The Holyoke Millers were a minor league baseball

Minor league baseball

Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...

 team located in Holyoke, Massachusetts

Holyoke, Massachusetts

Holyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...

. The team played in the Eastern League

Eastern League (U.S. baseball)

The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...

. Their home stadium was Mackenzie Stadium

Mackenzie Stadium

Mackenzie Stadium is a baseball venue located in Holyoke, Massachusetts. It was home to the Holyoke Millers and today is used by both the Holyoke Blue Sox of the New England Collegiate Baseball League and the Elms College Blazers of the New England Collegiate Conference...

. The Millers played from 1977 to 1982 and was a farm team

Farm team

In sports, a farm team, farm system, feeder team or nursery club, is generally a team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any successful players can move on to a higher level at a given point...

 of the Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...

 the first four years and the California Angels

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...

 the last two years. In 1980, the team won the Eastern League championship.

The nickname 'Millers' was derived from the many paper mills that Holyoke was noted for,
especially in the first half of the 20th century.

1981 Holyoke Millers

Tom Kayser was general manager and was in his second season as an owner of the Holyoke Millers. Kayser had been with the club since it moved from Pittsfield Massachusetts in 1977. In 1981 Jim Saul was the new manager of the Holyoke Millers replacing Lee Sigman who had left the club to become manager of the Vancouver Canadians of the triple-A Pacific Coast League. Like Sigman Saul had a long history in baseball having a career as both a player and and as manager. Saul was going into his sixth season as a manager when he joined the Holyoke Millers. Having made stops with Salinas California, Midland and El Paso Texas. Helping Saul with managerial dutys was Dave Thomas and Dave Comforti who were both interns from the University of Massachusetts and completing their course of study in sports management. T.J. Byrne was a trainer for the club in 1981 and came to the Holyoke Millers from Pioneer Leagues Idaho Falls Angels after the 1980 season. As for the 1981 Holyoke Millers roster behind the Plate was Mark Nocciolo who had been with Salinas and Salt Lake in 1980.

12 John Yandle LHP 1980 Hawaii Pacific Coast League

3 Ricky Adams 2B 1980 Salinas California League / El Paso Texas league

22 Mike Brown C/OF 1980 Salinas Cal. League

18 Chris Clark OF/1B 1980 Salinas Cal. League

9 Dennis Gilbert OF 1980 El Paso Tx. League

8 Curt Brown RHP 1980 Salinas Cal. League

26 Jeff Conner LHP 1980 Salinas Cal. League / El Paso Tx. League

16 Lonnie Dugger RHP 1980 Salinas Cal.League / El Paso Tx. League

13 Dave Duran RHP 1980 Salinas Cal. League

20 Rick Foley RHP 1980 Salt Lake City

25 Pat Keedy 3B 1980 Salinas Cal. League / El Paso Tx League

24 Darrell Miller C/OF1980 Salinas Cal. League/ Salt Lake City

21 Mark Nocciolo C 1980 Salinas Cal. League / Salt Lake City

17 Les Pearsey 1B 1980 Orlando / Toledo International League

15 Gary Pettis OF 1980 Salinas Cal. League

14 Gustavo Polidor SS -rookie for 1981-

27 Brandt Humphry RHP 1980 El Paso *note played third base*

5.Bill Mooneyham RHP 1980 Salinas Cal. League

23.Perry Morrison RHP 1980 Salinas Cal. League/El Paso Tx. League

30 Dennis Rasmussen LHP 1980 Salinas Cal. League

19 Rick Rommell RHP 1980 El Paso Tx League

1 Ed Rodriguez Ult.INF 1980 Redwood Cal. League

Note that the 1981 Millers roster had future Major Leaguers Gary Pettis who would go on to play for the Angels, Tigers, Rangers and Padres. Dennis Rasmussen who would go onto play for the Padres, Yankees, Reds, Cubs and the Royals. Pat Keedy would go onto bounce around in the minor leagues after leaving Holyoke seeing playing time with the Edmonton Trappers of the PCL and Midland of the Texas League in 1986. in 1987 he played with the Hawaii Islanders of the PCL and the Chicago White Sox. in 1988 he joined the Tucson Toros of the PCL.

Bill Mooneyham would play one season in the majors with the Oakland A's in 1986 more info is needed

Ricky Adams played briefly for the Angels and SF Giants.
Mike Brown played 5 seasons with the Angels and Pirates.
Darrell Miller played 5 seasons with the Angels. He is the brother of basketball stars Cheryl Miller and Reggie Miller.
Jim Saul is still a minor league coach, having managed in the Atlanta Braves farm systems from 1989-2002.