York Revolution
The York Revolution is an Atlantic League team based in York, Pennsylvania. Beginning in the 2007 season, they will play in the South Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball.
The team will play at Sovereign Bank Stadium in the Arch Street neighborhood (Though they may play some of their home games at Clipper Magazine Stadium in nearby Lancaster until Sovereign Bank Stadium is complete). Even though the Revolution will play in the city of York, the team will represent all of York County.
When the Revolution play in 2007, baseball fans in York will have waited 38 years for the return of baseball since the York White Roses folded after the 1969 season. In 2006, Yorkers chose the name Revolution over White Roses in a name-the-team contest.[1] The name "Revolution" refers to York’s colonial past, when the Continental Congress met in York and passed the Articles of Confederation during the Revolutionary War. During the American Revolution, York was one of the first capitals of the United States. [2] Many Yorkers also see the Revolution name to symbolize the city's renaissance efforts.[3] The York Revolution is sometimes given the nickname of the "Revs."
History of York Baseball
York White Roses
Before the York Revolution, the city of York has not been the home to any professional baseball team since 1969, when the York Pirates left. The Pirates were previously called the York White Roses and were members of the Keystone Association in 1884; the Eastern League also in 1884; the Pennsylvania State League in 1893; the Tri-State League from 1909 to 1914; the Pennsylvania State League in 1916; and one of the six original teams of the New York-Penn League from 1923 to 1933, where they were unaffiliated until the 1933 season with the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1936; the White Roses played in the Interstate League from 1943 to 1952, spending most of their seasons in this league as an affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates until 1950. They were members of the Piedmont League from 1953 to 1955, where they were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns from 1952 to 1953 and the Baltimore Orioles from 1954 to 1955. The White Roses entered the Eastern League, affilitated with the St. Louis Cardinals, in the 1958 season and played there until the end of the 1959 season. The York White Roses returned in 1962 as a member of the Eastern League, as the Johnstown Red Sox moved to York. The Boston Red Sox affiliation lasted only that season. They were affiliated with the Washington Senators from 1963 to 1967. In 1968 and in 1969,
the team was renamed as the York Pirates, affiliated with Pittsburgh. They were champions in the 1925 and 1969 seasons.
The York White Roses and the York Pirates played their games at Bob Hoffman Stadium, which was also known as Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The White Roses were fierce rivals with the nearby Lancaster Red Roses. When the new name of Lancaster's team was unveiled to the public a few days before the 1906 season started, it drew heavy criticism from the York White Roses staff. The White Roses manager predicted, in spite, that the Red Roses would be at the bottom of the standings column. The Red Roses went on to win the first game, 9-4, and an even heavier rivalry began. [4]Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of the Roses.
In 1997, the York White Roses were named the absolute worst team in the history of the Eastern League. For example, their 1967 season was horrible as they won 43 games and lost 95. This season is still lodged in the minds of York baseball fans, as a player by the name of Dick Such, who until recently has denied this, had an ERA of .281 with a record of 0-16. He redeemed himself as the pitching coach of the Minnesota Twins from 1985-2001, where he oversaw two World Series championships in 1987 and 1991. Such is now the pitching coach for Long Island of the Atlantic League and may return to York to be with its new team. The York White Roses were considered the worst team because of their record, their horrible attendance, the condition of the playing field, and the team's choice of inferior players. [5]The York Revolution hope to rewrite the city's baseball history, with a better record, better attendance, a state-of-the-art ballpark, and a much better roster.
A Revolution
York has spent ten years trying to bring professional baseball back to the city. The process looked promising in 2003, until politics halted the project. The new baseball stadium was to be located at Small Athletic Field, on York City School District property, but the district's board voted negatively as they did not believe the ballpark would be the best use of district money and land. For three years, political and financial discussions continued to delay the time York would have a baseball team again. A new site for the stadium was agreed upon in the Arch Street neighborhood, and this time all the pieces fell into place. Other sites that were considered but did not come to fruition were Hoffman Field and Ohio Blender.
In April of 2006, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball formally announced an expanion team for the city of York, Pennsylvania.[6] One of the prominent members of the team's management will be Brooks Robinson, who played with the York White Roses and later with the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977. The entrance to the team's stadium will be called Brooks Robinson Plaza in his honor.[7]
"The Oriole Way" File:BaltimoreOriole.PNG
With the Baltimore Orioles being the Major League favorite of many Yorkers, the Revolution signed four former Orioles to its coaching staff in December 2006. Chris Hoiles, who batted .262 in 10 seasons (1989-1998) as a catcher with the Orioles, was signed as the team manager. Tippy Martinez, who pitched for 14 seasons (1974-1988) as a reliever with the New York Yankees, the Orioles, and the Minnesota Twins, was signed as the pitching coach. Ryan Minor, who batted .177 in parts of four seasons (1998-2001) with the Orioles and the Montreal Expos as well as the first Lancaster Barnstormer to hit a homerun, was signed as the hitting and infield coach. Al Bumbry, who batted .281 in 14 seasons (1972-1985) with the Orioles and the San Diego Padres, was signed to be the baserunning and outfield coach as well as the "Community Ambassador."[8]
A Monster in the Vault
The York Revolution will have the honor of playing at Sovereign Bank Stadium, as the left field wall is planned to surpass the height of the Green Monster at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. The Green Monster stands at 37 feet, 2 inches (11.3 m). Sovereign Bank Stadium's left field wall will stand six inches higher at a height of 37 feet, 8 inches (11.490 96 m).[9]
- The market was previously served by: York Pirates of the Eastern League (1884-1969)
Logos and uniforms
The team colors of the York Revolution are Continental navy, brass, silver, and sergeant's red. The "Revolution" wordmark colored white in script outlined by a navy blue background. The word "York" is incorporated colored brass with two brass stars. The entire wordmark is outlined in silver. Centered below the wordmark is a patriotic-themed bald eagle in navy with red and white detail and silver stars with silver outline. The eagle's left talon clutches a baseball.
The York Revolution caps are navy blue throughout with a stylized "Y", colored white with silver shadowing, with an eagle's head clutching a baseball centered above. The entire cap logo is outlined in navy blue and brass. The Revolution wordmark is centered on the back toward the lower edge of the cap.
Season-by-Season Records
| York Revolution - 2007 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | W - L Record | Winning Percentage | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2007 | ||||
| Totals (2007) | ||||
Tradition
"War of the Roses": York vs. Lancaster
The south-central Pennsylvania cities of York and Lancaster have a historical rivalry in all sporting events from the high school level to the professional. As both cities are named after the English cities of York and Lancaster, their former baseball teams were named for the opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses. Just as in the English battles, the York White Roses and the Lancaster Red Roses fought intense baseball matches throughout their existence. With the addition of the York Revolution to the Atlantic League, the team will continue the White Roses tradition as they battle the Lancaster Barnstormers for lower Susquehanna supremacy. Not only will the Revolution wear a White Roses commemorative patch on their uniforms, they will join the Barnstormers in wearing throwback uniforms for one series a season, the "War of the Roses." [10]
Quick facts
- Current uniform colors:
- Current logo design: The "Revolution" wordmark colored white in script outlined by a navy blue background. The word "York" is incorporated colored brass with two brass stars. The entire wordmark is outlined in silver. Centered below the wordmark is a patriotic-themed bald eagle in navy blue with red and white detail and silver stars with silver outline. The eagle's left talon clutches a baseball.
- Current mascot: (2007-present).
- Current Broadcasters:
- Current Radio Station: WSBA 910 AM
2007 York Revolution:
|
Pitchers
Catchers
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Infielders
Outfielders
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Retired Numbers
42, Jackie Robinson, retired throughout baseball
References
- ^ "York Baseball Team Name Announcement". York Revolution. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Straight Dope: York, Pennsylvania: First capital of the United States?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved August 14.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Other Possible References to York's Revolution". York Revolution. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "The York and Lancaster Rivalry". Lancaster County Historical Society. Retrieved May 6.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "The Horrible History of the White Roses". York Daily Record. Retrieved June 16.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "York to Play Ball in 2007". York Revolution. Retrieved August 2.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Brooks Robinson Plaza". York Revolution. Retrieved August 2.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Revolution coaching staff takes on Baltimore flavor". York Daily Record. Retrieved December 20.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Sovereign Bank Stadium wall to be taller than the Green Monster". York Daily Record. Retrieved September 7.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Revolution and Barnstormers plan "turn-back-the-clock series"". York Revolution. Retrieved July 14.
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