Wellsville Red Sox

(Redirected from Wellsville Rockets)

The Wellsville Red Sox were a minor league baseball team, based in Wellsville, New York. The team played in the Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League, which is still in existence as the New York–Penn League.

Wellsville Red Sox
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes
  • Class A (1963–1965)
  • Class D (1942–1962)
Previous leagues
Major league affiliations
Previous teams
Minor league titles
League titles 4 (1943, 1956, 1959, 1960)
Team data
Previous names
  • Wellsville Red Sox (1963–1965)
  • Wellsville Braves (1953–1961)
  • Wellsville Rockets (1951–1952)
  • Wellsville Senators (1950)
  • Wellsville Nitros (1947–1949)
  • Wellsville Yankees (1942–1946)
Previous parks
Tuller Field

History

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The team began as the Wellsville Yankees, a class C affiliate of the New York Yankees from 1942 through 1946. In 1943, the team won its first league title. After the 1946 season the Yankees ended their affiliation and were replaced by the Boston Red Sox and the team was renamed the Wellsville Nitros. The Nitros were kept their affiliation with Boston until 1949. However, for the 1949 season, the club continued to play as the Nitros.

In 1950 the Nitros changed their name to the Wellsville Senators when they became a farm team of the Charlotte Hornets in the Washington Senators' farm system. The team became the independent Wellsville Rockets in 1951 when their one-year affiliation with the Senators ended. In 1952, the Rockets were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns, before becoming the Wellsville Braves, an affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves. During their time as the Braves the team, won 3 league titles; in 1956, 1959 and 1960. In 1963 the team once again became an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and took up the Wellsville Red Sox name. In 1966, the Red Sox moved the team from Wellsville to Oneonta, New York, under the ownership of Sam Nader the team became the Oneonta Red Sox. The club played in Oneonta until 2010, when they were relocated to Norwich, Connecticut, and continue to play as the Connecticut Tigers.

Year-by-year record

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Year Record Finish Manager Notes
1942 65-60 T4th Walt VanGrofski Lost 1 game playoff for 4th place
1943 58-51 3rd Herb Brett & Sol Mishkin League champs
1944 51-73 7th Sol Mishkin
1945 57-68 5th Bob Crow & Sol Mishkin
1946 52-72 6th Joe Abreu
1947 64-59 4th Tom Carey Lost in 1st round
1948 60-64 6th Tom Carey
1949 45-81 7th Tom Kister & Jimmy Wasdell
1950 50-75 7th Jimmy Wasdell & Bill Mongiello
1951 53-73 6th Walt VanGrofski
1952 36-89 8th Gene Crumling & Rocco Sgro
1953 59-67 6th Ted Sepkowski
1954 69-56 3rd Ted Sepkowski Lost in 1st round
1955 68-58 4th Alex Monchak Lost in 1st round
1956 74-46 1st Alex Monchak League Champs
1957 74-43 1st Alex Monchak Lost in 1st round
1958 70-56 1st Harry Minor Lost League Finals
1959 80-46 1st Harry Minor League Champs
1960 69-60 2nd Harry Minor League Champs
1961 55-71 7th Bill Steinecke
1963 73-57 2nd Bill Slack & Matt Sczesny Lost in 1st round
1964 70-60 3rd Larry Thomas
1965 62-64 4th Matt Sczesny

Notable alumni

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Hall of Fame alumni

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Notable alumni

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References

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