The Grays
Encyclopedia
The Grays were a professional independent baseball
team. They were a traveling team which played in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball
. The team started play in the 2005 season due to an uneven number of teams in the Can-Am League after the disbanding of the Bangor Lumberjacks
, and were disbanded after the season. The Grays joined the league along with the Atlantic City Surf
for 2007 to maintain an even number of teams, but were disbanded again following the year.
The team was last managed by Dan Shwam, who joined the Grays after a stint with the United Baseball League's Laredo Broncos
. Shwam had prior experience in the Can-Am League's predecessors, the Northeast League and Northern League East, managing the Mohawk Valley Land Sharks, Newburgh Night Hawks, Elmira Pioneers
, and Catskill Cougars
. Shwam led the Pios to the 1997 Northeast League championship, and won a second championship in the Central Baseball League
in 2003 with the Jackson Senators
.
The team played both home and away games but, since they were a traveling team with no home base, home games were played in the opposing team's stadium with the Grays batting last.
, who had said they did not have the resources to operate for the season. The team's roster at the time became the roster for the Grays (unlike the year before when the Aces
, who replaced the Allentown Ambassadors
, were not able to keep their team intact), and Chris Carminucci was hired as their manager.
Playing in a 96 game split season, the Grays were competitive in the first half, finishing with an even 23-23 record and placing 7 games behind the front running Quebec Capitales
. However, the bottom fell out in the second half, and the Grays finished with a 10-36 second half record, 19 games out of first place.
The Grays were disbanded in the 2005-2006 offseason, with part of its roster being absorbed by the expansion Sussex Skyhawks
. The Grays were one of two teams to fold that offseason (the Elmira Pioneers
was the other; Sussex and the Atlantic League's Nashua Pride
(now known as the Pittsfield Colonials) joined the league in their places).
Along with the Atlantic City Surf
, the Grays were part of the Can-Am League's expansion in 2007. The team failed once again to make the playoffs, and after the season the team joined the New Haven County Cutters
and North Shore Spirit
in suspending operations and made their players available in a dispersal draft. The Grays did not return in 2009 despite further contraction of the Can-Am League which left an uneven amount of teams in the league.
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Baseball
Baseball 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. They were a traveling team which played in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball
The Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball, based in Durham, North Carolina, is a professional, independent baseball league located in the Northeastern United States and the Canadian province of Quebec. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League Baseball teams and is...
, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. The team started play in the 2005 season due to an uneven number of teams in the Can-Am League after the disbanding of the Bangor Lumberjacks
Bangor Lumberjacks
The Bangor Lumberjacks were an independent minor league baseball team in the Northeast League that was based in Bangor, Maine. Prior to 2003, the Lumberjacks played in Glens Falls, New York and were known as the Adirondack Lumberjacks. The team moved to Maine following the 2002 season...
, and were disbanded after the season. The Grays joined the league along with the Atlantic City Surf
Atlantic City Surf
The Atlantic City Surf were a professional baseball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Surf was most recently a member of the Can-Am League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
for 2007 to maintain an even number of teams, but were disbanded again following the year.
The team was last managed by Dan Shwam, who joined the Grays after a stint with the United Baseball League's Laredo Broncos
Laredo Broncos
The Laredo Broncos were a professional baseball team based in Laredo, Texas, in the United States. The Broncos are a member of United League Baseball, an independent professional league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
. Shwam had prior experience in the Can-Am League's predecessors, the Northeast League and Northern League East, managing the Mohawk Valley Land Sharks, Newburgh Night Hawks, Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
, and Catskill Cougars
Catskill Cougars
The Catskill Cougars were a minor-league baseball team based in the Mountaindale, New York; in Sullivan County's Catskill Mountains. The Cougars played in the North Atlantic League in 1996 and the Northeast League n/k/a the Can-Am League, from 1997-1998 and 2000...
. Shwam led the Pios to the 1997 Northeast League championship, and won a second championship in the Central Baseball League
Central Baseball League
The Central Baseball League, formerly the Texas-Louisiana League, was a minor league whose member teams were independent of any Major League Baseball affiliations.In 1991, potential owners, Dallas businessman Byron Pierce and U. S...
in 2003 with the Jackson Senators
Jackson Senators
The Jackson Senators was the name of at least two minor league baseball teams that played in Jackson, Mississippi.-First team:The first known Jackson Senators club competed in the Cotton States League before 1953...
.
The team played both home and away games but, since they were a traveling team with no home base, home games were played in the opposing team's stadium with the Grays batting last.
History
The Grays came into existence in April 2005, when the Can-Am League terminated the membership of the Bangor LumberjacksBangor Lumberjacks
The Bangor Lumberjacks were an independent minor league baseball team in the Northeast League that was based in Bangor, Maine. Prior to 2003, the Lumberjacks played in Glens Falls, New York and were known as the Adirondack Lumberjacks. The team moved to Maine following the 2002 season...
, who had said they did not have the resources to operate for the season. The team's roster at the time became the roster for the Grays (unlike the year before when the Aces
Northeast League Aces
The Northeast League Aces were a traveling team in the Northeast League in the 2004 season to replace the Allentown Ambassadors....
, who replaced the Allentown Ambassadors
Allentown Ambassadors
The Allentown Ambassadors were an independent baseball team that competed in the Northeast League and the Northern League from 1997 until 2003. They played their home games at Allentown, Pennsylvania's Bicentennial Park.- History :...
, were not able to keep their team intact), and Chris Carminucci was hired as their manager.
Playing in a 96 game split season, the Grays were competitive in the first half, finishing with an even 23-23 record and placing 7 games behind the front running Quebec Capitales
Quebec Capitales
The Québec Capitales are a professional baseball team based in Quebec City, in Canada. The Capitales are a member of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
. However, the bottom fell out in the second half, and the Grays finished with a 10-36 second half record, 19 games out of first place.
The Grays were disbanded in the 2005-2006 offseason, with part of its roster being absorbed by the expansion Sussex Skyhawks
Sussex Skyhawks
The Sussex Skyhawks were a professional baseball team that played at Skylands Park in Augusta, New Jersey. The team was part of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball, an independent minor baseball league also referred to as the Can-Am League, from their inaugural season in 2006...
. The Grays were one of two teams to fold that offseason (the Elmira Pioneers
Elmira Pioneers
The Elmira Pioneers are an amateur baseball team based in Elmira, New York. They currently compete in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, a wood bat collegiate summer baseball league. Prior to the 2006 baseball season, the team was a professional ballclub with a rich history of league...
was the other; Sussex and the Atlantic League's Nashua Pride
Nashua Pride
The Nashua Pride were a professional baseball team based in Nashua, New Hampshire, in the United States, not affiliated with Major League Baseball. They played home games at Holman Stadium from 1998 through 2008, when they were sold and renamed the American Defenders of New Hampshire. In 2010 that...
(now known as the Pittsfield Colonials) joined the league in their places).
Along with the Atlantic City Surf
Atlantic City Surf
The Atlantic City Surf were a professional baseball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Surf was most recently a member of the Can-Am League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, the Grays were part of the Can-Am League's expansion in 2007. The team failed once again to make the playoffs, and after the season the team joined the New Haven County Cutters
New Haven County Cutters
The New Haven County Cutters were an independent baseball team based in New Haven, Connecticut. From 2004 through 2007, it played in the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball , an independent league that is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or with the Minor League Baseball...
and North Shore Spirit
North Shore Spirit
The North Shore Spirit was a minor-league baseball team based in Lynn, Massachusetts from 2003 to 2007. The Spirit played in the Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball , an independent league that is not affiliated with Major League Baseball or with the Minor League Baseball...
in suspending operations and made their players available in a dispersal draft. The Grays did not return in 2009 despite further contraction of the Can-Am League which left an uneven amount of teams in the league.
2007 Can-Am Grays Roster
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Coaching Staff (Manager) (Coach)
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