The Auburn Cayugas was a primary moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in

Auburn, New York Auburn is a city in Cayuga County, New York, United States. Located at the north end of Owasco Lake, one of the Finger Lakes in Central New York, the city had a population of 26,866 at the 2020 census. It is the largest city of Cayuga County, the ...

and their namesake

Cayuga County, New York Cayuga County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 76,248. Its county seat and largest city is Auburn. The county was named for the Cayuga people, one of the Indian tribes in the Iroquois Conf ...

between 1877 and 1951. Auburn teams played as members of the 1877

League Alliance The League Alliance was the first semi-affiliated minor league baseball league. Proposed by Al Spalding on January 15, 1877. Independent baseball teams were to affiliate with National League teams, which would honor their respective contracts. The ...

, 1888 Central New York League,

New York State League The New York State League was an independent baseball league that played six seasons between 2007 and 2012 in New York State and the New York City metro area. Over 500 NYSL players have been signed by professional teams. Players from forty-eight ...

(1889, 1897–1899), Empire State League (1906–1907), Canadian–American League (1938, 1940) and

Border League The Border League, is the oldest established rugby union league in the World, having been formed in 1901. Currently known as the Booker Border League, after its sponsors, teams from all over the Scottish Borders as well as Berwick RFC from Nor ...

(1946–1951), winning two league championships. The Auburn Cayugas were a minor league affiliate of 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 eight ...

in 1948. Auburn continued minor league play from 1958 through 2020, evolving into the

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 ...

History

Minor league baseball started in Auburn, New York in 1877. The Auburn Auburnians played the 1877 season as a member of the

, which had over thirty teams. The manager was Billy Arnold. The Auburn Yankees played as a member of the 1888 Central New York League. Auburn won the 1888 Central New York League Championship with a 22–10 regular season record. The Central New York League permanently disbanded after the 1888 season. The Auburn Yankees won the

Championship in 1889. Auburn finished the season in first place with a 32–19 record under Manager Frank Leonard. Auburn finished 2.0 games ahead of the

Elmira, New York Elmira () is a city and the county seat of Chemung County, New York, United States. It is the principal city of the Elmira, New York, metropolitan statistical area, which encompasses Chemung County. The population was 26,523 at the 2020 cens ...

team, in winning the six-team league championship. Auburn did not return to the New York State League in 1890. The Auburn Maroons returned to play in the Independent New York State League in 1897. The 1987 Maroons finished 50–41, 3rd in the five-team league under Manager

Tim Shinnick Timothy James "Good-Eye" Shinnick (November 6, 1867 – May 18, 1944), was a Major League Baseball second baseman from to . He played for the Louisville Colonels. Shinnick's professional baseball career started in 1887. After his two seasons i ...

. Auburn finished 4.5 games behind the league champion Canandaigua Rustlers. On August 24, 1889, Auburn hosted of one of the first games played under electric lights at Seward Avenue Park. The 1898 Auburn Maroons placed third in the eight-team New York State League with a record of 52–50. The 1898 Managers were Tim Shinnick, Barney McManus and Mickey Finn. Auburn finished 5.5 games behind league champion Canandaigua Rustlers. The Auburn Pioneers continued play as members of the Class C level New York State League in 1899. The Auburn Prisoners were managed by Tim Shinnick and Charles Faatz. Auburn had a 27–43 record when the franchise moved to

Troy, New York Troy is a city in the U.S. state of New York and the county seat of Rensselaer County. The city is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany a ...

on August 1, 1899. The team finished the season as the Troy Washerwomen and combined for an overall record of 43–69, to place 7th in the New York State League final standings. Auburn joined the Class D level Empire State League in 1906. The team was owned and managed by Willard Hoagland. Auburn ended the season in third place, with a 37–35 record, playing under Hoagland. Auburn finished 7.0 games behind the champion

Seneca Falls, New York Seneca Falls is a town in Seneca County, New York, United States. The population was 8,942 at the 2020 census. The Town of Seneca Falls contains the former village also called Seneca Falls. The town is east of Geneva, New York, in the nor ...

team. In 1907, Auburn again placed third in the Empire State League. Auburn had a 44–39 record under Willard Hoagland, finishing 10.0 games behind the champion Oswego Starchmakers. The Empire State League permanently folded after the 1907 season. After the 1937 season, the

Smiths Falls Beavers The Smiths Falls Beavers were a professional baseball team that played for one season in 1937, in Smiths Falls, Ontario. The team played as part of the Canadian–American League The Canadian–American League, nicknamed the Can-Am League, wa ...

of the Class C level

Canadian-American League Canadian Americans is a term that can be applied to American citizens whose ancestry is wholly or partly Canadian, or citizens of either country that hold dual citizenship. The term ''Canadian'' can mean a nationality or an ethnicity. Canadian ...

were purchased by Auburn investors and relocated. The 1938 Auburn Bouleys finished with a 49–68 record, placing seventh in the Canadian-American League regular season final standings. The Auburn manager was John Cimpi. Season attendance was 16,178, an average of 277 per home game. After finishing last in the eight–team league in home attendance, the franchise was sold and moved to become the Utica Braves in 1939. The Auburn use of the "Bouleys" moniker corresponded to local industry and history in the era. The team was named after William Bouley, a construction leader in the era, who headed the investors that purchased the franchise. Today, Bouley Construction is in operation in Auburn, New York. In 1940, the Auburn Colts returned to minor league play as members of the Canadian–American League. The Colts finished last in the eight–team league. Auburn ended the season with a record of 28–93, placing eighth in the Canadian–American League standings. The Colts' Manager was George Lee. The Auburn Colts season attendance was 10,040, an average of 166 per game. The franchise folded after the 1940 season. In 1946, minor league baseball resumed in Auburn. The Auburn Cayugas became charter members of the Class C level

, winning the pennant and qualifying for the playoffs in their first season. The 1946 six-team league standings featured the Auburn Cayugas (72–44), Granby Red Sox (54–60), Kingston Ponies (58–55),

Ogdensburg Maples The Ogdensburg Maples was the final moniker of the minor league baseball teams based in Ogdensburg, New York. Between 1900 and 1940, earlier Ogdensburg teams played as members of the Northern New York League in 1900 and 1901 and the Canadian–Ame ...

(50–68), Sherbrooke Canadians (46–71) and

Watertown Athletics The Watertown Athletics were a minor league baseball team based in Watertown, New York.. The Athletics played from 1946 to 1951 and were preceded by the 1936 Watertown Greys and an 1888 Watertown team. Watertown teams played as members of the 1888 ...

(69–51). The Auburn adoption of the "Cayugas" moniker corresponds to Auburn, New York being located within

Cayuga County Cayuga County is a county in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 76,248. Its county seat and largest city is Auburn. The county was named for the Cayuga people, one of the Indian tribes in the Iroquois Confed ...

. The 1946 Auburn Cayugas, captured the Border League pennant in their first season. The Cayugas finished the regular season with a record of 72–44 to place first in the Border League. Playing under manager Phillip Hearn, Auburn was defeated by the Kingston Ponies 3 games to 1 in the playoffs. Auburn season attendance was 48,683, third best in the Border League. The Auburn Cayugas qualified for the playoffs in 1947. The Cayugas finished 66–60 to place third in the 1947 Border League regular season, playing under returning manager Phillip Hearn. In the playoffs, the Ottawa Nationals swept Auburn in four games. The 1947 Auburn season attendance was 59,637. The 1948 Auburn Cayugas were a minor league affiliate of the

. With a Border League regular season record of 49–78, the team placed sixth, playing the season under manager Phillip Hearn. Auburn did not qualify for the playoffs. Season attendance was 43,102, an average of 679 per game. The Auburn Cayugas advanced to the 1949 Border League Finals. With a 67–62 regular season record, the team placed foruth in the regular season standings, playing under returning manager Phillip Hearn. Auburn qualified for the playoffs. In the first round, the Auburn Cayugas defeated the Ottawa Senators in a seven–game series 4 games to 3. In the Border League Finals, the Geneva Robins defeated Auburn 4 games to 2. Season attendance was 55,634. In 1950, Auburn missed the playoffs. With a 50–77 record, placing sixth in the Border League, while playing the season under managers William Sisler, Tom Accardo and Bill Gates. The Cayugas failed to qualify for the playoffs. 1950 season attendance was 41,755. With Auburn continuing play in the 1951 Border League, the league folded mid-season. The Auburn Falcons, were in foruth place under Bill Gates at 26–26, when the Border League permanently disbanded on July 16, 1951. Auburn Doubledays game Falcon Park Auburn

Auburn Doubledays game Falcon Park Auburn

Auburn was without minor league baseball until the 1958

Auburn Yankees Auburn may refer to: Places Australia * Auburn, New South Wales * City of Auburn, the local government area * Electoral district of Auburn * Auburn, Queensland, a locality in the Western Downs Region * Auburn, South Australia *Auburn, Tasmania * ...

began play as members of the

New York-Penn League New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

. Today, Auburn remains in the New York-Penn League as home to the

, members of the

Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League The Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League (PGCBL) is a 16-team Collegiate summer baseball, collegiate summer baseball league founded in 2010. As of 2022, all teams are within New York (state). All players in the league must have National Colle ...

. Selected alumni of all Auburn minor league teams are honored in the Auburn Baseball Wall of Fame at Falcon Park.

The ballparks

Beginning in 1877, early Auburn teams including the Auburn Maroons were noted to have played minor league home games at Seward Avenue Park. On August 24, 1889, the ballpark hosted Auburn in playing one of the first baseball games under electric lights. In seasons between 1927 and 1951, Auburn teams played at

Falcon Park Falcon Park is a stadium in Auburn, New York. The stadium is primarily used for baseball and is the home field of the Auburn Doubledays collegiate summer baseball team. The Auburn Maroons high school baseball team also plays its home games at t ...

. The address was 108 North Division Street. Built in 1927 by the Polish Falcons, the ballpark was torn down and rebuilt following the 1994 baseball season. Today, the new Falcon Park is home to the Auburn Doubledays of the Prefect Game Collegiate League.

Notable alumni

* John Abadie (1877) * Billy Arnold (1877, MGR) * Phil Baker (1877) * Joe Berry (1899) * Bill Bradley (1898–1899)

Cleveland Indians Hall of Fame This is a list of award winners and league leaders for the Cleveland Guardians of Major League Baseball. Awards Most Valuable Player *George Burns (1926) * Lou Boudreau (1948) *Al Rosen (1953) Cy Young *Gaylord Perry (1972) *CC Sabathia (2007 ...

* George Browne (1899) * Tom Burns (1877) *

Lou Castro Luis Miguel Castro (November 25, 1876 – September 24, 1941) was born in Medellín, Colombia. According to Major League Baseball, he was the first Latin American to enter the league as an infielder who played 42 games with the Philadelphia At ...

(1899) *

Morrie Critchley Morris Arthur "Morrie" Critchley (March 26, 1850 – March 6, 1910) was a 19th-century professional baseball pitcher. He played one game for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys and four games for the St. Louis Brown Stockings in 1882 in baseball, 1882. ...

(1877) * Harry Croft (1899) *

Ike Delock Ivan Martin Delock (November 11, 1929 – February 28, 2022) was an American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played 11 seasons for the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles. He was born in Highland Park, Michigan. In ten-plus seaso ...

(1948) *

Bill Duggleby William James Duggleby (March 16, 1874 – August 30, 1944), nicknamed "Frosty Bill", was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. He played from 1898 to 1907. He also played two games for the Philadelphia Athletics in 1902 and nine games for th ...

(1897, 1899) *

Fred Dunlap Frederick C. "Sure Shot" Dunlap (May 21, 1859 – December 1, 1902) was a second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball from 1880 to 1891. He was the highest paid player in Major League Baseball from 1884 to 1889. He has also been rated ...

(1877) Batting Champion * Bill Eagle (1899) *

Ben Egan Arthur Augustus "Ben" Egan (November 20, 1883 – February 18, 1968) was an American professional baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians from 1908 to 1915. He was later a coach for the Washington Senators for th ...

(1907) *

Mal Eason Malcolm Wayne (Mal) Eason (March 13, 1879 – April 16, 1970) was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Orphans (1900–1902), Boston Beaneaters (1902), Detroit Tigers (1903) and Brooklyn Superbas (1905–1906). Ea ...

(1898–1899) * Sam Field (1877) *

Johnny Gee John Alexander "Johnny" Gee, Jr. (December 7, 1915 – January 23, 1988), sometimes known as "Long John Gee" and "Whiz", was a professional baseball and basketball player. Gee played Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 19 ...

(1951) *

Jack Gilbert Jack Gilbert (February 18, 1925 – November 13, 2012) was an American poet. Gilbert was acquainted with Jack Spicer and Allen Ginsberg, both prominent figureheads of the Beat Movement, but is not considered a Beat Poet; he described himself as ...

(1899) * Willard Hoagland (1906–1907, MGR) * Jim Keenan (1877) *

Tommy Leach Thomas Andrew Leach (November 4, 1877 – September 29, 1969) was a professional baseball outfielder and third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball from 1898 through 1918 for the Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and ...

(1898) *George Lee (1940, MGR)

Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum (french: Temple de la renommée du baseball canadien) is a museum located in St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. The museum commemorates great players, teams, and accomplishments of baseball in Canada. H ...

(1988) *

Don Liddle Donald Eugene Liddle (May 25, 1925 – June 5, 2000) was an American left-handed pitcher in professional baseball who played four seasons in the Major Leagues for the Milwaukee Braves, New York Giants and St. Louis Cardinals from 1953 through 1 ...

(1946) *

Jimmy Macullar James F. Macullar (January 16, 1855 – April 8, 1924), also known as "Little Mac", was an American Major League Baseball player from Boston, Massachusetts. He played mostly at shortstop, but did play many games in center fielder, center fi ...

(1877) *

Tom Mansell Thomas Edward Mansell (January 1, 1855 – October 6, 1934) was a 19th-century professional baseball player. Mansell played outfield for parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball: , , and . He played a total of eleven seasons professiona ...

(1877) * Jim Mertz (1938) * Tom Messitt (1899) * Ed Murphy (1899) *

Pete Noonan Peter John Noonan (November 24, 1881 – February 11, 1965) was an American professional baseball infielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Athletics (1904), Chicago Cubs (1906), and St. Louis Cardinals The St. ...

(1906) *

Chief Roseman James John "Chief" Roseman (July 4, 1856 – July 4, 1938) was an American Major League Baseball player from Brooklyn, New York. He played in the outfield for six teams, mainly in American Association, during his seven-season career. In he was t ...

(1877) * Cyclone Ryan (1899) *

(1889), (1897–1899, MGR) *

Dummy Stephenson Reuben Crandol "Dummy" Stephenson (September 22, 1869 – December 1, 1924) was an American professional baseball first baseman and centerfielder of the late 19th century. He played in eight games as an outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies of ...

(1899) * Alan Storke (1906) *

Ray Tift Raymond Frank Tift (June 21, 1884 – March 29, 1945) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball with the New York Highlanders in . Biography A native of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, Tift graduated from Brown ...

(1906) * Bill Tobin (1877)

References

{{reflist, 2

External links

Auburn - Baseball Reference
Defunct minor league baseball teams Boston Red Sox minor league affiliates Defunct baseball teams in New York (state) Auburn, New York Cayuga County, New York New York State League teams Baseball teams established in 1946 Baseball teams disestablished in 1950 Border League teams 1946 establishments in New York (state) 1950 disestablishments in New York (state)

History

The ballparks

Notable alumni

See also

References

External links