New York-Penn League (1982-1995)
Tombstone
Founded: 1982
Re-Branded: 1996 (Auburn Doubledays)
First Game:
Last Game:
New York-Penn League Championships: None
Stadium
1982-1994: Falcon Park I
1995: Falcon Park II (2,500)11995 Hudson Valley Renegades Program
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners: Auburn Community Baseball
Major League Affiliation: Houston Astros
Background
Auburn, New York (pop. ~28,000) is one of the smallest cities in the country to host affiliated minor league baseball today. Dating back to 1958, New York-Penn League clubs at Auburn’s Falcon Park have been community-owned by a group known as Auburn Community Baseball. The community ownership model has allowed Auburn to buck the NY-Penn League trend of the 1990’s and 2000’s which saw many small blue-collar communities in upstate New York lose their franchises to larger cities willing to construct gleaming new taxpayer-financed ballparks.
Auburn has played host to numerous New York-Penn League clubs since 1958, but the city’s longest relationship was with the National League’s Houston Astros. After a summer without baseball in 1981, the Auburn Astros formed in 1982. Key players that came through Auburn during the Astros era included Luis Gonzalez (Auburn ’88) and Kenny Lofton (’88-’89).
Astros To Doubledays
In 1996, Auburn dropped “Astros” from its name and re-branded as the Auburn Doubledays. The partnership with the Houston Astros lasted through the 2000 season. The Doubledays continue to play to this day, currently as a farm club of the Washington Nationals.
Auburn Astros Shop
Great Farm teams of the past
Apparel From the Minor Leagues
When it comes to high-quality replica jerseys, turn to Royal Retros, who put extraordinary detail into their fully customizable baseball jerseys, including those for the legendary farm teams of yesteryear, as well as other great teams. T-Shirts and caps too!
Free Customization Included
Each jersey individually handmade
Any name and number
Sewn tackle twill crest, numbers & letters
100% polyester
Heavyweight fabric made to game standards
Honor the memory of the ball players from the minors in great apparel from Royal Retros
Auburn Astros Video
Long 1994 This Week In Baseball feature on life with the Auburn Astros and the upcoming renovation of Auburn’s Falcon park for the 1995 season.
Links
New York-Penn League Media Guides
##
2 Responses
Wow, for a 1980s New York-Penn League club, that’s a really attractive, pleasant-looking program cover. Me gusta mucho.
(more used to them looking like this: https://funwhileitlasted.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/84gencub-program.png)
Funny story, around 1983 I had a friend from the Syracuse NY area. He knew minor baseball well, had connections in the upstate NY area. I distinctly remember him asking me “Do you want to buy a minor league team, the Auburn Astros?” I listened but disregarded the suggestion knowing how incredibly poor I was. I still remember this and think “what if”….