Binghamton Triplets
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The Binghamton Triplets were a
minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...
team based in
Binghamton, New York Binghamton ( ) is a city in the U.S. state of New York, and serves as the county seat of Broome County. Surrounded by rolling hills, it lies in the state's Southern Tier region near the Pennsylvania border, in a bowl-shaped valley at the c ...
between 1923 and 1963. The franchise played as members of the New York–Penn League (1923–1937), Eastern League (1938–1963), New York–Penn League (1964–1966) and Eastern League (1967–1968). Binghamton was a minor league affiliate of the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
,
Milwaukee Braves The Milwaukee Braves were a Major League Baseball club that played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1953 to 1965, having previously played in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves. After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966 they were rename ...
and
Kansas City Athletics The Kansas City Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1955 to 1967, having previously played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Athletics. After moving in 1967, the team became the ...
, winning ten league championships.


History

Binghamton was affiliated with the
New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Am ...
from 1932 to 1961 and 1965 to 1968; the team also had brief affiliations with the
Kansas City Athletics The Kansas City Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1955 to 1967, having previously played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Athletics. After moving in 1967, the team became the ...
in 1962 and 1963 and the
Milwaukee Braves The Milwaukee Braves were a Major League Baseball club that played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1953 to 1965, having previously played in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves. After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966 they were rename ...
in 1964. The Triplets played in the former New York–Pennsylvania League from 1923 to 1937, the Eastern League from 1938 to 1963 and 1967 to 1968, and the modern New York–Penn League from 1964 to 1966. They won league championships in 1929, 1933, 1935, 1940, 1944, 1949, 1952, 1953, 1965, and 1967. The Triplets moved to Manchester, New Hampshire after the 1968 season and became the Manchester Yankees, and the city was without a team until the Class AA Binghamton Mets began play in 1992. The Triplets played their home games at Johnson Field in nearby Johnson City, New York until the team disbanded in 1968; the old ballpark was then torn down to help construct New York Route 17. The team wore caps with an intertwined 'T' and 'C' logo (similar to the original
Minnesota Twins The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
cap insignia); the letters stood for ' Triple Cities' (i.e., Binghamton, Johnson City, and Endicott). While the Triplets were a Yankee
farm team In sports, a farm team (also referred to as farm system, developmental system, feeder team, or nursery club) is generally a Team sport, team or club whose role is to provide experience and training for young players, with an agreement that any s ...
, the parent club—featuring such legends as John Malangone,
Babe Ruth George Herman "Babe" Ruth (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional Baseball in the United States, baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nickna ...
,
Lou Gehrig Henry Louis Gehrig ( ; June 19, 1903June 2, 1941), also known as Heinrich Ludwig Gehrig, was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1923–1939). Gehrig was ...
,
Joe DiMaggio Joseph Paul DiMaggio (; born Giuseppe Paolo DiMaggio, ; November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), nicknamed "Joltin' Joe", "the Yankee Clipper" and "Joe D.", was an American professional baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career ...
, and
Mickey Mantle Mickey Charles Mantle (October 20, 1931 – August 13, 1995), nicknamed "the Mick" and "the Commerce Comet", was an American professional baseball player who played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career (1951–1968) with the New York ...
—played one exhibition game each year at Johnson Field.


Community Owned

The Yankees bought the Triplets in 1932, but by 1961, after a decade in the red, the Yankees ended their association with the team. As a result, the baseball club became community owned operating as the farm team for the
Kansas City Athletics The Kansas City Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Kansas City, Missouri, from 1955 to 1967, having previously played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as the Philadelphia Athletics. After moving in 1967, the team became the ...
’s. A Board of Directors was formed and appointed local Binghamton businessman Lou Rappaport as President, and former Business Manager of the Yankees, Jerry Toman as General Manager. Rappaport and Toman led the effort of selling state approved stock certificates (which allowed fans to buy into the team) and made a deal with WNBF-TV to broadcast the games. However, stock sales did not do as well as predicted and Kansas City withdrew from the Triplets in their third year. No other major league team signed on and the Triplets dropped from the Eastern League to the NY-P league, where they were picked up by the
Milwaukee Braves The Milwaukee Braves were a Major League Baseball club that played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, from 1953 to 1965, having previously played in Boston, Massachusetts, as the Boston Braves. After relocating to Atlanta, Georgia, in 1966 they were rename ...
for the 1964 Season, and remained with the Braves when they moved to Atlanta in 1965. Ultimately, ticket sales continued to dwindle, radio rights were not longer being purchased, and Rappaport was putting in thousands of dollars of his own money to keep the team afloat, which was deep into the red. Not to mention the looming threat of the Johnson Field being torn down to make way for Express Highway 17. But in 1966, to everyone's surprise, the Yankees came back elevating the team back to the Eastern League. Sadly, the city of Binghamton would not approve a new stadium and 1969 was the final year of The Triplets. "Supporting a ball club is like marriage," Mr. Rappaport said. "It's for better or worse. You can't drop your wife off when you want to. You love her all the time.


Notable alumni


Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...
alumni

*
Whitey Ford Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford (October 21, 1928 – October 8, 2020), nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played his entire 16-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. ...
(1949) Inducted, 1974 *
Lefty Gomez Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez (November 26, 1908 – February 17, 1989) was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, Gomez played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1930 and 1943 for the New York Yankees and the Washingto ...
(1946-1947) Inducted, 1972 * Tony LaRussa (1962) Inducted, 2014


Notable alumni

* Gene Bearden (1945) 1948 AL ERA Title * Tiny Bonham (1936) 2 x MLB All-Star * Clete Boyer (1957) * Garland Braxton (1946) 1928 AL ERA Title * Max Butcher (1934) *
Bert Campaneris Dagoberto Campaneris Blanco (born March 9, 1942), nicknamed "Bert" or "Campy", is a Cuban Americans, Cuban American former professional baseball shortstop, who played Major League Baseball (MLB) for four American League (AL) teams, primarily the ...
(1962) 6 x MLB All-Star * Spud Chandler (1932-1933) 4 x MLB All-Star; 1943 AL Most Valuable Player * Horace Clarke (1960) * Atley Donald (1936) * Al Downing (1961, 1968) MLB All-Star * Jim Finigan (1950) 2 x MLB All-Star * Freddie Fitzsimmons (1956) * Hank Foiles (1949) MLB All-Star * Cito Gaston (1964) MLB All-Star; Manager: 2 x World Series Champion
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
(1992-1993) * Bob Grim (1951) MLB All-Star; 1954 AL Rookie of the Year *
Heinie Groh Henry Knight "Heinie" Groh (September 18, 1889 – August 22, 1968) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1912 to 1927, spending nearly his entire career with the ...
(1931) * Harry Gumbert (1932) * Randy Gumpert (1940) MLB All-Star * Pinky Hargrave (1937) * Ken Harrelson (1962) *
Woodie Held Woodson George "Woodie" Held (March 25, 1932 – June 11, 2009) was an American shortstop/outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for the New York Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators, Baltimor ...
(953) * Tommy Holmes (1938) 2 x MLB All-Star *
Ralph Houk Ralph George Houk (; August 9, 1919 – July 21, 2010), nicknamed "the Major", was an American catcher, coach (baseball), coach, manager (baseball), manager, and front office executive in Major League Baseball. He is best known as the successor o ...
(1941) Manager: 2 x World Series Champion NY Yankees (1961-1962) * Billy Johnson (1941) MLB All-Star * Deron Johnson (1957) * Bob Keegan 91946) MLB All-Star * Ellis Kinder (1941) * Lew Krausse (1962) * Ted Kubiak (1962) *
Johnny Lindell John Harlan Lindell (August 30, 1916 – August 27, 1985) was an American professional baseball player who was an outfielder and pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1941 to 1950 and from 1953 to 1954 for the New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinal ...
(1937) MLB All-Star *
Dale Long Richard Dale Long (February 6, 1926 – January 27, 1991) was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates, History of the St. Louis Browns, St. Louis Browns, Chicago Cubs, San Francisco Giants, New York Yankees ...
(1950) MLB All-Star * Mike Lum (1964) * Jerry Lumpe (1953) MLB All-Star * Pinky May (1934) MLB All-Star * Clyde McCullough (1937) 2 x MLB All-Star * John McNamara (1963) 1986 AL Manager of the Year * George McQuinn (1932-1933) 7 x MLB All-Star * Tom Morgan (1950) * Thurman Munson (1968) Died Age 32; 7 x All-Star; 1970 AL Rookie of the Year; 1976 AL Most Valuable Player * Fred Norman (1962) * John O'Donoghue (1963) MLB All-Star * Andy Pafko (1964) 5 x MLB All-Star * Joe Pepitone (1960) 3 x MLB All-Star * Mel Queen (1941) * Vic Raschi (1946) 4 x MLB All-Star * Bobby Richardson (1954) 1960 World Series Most Valuable Player * Ellie Rodriguez (1967) 2 x MLB All-Star * Buddy Rosar (1934) 5 x MLB All-Star * Ken Sanders (1962) * Eddie Sawyer (1942-1943) * George Selkirk (1948-1950) 2 x MLB All-Star * Bill Skowron (1951) 8 x MLB All-Star * Moose Solters (1932) * Bud Souchock (1941) * Snuffy Stirnweiss (1955) 2 x MLB All-Star; 1945 AL Batting Title * Russ Snyder (1955) * Pete Suder (1938) * Ralph Terry (1954) 2 x MLB All Star; 1962 World Series Most Valuable Player * Lee Thomas (1956, 1959) 2 x MLB All-Star * Marv Throneberry (1953) * Jim Tobin (1933-1934) MLB All-Star * Tom Tresh (1959) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1962 AL Rookie of the Year * Gus Triandos (1950) 4 x MLB All-Star * Bill Virdon (1952) 1956 NL Rookie of the Year * Bill Wight (1942)


Triplet players of note

*
Whitey Ford Edward Charles "Whitey" Ford (October 21, 1928 – October 8, 2020), nicknamed "the Chairman of the Board", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played his entire 16-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career with the New York Yankees. ...
: Yankee left-handed starter and member of the
Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...
. * Thurman Munson: Yankee captain and all-star catcher, who played for the Triplets in their swansong 1968 season. * Bobby Richardson: second baseman who won the 1960 World Series MVP (even though the Bronx Bombers lost the series). * Joe Pepitone: Gold Glove-winning first baseman. * Al Downing: On April 8, 1974, while pitching for the
Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
, Downing yielded
Hank Aaron Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. Considered one ...
's 715th home run. * Clete Boyer: defensive standout third baseman, whose brothers ( Ken and Cloyd) were also major leaguers. * Marv Throneberry: 'Marvelous Marv' was a member of the infamous 1962 Mets. * Ken Harrelson: longtime White Sox broadcaster, who hit 38 homers and drove in 138 runs for the Triplets in 1962, and who led the AL in RBIs in 1968 (with 109, as a member of the Red Sox). * Vic Raschi: one the "Big Three" of the Yankees' pitching staff in the late 1940s and early 1950s. *
Tony La Russa Anthony La Russa Jr. (; born October 4, 1944) is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and manager (baseball), manager. His MLB career has spanned from 1963 to 2022, in several roles. He is the former manager of the St. Louis C ...
:
Baseball Hall of Fame The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by a private foundation. It serves as the central collection and gathering space for the history of baseball in the United S ...
manager who won the
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
in both leagues (with the
Oakland Athletics The Oakland Athletics (frequently referred to as the Oakland A's) were an American Major League Baseball (MLB) team based in Oakland, California from 1968 to 2024. The Athletics were a member club of the American League (AL) American League We ...
and St. Louis Cardinals). * Cito Gaston: manager of the
Toronto Blue Jays The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
during their two
World Series The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB). It has been contested since between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winning team, determined through a best- ...
victories (1992 and 1993). *
Bert Campaneris Dagoberto Campaneris Blanco (born March 9, 1942), nicknamed "Bert" or "Campy", is a Cuban Americans, Cuban American former professional baseball shortstop, who played Major League Baseball (MLB) for four American League (AL) teams, primarily the ...
: All Star shortstop for Kansas City A's and Oakland A's, first MLB player to play all nine positions in one game September 8, 1965, led AL in steals 6 times, 1965–68, 1970 and 1972 * John McNamara: minor league catcher who went on to manage the Oakland A's,
San Diego Padres The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
,
Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
,
California Angels The Los Angeles Angels are an American professional baseball team based in the Greater Los Angeles area. The Angels compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Since 1966, the team has pl ...
,
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) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
, and
Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. Since , the team ...
winning AL Manager of the Year with Boston in 1986


Triplet managers of MLB note

(Listed chronologically per tenure as Triplet manager.) * Mike Konnick:
Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
shortstop and catcher. *
Heinie Groh Henry Knight "Heinie" Groh (September 18, 1889 – August 22, 1968) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman from 1912 to 1927, spending nearly his entire career with the ...
:
Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
and
New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...
third baseman famed for his 'bottle bat.' * Billy Meyer: known for his woes as
Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...
manager. *
Lefty Gomez Vernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez (November 26, 1908 – February 17, 1989) was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, Gomez played in Major League Baseball (MLB) between 1930 and 1943 for the New York Yankees and the Washingto ...
: Yankee Hall-of-Fame southpaw hurler. * George ‘Twinkletoes’ Selkirk: replaced Babe Ruth as starting Yankee right fielder. * George ‘Snuffy’ Stirnweiss: slick-fielding Yankee second baseman. * Freddie Fitzsimmons:
New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...
and
Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1883 as the Brooklyn Grays. In 1884, it became a member of the American Association as the Brooklyn Atlantics before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brook ...
knuckleball A knuckleball or knuckler is a baseball pitch (baseball), pitch thrown to minimize the spin of the ball in flight, causing an erratic, unpredictable motion. The air flow over a seam of the ball causes the ball to change from Laminar flow, lamin ...
er. * Granny Hamner: shortstop for the 1950 Phillies 'Whiz Kids'. * John McNamara: manager of the AL-pennant-winning 1986
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) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
. * Andy Pafko: outfielder for the 1957 World Series champion Braves. * Cloyd Boyer: St. Louis Cardinal pitcher, and brother of Clete and Ken.


References

{{New York-Pennsylvania League (1923-1937) , state=collapsed Defunct baseball teams in New York (state) Defunct Eastern League (1938–present) teams Defunct New York–Penn League teams New York Yankees minor league affiliates Kansas City Athletics minor league affiliates Milwaukee Braves minor league affiliates Baseball teams established in 1923 Baseball teams disestablished in 1968 1923 establishments in New York (state) 1968 disestablishments in New York (state) Baseball in Binghamton, New York