The
Lynn Sailors were a class AA
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
minor leagueMinor 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...
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team affiliated with the
Seattle MarinersThe Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
and
Pittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
. They were a member of the Eastern League and played at
Fraser FieldFraser Field is a baseball park in Lynn, Massachusetts which was built in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration as part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. Fraser Field has played host to many minor-league baseball teams over the years. The North Shore Navigators of the New England...
in
Lynn, MassachusettsLynn is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 89,050 at the 2000 census. An old industrial center, Lynn is home to Lynn Beach and Lynn Heritage State Park and is about north of downtown Boston.-17th century:...
from
1980-Major League Baseball:World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Kansas City Royals ; Mike Schmidt, MVP*American League Championship Series: Frank White, MVP*National League Championship Series Manny Trillo, MVP...
-
1983-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies ; Rick Dempsey, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Mike Boddicker*National League Championship Series MVP: Gary Matthews...
.
After 30 years without pro baseball in Lynn, the Sailors began play in 1980 when owners of the West Haven Yankees moved the franchise to Boston's North Shore. The teams were competititve, but sparse media coverage was partially to blame for the less-than-enthusiastic showing at the gate for two years. In the fall of 1981, Mike Agganis, nephew of former Red Sox player
Harry AgganisAristotle George Agganis ' , nicknamed "The Golden Greek", was an American athletic star in two sports. His family origins were from Longanikos near Sparta, Greece. -Career:...
, purchased the franchise. After 2 successful seasons, the attendance began to drop, despite improved play on the field. After the 1982 season, the Sailors moved to
Burlington, VermontBurlington is the largest city in the U.S. state of Vermont and the shire town of Chittenden County. Burlington lies south of the U.S.-Canadian border and some south of Montreal....
. Future major leaguers
Spike OwenSpike Dee Owen is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Seattle Mariners , Boston Red Sox , Montreal Expos , New York Yankees and California Angels...
,
Harold ReynoldsHarold Craig Reynolds is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played from 1983–1994, primarily for the Seattle Mariners.-High school:...
, and
Bud BlackHarry Ralston "Bud" Black is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current manager of the San Diego Padres.-College:Black played two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview...
all played for the Sailors. In fact, future major league pitching coach Rick Adair once picked three runners off first base in the same inning!
In 1983 the Pirates moved their AA affiliation from the
Southern LeagueThe Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
to the Eastern League and the newly formed
Lynn Pirates began play. However, due to poor attendance, the club moved to
Nashua, New Hampshire-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
and in 1987 moved to
Harrisburg, PennsylvaniaHarrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
as the
Harrisburg SenatorsThe Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
where the club remains today. The team's final game was a 3-0 playoff loss against the New Britain Red Sox in New Britain. The 3-hit, 10 strikeout, shutout was
Roger ClemensWilliam Roger Clemens , nicknamed "Rocket", is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who broke into the league with the Boston Red Sox, whose pitching staff he would help anchor for 12 years. Clemens won seven Cy Young Awards, more than any other pitcher. He played for four different teams over...
' final minor league victory before joining Boston. All of the Pirates playoff games were played on the road due to poor home attendance.
Baseball did not return to Lynn until 1996 when the Massachusetts Mad Dogs of the Northeast League began play at Fraser Field. The Sailors franchise is now the
Akron AerosThe Akron Aeros are a minor league baseball team based in Akron, Ohio, USA. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians.The Aeros play in Canal Park, located in downtown Akron, which seats 9,097 fans...
.
http://www.akronaeros.com/info-history.php
Year-by-year record
| Year | Record | Finish | Manager | Playoffs |
| 1980 -Major League Baseball:World Series: Philadelphia Phillies over Kansas City Royals ; Mike Schmidt, MVP*American League Championship Series: Frank White, MVP*National League Championship Series Manny Trillo, MVP...
|
66-71 |
6th |
Bobby Floyd Robert Nathan Floyd is an American former Major League Baseball player. An infielder, Floyd played for the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals....
|
|
| 1981 -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero, and Steve Yeager, co-MVPsNOTE: Due to a strike in mid-season, the season was divided into a first half and a second half...
|
62-76 |
6th |
Bobby Floyd Robert Nathan Floyd is an American former Major League Baseball player. An infielder, Floyd played for the Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals....
|
|
| 1982 -Major League Baseball:*World Series Champion: St. Louis Cardinals*World Series MVP: Darrell Porter**American League Championship Series MVP: Fred Lynn**National League Championship Series MVP: Darrell Porter...
|
82-57 |
2nd |
Allen Bowers |
Lost League Finals |
| 1983 -Major League Baseball:*World Series: Baltimore Orioles over Philadelphia Phillies ; Rick Dempsey, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Mike Boddicker*National League Championship Series MVP: Gary Matthews...
|
77-62 |
2nd |
Tommy Sandt Thomas James Sandt is a former Major League Baseball player and minor league manager. He graduated from Pacifica High School in West Garden Grove, CA in 1968 where he excelled as a varsity player.An infielder, Sandt played for the Oakland Athletics in and .Sandt managed in teams in the Eastern...
|
Lost League Finals |
As Seattle Mariners affiliate (1980–1982)
- Karl Best
Karl Jon Best is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Seattle Mariners and Minnesota Twins . Best was drafted by the Mariners in the 12th round of the 1977 Major League Baseball Draft and made his major league debut on August 19, 1983, with the Mariners...
- Bud Black
Harry Ralston "Bud" Black is a former Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher and current manager of the San Diego Padres.-College:Black played two years at Lower Columbia College in Longview...
- Al Chambers
Albert Eugene Chambers is a former Major League Baseball player from to for the Seattle Mariners. Chambers was the first pick overall in the 1979 Major League Baseball Draft out of high school by the Mariners, but proved a disappointment, as he only appeared in fifty-seven games in his...
- Alvin Davis
Alvin Glenn Davis , nicknamed "Mr. Mariner", is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and designated hitter. Davis played his career primarily for the Seattle Mariners...
- Mario Diaz
Mario Rafael Díaz Torres is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played from -.-External links:...
|
- Jerry Don Gleaton
Jerry Don Gleaton was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1979 to 1992 for the Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, and Pittsburgh Pirates. Became an All-American at the University of Texas and the Most Valuable Player of the Southwest Conference...
- Vance McHenry
Vance Loren McHenry is a former Major League Baseball player for the Seattle Mariners. He played sparingly in two brief major league stints in and , batting .211 in 18 games.-Sources:...
- Orlando Mercado
Orlando Mercado Rodríguez is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played all or part of eight seasons in Major League Baseball with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, and Montreal Expos...
- Mike Moore
- John Moses
John William Moses , is a retired professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1982-1992. He later was a 1st Base/Outfield Coach for the Seattle Mariners from 1998–2003 and the Cincinnati Reds in 2006...
|
- Jamie Nelson
James Victor "Jamie" Nelson is a former Major League Baseball player. Nelson played for the Seattle Mariners in the 1983 season. In 40 games, Nelson had 21 hits in 96 at-bats, with five RBIs. He was a Catcher, batted and threw right-handed.He was drafted by the New York Mets in the 8th round of...
- Donell Nixon
Robert Donell Nixon is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of four seasons in the majors, from until , playing all three outfield positions, most often in center field....
- Spike Owen
Spike Dee Owen is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Seattle Mariners , Boston Red Sox , Montreal Expos , New York Yankees and California Angels...
- Jim Presley
James Arthur Presley is a former Major League Baseball infielder with an eight year career from 1984 to 1991. He played for the Seattle Mariners of the American League and the Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres of the National League. He was primarily a third baseman but also saw some time...
- Harold Reynolds
Harold Craig Reynolds is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played from 1983–1994, primarily for the Seattle Mariners.-High school:...
|
- Paul Serna
Paul David Serna is a former professional baseball infielder. He played two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners.Serna was signed as an amateur free agent by Seattle in June of , and by the following September he was in the major leagues. Playing mostly shortstop down the...
- Dave Valle
David Valle is an American former professional baseball player and current television and radio sports commentator. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Seattle Mariners, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, and Texas Rangers from to ....
- Matt Young
Matthew John Young is a former American Major League baseball player. Young played for a variety of teams over his career, and is best known for his unofficial no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians while a member of the Boston Red Sox....
|
As Pittsburgh Pirates affiliate (1983)
- Rafael Belliard
Rafael Leonidas Belliard Matias is a former Major League Baseball shortstop. He is currently the infield coach for the Detroit Tigers....
- Mike Bielecki
Michael Joseph Bielecki was a professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1984–1997.-Pittsburgh Pirates:...
- Stan Cliburn
Stanley Gene Cliburn is a retired professional baseball player who played one season for the California Angels of Major League Baseball. He was most recently the manager of the Rochester Red Wings, the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, from 2006 to 2009...
- Benny Distefano
Benito James Distefano is a former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a utility player from 1984, 1986, 1988-1989, and 1992...
- Sam Khalifa
Sam Khalifa , is a former Major League Baseball player. The seventh overall pick in the 1982 June draft. He played 164 games across three seasons in the majors, most as a shortstop and all as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates...
|
- Dale Mohorcic
Dale Mohorcic was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1986 to 1990. Mohorcic was a star at Cleveland State University. After playing on farm teams for the Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates, Mohorcic signed with the Texas Rangers in . His first two years, Mohorcic pitched well,...
- Nelson Norman
Nelson Augusto Norman is a former Major League Baseball shortstop, minor league coach and manager. He played all or part of six seasons in the major leagues between and .- Pittsburgh Pirates :...
- Rick Renteria
Richard Avina Renteria is currently the bench coach for the San Diego Padres. During his playing career, he was usually called "Rich", but now goes by "Rick"....
- Don Robinson
- Tommy Sandt
Thomas James Sandt is a former Major League Baseball player and minor league manager. He graduated from Pacifica High School in West Garden Grove, CA in 1968 where he excelled as a varsity player.An infielder, Sandt played for the Oakland Athletics in and .Sandt managed in teams in the Eastern...
|
- Jeff Zaske
Lloyd Jeffery Zaske was a baseball player for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1984 at the age of 23. He batted right-handed and threw right-handed. He was born in Seattle, Washington.-References:...
|