Auburn made its debut in the New York-Pennsylvania Baseball Class-A League 47 years ago as a farm club of the New York Yankees.
The home opener at Falcon Park was played on Sunday afternoon, April 27, 1958 against the Geneva Redlegs.
There were many crucial and exciting moments leading up to the home opener. The first big project was to organize a board of directors and elect officers.
Edward Ward, a well-known local businessman, became the first president of the Auburn Community-Owned, Non-Profit Baseball Association. Also named to the board were Dr. Thomas D. Stapleton, Vincent M. Klein, William Graney Jr., Barney Hearn, Jack Procino, Charles Dunningan, myself, George Iocalano, Dr. Thomas DeFurio, Alfred G. Crowley, Carmen Bertonica, Frank Piorkowski, Jake Renahan and Raymond Riordan.
Klein was appointed to head up a door-to-door stock sale. He was assisted by John Mohan, Dunnigan, Crowley and DeFurio.
The drive covered three weekends and stock was sold for as little as a dollar a share. It was a huge success, with $8,300 raised to help with the promotion of the opening game.
Another major project took place on the eve of the home opener when more than 100 volunteers, under Stapleton's supervision, appeared at the ball park to help prepare the infield. Falcon Park was a microd track before Auburn obtained a baseball franchise. Workers with rakes, shovels and their hands gathered up loads of loose stones and chunks of dirt off the infield.
The NY-P opened officially on Saturday, April 26 and Auburn played against close rival Geneva at Shuron Park before 970 fans.
The Baby Yankees blanked the Redlegs 3-0 behind the four-hit pitching of 18-year-old Roger Hackett. The rookie right-hander also drove in two of his team's runs.
A parade through downtown on Saturday morning with high school bands and many civic groups was followed by a luncheon at the Auburn Inn where manager Tommy Gott introduced his Auburn Yankees.
Despite football-like weather, a record crowd of 3,148 fans filled Falcon Park for the debut.
Fans were dressed in fur coats and decked out in blankets, but the 40-degree temperature failed to hamper their spirits and enthusiasm.
Mayor Herbert T. Anderson threw out the first ball and city manager George F. Train was his batterymate. Trying to hit Anderson's curveball was Allen Ames, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Umpiring the initial pitch was Vincent.
The game was a slugfest with Auburn on top, 10-8.
Southpaw Charlie Reidell was the winning pitcher, and he was given an early lead on a home run from outfielder Bud Zipfel with a mate aboard in the second inning. The Yankees never trailed.
Procino was chairman of the opener and Renahan was chairman of the ticket committee.
The color guard from the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1975 raised the flag, which the post donated, to start the game ceremonies. John Patrick, a professional singer who was visiting in Auburn, sang the National Anthem.
League president Vince MacNamara announced that Auburn's attendance (3,148) was the largest in the league for opening day.
Pinckney is a former sports editor
for The Citizen
There were many crucial and exciting moments leading up to the home opener. The first big project was to organize a board of directors and elect officers.
Edward Ward, a well-known local businessman, became the first president of the Auburn Community-Owned, Non-Profit Baseball Association. Also named to the board were Dr. Thomas D. Stapleton, Vincent M. Klein, William Graney Jr., Barney Hearn, Jack Procino, Charles Dunningan, myself, George Iocalano, Dr. Thomas DeFurio, Alfred G. Crowley, Carmen Bertonica, Frank Piorkowski, Jake Renahan and Raymond Riordan.
Klein was appointed to head up a door-to-door stock sale. He was assisted by John Mohan, Dunnigan, Crowley and DeFurio.
The drive covered three weekends and stock was sold for as little as a dollar a share. It was a huge success, with $8,300 raised to help with the promotion of the opening game.
Another major project took place on the eve of the home opener when more than 100 volunteers, under Stapleton's supervision, appeared at the ball park to help prepare the infield. Falcon Park was a microd track before Auburn obtained a baseball franchise. Workers with rakes, shovels and their hands gathered up loads of loose stones and chunks of dirt off the infield.
The NY-P opened officially on Saturday, April 26 and Auburn played against close rival Geneva at Shuron Park before 970 fans.
The Baby Yankees blanked the Redlegs 3-0 behind the four-hit pitching of 18-year-old Roger Hackett. The rookie right-hander also drove in two of his team's runs.
A parade through downtown on Saturday morning with high school bands and many civic groups was followed by a luncheon at the Auburn Inn where manager Tommy Gott introduced his Auburn Yankees.
Despite football-like weather, a record crowd of 3,148 fans filled Falcon Park for the debut.
Fans were dressed in fur coats and decked out in blankets, but the 40-degree temperature failed to hamper their spirits and enthusiasm.
Mayor Herbert T. Anderson threw out the first ball and city manager George F. Train was his batterymate. Trying to hit Anderson's curveball was Allen Ames, chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Umpiring the initial pitch was Vincent.
The game was a slugfest with Auburn on top, 10-8.
Southpaw Charlie Reidell was the winning pitcher, and he was given an early lead on a home run from outfielder Bud Zipfel with a mate aboard in the second inning. The Yankees never trailed.
Procino was chairman of the opener and Renahan was chairman of the ticket committee.
The color guard from the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 1975 raised the flag, which the post donated, to start the game ceremonies. John Patrick, a professional singer who was visiting in Auburn, sang the National Anthem.
League president Vince MacNamara announced that Auburn's attendance (3,148) was the largest in the league for opening day.
Pinckney is a former sports editor
for The Citizen
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