The Pulaski Yankees were a minor league baseball team based in

Pulaski, Virginia Pulaski is a town in Pulaski County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,086 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pulaski County. Pulaski is part of the Blacksburg– Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area. History ...

, United States. They were an Advanced Rookie League team in the

Appalachian League The Appalachian League is a collegiate summer baseball league that operates in the Appalachian regions of Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Designed for rising freshmen and sophomores using wood bats, its season runs from ...

. The team played its home games at

Calfee Park Calfee Park is a stadium in Pulaski, Virginia, United States. It is primarily used for baseball, and is the home ballpark of the Pulaski River Turtles in the Appalachian League, a summer collegiate baseball league. It was built in 1935 as a Works ...

. They were affiliated with several

Major League Baseball Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

teams, including 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) Amer ...

in their final season. The Pulaski Yankees were awarded Minor League Baseball's top honor, the John H. Johnson President's Award, in 2019. The award recognizes the "complete baseball franchise—based on franchise stability, contributions to league stability, contributions to baseball in the community, and promotion of the baseball industry." The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...

before ultimately being cancelled on June 30. In conjunction with a contraction of Minor League Baseball beginning with the 2021 season, the Appalachian League was reorganized as a collegiate summer baseball league, and the Yankees were replaced by a new franchise, the Pulaski River Turtles, in the revamped league designed for rising college freshmen and sophomores.

Pulaski baseball history

* Pulaski Counts, , - * Pulaski Phillies, -, - * Pulaski Cubs, - * Pulaski Braves, - * Pulaski Rangers, - * Pulaski Blue Jays, - * Pulaski Mariners, - * Pulaski Yankees, - Pulaski's teams won the Appalachian League's championship in , , , and . Pulaski was the 2010 Appalachian League Eastern Division Champion.

Ballpark

The Pulaski Yankees played at

. Calfee Park opened in 1935 and had a capacity of 3,200 fans. A number of houses that surround the park had good views of games. The park had major renovations prior to the season, with a new grandstand behind the plate and along the first-base side as well as "open-air suites" (railed-in areas with picnic tables) farther down on the first-base line. A new scoreboard was also installed. Since the Shelor Automotive Group purchased Calfee Park from the Town of Pulaski in 2015, ownership has completed numerous upgrades including a renovated home team clubhouse; a new visiting team clubhouse, concession stand, press box, and souvenir store; the addition of two VIP Towers, upgrading seating, and a 35’ x 22’ JumboTron; a Bermuda grass playing field and new irrigation system; construction of new home offices for ballpark employees; and the expansion of the upper concourse. Most recently prior to the 2019 season, a three-tiered party deck and new boxes were added along the third base line, increasing the ballpark's capacity to 3,200. Additional upgrades including 800 new seats behind the party deck and new concessions points of sale were planned for 2020 before being put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Calfee Park was voted the best rookie-level ballpark in America in 2019 and 2020 by a fan vote in Ballpark Digest's annual Best of the Ballparks competition.

Playoffs

*2019: Lost to

Burlington Burlington may refer to: Places Canada Geography * Burlington, Newfoundland and Labrador * Burlington, Nova Scotia * Burlington, Ontario, the most populous city with the name "Burlington" * Burlington, Prince Edward Island * Burlington Bay, no ...

2–1 in semifinals. *2017: Defeated Bluefield 2–1 in semifinals; lost to Elizabethton 2–0 in finals. *2015: Lost to

Princeton Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the ni ...

2–1 in semifinals. *2013: Defeated Bluefield 2–0 in semifinals; defeated Greeneville 2–0 to win championship. *2010: Lost to Elizabethton 2–0 in semifinals. *2008: Lost to Elizabethton 2–0 in finals. *1999: Lost to Martinsville 2–0 in finals. *1997: Lost to Bluefield 2–0 in finals. *1991: Defeated

2–0 to win championship. *1989: Lost to Elizabethton 2–0 in finals. *1986: Defeated Johnson City 2–1 to win championship. *1984: Lost to Elizabethton 1–0 in finals.

Notable Pulaski alumni

* Steve Avery (1988) MLB All-Star *

Jeff Blauser Jeff is a masculine name, often a short form (hypocorism) of the English given name Jefferson or Jeffrey, which comes from a medieval variant of Geoffrey. Music * DJ Jazzy Jeff, American DJ/turntablist record producer Jeffrey Allen Townes * ...

(1984) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Don Cardwell Donald Eugene Cardwell (December 7, 1935 – January 14, 2008) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed pitcher who played for five National League (NL) teams from 1957 to 1970. He was the first pitcher in major league history to ...

(1954) *

Larry Christenson Larry Richard Christenson (born November 10, 1953), nicknamed "L.C.", is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career for the Philadelphia Phillies (1973–1983). Early life Christens ...

(1972) *

Mark Clear Mark Alan Clear (born May 27, 1956) is an American former two-time All Star Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the California Angels (1979–80, 1990), Boston Red Sox (1981–85), and Milwaukee Brewers (1986–88). He batted and ...

(1974) 2 x MLB All-Star * Julio Cruz (MGR, 1997) * David Elder (1997) *

Jim Essian James Sarkis Essian, Jr. (born January 2, 1951) is an American former professional baseball player, coach, and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Sea ...

(1970) *

Tony Graffanino Anthony Joseph Graffanino (; born Graffagnino, June 6, 1972) is a former American Major League Baseball second baseman, third baseman, and shortstop. Career Graffanino was primarily a contact hitter (just 481 strikeouts in 2787 big-league at-ba ...

(1990) * Dallas Green (1970, MGR) Manager: 1980 World Series Champion - Philadelphia Phillies *

Aaron Harang Aaron Michael Harang (born May 9, 1978) is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers, Seattle Mariner ...

(1999) * David Justice (1985) 3 x MLB All-Star; 1990 NL Rookie of the Year *

Mike Lamb Mike may refer to: Animals * Mike (cat), cat and guardian of the British Museum * Mike the Headless Chicken, chicken that lived for 18 months after his head had been cut off * Mike (chimpanzee), a chimpanzee featured in several books and documen ...

(1997) *

Kameron Loe Kameron David Loe (born September 10, 1981) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, Chicago Cubs, and Atlanta Braves. At , Loe was o ...

(2002) * Colby Lewis (1999) *

Grady Little William Grady Little (born March 3, 1950) is a former manager in Major League Baseball, currently working in the front office of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007 ...

(MGR, 1986–1987) *

Javy López Javier "Javy" López Torres (born November 5, 1970) is a Puerto Rican former catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Atlanta Braves (1992–2003), Baltimore Orioles (2004–2006) and Boston Red Sox (2006). He batted and threw right-h ...

(1989) 3 x MLB All-Star * Jerry Martin (1971) *

Kevin Mench Kevin Ford Mench (born January 7, 1978) is an American former professional baseball outfielder who played eight years in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Texas Rangers (2002–2006), Milwaukee Brewers (2006–2007), Toronto Blue Jays ...

(1999) *

Urban Meyer Urban Frank Meyer III (born July 10, 1964) is a college football TV commentator and former American football coach. He spent most of his coaching career at the collegiate level, having served as the head coach of the Bowling Green Falcons fro ...

(1983) College Football Coach *

Travis Snider Travis James Snider (born February 2, 1988) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. Nicknamed Lunchbox, he played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Baltimore Orioles. Amateur caree ...

, Pulaski Blue Jays *

Jason Schmidt Jason David Schmidt (born January 29, 1973), is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. In his career, he has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers (2007–2009), San Francisco Giants (2001–06), Pittsburgh Pirates (1996–2001) and Atla ...

(1992) 3 x MLB All-Star * Mike Stanton (1987) MLB All-Star *

Eugenio Vélez Eugenio Vélez Vancomper (born May 16, 1982) is a Dominican former professional baseball utility player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers from 2007 to 2011. Career Toronto Blue Jay ...

, Pulaski Blue Jays *

Turk Wendell Turk or Turks may refer to: Communities and ethnic groups * Turkic peoples, a collection of ethnic groups who speak Turkic languages * Turkish people, or the Turks, a Turkic ethnic group and nation * Turkish citizen, a citizen of the Republic ...

(1988) *

C. J. Wilson Christopher John Wilson (born November 18, 1980) is an American auto racing team owner and former professional baseball pitcher. Wilson pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers from 2005 to 2011 and the Los Angeles Angel ...

(2001) 2 x MLB All-Star *

Mark Wohlers Mark Edward Wohlers (born January 23, 1970) is a former professional baseball pitcher. A right-hander, he played all or parts of 12 seasons in Major League Baseball, exclusively as a relief pitcher. He is best known for his years with the Atlanta ...

(1988-1989) MLB All-Star

References

* Avallone, Michael
"Minor League Baseball returns to Pulaski."
MiLB.com. 21 December 2007.

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.milb.com/pulaski
Statistics from Baseball-Reference
Baseball teams established in 1982 Baseball teams disestablished in 2020 Defunct Appalachian League teams Professional baseball teams in Virginia Pulaski County, Virginia New York Yankees minor league affiliates Toronto Blue Jays minor league affiliates Texas Rangers minor league affiliates Atlanta Braves minor league affiliates Philadelphia Phillies minor league affiliates Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates Brooklyn Dodgers minor league affiliates 1982 establishments in Virginia 2020 disestablishments in Virginia