The Williamsport Red Sox were a minor league baseball team, based in

Williamsport, Pennsylvania Williamsport is a city in, and the county seat of, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States. It recorded a population of 27,754 at the 2020 Census. It is the principal city of the Williamsport Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a popul ...

. The team began in 1964 as the Williamsport Mets a class-AA affiliate of the

New York Mets The New York Mets are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Queens. The Mets compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) East division. They are one of two major league ...

, in the Eastern League, from 1964 through 1967. The club played all of its games at Williamsport's Bowman Stadium. Among the future major leaguers who played for the Williamsport Mets are:

Jerry Koosman Jerome Martin Koosman (born December 23, 1942) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Mets, Minnesota Twins, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies between and . ...

Ken Boswell Kenneth George Boswell (born February 23, 1946) is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. Early life Ken attended William B. Travis High School (Austin, Texas) and then the Mets drafted the Sam Houston State University student in the ...

, Kevin Collins,

Nolan Ryan Lynn Nolan Ryan Jr. (born January 31, 1947), nicknamed "the Ryan Express", is an American former professional baseball pitcher and sports executive. Over a record 27-year playing career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanning four decades, Ryan ...

and

Jim Bethke James Charles Bethke (born November 5, 1946) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was drafted by the New York Mets in 1964. He only played one season in his career, which was 1965 with the Mets. His career statistics are 25 g ...

. In 1968, the club entered the

New York–Penn League The New York–Penn League (NYPL) was a Minor League Baseball league that operated in the northeastern United States from 1939 to 2020. Classified as a Class A Short Season league, its season started in June, after major-league teams signed th ...

, with a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros. The team was renamed the Williamsport Astros as a result. By 1971 the club changed its affiliation to the

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...

and its name to the Williamsport Red Sox. Managed by Dick Berardino, the Red Sox went 30-39-1 their first season, finishing 6th in the 8-team NY-Penn. Steve Foran (10-4, 2.38) was the only All-Star, striking out a league-high 138 in 117 innings and also leading in wins and finishing 5th in ERA. 1B Jack Baker (.249/~.358/.502) was second in the league with 12 homers. The most prominent player to emerge from the team, though, was clearly OF

Jim Rice James Edward Rice (born March 8, 1953), nicknamed "Jim Ed", is a former Major League Baseball left fielder and designated hitter. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame on July 26, 2009, as the 103rd member voted in by the BBWAA. Rice p ...

, who was far from a star that year with a .256/~.308/.409 line. The Red Sox continued under Berardino in 1972 but finished last at 22-47. They drew 19,038 fans, 5th in the league, and were outscored 411-278. The team managed no All-Stars though they again had the #2 home run hitter – this time it was 1B-OF Chester Lucas (.285/~.366/.500), who hit 12 long balls. The best career would belong to

Don Aase Donald William Aase ( ;"The Week (July 24–30)," ''Sp ...

, who led the league in losses with a miserable 0-10, 5.81 season. The team did not play another season. Sources: 1972 and 1973

Baseball Guides There have been several Baseball Guides since the 19th century - the ''Spalding Guide'' and '' Reach Guide'' were the primary ones for decades. The two merged eventually and then were replaced by the Guides put out by ''The Sporting News''. The main ...

Notable alumni

Baseball Hall of Fame alumni

(1971) Inducted, 2009 *

(1966) Inducted, 1999

Notable alumni

Don Aase Donald William Aase ( ;"The Week (July 24–30)," ''Sp ...

(1972) MLB All-Star * Bo Diaz (1971) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Duffy Dyer Donald Robert "Duffy" Dyer (born August 15, 1945) is an American former professional baseball player who is the manager of the Kenosha Kingfish of the Northwoods League collegiate summer baseball league. He played in Major League Baseball as a c ...

(1966-1967) *

Ken Forsch Kenneth Roth Forsch (born September 8, 1946) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a right-handed pitcher from to , most prominently as a member of the Houston Astros where he helped the f ...

(1968) 2 x MLB All-Star *

(1965) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Steve Renko Steve Renko, Jr. (born December 10, 1944) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Montreal Expos (1969–1976), Chicago Cubs (1976–1977), Chicago White Sox (1977), Oakland Athletics (1978), Boston Red S ...

(1966) *

Roy Sievers Roy Edward Sievers (November 18, 1926 – April 3, 2017) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman and left fielder from through . A five-time All-Star, Sievers was the American L ...

(1967, MGR) 5 x MLB All-Star; 1949 AL Rookie of the Year *

Ron Swoboda Ronald Alan Swoboda (born June 30, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player and television sports color commentator. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from through , most notably as a member of the New York Mets ...

(1964) *

Bill Virdon William Charles Virdon (June 9, 1931 – November 23, 2021) was an American professional baseball outfielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). Virdon played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates from 195 ...

(1966, MGR) 1955 NL Rookie of the Year * Ernie Whitt (1972) MLB All-Star

Year-by-year record

{{Defunct Pennsylvania sports teams Defunct New York–Penn League teams Defunct Eastern League (1938–present) teams Defunct baseball teams in Pennsylvania

Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...

Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates Houston Astros minor league affiliates New York Mets minor league affiliates 1964 establishments in Pennsylvania 1972 disestablishments in Pennsylvania Baseball teams established in 1964 Baseball teams disestablished in 1972