobby Grich
- Jerry Hairston Jr.
- Jim Hardin
- Davey Johnson
- Eddie Joost
- Jorge Julio
- Jason Kubel
- Francisco Liriano
- Dennis Martinez
- Joe Mauer (rehab)
- Tim McCarver
- Johnny Mize
- Justin Morneau
- Eddie Murray
- Stan Musial
- Mike Mussina
- Pat Neshek
- Johnny Oates
- Jim Palmer (rehab)
- Sidney Ponson
- Boog Powell
- Cal Ripken, Jr.
- Cal Ripken, Sr. (player and manager)
- Brian Roberts
- Frank Robinson (manager)
- Curt Schilling
- Red Schoendienst
- Kevin Slowey
- Josh Towers
- Earl Weaver (manager)
- Esteban Yan
Notes
- ^ The IL Regular Season Pennant symbolized the League Champion until the Governor's Cup was established in 1933. Since 1933, the IL has officially recognized both the Pennant Winner and the Governor's Cup as League Champions. The Red Wings captured Governor's Cups in every decade since it was established except the 1940s, when they won the IL Pennant in 1940. In recent years, most people consider the Governor's Cup winner to be the sole league champion, although in the early years most still considered the Pennant Winner to be the true league champion.
External links
- Rochester Red Wings website
- Photographs of Red Wing / Silver Stadium, former home of the Rochester Red Wings - Rochester Area Ballparks
- Photographs of Frontier Field, current home of the Rochester Red Wings - Rochester Area Ballparks
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|---|---|---|---|
| AAA | AA | A | Rookie |
| Rochester Red Wings | New Britain Rock Cats |
Fort Myers Miracle Beloit Snappers |
Elizabethton Twins Gulf Coast Twins |
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| North Division | Buffalo Bisons • Lehigh Valley IronPigs • Pawtucket Red Sox • Rochester Red Wings • Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees • Syracuse Chiefs |
| South Division | Charlotte Knights • Durham Bulls • Norfolk Tides • Richmond Braves |
| West Division | Columbus Clippers • Indianapolis Indians • Louisville Bats • Toledo Mud Hens |
