The Pawtucket Red Sox
(known colloquially as the PawSox
) are the minor league baseball Triple-A affiliates of the Boston Red Sox and belong to the International League. They play their home games at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island (in the Providence market).
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Team history
The first team to be dubbed the Pawtucket Red Sox debuted at
McCoy Stadium in 1970 as a member of the Double-A
Eastern League. After three seasons as a Double-A Boston affiliate, this franchise moved to
Bristol, Connecticut, in 1973 to make room for the Triple-A PawSox. The
Bristol franchise moved to
New Britain, Connecticut, in 1983 and now plays as the
New Britain Rock Cats, an affiliate of the
Minnesota Twins since 1995.
The Triple-A team that is now the Pawtucket Red Sox was long ago the
International League franchise
Toronto Maple Leafs. After the
American Association and its
Louisville Colonels franchise folded in 1962 and the
American League owners voted down
Charlie O. Finley's agreement to move the
Kansas City A's to
Louisville in 1964, Louisville was ready for the return of baseball. In 1968 the Maple Leafs, the Red Sox' top minor league club since 1965, were bought by Walter J. Dilbeck and moved to Louisville where they became the new Louisville Colonels, the Triple-A franchise of the
Boston Red Sox. While in Louisville, star players included
Carlton Fisk (1971),
Dwight Evans (1972) and
Cecil Cooper (1972). The Louisville Colonels made the International League playoffs in 1969 and 1972. However, in 1972 the Kentucky State Fair Board, which operated the stadium where the Colonels played, decided to convert the facility to primary use for
football.
Following the 1972 season the Louisville Colonels moved to Pawtucket and became the Pawtucket Red Sox. The team was an instant success on the field, led by future major leaguers Cecil Cooper and
Dick Pole, winning the 1973
Governors' Cup Championship in their inaugural year in the league over the
Charleston Charlies. The following season the team finished 30 games below .500 and in 1975, while the parent club was on their way to the
World Series, the PawSox finished with a miserable 53-87. Following another sub-.500 season in 1976 the franchise went bankrupt, unable to pay off $2 million worth of debt.
Although it appeared the Red Sox's brief flirtation with the Pawtucket area was about to come to an end, retired businessman
Ben Mondor stepped in and made sure the team would remain entrenched in the city. What Mondor wanted, and got, was a new franchise; although to outsiders it would appear as if nothing had changed since the team name remained the same. So it was really in 1977 that the current Pawtucket Red Sox, and PawSox, were born. To his credit, Mondor has turned Pawtucket into a viable baseball market, where so many others had failed before. In his 25 years at the helm of the PawSox, Mondor has seen the average attendance for Pawtucket games go from barely 1,000 fans per game in 1977 to nearly 9,000 in 2000. Mondor has been part of the management that has overseen the transformation of McCoy Stadium from an aging 1942 relic into its currently renovated form. And while keeping the price of tickets at $6 and $10
[1], parking has always been free. The PawSox usually lead the league in attendance, and in 2005 set a franchise record with 688,421 tickets sold during the year.
Kevin Youkilis played for the team in 2003, and managed to complete a streak he started while in Portland: he reached base in 71 consecutive games, tying future teammate
Kevin Millar's minor-league record for consecutive games reaching base.
In addition to their success at the box office, the PawSox have excelled in the field. In 2000, Pawtucket set an all-time franchise record for victories with 82, as the team completed their 5th straight winning season. Three years later the PawSox would top their own record by winning 83 games. Pawtucket has fielded a winning team in 13 seasons since 1983, a span that includes 4 first place IL finishes and the 1984 team that defeated the now-defunct
Maine Guides 3-2 to win the 1984 Governors' Cup trophy for the second championship in Pawtucket Red Sox history.
As for the name PawSox, the origins are traced back to the first season in which Mondor owned the club. Three weeks before the 1977 season began the team lacked uniforms, despite having been rescued from bankruptcy. Former Boston GM
Haywood Sullivan stepped in and sent Pawtucket 48 sets of old home and away uniforms from the parent club. Although the home uniforms were fine for the team to use, the road uniforms had "Boston" stitched across the chest, which was a problem. Then Pawtucket GM
Mike Tamburro, who is currently the organization's President, suggested using the moniker "PawSox" across the front, with each unstitched "Boston" letter replaced with one that spelled "PawSox." Thus, the PawSox name was born out of the necessity of a uniform crisis, not a clever focus group-based marketing campaign.
As a man who made a career of buying and selling bankrupt business, Mondor has turned around the fortunes of Pawtucket baseball, instituting an affordable and friendly atmosphere, and giving Pawtucket a baseball tradition in line with what one would expect from an affiliate of the storied Boston Red Sox.
"The Longest Game"
The PawSox played in and won the
longest game in professional baseball history, a 33 inning affair against the
Rochester Red Wings at McCoy Stadium. The game started on April 18, 1981. Play was suspended at 4:07 AM at the end of the 32nd inning. The game did not resume again until June 23 when the Red Wings returned to Pawtucket. Only one inning was needed, with the PawSox winning 3-2 in the bottom of the 33rd when first baseman Dave Koza drove in second baseman Marty Barrett with a bases loaded single off of Cliff Speck. Future
Major League Baseball stars
Cal Ripken Jr. and
Wade Boggs played in the game.
On June 23, 2006, the PawSox celebrated the 25th
anniversary of "The Longest Game" with events and festivities when they played the
Columbus Clippers.
Perfect games
- Tomokazu Ohka pitched a nine-inning perfect game for the Pawtucket Red Sox on June 1, 2000. Ohka retired all 27 batters he faced in a 2-0 win over the Charlotte Knights, and he needed just 76 pitches to toss the first nine-inning perfect game in the International League since 1952.
- On August 10, 2003, Bronson Arroyo pitched the fourth nine-inning perfect game in the 121-year history of the International League as the PawSox beat the Buffalo Bisons 7–0 at McCoy Stadium. He needed 101 pitches to throw his masterpiece (73 strikes), struck out nine, and got 10 fly outs and eight ground balls from the Buffalo 27 batters. He went to a three-ball count to just three hitters all game. At the end of the month, he was with the big league club until the 2005 offseason, when the Red Sox traded him to the Cincinnati Reds.
Titles
The PawSox have won the
Governors' Cup, the championship of the IL, 2 times, and played in the championship series 6 times.
- 1973 Defeated Charleston
- 1977 Lost to Charleston
- 1978 Lost to Richmond
- 1984 Defeated Maine
- 1991 Lost to Columbus
- 2003 Lost to Durham
Yearly Results
| Year
| W
| L
| .PCT
| Finish
| GA/GB
| Manager
|
| 1970
| 68
| 70
| .493
| 4th Eastern League
| -9.5
| Matt Sczesny
|
| 1971
| 63
| 76
| .453
| 7th Eastern League
| -16
| Billy Gardner
|
| 1972
| 61
| 79
| .436
| 7th Eastern League
| -23
| Don Lock
|
| 1973
| 78
| 68
| .534
| 2nd International League
| -1
| Darrell Johnson
|
| 1974
| 57
| 87
| .396
| 4th International League
| -31
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1975
| 53
| 87
| .379
| 8th International League
| -32.5
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1976
| 68
| 70
| .493
| 5th International League
| -20
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1977
| 80
| 60
| .571
| 1st International League
| +2
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1978
| 81
| 59
| .579
| 2nd International League
| -4
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1979
| 66
| 74
| .471
| 5th International League
| -19.5
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1980
| 62
| 77
| .446
| 7th International League
| -20.5
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1981
| 67
| 73
| .479
| 6th International League
| -21.5
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1982
| 67
| 71
| .489
| 5th International League
| -14.5
| Joe Morgan
|
| 1983
| 56
| 83
| .403
| 8th International League
| -26.5
| Tony Torchia
|
| 1984
| 75
| 65
| .536
| 4th International League
| -7.5
| Tony Torchia
|
| 1985
| 48
| 91
| .345
| 8th International League
| -30.5
| Rac Slider
|
| 1986
| 74
| 65
| .532
| 3rd International League
| -5.5
| Ed Nottle
|
| 1987
| 73
| 67
| .521
| 4th International League
| -8
| Ed Nottle
|
| 1988
| 63
| 79
| .444
| 6th International League
| -14.5
| Ed Nottle
|
| 1989
| 62
| 84
| .425
| 8th International League
| -21.5
| Ed Nottle
|
| 1990
| 62
| 84
| .425
| 7th International League
| -27.5
| Ed Nottle (through 6/26)
Johnny Pesky (from 6/27)
|
| 1991
| 79
| 64
| .552
| 1st International League
| +3.5
| Butch Hobson
|
| 1992
| 71
| 72
| .497
| 2nd IL North
| -13.5
| Rico Petrocelli
|
| 1993
| 60
| 82
| .423
| 4th IL North
| -14.5
| Buddy Bailey
|
| 1994
| 78
| 64
| .549
| 1st IL North
| +7
| Buddy Bailey
|
| 1995
| 70
| 71
| .492
| 3rd IL North
| -2.5
| Buddy Bailey
|
| 1996
| 78
| 64
| .549
| 1st IL North
| +5.5
| Buddy Bailey
|
| 1997
| 81
| 60
| .574
| 2nd IL North
| -2
| Ken Macha
|
| 1998
| 77
| 64
| .546
| 3rd IL North
| -3
| Ken Macha
|
| 1999
| 76
| 68
| .528
| 2nd IL North
| -2
| Gary Jones
|
| 2000
| 82
| 61
| .573
| 3rd IL North
| -3
| Gary Jones
|
| 2001
| 60
| 82
| .423
| 5th IL North
| -31
| Gary Jones
|
| 2002
| 60
| 84
| .417
| 5th IL North
| -31
| Buddy Bailey
|
| 2003
| 83
| 61
| .576
| 1st IL North
| +4
| Buddy Bailey
|
| 2004
| 73
| 71
| .507
| 2nd IL North
| -10
| Buddy Bailey
|
| 2005
| 75
| 69
| .521
| 2nd IL North
| -7
| Ron Johnson
|
| 2006
| 69
| 75
| .479
| 5th IL North
| -16
| Ron Johnson
|
| 2007
| 67
| 75
| .
| 4th IL North
|
| Ron Johnson
|
| Totals
| 2364
| 2456
| .490
|
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Playoff History
| Year
| W
| L
| Result
| Round
| W
| L
| Result
| Round
|
| 1977
| 3
| 1
| Beat Richmond
| 1st round of playoffs
| 0
| 4
| Lost to Charleston
| Governors' Cup championship
|
| 1978
| 3
| 2
| Beat Toledo
| 1st round of playoffs
| 3
| 4
| Lost to Richmond
| Governors' Cup championship
|
| 1984
| 3
| 1
| Beat Columbus
| 1st round of playoffs
| 3
| 2
| Beat Maine
| Governors' Cup championship
|
| 1986
| 1
| 3
| Lost to Rochester
| 1st round of playoffs
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| 1987
| 1
| 3
| Lost to Tidewater
| 1st round of playoffs
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| 1991
| 0
| 3
| Lost to Columbus
| Governors' Cup championship
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| 1992
| 1
| 3
| Lost to Scranton
| IL East championship
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| 1994
| 1
| 3
| Lost to Syracuse
| IL East championship
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| 1996
| 1
| 3
| Lost to Rochester
| IL East championship
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| 1997
| 1
| 3
| Lost to Rochester
| IL East championship
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| 2003
| 3
| 2
| Beat Ottawa
| 1st round of playoffs
| 0
| 3
| Lost to Durham
| Governors' Cup championship
|
| 2008
| 3
| 1
| Lost to Scranton
| 1st round of playoffs
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
| Totals
| 27
| 41
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
| -
|
Current roster
|
|
| Players
| Coaches/Other
|
Starting rotation
Bullpen
|
| Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
| Manager
Coaches
† Disabled list
‡ Reserve list
§ Suspended list
|
AAA Managerial History
| Name
| Record
| Win Pct.
| Duration
|
| Darrell Johnson
| 78-68
| .534
| 1973
|
| Joe Morgan
| 601-658
| .477
| 1974-82
|
| Tony Torchia
| 131-148
| .470
| 1983-84
|
| Rac Slider
| 48-91
| .345
| 1985
|
| Ed Nottle
| 302-338
| .472
| 1986-90 (June 26)
|
| Johnny Pesky
| 32-41
| .438
| 1990 (June 27-Sept. 3)
|
| Butch Hobson
| 79-64
| .552
| 1991
|
| Rico Petrocelli
| 71-72
| .497
| 1992
|
| Buddy Bailey
| 502-497
| .503
| 1993-96,2002-04
|
| Ken Macha
| 158-124
| .560
| 1997-98
|
| Gary Jones
| 218-211
| .508
| 1999-2001
|
| Ron Johnson
| 144-144
| .500
| 2005-present
|
| Totals
| 2364-2456
| .490
| 1973-2006
|
Broadcasters
Pawtucket is noted as being a springboard for Major League baseball broadcasters. As of 2008, there are five former PawSox radio and one television announcer curretly broadcasting for major league teams.
- Gary Cohen (New York Mets)
- Dave Flemming (San Francisco Giants)
- Andy Freed (Tampa Bay Rays)
- Dave Jageler (Washington Nationals)
- Don Orsillo (Boston Red Sox)
- Glenn Geffner (Florida Marlins)
The current announcers for the
Pawsox Radio Network are
Dan Hoard and &
Steve Hyder.
[2] Select games are broadcasted on
NESN by
Eric Frede and
Ken Ryan and on
Cox Sports by Dan Hoard and
Bob Montgomery.
[3]
Other former Pawtucket announcers include
Dave Shea,
Bob Rodgers,
Bob Kurtz,
Jack LeFaivre,
Matt Pinto, and
Mike Stenhouse.
See also
- Pawtucket Red Sox Alumni
- Pawsox Radio Network
References
- PawSox.com - PawSox Tickets
- PawSox.com - The Pawtucket Red Sox Front Office
- Cox Sports Television