The Pittsfield Cubs, located in

Pittsfield, Massachusetts Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Pittsfield� ...

, were a minor league baseball team that played in the Eastern League from 1985 to 1988. They played their home games at

Wahconah Park Wahconah Park is a city-owned baseball park located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts and nestled in a working-class neighborhood. One of the last remaining ballparks in the United States with a wooden grandstand, it was constructed in 1919 and seats ...

and were affiliated with the

Chicago Cubs The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...

History

The Cubs were founded in 1985 after an investment group acquired the Double-A franchise rights for $350,000 from the

Buffalo Bisons The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Fiel ...

. On the field, the Cubs were successful, making the playoffs in three of four years. In 1987, the team finished first during the regular season, although they failed to win the championship. In addition to Eastern League all-star selections, the team had two Eastern League Most Valuable Players, Rafael Palmeiro in 1986 and Mark Grace in 1987. The team also had two no-hitters during their existence. On August 1, 1985,

Johnny Abrego Johnny Ray Abrego (born July 4, 1962) is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is ...

threw a no-hitter against the

Nashua Pirates The Nashua Pirates were a minor league baseball team, based in Nashua, New Hampshire. The team started in 1983 as the Nashua Angels, an affiliate with the California Angels in the Eastern League. The club changed affiliations in 1984 to the Pi ...

winning by a 1-0 score. On July 18, 1988, Kris Roth pitched a no-hitter against the Harrisburg Senators, winning by a 3-0 score. Off the field, the Cubs were plagued by attendance problems. They finished last or next to last in Eastern league attendance during each of their four years of existence.

Season-by-season record

Legacy

The Pittsfield Cubs moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania after the 1988 season, becoming the Williamsport Bills and affiliating with the

Seattle Mariners The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...

. The community of Pittsfield gained the Pittsfield Mets for the 1989 season. The Chicago Cubs transferred their AA level affiliation to the Charlotte Knights.

Future Major League Pittsfield Cubs

(1985) * Mike Brumley (1985) *

Mike Capel Michael Lee Capel (born October 13, 1961) is an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Houston Astros. In 49 career games, Capel pitched innings, stru ...

(1985-1986) * Steve Engel (1985) * Darrin Jackson (1985-1986) *

Jamie Moyer Jamie Moyer (born November 18, 1962) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Over his 25-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), Moyer pitched for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, Baltimore Orioles, Boston R ...

(1985) *

Gary Varsho Gary Andrew Varsho (born June 20, 1961) is an American former professional baseball outfielder, manager, and coach, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, and Philadelphia Philli ...

(1985-1986) *

Rich Amaral Richard Louis Amaral (born April 1, 1962) is a former Utility player#Baseball, utility player in Major League Baseball who played with the Seattle Mariners (-), and Baltimore Orioles (-). He batted and threw right-handed. He has been a Scout (spor ...

(1986-1988) *

Damon Berryhill Damon Scott Berryhill (born December 3, 1963) is an American former professional baseball catcher and former manager of the AAA Gwinnett Stripers. He played ten seasons for the Chicago Cubs, the Atlanta Braves, the Boston Red Sox, the Cincinnati R ...

(1986) *

Drew Hall Andrew Clark "Drew" Hall is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher with the Chicago Cubs (–), Texas Rangers () and Montreal Expos (). He was born in Louisville, Kentucky, but grew up in Ashland, Kentucky and attended Paul G. Blazer ...

(1986) *

Les Lancaster Lester Wayne (Les) Lancaster (born April 21, 1962) is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1987–1993 and later managed in the minor leagues. Along with fellow reliever Mitch Williams, Lancaster helped lea ...

(1986) *

Greg Maddux Gregory Alan Maddux (born April 14, 1966) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four teams. Maddux is best known for his accomplishments while playing for the Atlanta Braves ...

(1986) * Mike Martin (1986) *

Paul Noce Paul David Noce (born December 16, 1959) is an American former professional baseball player who played for the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds of the Major League Baseball (MLB). He debuted on June 1, 1987, against the Houston Astros. He pl ...

(1986) *

Rafael Palmeiro Rafael Palmeiro Corrales (born September 24, 1964) is a Cuban-American former Major League Baseball first baseman and left fielder. Palmeiro was an All-American at Mississippi State University before being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1985. H ...

(1986) *

Rolando Roomes Rolando Audley Roomes (born February 15, 1962) is a former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball primarily as an outfielder from 1988 to 1990. He played for the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and Montreal Expos. Early ...

(1986-1987) * Phil Stephenson (1986) *

Doug Dascenzo Douglas Craig Dascenzo (born June 30, 1964) is an American professional baseball coach. The former Major League Baseball outfielder played for the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, and San Diego Padres, where he began his coaching career. He spent 201 ...

(1987) *

Mark Grace Mark Eugene Grace (born June 28, 1964) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) first baseman who spent 12 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks of the National League (NL). He was a member of the 2001 Worl ...

(1987) * Dave Pavlas (1987) * Jeff Pico (1987) * Laddie Renfroe (1987-1988) * Rich Scheid (1987-1988) * Dwight Smith (1987) *

Héctor Villanueva Héctor José Alberto Villanueva Balasquide (born October 2, 1964), is a former professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1990 to 1993. In 1991, he became the fourth player in the history of the Puerto Rico Basebal ...

(1987-1988) * Rick Wrona (1987-1988) *

Jim Bullinger James Eric Bullinger (born August 21, 1965) is a former professional starting pitcher. He played for the Chicago Cubs (-), Montreal Expos () and Seattle Mariners () of Major League Baseball (MLB). He batted and threw right-handed. He is the broth ...

(1988) *

Joe Girardi Joseph Elliott Girardi (born October 14, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Girardi played the catcher position for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and St. ...

(1988) *

Mike Harkey Michael Anthony Harkey (born October 25, 1966) is an American former professional baseball player and current coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from 1988 to 1997 for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, Oaklan ...

(1988) *

Joe Kraemer Joseph Wayne Kraemer (born September 10, 1964) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played professionally from 1985 to 1994 and in Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1989 and 1990. Early life He attended both Portland State Univ ...

(1988) * Ced Landrum (1988) * Kelly Mann (1988) *

Jeff Schwarz Jeffrey William Schwarz (born May 20, 1964) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Early life and family Schwarz was born in Fort Pierce, Florida, and graduated from Fort Pierce Central High School in Fort Pierce. Schwarz has four ...

(1988) * Jerome Walton (1988) * Dean Wilkins (1988)

Pittsfield Cubs with previous Major League experience

Jeff Cornell Jeffery Ray Cornell (born February 10, 1957) is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher. He played during the season at the major league level for the San Francisco Giants. He was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 8th round of the 1978 dr ...

(1985) *

Steve Hammond Steven Benjamin Hammond (born May 9, 1957) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for one season. He played in 46 games for the Kansas City Royals during the 1982 Kansas City Royals season. He went on to a productive career wi ...

(1985) * Jeff Jones (1985) * Dickie Noles (1987) *

Al Chambers Albert Eugene Chambers (born March 24, 1961) is an American former professional baseball player from to for the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball (MLB). Chambers was the first pick overall in the 1979 MLB draft out of high school by th ...

(1988)

Eastern League All-Stars

*First Base: Phil Stephenson (1986),

(1987) *Shortstop: Mike Brumley (1985),

(1986) *Outfield:

(1986), Dwight Smith (1987), Jerome Walton (1988) *Pitcher: Dean Wilkins (1988)

Eastern League Season Leaders

Pitching

*Winning Percentage: .813 (13-3), David Masters (1987)
.818 (9-2) Michael Harkey (1988)

Hitting

*Batting Average: .331, Jerome Walton (1988) *Runs: 87,

(1986)
111, Dwight Smith (1987)
82, Ced Landrum (1988) *Hits: 156,

(1986) *Runs Batted In: 95,

(1986)
101, Mark Grace (1987)

References

Notes Sources *''Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: The Official Record of Minor League Baseball'' – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 2007. Format: Hardback, 767 pp. 1985 establishments in Massachusetts 1988 disestablishments in Massachusetts Baseball teams established in 1985 Baseball teams disestablished in 1988 Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates Defunct Eastern League (1938–present) teams Defunct baseball teams in Massachusetts Baseball teams in Pittsfield, Massachusetts Professional baseball teams in Massachusetts {{Massachusetts-baseball-team-stub