Tri-City ValleyCats

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Template:Short description Template:Infobox Minor League Baseball

File:Tri-City Valley Cats baseball game (2006).jpg
A Tri-City ValleyCats game

The Tri-City ValleyCats are a professional baseball team based in Troy, New York. The ValleyCats compete in the Frontier League (FL) as a member of the North Division in the Atlantic Conference, but were previously members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Houston Astros. The team began play in 2002 when the Pittsfield Astros relocated to Troy following the 2001 season. The ValleyCats have played their home games at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium since 2002.

With MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, the ValleyCats were not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. The ValleyCats, along with the Ottawa Titans, were added to the Frontier League during the 2021 expansion.

History

Before Tri-City

Prior to their arrival in Albany, the club was based first in Little Falls, New York, as the Little Falls Mets (1977–1988), and then in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as the Pittsfield Mets (1989–2000) and Pittsfield Astros (2001).

2002 season

The ValleyCats played their first game on the road in Lowell, Massachusetts, on June 18, 2002, against their former rivals, the Lowell Spinners. The Spinners had a 3–1 lead going into the eighth inning, but a triple by Aneudi Cuevas down the right field line drove in three runs leading the ValleyCats to a 5–4 victory.

2006 season

In their 2006 season, the ValleyCats registered an attendance of 129,126 in 37 contests, averaging 3,489 fans per game. On July 4, 2006, the ValleyCats set a new all-time home attendance mark as 6,123 people attended a game against the Lowell Spinners which was later broken in the following years.

2008 season

All-Star game

The Valley Cats hosted the fourth annual New York–Penn League All-Star Game at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in 2008. The game was played between teams made up of the affiliates of National League (NL) and American League (AL) teams. The ValleyCats, affiliates of the National League's Houston Astros, were part of the NL squad. Four ValleyCats were voted to play in the game: first baseman Phil Disher, left fielder Jack Shuck, pitcher Philip Rummel, and center fielder Thomas Steele. However, Steele was injured two weeks before the game and was replaced by Tri-City third baseman David Flores. The NL All-Stars won the game on a walk-off RBI by Tri-City's David Flores. Flores was also voted MVP of the game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

No-hitter

On June 21, 2008, pitchers Shane Wolf, David Miller, and Ashton Mowdy combined to throw the first no-hitter in the franchise's history. Wolf is a native of nearby Lansing. The ValleyCats won, 10–0, over the Oneonta Tigers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2009 season

The ValleyCats once again broke attendance records in 2009. Their single-game attendance record was broken again on July 4 against the Brooklyn Cyclones. A crowd of 6,838 fans attended the 2–1 ValleyCats loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They also set a new single season attendance record, attracting 145,976 fans to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium that season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tri-City finished the season in fourth place in the Stedler Division, 18 games behind first-place Lowell.<ref name="09NYPL">Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 Championship season

After three losing seasons, the ValleyCats finally turned around to be one of the front runners in the Stedler Division. Led by manager Jim Pankovits, they were the underdog in the 2010 NYPL playoffs with a 38–36 record, and having won their division by only a half game over the Connecticut Tigers. They reached the championship series for the third time in their short history, and beat the heavy favorite Brooklyn Cyclones (51–24), two games to none.

2015 season

The second no-hitter in ValleyCats history was thrown on August 6, 2015. Pitchers Kevin McCanna, Ralph Garza, and Zac Person combined for the road win against the Aberdeen IronBirds at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium, 5–0.<ref name=nohitters>Template:Cite web</ref>

2021 and beyond

After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The ValleyCats were not among the teams invited to continue in affiliated baseball.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On January 7, 2021, the team announced that it would be joining the Frontier League, an independent MLB Partner league, for the 2021 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The 2021 and 2022 seasons were disappointing for the ValleyCats as they missed the playoffs both years. In the 2023 season, the ValleyCats attempted to get into the playoffs. However, they were beaten by the Sussex County Miners for the third and final playoff spot. Despite both clubs having the same record in the East Division, the Miners had a longer winning streak than the Valley Cats. This meant that the ValleyCats missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. In 2024, the Valley Cats clinched the playoffs for the first time since 2018, placing second in the East Division. However, they lost to the Ottawa Titans in the Wild Card game 5-2. They made the playoffs again in 2025. They swept the Sussex County Miners in two straight games in the Wild Card Round, but lost to the Québec Capitales three games to one in the East Division Conference Finals.

Mascots

File:Tri-City ValleyCats - mascots.jpg
Left to right: Sammy, Ribbie, and SouthPaw

The ValleyCats have several mascots, the three most prominent being SouthPaw, his grandfather, Pappy, and his best friend, Ribbie. SouthPaw is a jersey-wearing cat, representing the "ValleyCat", the team's nickname. Another fan-favorite is Sammy Baseball who wears a patriotic costume and resembles Uncle Sam, reputedly derived from Samuel Wilson who operated a meat packing plant in Albany. The Tri-City Mayors, large caricature heads representing the current Mayors of Troy, Albany, and Schenectady, race (and dance) on a nightly basis at the ballpark. Ketchup, Mustard, and Relish mascots participate in a hot dog race. Other mascots include Spiedie the Chicken, Zoggy the Dinosaur, and Rowdy the River Rat, obtained when the Albany River Rats moved to Charlotte, North Carolina.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Season results

Season League Manager Record
2002 NYPL Iván DeJesús 27–48, 4th place Stedler
2003 NYPL Iván DeJesús 44–32, 2nd place Stedler
2004Template:Sup NYPL Gregg Langbehn 50–25, 1st place Stedler
2005 NYPL Gregg Langbehn 34–42, 3rd place Stedler
2006Template:Sup NYPL Gregg Langbehn 43–31, 1st place Stedler
2007 NYPL Pete Rancont 27–47, 4th place Stedler
2008 NYPL Pete Rancont 28–45, 4th place Stedler
2009 NYPL Jim Pankovits 27–48, 4th place Stedler
2010Template:Sup NYPL Jim Pankovits 38–36, 1st place Stedler
2011 NYPL Stubby Clapp 33–42, 3rd place Stedler
2012Template:Sup NYPL Stubby Clapp 51–25, 1st place Stedler
2013Template:Sup NYPL Ed Romero 44–32, 1st place Stedler
2014Template:Sup NYPL Ed Romero 48–28, 1st place Stedler
2015Template:Sup NYPL Ed Romero 42–33, 1st place Stedler
2016 NYPL Lamarr Rogers 38–38, 3rd place Stedler
2017 NYPL Morgan Ensberg 34–39, 3rd place Stedler
2018Template:Sup NYPL Jason Bell 42–33, 1st place Stedler
2019 NYPL Ozney Guillen 32–42, 4th place Stedler
2020 Season not played due to COVID-19
2021 Frontier Pete Incaviglia 50–46, 2nd place Atlantic
2022 Frontier Pete Incaviglia 54–41, 5th place East
2023 Frontier Pete Incaviglia 55–40, 4th place East
2024 Frontier Greg Tagert 52–41, 2nd place East
2025 Frontier Greg Tagert 62–34, 2nd place East
NY–Penn League champions (Template:‡) NY–Penn League finalists (Template:†) Stedler Division champions (§) Wild Card winner (*)

Postseason results

Fast facts

  • Total Attendance
  • Ballpark Dimensions
    • LF – 325 feet (99 m)
    • CF – 400 feet (122 m)
    • RF – 325 feet (99 m)
  • First Game
    • Tuesday, June 18, 2002 vs Lowell Spinners (at LeLacheur Park, Lowell, Massachusetts – W 5–4)
  • Season Records (2002–present)
    • Hits
      • 2022 – Brantley Bell (138)
    • Doubles
      • 2022 – Brantley Bell (30)
    • Triples
      • 2015 – Aaron Mizell (7)
      • 2017 – Andy Pineda (7)
    • Home runs
    • Runs Batted In
    • Stolen Bases
      • 2023 – Jaxon Hallmark (33)
    • Wins
      • 2004 – Ronnie Ventura (11)
    • Saves
      • 2021 – Trey Cochran-Gill (24)
    • Strikeouts
      • 2022 – Joey Gonzalez (128)

Current roster

Template:IndyLB roster

Notable alumni

Former/Current notable baseball players who played for the ValleyCats as a minor league affiliate, the year they played for the ValleyCats, and the team they debuted with (If debuted yet). Template:Div col

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Former/Current notable baseball players who played for the ValleyCats in the Frontier League, the year they played for the ValleyCats, and the team they returned with. Template:Div col

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See also

References

Template:Reflist

Template:Commons category

Template:Frontier League Template:New York Sports

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