Tombstone
Born: November 21, 1965 – The Reading Indians relocate to Pawtucket, RI
Moved: November 15, 1967 (Waterbury Indians)
First Game: April 23, 1966 (W 3-1 vs. York White Roses)
Last Game: September 4, 1967 (L 5-0 vs. Williamsport Mets)
Eastern League Championships: None
Stadium
Ownership & Affiliation
Owners: Jerry Waring & George Cardono
Major League Affiliation: Cleveland Indians
Attendance
Background
The Pawtucket Indians were a Class AA farm club of the Cleveland Indians for two summers during the mid-1960’s. They were the first pro baseball team to play at the city’s McCoy Stadium since the Pawtucket Slaters and the New England League closed for business in 1949.
About 20 Pawtucket Indians from the 1966 and 1967 squads eventually made it to the Majors. The most accomplished were catcher and future New York Mets broadcaster Fran Healy (Pawtucket ’66-’67) and second baseman Dave Nelson (Pawtucket ’66). Nelson played in the 1973 MLB All-Star Game representing the Texas Rangers.
Move To Waterbury
During the Indians’ second season in Pawtucket co-owners Jerry Waring and George Cardono attempted to get into the concert promotion business. The duo imported the Boston Pops orchestra, Louis Armstong and Lionel Hampton to McCoy Stadium with grim box office results. The concert slate contributed to a money-losing year and the team shifted to Waterbury, Connecticut’s Municipal Stadium in November 1967.
The Eastern League returned to McCoy Stadium in 1970 with the arrival of the Pawtucket Red Sox. The club moved to Class AAA status in 1973. The team will play its 51st and final season at McCoy in 2020 and then move to Worcester, Massachusetts in 2021.
Pawtucket Indians Shop
In Memoriam
Outfielder Sam Parilla (Indians ’66) who made it to the Majors for 11 games with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1970, was murdered by a 15-year old teenager during a dispute over an automobile accident in Brooklyn, New York on February 9th, 1994. He was 50 years old.
Field manager Clay Bryant (Indians ’66) passed away on April 9, 1999 at the age of 87.
Infielder Gomer Hodge (Indians ’66’-67) died on May 13, 2007 following a battle with Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Second Baseman Dave Nelson (Pawtucket ’66) died of liver cancer on April 22, 2018 at age 73. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel obituary.
Links
###
