Williamsport Red Sox

New York-Penn League (1971-1972)

Background

The Williamsport Red Sox were a short-lived farm team of the Boston Red Sox based out of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Williamsport was part of the short-season Class A New York-Penn League at the time, playing a 70-game schedule that stretched from late June to Labor Day weekend. Bowman Field was the first stop in the minor leagues for many of Boston’s teenage draft picks of the era, often arriving in Williamsport directly out of high school.

In early 1973 team owner Joe Romano moved the team to Elmira, New York where it remained a Red Sox farm club until 1992.

The former Williamsport Red Sox franchise remains active in the New York-Penn League as of this writing in 2020 as the Lowell (MA) Spinners. But the team’s future is in doubt with the 2020 cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and short-season Class A baseball marked for elimination in Major League Baseball’s plan to contract and re-organization Minor League Baseball in 2021.

On The Field

Six future Major Leaguers played at Bowman Field during the Red Sox’ two-year tenancy, including future Hall-of-Famer Jim Rice.

• First baseman Jack Baker (Williamsport ’71)
• Pitcher Mark Bomback (Williamsport ’71)
• Catcher Bo Diaz (Williamsport ’71)
• Outfielder Jim Rice (Williamsport ’71)
• Pitcher Don Aase (Williamsport ’72
• First baseman Ernie Whitt (Williamsport ’72)

Rice, then 18 years old, spent the entire 1971 season in Williamsport after Boston made him the #15 overall selection in the 1971 MLB amateur draft. He hit .256 with 5 home runs and 27 RBI in 60 games.

Diaz and Whitt both became Major League All-Stars as catchers during the 1980’s.  But each man appeared in only a single game for Williamsport during their ascent up the minor league ladder.

Don Aase likely did not impress local Williamsport as a future Major League star during the summer of 1972. The 17-year old pitcher was 0-10 with a 5.81 ERA during his rookie season in pro ball. Aase went on to a 13-year Major League career and recorded a save for the American League in the 1986 All-Star Game.

Dick Berardino, a fixture in the Boston Red Sox’ player development system for half a century starting in 1968, managed Williamsport both years. The team had a losing record (30-39) in 1971 and finished dead last in (22-47) in 1972.

Trivia

Ernie Whitt was the last active alumnus of the Williamsport Red Sox in professional baseball when he played his final Major League game on July 3, 1991.

Williamsport Red Sox Shop

Links

New York-Penn League Media Guides

New York-Penn League Programs