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Lancaster Stormers Wiki Information

The Lancaster Barnstormers are an American professional baseball team based in Lancaster, . They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2005 season to the present, the Barnstormers have played their home games at Clipper Magazine Stadium, in the city's Northwest Corridor.

The Barnstormers represent all Lancaster County, even though they play in the city of Lancaster. ^[1] The team designates many of its home games to honor the county's smaller communities. ^[2]

Baseball fans in Lancaster waited 44 years for the sport to return after the Lancaster Red Roses folded following the 1961 season. In 2003, Lancastrians chose the name "Barnstormers" in a team-sponsored fan ballot. ^[3] The name refers to the act of barnstorming , which means to travel around an area appearing in exhibition sports events, especially baseball games . ^[4] It was used to describe Lancaster's baseball teams as far back as 1906 by the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer : "There was a crowd of between seven and eight hundred persons out on Friday to see the Lancaster barnstormers play the Philadelphia Giants." ^[5] The team's primary logo was designed with local history in mind, as the team colors of red, navy blue, and khaki were the same as those used by the former Red Roses. The name and logo also allude to Lancaster County's agricultural heritage, notable for its inclusion of Amish culture and lore. ^[6] The Barnstormers organization lightheartedly calls its market the "Pennsylvania Clutch Country", referring to Lancaster's location in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country and the sports jargon, clutch . ^[7]

LANCASTER STORMERS TICKETS

EVENT	DATE	AVAILABILITY
Long Island Ducks vs. Lancaster Stormers Tickets 4/25	Apr 25, 2025 Fri, 6:35 PM
Long Island Ducks vs. Lancaster Stormers Tickets 4/26	Apr 26, 2025 Sat, 6:35 PM
Long Island Ducks vs. Lancaster Stormers Tickets 4/27	Apr 27, 2025 Sun, 1:35 PM
York Revolution vs. Lancaster Stormers Tickets 4/29	Apr 29, 2025 Tuesday
York Revolution vs. Lancaster Stormers Tickets 4/30	Apr 30, 2025 Wednesday

History of Lancaster baseball

The beginning

Baseball first came to Lancaster County in the 1860s by soldiers returning home from the Civil War. They learned the rules while serving in the military and wanted to continue playing. ^[8] The very first professional baseball teams in Lancaster were the Lancaster Lancasters and the Lancaster Ironsides. The Lancasters played in the Keystone Association while the Ironsides played in the Eastern League, both starting in 1884. The following season, the Lancasters joined the Eastern League, and the two teams became bitter rivals. They competed against each other for fan support, league affiliation, and money at the gate. At its peak, insults and refusals to play against each other were the norm. The teams finally agreed to play each other at the end of the 1884 season, in which the Ironsides defeated the Lancasters after seven very close games. The Lancasters were the only team to continue play in the next season. ^[9]

The 1890s

In the 1894–1895 season, a team called the Lancaster Chicks played in the Keystone Association. An all-African-American team called the Lancaster Giants followed in 1887, and many Lancastrians supported the team despite the social pressure of the day. The Giants hosted many exhibition games against the Philadelphia Giants of the Keystone Club. ^[10]

Between the years 1896 and 1899, the first team called the Lancaster Maroons played in the original Atlantic League. In 1905, the second inception of the Maroons played in the Tri-State League. ^[11]

Lancaster Red Roses

In 1906, the Maroons became the Lancaster Red Roses. As both teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of the Roses, the name change infuriated the rival White Roses from the nearby city of York. ^[12]

Lancaster's new era: the Barnstormers

In 2003, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball formally announced an expansion team for the city of Lancaster. In November 2004, the Barnstormers announced the locally-anticipated signing of Tom Herr, a Major League Baseball veteran and Lancaster native, as the team's first manager. ^[13] At the press conference, Herr responded, "I have been looking forward to the return of baseball to Lancaster for quite some time. This is almost too good to be true, being able to manage in my hometown." His oldest son, Aaron, signed with the Barnstormers for the 2009 season, after a severe groin injury compromised his promising career at the Class-AAA level. ^[14] Jordan Herr, another son of Tom, joined the team in the first half of the 2008 season in lieu of completing his senior year at the University of Pittsburgh. Following his first season of professional baseball that included a .202 batting average with four home runs and 16 runs batted in, Jordan committed to the Great Falls Voyagers, a Rookie-level team in the Chicago White Sox system. ^[15] ^[16]

The Barnstormers' first playing season came in 2005 at the newly-built Clipper Magazine Stadium. On May 11, the Barnstormers lost their first game 4–3 to the Atlantic City Surf, in front of 7,300 fans. They finished the 2005 season with a record of 64 wins and 76 losses. In finishing the first half of the 2006 season with a record of 38–25, the Barnstormers qualified for their first Atlantic League playoff berth. They followed this feat with a second-half win, posting a record of 37–26. After besting division challenger, Atlantic City, in the first round of the playoffs, the Barnstormers swept the Bridgeport Bluefish on October 1, 2006 for their first ever Atlantic League championship, in only their second season. Pitcher Denny Harriger threw a complete game, breaking a franchise record for consecutive pitches. In doing so, the Barnstormers became the first Atlantic League team in history to sweep their way through both rounds of the playoffs on the way to a title. It was the city of Lancaster’s first professional championship since 1955, when the former Red Roses won the Piedmont League title.

The Barnstormers are heavily covered in the Lancaster press and receive a significant following from Lancaster-area fans, many of whom hail the organization as family-friendly in their planning of events for game nights. Even though some Lancastrians have speculated the possibility of the organization becoming a Major League-affiliated club, two nearby affiliated teams in Harrisburg and Reading have made it clear that they will not waive their territorial claims over Lancaster. ^[17]

The Barnstormers implemented a few changes prior to the 2009 season because of the 2008-2009 economic recession. The most significant was moving their spring training from Lakeland, Florida, the traditional Atlantic League preseason location, to Lancaster. The Barnstormers spring training includes exhibitions with local colleges, Franklin & Marshall and Elizabethtown. ^[18]

The Barnstormers are managed by Tom Herr, who rejoined the Barnstormers for the 2009 season as the team's bench coach. Herr's leadership of the team during the 2006 championship season inspired the Washington Nationals to assign him to their A-level affiliate in Hagerstown, Maryland. He parted ways with the Nationals after the 2007 season, and was not successful in rejoining the Barnstormers for 2008 because they hired Von Hayes, a former teammate of Herr from the 1989 and 1990 Phillies. ^[19]

Rick Wise, the winning pitcher for the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series, is a managerial alumnus of the Lancaster Barnstormers. He was the team's third base coach from the inaugural 2005 season to the end of the 2008 campaign. ^[20]

Logos and uniforms

The team colors of the Lancaster Barnstormers are red, navy blue, and khaki. These were the same colors used by the Red Roses, representing a conscious effort to connect the past and the present of Lancaster County baseball. The primary logo consists of a typical red barn outlined in navy blue with a streaking baseball. Unlike most sports logos, the city name is prominently featured rather than the team nickname. Team management decided to emphasize the Lancaster community, so that the whole county could feel a sense of ownership and pride. ^[21]

The Barnstormers' uniforms are traditional in design, with the caps produced by The Game Headwear and the uniforms by Rawlings. The home cap is red throughout with a stylized, cursive "L" colored white, navy blue, and khaki, interwoven with a streaking baseball centered on the front. The away cap is navy blue throughout with a stylized, cursive "L" colored red, navy blue, and khaki, interwoven with a streaking baseball centered on the front. The "Barnstormers" wordmark is centered on the back toward the lower edge on both of the caps. The team also has an alternate cap that features a navy blue crown with a red brim and button. The fifth anniversary home jerseys are white with traditional red piping. The word "Lancaster" is arched across the front of the jersey in red block letters outlined in navy blue. The player's last name is arched above the number on the back in navy blue. The away jersey is grey with red piping on the sleeves and "Lancaster" in red block letters, outlined in navy blue, arched across the front. The alternate jersey is red with the "Barnstormers" wordmark featured in navy blue with white outline. The Barnstormers wear red belts, socks, and undershirts with all uniforms.

For the War of the Roses series, the Barnstormers wear throwback uniforms of the Red Roses. The caps are navy blue with a white, cursive "L" centered on the front. The jerseys are white with red piping and the Old English "L" centered on the left-side chest, also in red. ^[22]

Season-by-season records

Lancaster Barnstormers - 2005 to 2008 ^[23]
Season	W - L Record	Winning Percentage	Finish	Playoffs
2005	66–76	.464	3rd in South Division
2006	74–51	.592	1st in South Division	5–0 (won championship)
2007	57–69	.452	3rd in South Division
2008	64–76	.457	3rd in Freedom Division
Totals (2005-2008)	261–272	.490
Playoffs	5–0	1.000
War of the Roses	19–19	.500

1 Atlantic League Championship (2006)

Tradition

Code Red

During the Barnstormers' 2006 playoff run, the team management created a new tradition: "Code Red." When a Code Red is called, all team employees and loyal fans dress in red and use red rally towels to support the Barnstormers. It is usually declared for important home games, especially when the team competes against their local nemesis in nearby York. ^[24]

"Everybody hits!"

"Everybody hits!" is the common cheer used by Barnstormers fans, originating with a Philadelphia Phillies fan who used the cheer at the former Veterans Stadium. The phrase is believed to be first used for the Barnstormers by a fan named Mert McHarg. McHarg also is known for his use of a cowbell to root for the team since their inaugural season, inspiring other fans to bring their own cowbells to clang. ^[25] On Agriculture/Dairy Night of the 2008 season, the Barnstormers had a giveaway promotion of red cowbells including the primary logo. ^[26]

War of the Roses

The South Central Pennsylvania cities of Lancaster and York have a historical rivalry in all sporting events from the high school level to the professional. As both cities are named after the English cities of Lancaster and York, the former Pennsylvania baseball teams were named for the opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses. Just as in the English battles, the Lancaster Red Roses and the York White Roses fought intense baseball matches throughout their existence. With the addition of York to the Atlantic League, the Barnstormers continue the Red Roses tradition as they battle the York Revolution for lower Susquehanna supremacy.

With the sound of cannons, the War of the Roses was rekindled in April 2007 in Wrightsville, a borough on the natural boundary dividing Lancaster and York counties: the Susquehanna River. The winner of the War of the Roses is presented with the Community Cup, while the defeated team is obligated to sing the ballpark classic "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and plant a rose garden at the opponent's ballpark with their representative color: red for Lancaster, white for York. The first Community Cup was championed by the Barnstormers in the 2007 season, though the Revolution avenged them by winning it in 2008. ^[27]

The Barnstormers and the Revolution also compete in the Route 30 Showdown, an annual cross-county doubleheader inadvertently created at the conclusion of the 2008 season by a rain-delay. ^[28]

Promotions

The Barnstormers host two annual promotions at Clipper Magazine Stadium that highlight aspects of the local culture. As the city of Lancaster is home to a large contingent of Puerto Ricans ^[29], the team hosts the Hispanic Heritage Day celebration once every season. ^[30] The Barnstormers pay homage to the county's populace by promoting a common Pennsylvania Dutch dessert called the whoopie pie. ^[31] The dessert has been a regular concession at Clipper Magazine Stadium since its 2005 opening. ^[32]

With the inaugural season of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in 2008, the Barnstormers partnered with a local seafood restaurant to initiate the team's annual "Crack the Crabs" feast. The promotion is a jest to the "Blue Crabs" nickname - with all patrons given a free mallet. ^[33]

On June 29, 2009, the Barnstormers celebrated the Hershey Bears' 2009 American Hockey League championship, with an appearance of the Calder Cup and team captain, Bryan Helmer. On the following night, the Phillie Phanatic joined Cylo for some additional entertainment. ^[34]

Philanthropy

Philanthropy is an important facet of the Barnstormers' representation of the Lancaster community. Many of the team's home game promotions are designed to benefit various philanthropic organizations. The specialty jerseys worn by the Barnstormers on commemorative home games benefit the Spanish-American Lancaster Sports Association (SALSA), Play Ball USA, Batters Up, and the Lancaster Art Museum. ^[35] ^[36] "Rally Roni", initiated by the shaking of macaroni and cheese boxes, provides food for the homeless in Lancaster, Lebanon, Dauphin, and York Counties, as well as the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware. Video board announcements at Clipper Magazine Stadium require a $5 donation that is deposited into the Cylo Fund, which supports the Spanish-American Civic Association, the Lancaster Day Care Center, as well as the purchase and distribution of Christmas presents to children in homeless shelters during the holidays.

In 2008, the Barnstormers partnered with the James Street Improvement District (JSID) to reward those who commit random acts of kindness in the Lancaster community. The JSID Bike Patrol grants Good Deed Tickets, redeemable for a free game or winter activity. A Grand Prize winner is also selected from the pool of recipients. The Grand Prize is eight tickets to the final home game of the regular season, including the opportunity to throw the ceremonial last first pitch of season. ^[37]

Fundraising

Prior to the 2009 season, the Lancaster Barnstormers initiated a new, internet-based fundraising campaign. With this program, a charity can choose a specific game to attract ticket sales, with the team providing promotional materials containing a group password and link for fans tp purchase tickets via the team's website. Once 100 tickets are sold through that link, the Barnstormers give the charity $4.00 for each seat sold. If ticket sales through that link reach 500 sold, then $4.50 of each ticket sold (half the value of a regular ticket)will go to the nonprofit. The team's motivation behind the new campaign is the lack of funds being given to charity and nonprofit organizations because of the 2008-2009 economic recession. ^[38]

Radio and television

Select home games are televised on Blue Ridge Cable-11. ^[39] However, all Barnstormers games are broadcast by Fox Sports Radio 1490 am (WLPA) with Dave Collins, the official "Voice of the Barnstormers." ^[40] Since the 2009 season, all of the Barnstormers home games are broadcast on iBN Sports (Interactive Broadcast Network), an internet-based sports broadcaster. ^[41]

On-field entertainment

Mascot

The Lancaster Barnstormers' official mascot is an anthropomorphic, red cow named Cylo. He wears the team's home jersey with striped socks and retro-style sneakers. Cylo debuted on March 4, 2005 at the Mascot Roller Mill in the Lancaster County village of Mascot. His name in full is Cyloicious L. Barnstormer, alluding to Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young and to the silo, representing the county's agricultural heritage. ^[42] The mascot was designed by the Raymond Entertainment Group, which also produces the Phillie Phanatic's costume.

Barnyard Beat

Additional on-field entertainment at Clipper Magazine Stadium is provided by the Barnyard Beat, the official dance team of the Lancaster Barnstormers. The team is sponsored by the Pulse Dance Studio and is led by Jennifer Olsen, a 25-year veteran of professional dance. The Barnyard Beat consists of female dancers from the Pulse Dance Studio, in ages ranging from seven to eighteen. ^[43]