Rochester Red Wings Explained

Rochester Red Wings
Founded:1899
City:Rochester, New York
Class Level:Triple-A (1946–present)
Past Class Level:
Current League:International League (1912–present)
Division:East Division
Past League:Eastern League (1899–1911)
Majorleague:Washington Nationals (2021–present)
Pastmajorleague:
Nickname:Rochester Red Wings (1929–present)
Pastnames:
  • Rochester Tribe (1922–1928)
  • Rochester Colts (1921)
  • Rochester Hustlers (1908–1920)
  • Rochester Bronchos (1899–1907)
Colors:Red, black, yellow, white[1]
Mascots:Spikes and Mittsy
Ballpark:Innovative Field (1997–present)
Pastparks:
Leaguenum:19
Divnum:5
Wildcardnum:2
Owner:Rochester Community Baseball, Inc.
Manager:Matthew LeCroy[2]
Gm:Dan Mason

The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Field, located in downtown Rochester. Founded in 1899, they are the oldest continuously operating sports franchise in North America below the major league level.

Since the widespread adoption of the minor league farm system in the 1920s, the Red Wings have been affiliated with four Major League Baseball clubs, an unusually stable series of relationships.[3] They were the top farm team of the St. Louis Cardinals for 32 years (1929–1960), Baltimore Orioles for 42 years (1961–2002), and Minnesota Twins for 18 years (2003–2020). They then became the Triple-A affiliate of the Nationals in 2021.

The franchise played from 1929 through 1996 at Silver Stadium (called Red Wing Stadium from 1929 to 1968) and moved to Frontier Field in 1997.

The 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 Pawtucket's McCoy Stadium, beginning on April 18, 1981. It was suspended just after 4 a.m. the next morning, and Rochester lost, 3–2, when the game resumed on June 23, 1981.

Baseball in Rochester

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.

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 19th century: the Rochester Red Wings, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals. He also reports that the Red Wings and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League are the only two franchises in North American professional sports to have captured a league championship in every decade of the 20th century.[4] [5] [6]

Franchise history

Early history (1899–1928)

The current franchise has been playing in Rochester since 1899, when the team was known as the Rochester Bronchos and won the Eastern League championship in its inaugural season.

Cardinals era (1929–1960)

The Red Wings became the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals in . Aside from the affiliation, the Cardinals also owned the Wings and their stadium, then known as Red Wing Stadium. The early years of the Cardinals and Red Wings saw the Red Wings very much a power house, not unlike their parent club. The team was managed by Billy Southworth (who split time managing the team in 1929 with Bill McKechnie), and from 1929 to 1931, the team won the International League championship. In a true statement of how dominant a team they were, they won 103 games in 1929, 105 games in 1930, and 101 games in 1931. The team would remain competitive for many years, with 1935 and 1937 being the only years that they lost more games than they won. The return of Billy Southworth in 1939 brought another league championship to Rochester.

Lean times were ahead for Rochester, with the 1940s finding the Red Wings on the bottom half of the standings. Even former famed pitcher Burleigh Grimes could not change the team's fortunes. He lasted a little more than a season and a half when he was replaced by Benny Borgmann. The team would capture three more league championships in the Cardinals era, those coming in 1952, 1955, and 1956. In the fall of, the Cardinals ceased to operate the Red Wings and put both the team and the stadium up for sale. In response, Morrie Silver, a Rochester businessman, formed Rochester Community Baseball, Inc. (RCB) and spearheaded a drive to sell shares in RCB to raise money to buy the Red Wings and Red Wing Stadium to ensure that the franchise would remain in Rochester. The attempt was successful as RCB purchased both entities from the Cardinals on February 27, 1957, in an event that was dubbed the "72 Day Miracle". RCB, composed of fans of the team as shareholders, continues to own and operate the club to this day, making the Red Wings one of two current American professional sports franchises that are publicly owned. The Green Bay Packers of the National Football League are the most notable example of this distinction.

In 1959, the Red Wings were involved in one of minor league baseball's most infamous games. While playing in Havana, Cuba, the Red Wings' July 25 game against the Havana Sugar Kings was interrupted at midnight by gunfire and fireworks in celebration of the 26th of July Movement.[7] Rochester's Frank Verdi, standing in as third-base coach in place of manager Cot Deal, who had been ejected earlier in the game, was grazed by a bullet, as was Leo Cárdenas, the Sugar Kings' shortstop. Neither player was seriously injured, but both the game and then the series were canceled.

The Wings remained St. Louis' affiliate until, when the Red Wings moved on to become the top farm club of the Baltimore Orioles.

Orioles era (1961–2002)

After two straight fourth-place finishes, and early exits from the playoffs, the Red Wings dismissed Clyde King, a hold over from the Cardinals era, as manager of the team, and named Darrell Johnson in his place. Johnson never managed a finish better than fourth during his tenure, however, in 1964, with an 82–72 record, Johnson's Red Wings managed to win yet another championship. He was replaced by Earl Weaver, who showed great promise as a manager. After two seasons, Weaver was brought up to manage the Baltimore Orioles, and he was replaced by Billy DeMars, who lasted one season before being replaced by Cal Ripken Sr. After two seasons, Ripken was replaced by Joe Altobelli. Red Wing Stadium was renamed Silver Stadium in honor of Morrie Silver on August 19, 1968. From 1971 to 1976, the Red Wings never missed the playoffs, capturing two more league titles in the process in 1971 and 1974. Altobelli returned to the Red Wings after his retirement from the coaching ranks, serving as general manager from late 1991 to 1994 and then as part of the radio broadcasting team through 2008.

1978 was a terrible season for the Red Wings, as the club had three managers, Ken Boyer, Al Widmar, and Frank Robinson. The team finished 68–72. Robinson was replaced by Doc Edwards, who managed to get the team to the playoffs in 1980, but could not manage a league title. Edwards was soon gone, replaced by Lance Nicholls, who in turn, was replaced by former Tidewater Tides manager Frank Verdi. The team did horribly under Verdi, and was mainly stocked with cast off former major leaguers, career minor league players, and very few prospects. The only bona fide major league prospect on the team during this lean period was Larry Sheets, who was mainly a journeyman hitter during his career.

Verdi was fired midway through 1985, with the Red Wings at 18–40. Under his replacement, first base coach Mark Wiley, the Red Wings went 40–41 the rest of the season.

There would be a return to glory, when the Red Wings named John Hart as the new manager. He was able to guide the team into the playoffs during his two-year stint, but none resulted in a championship. However, Hart impressed the Orioles, and he was soon off to the majors. His replacement was former New York Yankees catcher Johnny Oates. Oates won the league title in his first year and only year at the helm. His replacement was Greg Biagini. In 1990, Biagini led a loaded Red Wings team, which featured future Red Sox hero Curt Schilling, to the league championship.

In 1993, the Red Wings, guided by manager Bob Miscik, reached the International League finals but lost to the Charlotte Knights in five games.

In 1997, the Red Wings moved into the new Frontier Field in downtown Rochester after 68 seasons at Silver Stadium on the city's northeast side. That same year, manager Marv Foley led the Wings to a league title.

In 2000, during the team's fourth year at the stadium, the Red Wings played host to the Triple-A All-Star Game.

Rochester won six Governors' Cup titles during their 42-year affiliation with the Orioles, with the last coming in . The team's fortunes began to decline by, though, as the product on the field slipped in quality. By, the fifth consecutive losing season for Rochester and what would be the last year of the player development agreement between Baltimore and Rochester, the team's record slipped to a league-worst 55–89. The Red Wings' affiliation with the Orioles ended when it signed a working agreement with the Minnesota Twins on September 17, 2002.[8]

Twins era (2003–2020)

The Red Wings' first season as the Twins' Triple-A affiliate was the team's sixth consecutive losing season. Beginning in, however, the team began to turn their fortunes around. In both 2004 and, the Red Wings finished in second place in the North Division with records of 73–71 and 75–69, respectively. The turnaround was capped in when Rochester, now under the leadership of Stan Cliburn, advanced to the International League playoffs as the Wild Card with a record of 79–64. The Red Wings then beat the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons three games to one in the best-of-five semifinal series but lost to the Toledo Mud Hens in five games, three games to two, in the best-of-five Governors' Cup series.

Rochester followed up their run to the 2006 Governors' Cup Finals by posting a winning record in each of the next two seasons, bringing the streak of consecutive winning seasons to five. In, the team went 74–70 after being as far as 13 games under .500 at one point (19–32 on May 25). The streak was snapped in after the team finished 70–74. On September 21, 2009, the Minnesota Twins announced that they would not renew manager Stan Cliburn's contract for the 2010 season. According to Twins farm director Jim Rantz, the change was made as part of an "overall directional change that is being implemented throughout the minor-league system."[9] Former New Britain Rock Cats manager Tom Nieto was Cliburn's replacement.[10] Nieto was fired at the close of the 2011 season after leading the Red Wings to their first back-to-back 90-loss seasons since 1903–04.[11]

On November 25, 2011 Gene Glynn was announced as the new Red Wings manager for 2012.[12] The 2012 season saw the Red Wings scratch out a .500 record, considered a vast improvement over the Nieto years. With Glynn continuing as manager, the 2013 Wings got off to a dismal 2–11 start, but slowly improved before turning red-hot in July. At some points they led the North Division, but a late surge by Pawtucket relegated the Wings to a fight for the IL's lone wild card spot. They secured the wild card on the last day of the season, based on a tiebreaker with the Norfolk Tides, leading the Wings to their first postseason appearance since 2006. The following season's playoff push came down to the final series of the year in Pawtucket, but a loss on August 31 put them out of the picture for good.[13]

After the 2014 season, Gene Glynn was promoted to become the third base coach for the major league Minnesota Twins.[14]

To replace Glynn, the Red Wings announced on January 30, 2015, that former Chicago Cubs' manager Mike Quade would be taking over for the 2015 season, a position he retained for three years through the 2017 campaign.[15]

On January 17, 2018 former MLB catcher, coach and manager Joel Skinner was named as the 45th manager of the team.

The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.[16] [17]

On November 10, 2020, Twins management disclosed to the Red Wings that they would be discontinuing their partnership as part of the broad changes in the minor league system for the 2021 season and beyond.[18]

Nationals era (2021–present)

Beginning with the 2021 season, the Red Wings became the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals.[19] As a further result of Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Red Wings were organized into the Triple-A East.[20] Under former major league catcher and veteran minor league coach Matthew LeCroy,[2] Rochester ended the 2021 season tied for fifth place in the Northeastern Division with a 47–69 record.[21] No playoffs were held to determine a league champion; instead, the team with the best regular-season record was declared the winner.[22] However, 10 games that had been postponed from the start of the season were reinserted into the schedule as a postseason tournament called the Triple-A Final Stretch in which all 30 Triple-A clubs competed for the highest winning percentage.[22] Rochester finished the tournament in 27th place with a 2–8 record.[23] In 2022, the Triple-A East became known as the International League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.[24] In 2023 the Red Wings finished 8th in the 10-team IL East Division with a 66-80 record under Matt LeCroy.[25]

Titles

The Red Wings have played for the Governors' Cup, the championship of the International League, 21 times, winning 10.

Year-by-year records

Year Aff. League Div. Finish W L W% Playoffs Avg. attendance Manager
1960St. Louis CardinalsInternational League3rd8173.526Lost in finals2,844Clyde King
1961Baltimore OriolesInternational League4th7778.497Lost in finals2,838Clyde King
1962OriolesInternational League4th8272.532Lost in 1st Round3,535Clyde King
1963OriolesInternational League7th7576.497Did not qualify3,602Darrell Johnson
1964OriolesInternational League4th8272.532League Champions3,534Darrell Johnson
1965OriolesInternational League5th7374.497Did not qualify3,028Darrell Johnson
1966OriolesInternational League1st8364.565Lost in 1st RoundN/AEarl Weaver
1967OriolesInternational League2nd8061.567Lost in 1st Round4,305Earl Weaver
1968OriolesInternational League3rd7769.527Lost in 1st Round3,336Billy DeMars
1969OriolesInternational League5th7169.507Did not qualify3,828Cal Ripken Sr.
1970OriolesInternational League3rd7664.543Lost in 1st Round4,625Cal Ripken Sr.
1971OriolesInternational League1st8654.614League Champions5,167Joe Altobelli
1972OriolesInternational League4th7668.528Lost in 1st Round4,123Joe Altobelli
1973OriolesInternational LeagueAmerican1st7967.541Lost in 1st Round4,148Joe Altobelli
1974OriolesInternational LeagueNorthern1st8856.611League Champions3,746Joe Altobelli
1975OriolesInternational League2nd8556.603Lost in 1st Round4,634Joe Altobelli
1976OriolesInternational League1st8850.638Lost in 1st Round3,741Joe Altobelli
1977OriolesInternational League6th6773.479Did not qualify3,510Ken Boyer
1978OriolesInternational League6th6872.486Did not qualify3,140Ken Boyer (5–6) / Al Widmar (5–2) / Frank Robinson (58–64)
1979OriolesInternational League8th5386.381Did not qualify2,878Doc Edwards
1980OriolesInternational League3rd7465.532Lost in 1st Round4,211Doc Edwards
1981OriolesInternational League4th6970.496Lost in 1st Round5,026Doc Edwards
1982OriolesInternational League4th7268.514Lost in finals5,162Lance Nichols
1983OriolesInternational League6th6575.464Did not qualify4,058Lance Nichols
1984OriolesInternational League8th5288.371Did not qualify2,737Frank Verdi
1985OriolesInternational League7th5881.417Did not qualify3,007Frank Verdi (18–40) / Mark Wiley (40–41)
1986OriolesInternational League2nd7563.571Lost in finals4,475John Hart
1987OriolesInternational League3rd7465.532Lost in 1st Round4,544John Hart
1988OriolesInternational LeagueWest1st7764.546League Champions4,267Johnny Oates
1989OriolesInternational LeagueEast2nd7273.497Did not qualify3,923Craig Biagini
1990OriolesInternational LeagueEast1st8956.614League Champions4,578Craig Biagini
1991OriolesInternational LeagueEast2nd7668.528Did not qualify4,794Craig Biagini
1992OriolesInternational LeagueEast3rd7074.486Did not qualify4,769Jerry Narron
1993OriolesInternational LeagueEast1st7467.525Lost in finals5,242Bob Miscik
1994OriolesInternational LeagueEast4th6774.475Did not qualify5,511Bob Miscik
1995OriolesInternational LeagueEast1st7369.514Lost in 1st Round5,711Marv Foley
1996OriolesInternational LeagueEast2nd7269.511Lost in finals6,008Marv Foley
1997OriolesInternational LeagueEast1st8358.589League Champions7,766Marv Foley
1998OriolesInternational LeagueNorth4th7074.486Did not qualify7,470Marv Foley
1999OriolesInternational LeagueNorth5th6183.424Did not qualify7,074Dave Machemer
2000OriolesInternational LeagueNorth5th6579.451Did not qualify6,858Marv Foley
2001OriolesInternational LeagueNorth6th6084.417Did not qualify6,410Andy Etchenbarren
2002OriolesInternational LeagueNorth6th5589.382Did not qualify6,021Andy Etchenbarren
2003Minnesota TwinsInternational LeagueNorthT-5th6875.476Did not qualify6,334Phil Roof
2004TwinsInternational LeagueNorthT-2nd7371.507Did not qualify6,428Phil Roof
2005 Twins International League North 3rd 75 69 .521 Did not qualify 6,853 Phil Roof (6–7) / Rich Miller (69–62)
2006 Twins International League North 2nd 79 64 .552 Lost in finals 6,626 Stan Cliburn
2007 Twins International League North 2nd 77 67 .535 Did not qualify 7,064 Stan Cliburn
2008 Twins International League North 3rd 74 70 .514 Did not qualify 6,913 Stan Cliburn
2009 Twins International League North 4th 70 74 .486 Did not qualify 6,599 Stan Cliburn
2010 Twins International League North 6th 49 95 .340 Did not qualify 6,600
2011 Twins International League North 6th 53 91 .368 Did not qualify 6,493 Tom Nieto
2012 Twins International League North 4th 72 72 .500 Did not qualify 6,094
2013 TwinsInternational League North 2nd 77 67 .535 Lost in 1st round 6,098 Gene Glynn
2014 Twins International League North 4th 77 67 .535 Did not qualify 6,401 Gene Glynn
2015 Twins International League North 2nd 77 67 .535 Did not qualify 6,291
2016 Twins International League North 3rd 81 63 .563 Did not qualify 6,396 Mike Quade
2017 Twins International League North 3rd* 80 62 .563 Did not qualify 6,553 Mike Quade
2018 Twins International League North T-4th 64 76 .457 Did not qualify 6,537 Joel Skinner
2019 Twins International League North 4th 70 70 .500 Did not qualify 6,846 Joel Skinner
2020 Twins International League North N/A — — — N/A Toby Gardenhire
2021 Triple-A East Northeast T-5th 47 69 .405 No playoffs held 3,491 Matthew LeCroy
2022 Nationals International League East 8th 67 81 .453 Did not qualify 5,846 Matthew LeCroy
2023 Nationals International League East 8th 66 80 .452 Did not qualify — Matthew LeCroy
∗ Tied by record with Lehigh Valley IronPigs but lost in tiebreaking procedures.

Mascots

The Rochester Red Wings' mascots are a pair of anthropomorphic birds named Spikes and Mittsy. Spikes is bright red with a yellow beak. He wears a uniform similar to that of the team. Mittsy is yellow with an orange beak and red hair. She wears a red uniform with yellow trim accompanied by two pink bracelets. Spikes was created in the off-season before the 1997 season, the same year in which the Red Wings got their new stadium, Frontier Field. The names refer to cleats or "spikes" baseball players wear and catcher's mitts, respectively.[26] Before Spikes was created, the team mascot was a red and black bat character known as Wild Fang, who was with the team from 1992 to 1997, when he was retired once the team moved to Frontier Field.

Retired numbers

The Red Wings have retired three numbers, two of which are derived from uniform numbers:

Altobelli's number 26 and the number 8,222 representing Silver were both retired prior to the final regular season game at Silver Stadium on August 30, 1996. Easter's number 36 was retired by the Red Wings in .

Awards and honors

Notable alumni

Players and on-field staff

Front office and other staff

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Wings unveil brand new logos. MLB Advanced Media, LP. November 1, 2013. July 12, 2018.
  2. News: Washington Nationals hold ZOOM calls today for the media!. TalkNats. Steve. Mears. December 15, 2020. December 15, 2020.
  3. Web site: Would Wings consider affiliation change? Twins' GM hopes not – Pickin' Splinters.
  4. The Rochester Sports Project, by Douglas Brei
  5. 2005 CFL Facts, Figures, and Records Guide
  6. 2006 International League Guide and Record Book
  7. News: Straus. Ben. Remembering Cuban baseball's Sugar Kings. 26 March 2013. The New York Times. 23 March 2013.
  8. Web site: "Twins Sign Two-Year Agreement With Rochester Red Wings," Minnesota Twins press release, Tuesday, September 17, 2002..
  9. News: Cliburn won't return as Red Wings manager . Jim . Mandelaro . September 21, 2009 . September 22, 2009 . Democrat and Chronicle.
  10. News: Nieto takes Rochester Red Wings' helm . Jim . Mandelaro . October 21, 2009 . October 21, 2009 . Democrat and Chronicle.
  11. Web site: Twins fire Class AAA Rochester manager Tom Nieto. Star Tribune.
  12. Web site: Red Wings name Gene Glynn manager Democrat and Chronicle democratandchronicle.com. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111203084117/http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20111125/SPORTS06/111125019/Red-Wings-name-Gene-Glynn-manager?odyssey=tab%7Ctopnews%7Ctext%7CHome . 2011-12-03 .
  13. Web site: Rochester Red Wings were a special team. Jim. Mandelaro. Democrat and Chronicle.
  14. Web site: Twins hire Gene Glynn, Rudy Hernandez for coaching staff. November 11, 2014.
  15. Web site: Red Wings Introduce Mike Quade As Manager - RochesterHomepage.net. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150210011445/http://www.rochesterhomepage.net/story/d/story/red-wings-introduce-mike-quade-as-manager/25489/Hkm3clkXj0m4lvL_ii7HQw . 2015-02-10 .
  16. News: A Message From Pat O'Conner. Minor League Baseball. March 13, 2020. May 5, 2020.
  17. News: 2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved. Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. July 1, 2020.
  18. Web site: Twins drop Rochester as AAA affiliate, eye St. Paul as replacement . Star Tribune. November 10, 2020 . November 10, 2020.
  19. Web site: Rochester Red Wings chosen as AAA affiliate for Washington Nationals . WHAM. November 19, 2020 . November 19, 2020.
  20. Web site: Mayo. Jonathan. MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues. Major League Baseball. February 12, 2021. February 12, 2021.
  21. Web site: 2021 Triple-A East Standings. Minor League Baseball. October 3, 2021.
  22. News: MiLB Announces 'Triple-A Final Stretch' for 2021 . Minor League Baseball . July 14, 2021 . July 16, 2021.
  23. Web site: 2021 Triple-A Final Stretch Standings. Minor League Baseball. October 3, 2021.
  24. Web site: Historical League Names to Return in 2022. Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. March 16, 2022.
  25. Web site: IL 2023 Final Standings. Baseball Reference. February 1, 2024. May 9, 2024.
  26. Web site: Jennifer. Burke. Rochester Red Wings mascots drum up excitement at Newark Catholic school. Catholic Courier. May 21, 2009. March 18, 2017.
  27. News: Altobelli calls himself out after 59 seasons . . Bob . Matthews . March 9, 2009 . March 9, 2009.
  28. Web site: International League Award Winners. MILB.com. 12 June 2021.
  29. Web site: Red Wings Hall of Fame: K–R. Rochester Red Wings. 26 March 2013.
  30. News: Mandelaro. Jim. Red Wings GM Dan Mason named International League Executive of the Year. 26 March 2013. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 19 September 2012.
  31. Web site: Mandelaro. Jim. Step Up To The Plate, Watch Your Red Wings. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 26 March 2013.
  32. Web site: Red Wings exec Naomi Silver named minor league baseball's top exec. Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. 26 March 2013. Staff report. 5 December 2008.
  33. Web site: Richmond, Giardina honored by MiLB. MiLB.com. 26 March 2013. 5 November 2012.

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