Tri-City ValleyCats

Tri-City ValleyCats
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
League	Frontier League (2021–present) (North Division)
Location	Troy, New York
Ballpark	Joseph L. Bruno Stadium (2002–present)
Founded	2002
Nickname(s)	Tri-City ValleyCats (2002–present)
League championships	2010 2013 2018
Division championships	2004 2006 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2018
Former league(s)	New York–Penn League (2002–2020)
Colors	Scarlet, black, tan, silver, white
Playoff berths	9 2004 2006 2010 2012 2013 2014 2015 2018 2024
Ownership	Bill Gladstone
Manager	Greg Tagert
General Manager	Matt Callahan

The Tri-City ValleyCats (colloquially known as the ‘Cats) are a professional baseball team based in Troy, New York. The ValleyCats compete in the Frontier League (FL) as a member of the North Division in the Atlantic Conference, and play their home games at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium.

From 2002 to 2020, they were members of Minor League Baseball's New York–Penn League (NYPL) as the Class A Short Season affiliate of the Houston Astros. With MLB's reorganization of the minor leagues after the 2020 season, the ValleyCats were not selected to continue in affiliated baseball. They joined the independent Frontier League for the 2021 season, which was designated as an MLB Partner League that year.

Prior to their arrival in Troy, the club was based first in Little Falls, New York, as the Little Falls Mets (1977–1988), and then in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as the Pittsfield Mets (1989–2000) and Pittsfield Astros (2001).

The ValleyCats played their first game on the road in Lowell, Massachusetts, on June 18, 2002, against their rival the Lowell Spinners. The Spinners had a 3–1 lead going into the eighth inning, but a triple by Aneudi Cuevas down the right field line drove in three runs leading the ValleyCats to a 5–4 victory.

In their 2006 season, the ValleyCats registered an attendance of 129,126 in 37 contests, averaging 3,489 fans per game. On July 4, 2006, the ValleyCats set a new all-time home attendance mark as 6,123 people attended a game against the Lowell Spinners which was later broken in the following years.

The Valley Cats hosted the fourth annual New York–Penn League All-Star Game at Joseph L. Bruno Stadium in 2008. The game was played between teams made up of the affiliates of National League (NL) and American League (AL) teams. The ValleyCats, affiliates of the National League's Houston Astros, were part of the NL squad. Four ValleyCats were voted to play in the game: first baseman Phil Disher, left fielder Jack Shuck, pitcher Philip Rummel, and center fielder Thomas Steele. However, Steele was injured two weeks before the game and was replaced by Tri-City third baseman David Flores. The NL All-Stars won the game on a walk-off RBI by Tri-City's David Flores. Flores was also voted MVP of the game.^[1]

On June 21, 2008, pitchers Shane Wolf, David Miller, and Ashton Mowdy combined to throw the first no-hitter in the franchise's history. Wolf is a native of nearby Lansing. The ValleyCats won, 10–0, over the Oneonta Tigers.^[2]

On July 4, 2008, The ValleyCats broke their single-game attendance record drawing 6,630 to the ballpark, 2,130 more than the listed capacity. The ValleyCats won, 9–2, against the Jamestown Jammers.^[3] The team also set a season attendance record in 2008 with 140,631 fans in attendance despite missing many games due to rain.

The ValleyCats once again broke attendance records in 2009. Their single-game attendance record was broken again on July 4 against the Brooklyn Cyclones. A crowd of 6,838 fans attended the 2–1 ValleyCats loss.^[4] They also set a new single season attendance record, attracting 145,976 fans to Joseph L. Bruno Stadium that season.^[5] Tri-City finished the season in fourth place in the Stedler Division, 18 games behind first-place Lowell.^[6]

After three losing seasons, the ValleyCats finally turned around to be one of the front runners in the Stedler Division. Led by manager Jim Pankovits, they were the underdog in the 2010 NYPL playoffs with a 38–36 record, and having won their division by only a half game over the Connecticut Tigers. They reached the championship series for the third time in their short history, and beat the heavy favorite Brooklyn Cyclones (51–24), two games to none.

The second no-hitter in ValleyCats history was thrown on August 6, 2015. Pitchers Kevin McCanna, Ralph Garza, and Zac Person combined for the road win against the Aberdeen IronBirds at Leidos Field at Ripken Stadium, 5–0.^[7]

After the cancelled 2020 minor league season, Major League Baseball took direct control of Minor League Baseball and discontinued short-season play. The ValleyCats were not among the teams invited to continue in affiliated baseball.^[8] On January 7, 2021, the team announced that it would be joining the Frontier League, an independent MLB Partner league, for the 2021 season.^[9] The 2021 and 2022 seasons were disappointing for the ValleyCats as they missed the playoffs both years. In the 2023 season, the ValleyCats attempted to get into the playoffs. However, they were beaten by the Sussex County Miners for the third and final playoff spot. Despite both clubs having the same record in the East Division, the Miners had a longer winning streak than the Valley Cats. This meant that the ValleyCats missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row. In 2024, the Valley Cats clinched the playoffs for the first time since 2018, placing second in the East Division. However, they lost to the Ottawa Titans in the Wild Card game 5-2.

The ValleyCats have several mascots, the three most prominent being SouthPaw, his grandfather, Pappy, and his best friend, Ribbie. SouthPaw is a jersey-wearing cat, representing the "ValleyCat", the team's nickname. Another fan-favorite is Sammy Baseball who wears a patriotic costume and resembles Uncle Sam, reputedly derived from Samuel Wilson who operated a meat packing plant in Troy. The Tri-City Mayors, large caricature heads representing the current Mayors of Troy, Albany, and Schenectady, race (and dance) on a nightly basis at the ballpark. Ketchup, Mustard, and Relish mascots participate in a hot dog race. Other mascots include Spiedie the Chicken, Zoggy the Dinosaur, and Rowdy the River Rat, obtained when the Albany River Rats moved to Charlotte, North Carolina.^[10]

• 2004: Defeated Brooklyn Cyclones, 2 games to 1; lost to Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2 games to 0, in championship round.
• 2006: Defeated Auburn Doubledays, 2 games to none; lost to Staten Island Yankees, 2 games to 1, in championship round.
• 2010: Defeated Batavia Muckdogs, 2 games to 1; defeated Brooklyn Cyclones, 2 games to 0, in championship round.
• 2012: Defeated Auburn Doubledays, 2 games to 1; lost to Hudson Valley Renegades, 2 game to 1, in championship round.
• 2013: Defeated Aberdeen IronBirds, 2 games to 0; defeated State College Spikes, 2 games to 1, in championship round.
• 2014: Defeated the Connecticut Tigers, 2 games to none; lost to the State College Spikes, 2 games to 1.
• 2015: Lost semi-finals to Staten Island Yankees, 2 games to 0.
• 2018: Defeated Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 2 games to 0; defeated Hudson Valley Renegades, 2 games to 0, in championship round.
• 2024: Lost East Division Wild Card Game to Ottawa Titans 5-2.

• Total Attendance
  • Joseph L. Bruno Stadium
    • 2002 – 108,409
    • 2003 – 103,984
    • 2004 – 110,497
    • 2005 – 116,674
    • 2006 – 129,126
    • 2007 – 136,809
    • 2008 – 140,631 (7th most in NY–Penn League).^[11]
    • 2009 – 145,976 (6th most in NY–Penn League).^[12]
    • 2010 – 155,315 (5th most in NY–Penn League).^[13]
    • 2011 – 156,297 (6th most in NY–Penn League).^[14]
    • 2012 – 159,966 (5th most in NY–Penn League).^[15]
    • 2013 – 156,712 (4th most in NY–Penn League).^[16]
    • 2014 – 161,171 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).^[17]
    • 2015 – 153,692 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).^[18]
    • 2016 – 149,847 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).^[19]
    • 2017 – 142,922 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).^[20]
    • 2018 – 140,036 (3rd most in NY–Penn League).^[21]
    • 2019 - 131,529 (3rd most in NY-Penn League).^[22]
    • 2020 - SEASON CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19.^[23]
    • 2021 - 100,519 (2nd most in Frontier League).^[24]
    • 2022 - 134,617 (5th most in Frontier League).^[25]
    • 2023 - 136,231 (4th most in Frontier League).^[26]

• Ballpark Dimensions
  • LF – 325 feet (99 m)
  • CF – 400 feet (122 m)
  • RF – 325 feet (99 m)
• First Game
  • Tuesday, June 18, 2002 vs Lowell Spinners (at LeLacheur Park, Lowell, Massachusetts – W 5–4)
• Season Records (2002–present)
  • Hits
    • 2022 – Brantley Bell (138)
  • Doubles
    • 2022 – Brantley Bell (30)
  • Triples
    • 2015 – Aaron Mizell (7)
    • 2017 – Andy Pineda (7)
  • Home runs
    • 2022 – Denis Phipps (33)
  • Runs Batted In
    • 2022 – Denis Phipps (91)
  • Stolen Bases
    • 2023 – Jaxon Hallmark (33)
  • Wins
    • 2004 – Ronnie Ventura (11)
  • Saves
    • 2021 – Trey Cochran-Gill (24)
  • Strikeouts
    • 2022 – Joey Gonzalez (128)

Former/Current notable baseball players who played for the ValleyCats as a minor league affiliate, the year they played for the ValleyCats, and the team they debuted with (If debuted yet).

Former/Current notable baseball players who played for the ValleyCats in the Frontier League, the year they played for the ValleyCats, and the team they returned with.

• Sports in New York's Capital District

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tri-City ValleyCats.

• Official website