Auburn Doubledays

The Auburn Doubledays are a collegiate summer baseball team of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) that is located in Auburn, New York. From 1958 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL). They have played their home games at Leo Pinckney Field at Falcon Park since 1995. They previously played at the original Falcon Park, which was built in 1927 on the same site. The team is owned and operated by Auburn Community Baseball.

Auburn began in the NYPL in 1958 and has since competed under various names and served as the farm team for a number of Major League Baseball teams. The Doubledays and its mascot, Abner, are named for Abner Doubleday, the Civil War general and Auburn native apocryphally credited with inventing the game of baseball. Abner wears number 96 in honor of the birth of the team in 1996. With Major League Baseball's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, Auburn was not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. The city and the team's ownership group are exploring options such as independent baseball or collegiate summer baseball for 2021. Eventually they signed a deal to become members of the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) starting in 2021 season.

History

Early championship era

In 1958, the Auburn New York–Penn League franchise was founded as the Auburn Yankees, as an affiliate of the New York Yankees. The Yankees affiliation lasted until 1961. The club included future Major League Baseball All-Stars Jim Bouton, Joe Pepitone, and Mel Stottlemyre. The team then became affiliated with the New York Mets, as the Auburn Mets. With a roster that included Billy Wynne, Don Shaw, Tug McGraw, and Jerry Koosman, the club won the league championship three times: in 1962, 1964, and 1966.

In 1967, the club changed its affiliation to the Minnesota Twins and became the Auburn Twins. The Twins won NYPL title in 1967 and 1970.

In 1972, the team was renamed the Auburn Phillies after associating with the Philadelphia Phillies. In 1973, under manager Harry Lloyd, the team won league championship. Future major leaguers Luis Aguayo, Randy Lerch, Dickie Noles, Lonnie Smith, and Ozzie Virgil, among numerous others, played for the team. Managers of note included Mike Compton and Ruben Amaro.

Co-op seasons

In 1978, the team became the Auburn Sunsets and were co-operated by the Phillies and Houston Astros. Managed by Dick Rockwell, the team went achieved a 32–40 record, finishing third in the league's Yawkey Division. The team featured future major league players Carmelo Castillo and Alejandro Sanchez and future major league general manager Dave Littlefield.

In 1979 the club became known as the Auburn Red Stars. The team featured future MLB player Doug Frobel. The Red Stars operated under a co-operative agreement. The Red Stars received players from seven different major league organizations, led by the Detroit Tigers, with seven players, and Cleveland Indians, with five.

In 1980, the Red Stars changed their name to the Auburn Americans. The team once again operated as a co-op and received 17 players from the Cleveland Indians and several from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The squad featured future MLB player Jack Fimple and finished fourth in the New York–Penn League's West Division with a 29–45 record.

Astros era

Auburn returned to play in the New York–Penn League in 1982 with the Auburn Astros as an affiliate of the Houston Astros.

In 1991, with John H. Graham as general manager, the team set the all-time attendance record at Falcon Park.

Doubledays

The team was renamed the Auburn Doubledays before the 1996 season and has operated under that name since.

In 1998, the Doubledays and the Oneonta Yankees were named co-champions of the New York–Penn League after Central New York was hit with a torrential rain storm and the fields at both parks were deemed unplayable.

Under the management of Dennis Holmberg, the Doubledays won the Pinckney Division title for six straight years in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, but failed to win the league championship for the first five of those years. After losing in the first round of the playoffs for the first three years of their streak, they advanced to the New York–Penn League championship series before being swept by the Staten Island Yankees. In 2003, the Doubledays led all of baseball in winning percentage (.757).

The Doubledays finally won the NYPL title in 2007, sweeping the Brooklyn Cyclones in the league championship series. The final game featured a stellar pitching performance by Brett Cecil and a home run by J. P. Arencibia. This was the first league championship for the city of Auburn since 1973.

After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The Doubledays were not among the four teams invited to remain as full-season affiliates of the Washington Nationals, with whom they had been affiliated since 2011. The city and the team's ownership group are exploring options such as independent baseball or collegiate summer baseball for 2021.

Season-by-season results

Playoffs

*1968 season: Defeated Williamsport, 1–0, in semifinals; lost to Oneonta, 1–0, in championship.
*1978 season: Lost to Geneva, 2–0, in championship.
*1985 season: Defeated Jamestown, 1–0, in semifinals; lost to Oneonta, 2–0, in championship.
*1986 season: Lost to St. Catharines, 1–0, in semifinals.
*1994 season: Defeated Watertown, 2–0, in semifinals; lost to New Jersey, 2–0, in championship.
*1998 season: Defeated Batavia, 2–0, in semifinals; declared co–champions with Oneonta (series rained out).
*2002 season: Lost to Oneonta, 2–0, in semifinals.
*2003 season: Lost to Williamsport, 2–0, in semifinals.
*2004 season: Lost to Mahoning Valley, 2–0, in semifinals.
*2005 season: Defeated Oneonta, 2–0, in semifinals; lost to Staten Island, 2–0, in championship.
*2006 season: Lost to Tri-City, 2–1, in semifinals.
*2007 season: Defeated Oneonta, 2–1, in semifinals; defeated Brooklyn, 2–0, to win championship.
*2011 season: Defeated Vermont, 2–1, in semifinals; lost to Staten Island, 2–0, in championship.
*2012 season: Lost to Tri-City, 2–1, in semifinals.
*2018 season: Lost to Hudson Valley Renegades 2–0, in semifinals.
* 2021 season: Defeated Utica 7-0, in quarterfinals; lost to Amsterdam 7-1, in semifinals.

Roster

Alumni

Notable Auburn Astros players

* Troy Afenir, 1983
* Mark Bailey, 1982
* Jeff Ball, 1990
* Ramón Castro, 1995
* Gary Cooper, 1986
* Jeff Datz, 1982, 1984
* Cameron Drew, 1985
* John Fishel, 1985
* Tom Funk, 1983
* Luis Gonzalez, 1988
* Jason Green, 1995
* Mike Grzanich, 1993
* John Halama, 1994
* Dean Hartgraves, 1987
* Chris Hatcher, 1990
* Randy Hennis, 1987
* Chris Holt, 1992
* Trent Hubbard, 1986
* Blaise Ilsley, 1985
* Chuck Jackson, 1984
* Todd Jones, 1989
* Kenny Lofton, 1988, 1989
* Julio Lugo, 1995
* Rob Mallicoat, 1984
* Dave Meads, 1984
* Brian Meyer, 1986
* Ray Montgomery, 1990
* Andy Mota, 1987, 1988
* James Mouton, 1991
* Bryant Nelson, 1994
* Al Osuna, 1987
* Shane Reynolds, 1989
* Oscar Robles, 1995
* Dave Rohde, 1986
* Sean Runyan, 1994
* Roger Samuels, 1983
* Brian Sikorski, 1995
* Mark Small, 1989
* Chris Truby, 1994
* Billy Wagner, 1993
* Jamie Walker, 1992
* Donne Wall, 1989
* Dan Walters, 1985
* Terry Wells, 1985
* Ed Whited, 1986
* Brian Williams, 1990
*Rhett Wiseman, 1983

Other notable Auburn players

* Rick Dempsey

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