| West Haven A's | |
| Firstseason: | 1972 |
| Lastseason: | 1982 |
| City: | West Haven, Connecticut |
| Class Level: | Double-A |
| League: | Eastern League |
| Pastmajorleague: |
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| Nickname: |
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| Ballpark: | Quigley Stadium |
| Leaguenum: | 5 |
| Divnum: | 4 |
| Firsthalfnum: | 2 |
| Secondhalfnum: | 2 |
The West Haven A's were an American Minor League Baseball team that played in the Double-A Eastern League from 1972 to 1982. They were located in West Haven, Connecticut, and played their home games at Quigley Stadium.[1] From 1972 to 1979, the team was known as the West Haven Yankees after their Major League Baseball affiliate, the New York Yankees. They became an affiliate of the Oakland Athletics in 1980 and changed their name to the West Haven Whitecaps for that season before becoming the West Haven A's through their final two years of play.[2]
From 1972 to 1979, the team was affiliated with and named for the New York Yankees. During that eight-year period, West Haven — managed by future Major League skippers Bobby Cox, Doc Edwards, Mike Ferraro, and Stump Merrill — won four Eastern League championships and compiled a regular-season win–loss record of 611–496 (.552). In 1975, first baseman Dave Bergman was selected for the Eastern League Most Valuable Player Award.[3] Edwards (1973), Ferraro (1977), and Merrill (1979) each won the Eastern League Manager of the Year Award.[3]
The Yankees entered into a deal with a new Double-A team, the Nashville Sounds of the Southern League, after the 1979 season.[4] The West Haven franchise relocated to Lynn, Massachusetts, and became the Lynn Sailors. Concurrently, the Waterbury, Connecticut, franchise moved to West Haven in time for the 1980 season, bringing their affiliation with the Oakland Athletics, and renaming the team the West Haven Whitecaps.
The franchise changed its name again in 1981, this time to the West Haven A's.[5] The last West Haven team, managed by Bob Didier, won the team's fifth and final Eastern League title, defeating the Lynn Sailors in the finals.[6] In 1983, the franchise moved to Albany, New York, becoming the Albany A's.[7]
| Season | Division | Record | Win % | Finish | Attendance | Manager | Postseason | MLB affiliate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | American | 84–56 | .600 | 1st | — | 102,537 | Won American Division title Won EL championship vs. Trois-Rivières Aigles, 3–0 | New York Yankees | [8] | ||
| 1973 | American | 72–66 | .522 | 2nd | 4 | 75,128 | — | New York Yankees | [9] | ||
| 1974 | American | 58–79 | .423 | 4th | 17 | 42,878 | — | New York Yankees | [10] | ||
| 1975 | — | 66–71 | .482 | 4th | 18 | 26,549 | — | New York Yankees | [11] | ||
| 1976 | South | 80–59 | .576 | 1st | — | 28,331 | Won South Division title Won EL championship vs. Trois-Rivières Aigles, 3–0 | New York Yankees | [12] | ||
| 1977 | New England | 86–52 | .623 | 1st | — | 41,072 | Won New England Division title Won EL championship vs. Trois-Rivières Aigles, 3–0 | New York Yankees | [13] | ||
| 1978 | — | 82–57 | .590 | 1st | — | 46,048 | — | New York Yankees | [14] | ||
| 1979 | — | 83–56 | .597 | 1st | — | 71,302 | Won First and Second Half titles Won EL championship | New York Yankees | [15] | ||
| 1980 | Southern | 47–92 | .338 | 4th | 32 | 30,112 | — | Oakland Athletics | [16] | ||
| 1981 | Southern | 71–67 | .514 | 3rd | 55,552 | — | Oakland Athletics | [17] | |||
| 1982 | Southern | 86–54 | .614 | 1st | — | 51,791 | Won First and Second Half Southern Division titles Won Southern Division title Won EL championship vs. Lynn Sailors, 3–0 | Oakland Athletics | [18] |