New York Yankees AA Farm Club (Eastern League)
Welcome Yankee Fans!
I am pleased that once again the Albany-Colonie Yankees will be our Double-A affiliate this season. The team has served as a model franchise in the Eastern League throughout our affiliation with Ben Bernard and the Yankees, and I am looking forward to continuing that fine relationship.
The Albany area has long been a strong supporter of the New York Yankees, and that was especially evident the past few years by the largest turnout at Heritage Park. We are happy to provide fans in the Capital District the opportunity to see firsthand some of the players who shortly will be playing in Yankee Stadium.
We are planning to send you a representative team, one that should make a strong effort to regain the Eastern League Pennant that the Yankees won two season ago. Manager Tommy Jones and coaches Bill Monbouquette and Jerry McNertney comprise a fine staff to lead the Yankees back to that level of success.
Hope to see you at both Heritage Park and at Yankee Stadium this season.
Sincerely,
George Steinbrenner [Principal Owner]
Dear Fans:
The Eastern League celebrates its 65th season of continuing play in 1987. That is a tribute to baseball fans in the northeast, a group which includes the Albany rooters who have meant so much to the league in the past, and now, here in the present.
During the past four season, over one million fans have been treated to the fun and excitement that is a nightly occurrence at Heritage Park. The 1987 season promises to be just as exciting. Will the Yankees win the EL title? Which players will make it to the major leagues? No one knows right now, but it will be fun coming out to Heritage Park this year to find out.
Best of luck in 1987.
Sincerely,
Charles Esbach [Eastern League President]
BEN BERNARD (Owner)
"This is Ben Bernard's fifth anniversary since bringing professional baseball back to the Capital District. Once an aspiring pitcher himself until an injury ended that dream, Ben is realizing a dream come true with the ownership of his own baseball franchise. Being a Yankee fan doesn't hurt either, as this will be the New York Yankees' third season as an affiliate with Albany-Colonie.
Actually, this is Ben's eighth professional season, starting as a promotion man for the then Glens Falls White Sox in 1980. He has won a host of awards including Eastern League Executive of the Year three times, and in 1985 he was named the Sporting News Double A Executive of the Year. Many times it has been said that Ben Bernard runs of the best franchises in baseball.
Promotion is one of Ben's strongest achievements. He feels that promotion is the key to the success or failure of a minor league franchise, and if you look at our promotion calendar you'll see what he means.
Last season the A-C Yanks drew a league record 324,003 and Ben feels '1987 should be another record-setting year for the franchise.' Ben realizes that baseball is a family sport, and this is ever in his thinking of ideas for good family entertainment at Heritage Park.
He is extremely proud of his 1985 ballclub, with Bob Tewksbury, Phil Lombardi, Brad Arnsberg, Scott Nielsen and Doug Drabek all making the major leagues. Ben says, 'This reflects back on the franchise as fans can see their local heroes go on to greater heights in the majors.' He is quick to point out that the opponents that come to Heritage Park to play in the warm weather months also have many future major leaguers and as a fan it's fun to watch them progress, too.
For 1987 Ben says 'the sky is the limit' when it comes to bringing good entertainment for the area baseball fan, and he is 'committed' to bring it to you."
-1987 Season Albany Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
1987 ALBANY-COLONIE YANKEES DIRECTORY
Team Physician - Dr. Carl Wirth
Heritage Park Administrator - Gary Holle
Vice-President, Public Relations - Rip Rowan
Assistant Park Administrator - Ralph Andrews
Marketing - Paula Segal
Vice-President, Sales - Steve Bernard
Editor Sportsbeat - Jim Connell
Team Photographer - Fritz Walker
Intern - Randy Weiss
Office Administrator - Barbara Tholl
Grounds Crew - Dave Bearey
Group Sales - Steve Miller
Head Groundskeeper - John Liburdi
Message Board - Felicia Trifaro
1987 Albany-Colonie Yankees Advisory Committee
Bishop Howard Hubbard (Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany)
John Strachan (Pepsi Cola)
Steve Fahey (Pepsi Cola)
Gary Lansing (Marine Midland)
William Keis (Keis Distributors)
Doug Alix (Genessee Brewing Co.)
Walter Otto (Otto Oldsmobile-Cadillac-Isuzu)
Frank Staucett (Provident Mutual)
Salvadore DiCarlo (September's)
Robert Unger (Pyramid-Crossgates Mall Corp.)
Randy Wall (Piedmont Airlines)
Mike Tyson (Heavyweight Champ)
BOB BARKER (Trainer)
"The 1987 Albany-Colonie Yankee trainer is a native of New York State. Bob Barker was raised in McGraw, New York. If that name sounds familiar to baseball fans, it should. The town was named after the late Hall of Famer John McGraw.
Barker is a graduate of SUNY Cortland with a degree in physical education concentrating on sports medicine. He is certified by the National Athletic Trainers Association.
Bob Barker finds the 'price is right' (pardon our pun) with the Yankee organization; this is his fourth year within the system.
He enjoys golf, basketball and many other activities away from the training room, and says he's happy to be in the Albany-Colonie area this season. During the off-season Barker works at the Wellness Center at Lee Memorial Hospital in Ft. Myers, Florida."
-1987 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
SENIOR CITIZENS DAYS
"The Albany-Colonie Yankees are happy to announce that once again ten home dates have been designated as SENIOR CITIZENS DAYS during the 1987 Eastern League season at Heritage Park.
Senior Citizens 60 years of age or older will be admitted for $1.00. In addition, if you bring the grandchildren or any youngster with you, age 16 and younger, they also get in for a dollar."
-1987 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
BOB FELLER
"On Monday, July 6 Bob Feller will be making a special guest appearance here at Heritage Park. He was signed by the Cleveland Indians in July 1935 at the age of 16. Opening Day at Chicago in 1940, Bob pitched his first of three no-hitters, the only no-hitter pitched on Opening Day in major league history.
In 1946 he set a major league record for the most strikeouts in one season, 348, [while] leading the American League for seven years. Bob is the only pitcher in major league history to win 20 games or more before age 21.
Bob was voted Indians Man of the Year twice and played on nine All-Star teams while also participating in two World Series (1948 and 1954). Overall, he won 266 games while only losing 162, leading the American League in victories on six different occasions. He compiled a career record of 2,581 strikeouts
In 1962 he was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame, and in July 1969 was selected as the Greatest Living Right-Handed Pitcher."
-1987 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
MAX PATKIN
"You would like to think when a man got to the age of 67 he would slow down. Max Patkin doesn't have that word in his vocabulary, and you will see why on Tuesday, August 4 at 7:30 PM when the 'Clown Prince of Baseball' returns to Heritage Park to entertain you, and rattle the New Britain Red Sox.
Max had his dream of becoming a major leaguer end with an elbow injury in the minor leagues. So Max took his rubber face antics on the road in the 1940's and hasn't stopped since.
Max will entertain you all night as the opponents and umpires alike will get harassed by the guy who is described as 'the world's biggest hunk of bubblegum.'"
1987 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
1987 ALBANY-COLONIE YANKEES PROGRAM/YEARBOOK PORTRAIT PHOTOS
Brian Butterfield (Coach)
Chris Alvarez (3B)
Brent Blum (P)
Carson Carroll (2B)
Gary Cathcart (OF)
Casey Close (OF)
Steve George (P)
Bob Geren (C)
Fredi Gonzalez (C)
Mo Guercio (P)
Matt Harrison (P)
Ted Higgins (OF)
Jim Howard (IF)
Jeff Knox (P)
Tim Layana (P)
Hal Morris (1B)
Jeff Pries (P)
Darren Reed (OF)
Steve Rosenberg (P)
Tony Russell (OF)
Dick Scott (2B)
Rich Thompson (P)
Randy Velardi (SS)
GUIDRY WITH A-C YANKEES
"They were standing in the aisles. And on the walkways. And in the grandstand. And, finally, when the 14, 491 were more than Heritage Park seating could accommodate, they stood on the warning track in the outfield.
The appearance of New York Yankees left-hander Ron Guidry was the reason for the overflow crowd at Heritage that July night, as both baseball fans in general and New York Yankees fans, in particular, came to see the veteran work three innings in a rehabilitation stint.
Guidry gave up only one hit- a RBI double to former Albany-Colonie A's catcher Mike Ashman- and struck out three in his work against the Nashua Pirates. And he allowed the local fans to get a close-up look at a major leaguer.
'That was the nicest ovation I ever got from 12,000 people,' Guidry said of the tremendous response he got when he emerged from the Yankee clubhouse to begin his work. He earned praise from both his teammates (for a day) and the opposition.
'It was quite an honor, quite an experience,' said Albany-Colonie catcher Mitch Lyden, Guidry's batterymate in his first minor league game in nearly 10 years.
'He came out and acted like a professional,' praised Nashua manager Dennis Rogers. 'He went after our hitters, even though they are just Double-A players. And he's a successful major league pitcher.'
Guidry's appearance drew the largest crowd for a baseball game to Heritage Park, better than 2,000 more than had come to a game against Waterbury in July 1983, the first week the park was open.
'This was a very big night for us, and a very big night for the sports fans of the Capital District,' said Albany-Colonie owner Ben Bernard. 'Not only did it give area fans a chance to see a great major league pitcher, it also proved that they will come to see a first-class sporting event.'
Guidry's presence seemed to bring out the best in the Yankees. They scored five runs in the first inning and led by a 5-1 margin when Guidry left.
Guidry, limited to 50 pitches in his first outing after suffering a cut on his pitching hand three weeks earlier on a line drive off the bat of Lance Parrish, used nearly half of his allotment in the first inning. He gave up a run that inning but then got into a rhythm. He retired the Bucs on 11 pitches in the second inning, including one four-pitch walk. In his third and final inning, he got the side in order.
'I threw mostly what I throw in games, the fastball and slider, and they worked most of the time,' Guidry said. 'I was happy to throw strikes and be around the plate that much. When you can do that, you know you're not too far off.'
The night ended for Guidry after a mass interview in the Yankees' clubhouse, a situation he handled with class. He had one last obstacle to overcome as he left the park. A huge throng of well-wishers had gathered near his car, wanting one last look at the major leaguer.
And when Guidry finally drove away, headed back to New York City and Yankee Stadium, he left the local fans with memories they would treasure."
-1987 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
ALBANY-COLONIE MAJOR LEAGUE LIST GROWS
"Everybody likes to win, especially the late Vince Lombardi who once said 'winning isn't everything, it's the only thing.' And I guess at his level it was. But in the minor leagues the idea, when you get down to the nitty-gritty, is to develop talent for the majors. The Albany-Colonie franchise has certainly done that. Four members of the 1986 A-C Yankees made the New York winter roster and a fifth traded away (Carlos Martinez) was with the Chicago White Sox. In 1986 Keith Hughes, Roberto Kelly, Logan Easley and Mitch Lyden did well enough for a look-see. Easley was traded to Pittsburgh where he was being counted on to provide help in their major league bullpen.
1986 was also a moving-up year for members of the 1985 A-C Yankee squad. Bob Tewksbury became a big league pitcher right out of spring training and posted a fine 9-5 record with an ERA of 3.31 with New York. Catcher Phil Lombardi had two stints with the big club in '86. He ended up hitting .278 for New York in 20 games with a couple of homers and showed progress not only behind the plate but in the outfield as well. Doug Drabek had a 7-8 record with New York but he too was traded to Pittsburgh during the off-season. Scotty Nielsen was 4-4 with the Yanks and he too was traded, to the Philadelphia Phillies. Brad Arnsberg pitched briefly in New York.
Still, with the grads, catcher Mickey Tettleton from the Albany-Colonie A's part of the franchise, won the starting job with Oakland and hit ten homers. But his season was marred by a long nagging injury that kept him out of many games. Infielder Tim Pyznarski was the MVP of the Pacific Coast League and then made the San Diego Padres the final month, only to be traded to the Milwaukee organization. Pyznarski hit 29 homers for Albany-Colonie in 1983, a club mark that still stands (since the revival of the franchise). Relief pitcher Steve Ontiveros was a key reliever for Oakland in 1986. Infielder Luis Quinones, the first player to go from the Albany-Colonie franchise to the majors, was traded back to Oakland from San Francisco and during the off-season was traded to the Chicago Cubs for Ron Cey.
Former A's second baseman Mike Woodward also was with the Giants for much of the season and catcher Charlie O'Brien was on the Milwaukee roster. The Eastern was once called 'the gateway to the big leagues' and that seems to be still true around Heritage Park."
-Rip Rowan, 1987 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
HAZEL CHORNYAK MEMORIAL AWARD
"The third annual Hazel Chornyak Memorial Award was presented to Yankee outfielder Keith Hughes in 1986.
The award, named in honor of Ben Bernard's aunt, is given to the Albany-Colonie player who is the most inspirational to his teammates. When Ben sought a franchise for this area, his late aunt helped him get the wheels in motion and has been an inspiration to him in his baseball career."
-1987 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
MEET THE PRESS
Jim Brennan (WRGB-TV)
Bob McNamara (WNYT-TV)
John Thomas (WGY)
John Graney (WQBK)
Richard Hill (WROW)
Sandy Taylor (WHRL)
Bill Edwardson (WABY)
Bill Palmer (Schenectady Gazette)
Paul Schwartz (Capital Newspapers)
Tim Wilkin (Capital Newspapers)
David Allan (Metroland WABY)
Steve Amedio (Record Newspapers)
Chris Martin (WMVI)
Steve Shapiro (WTEN-TV)
Bob Gordon (WABY)
Steve Hart (South End Scene)
YANKEE BROADCASTS
"1987 marks a new era in Albany-Colonie Yankee baseball broadcasts. WABY Radio, 1400 AM, will be the new Yankee station, carrying home and away games Monday through Friday for the entire season.
This season our broadcaster will be Jack LeFaivre who comes to us from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Jack is an Albany native who has been working at WXII-TV in Winston-Salem as a sports anchor/reporter. He was one of the final three in the running earlier this year for the broadcast job with the Baltimore Orioles. LeFaivre is an accomplished broadcaster and play-by-play man, he knows his game and is a true professional. He has had a lifelong attachment to the New York Yankees as a fan and is excited with the challenge this season. Jack has done play-by-play for the Charlotte Orioles of the Southern League and Winston-Salem of the Carolina League.
WABY is the oldest of the Albany radio stations, with a long history of broadcasting sports. We welcome them to the Yankee family."
-1987 Season Albany-Colonie Yankees Official Program/Yearbook
ADVERTISEMENTS
-A to Z Rental Center: Everything You Need to Make Your Wedding a Memorable One
-Affordable Autos: Quality Pre-Owned Cars & Trucks
-Airpage: We're known by the companies we BEEP.
-Albany-Colonie Yankee Group Sales Office: Non-Profit Groups and Organizations
-Albany Patroons Professional Basketball: Best Of Luck Yankees
-Albany Savings Bank: We're more than a bank.
-Altamont Fair: New York State's Capital Region Hometown Fair
-Avis: Cars You Can Trust
-B & D Paint & Wallpaper: Best of luck for a good season!
-The Barnsider
-Barry, Bette & Led Duke: Contractors, Engineers, Construction Management. We build better.
-Barry S. Scott Insurance Agency: No Turndowns
-Baseball America: For Baseball News You Can't Get Anywhere Else
-Big Dom's: Stop by after the game. Enjoy a sub.
-Bob & Ron's Fish Fry: Fried Seafood Our Specialty
-Caddyshack Driving Range
-Campbell Kids Night: Free Admission for Kids 14 and Under with 5 Campbell's Soup Labels
-Capital District Dairy: Milk and Dairy Products For You
-Carvel: America's Freshest Ice Cream
-Castle Computers: The Full Service Computer Center
-Central Business Equipment
-Charlie Sez' Yankee Dodge: A Full-Service Dealership
-Chase Lincoln First: We cover all your financial bases.
-Cohoes: Worth a Trip from Anywhere
-Colonie Athletic Club: Build a Great Body
-Communications Workers of America Local No. 1121: A Community-Minded Union
-Coors
-Coulson's: Albany's Original Convenience Store
-Council 82 Security and Law Enforcement Employees: From one winning team to another ... Go Albany-Colonie Yankees in '87.
-Cramer's Armory: Softball-Baseball, Uniforms & Equipment
-Crossgates Mall
-Davies Office Refurbishing: The New Look ... Without the New Cost!
-DePaula Chevrolet: The World's Greatest Car Dealer
-Driftwood Beauty Lounge (and Tanning Hut)
-Dunkin' Donuts: It's worth the trip.
-Dunne-Burke Insurance
-Eastern League of Professional Baseball Clubs
-Ehrlich Auto Parts: Serving The Capital Region
-Ellie Mae's Country Fixins': Hospitality ... Country Style!
-Empire Auto Radiator: Don't see red ... let EMPIRE AUTO RADIATOR give you a FREE cooling system checkup instead.
-Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield
-Empire Limousine: Unique Upstate Luxury - Yet Affordable!
-Executive Cleaning Services: Specialists in Office and Industrial Cleaning
-Fay's Drugs (3 Quality Photo Finishing Choices!): Capture the moment.
-First American Bank of New York: We'll not only help you get to 1st base ... we'll help you make a home run!
-Freihofer's: Always as good as you remember.
-French's: Gametime ... Anytime
-Geier & Bluhm, Inc.: Authorized Service & Repairs
-Genesee Beer: Taste the great outdoors.
-Gentile's: Quality Carpets & Vinyl Flooring
-Getty: More Miles For Your Money
-G.J. Cramer Associates Corp.: Commercial-Industrial-Residential
-Grandma's Country Restaurant: Famous For Good Old-Fashioned Home Cookin'
-Green Mountain: Get on a winning track!
-Hedley Cadillac-Oldsmobile and Hedley Limousine Service
-Hoffman's Playland: Capitaland's Family Fun Park
-Home & City Savings Bank: Your Financial Partner
-Howard Johnson: A good deal. And a good deal more.
-Hudson Valley Paper Company: For Your Information
-Joseph F. DiBella (Business and Personal Insurance Planning)
-K & K Taping: Quality Work At A Quality Price
-KLite 101 FM: Only hits, no errors.
-The Lamp Post: Featuring Daily Luncheon Specials
-The Langan Group: A Total Transportation Company
-Lazare Lincoln-Mercury: The Capital Leader in Sales and Service
-Lexington Grill: Before and after the game join today's action crowd at the Lexington Grill.
-Liberty: Coal-Ice-Oil-Kerosene-Soda-Dry Ice-Charcoal Products
-Lighting by Burke-Ross
-Lite Beer: "Everyone I know drinks Miller Lite. And if they don't, I probably don't know them." -Yogi Berra
-Lobster Pound Restaurant: Serving the finest seafood and the finest steak for over 25 years.
-Long Oil Heat Inc.: A Warm-up Your Home Team Will Love
-The Lookout Inn: Come over after the game and enjoy!
-Loyal Supply Corporation
-Luigi's: Italian American Restaurant
-Main-Care: The energy experts with the most home runs for Tri-City service.
-Manufacturers Hanover: The Financial Source
-Metroland: The News & Arts Weekly of the Capital Region
-Mill Road Acres: For lunch and dinner, banquets and catering. Open year round.
-Mohawk Honda: The i's have it. And have we got i's for you.
-Mohawk Paper Mills: When You Want to Look Good on Paper
-Mr. B's Best: Hungry? After the game, visit one of our area locations for submarines, pizza or roast beef sandwiches. They're always the best ... it's what you deserve!
-NAPA Auto Parts: We've got the part you need.
-Mr. Subb: Convenient Locations Throughout The Capital District
-National Car Rental: You deserve National attention.
-Nemith Lincoln-Mercury-Nissan-Volvo: One Mile North of the Latham Circle
-Norstar Auto Lease
-Norstar Bank
-Orange Motors: The Lifetime Service Guarantee ... a reflection of our confidence!
-The Orchard: Tavern & Restaurant
-OTB Teleplex: Wager on live televised horse racing and enjoy fine food in a clubhouse of excitement!
-Otto: Otto-Isuzu. The official vehicle of the Albany-Colonie Yankees.
-Owens Corning Fiberglas
-Peat Marwick: Providing Audit, Tax and Management Consulting Services to the Capital District for Over 30 Years
-Pepsi: Fielder's Choice
-Piedmont: Piedmont. The airline for all seasons.
-Price Chopper: You know you're doing better.
-Professional Business Forms: Leave it to ... THE PROFESSIONALS.
-The Professional Golfers' Association of America: Good Luck, Yankees!
-Quick Lube: The 10 Minute Oil Specialists
-R. Kelly Freedman & Son, Inc.: Kelly for Scrap
-Ralph's Restaurant & Tavern
-Raymond A. Kelly, Jr., Trial Lawyer
-Revere Lanes
-Rosano's Hardware, Inc.
-Roy Matthews: TV-Video-Stereo-Microwave Appliance
-Sabatino's Liquor Store: Stop by and see Philly.
-Say It With Balloons!: Capitaland's Original Fun Service
-Schenectady Gazette: Not Just Another Newspaper ... Distinctly Different
-Schenectady Trust: The Capital Region's Home Town Bank
-Semco: A good printing job, like a good sandwich, takes the right ingredients.
-September's: The Albany-Colonie Yankees are #1 in baseball. September's is #1 in live entertainment nightly.
-Shaker Lumber and Hardware: Be sure to visit our new, expanded location.
-Spector's: Well Suited For Capitaland's Executives
-Sperry Supply & Warehouse, Inc.
-Sportbeat
-Standard Commercial Interiors: This office brings people and ideas together.
-Star Supermarkets: 8 Convenient Locations
-Street Agency: The "Ripper" [Rip Rowan] says: When you think of health & life insurance or financial services think ... STREET AGENCY.
-Sunshine Chemical & Supply Co.: Industrial Chemical & Cleaning Supplies
-Taylor Made Awnings: Always A Shade Better
-Ted's Fish Fry: An Ocean of Flavor
-The Times Record: Monday is marvelous for sports news!
-Tobin's First Prize: The official frank of the Albany-Colonie Yankees.
-Tri-City Food Specialties, Inc.: Finish first ... sell the snacks they love.
-Tri-City Luggage: We make a strong case for business gifts.
-The Trolley: Enjoy a Trolley dinner and save.
-Turf Inn: The Fine Art of Eating
-Vageline & Carman: Excellent Service At A Fair Price For All Your Insurance Needs
-WABY: The all-time all-stars play on WABY.
-Wallace Armer (Hardware and Homecenter Stores, Incorporated): We'll go the extra inning for you!
-Want Ad Digest: Buyer's and Seller's Handbook
-Watkins Spring Co.: Auto, Truck, Bus Parts
-Whitehurst Press: Quickly, Neatly, Cheaply.
-Woodside Dorp Travel: We meet all your travel needs. Official Travel Agency of the Albany-Colonie Yankees
-WROW AM59: The Only Place to Hear the New York Yankees
-Yankees Magazine: Next Stop ... The Top!
-Ye Ole Locksmith Shoppe: Emergency Service - Anyday Any Hour
-Zing-a-Gram: Singing Telegrams
No comments:
Post a Comment