Nader's Raiders - Minor League Baseball in Oneonta, NYRobert Palazzo One aspect of professional baseball that will always distinguish it from other professional sports is the rich and colorful history its minor leagues have had. This past January (2002),while attending a SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) chapter meeting at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, I had the privilege to listen to one of the game's true gentleman, Sam Nader, majority owner, President, and General Manager of the Oneonta (NY) Athletic Corporation. Oneonta, NY is located about 1Ž2 hours drive south of Cooperstown. To quote Sam from the 2001 Oneonta Tigers Yearbook, "Minor league baseball has survived two world wars, blackouts, gas rationing, and countless other challenges. Minor league baseball holds a special place in the hearts of many Americans and this is especially true in Oneonta. Professional baseball made its debut in Oneonta 111 years ago as a member of the New York State League. Minor league baseball and its 160 members are celebrating the organizations 100th anniversary this year. Minor league baseball is grassroots baseball. It's part of who we are, it's America. It's an experience passed down from generation to generation. By celebrating this event with the Oneonta Tigers, you are honoring our shared heritage." Sam's actions have backed up his words. Sam is a former mayor of Oneonta and sometime during the turbulent '60s he decided that Oneonta needed something positive to boost morale. In April 1966, a franchise in the New York Penn League (the oldest continuously operated Class A league) was brought back to Oneonta, 15 years after it left when the Can-Am League folded. Apparently all was not so "wellsville" for the Red Sox farm team in Wellsville. So it moved to Oneonta, but that 1966 team would be the only one affiliated with the Red Sox. According to the Oneonta Yearbook, home opening day that first season in 1966 was rained out. Ground crews tried everything to dry the field, including pouring gasoline on the base paths and lighting it! The burning continued until it began to rain again. That winter, during league meetings, it was decided that the Northeast weather made it impossible to play a 138 game season. So the league would change to a "short season" league, playing 80 games. The Red Sox were no longer interested, which opened the door for the New York Yankees. In 1967, the Oneonta team became the Oneonta Yankees, and remained a part of the Yankee family for 32 years, until the 1999 season, when the Yankees moved their affiliation to Staten Island. During the 32 years with the Yankees, Oneonta produced 15 Division Champions and 12 League Champions. Sam also told us they posted the best record of any team in organized baseball during one 25 year stretch. Sam personally drove to Florida during spring training to meet with the Yankees and close the deal in 1967. That was the first time the Yankees could remember a team owner, and mayor of the city no less, having done that. In 2000, the team affiliated with the Detroit Tigers and continues to provide wholesome, family entertainment, just as Sam had envisioned over 35 years ago. I think Sam considered himself more than the team President or Mayor of Oneonta; it was like he was the flag bearer for Americana. And I don't mean that to be a criticism. He talked about the players as a father might, taking pride in their accomplishments and the gentlemen that they became. A sparkle entered his eye as he mentioned certain players such as Mattingly, Pettitte, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada, even John Elway. He shared with us his pride in events such as Robin Yount's visit with his family to an Oneonta game the day prior to his Hall of Fame Induction; Ken Brett's first at bat in that 1966 season being a home run and "driving the female fans crazy with his California good looks." But his broadest smile came when talking about Yankee owner George Steinbrenner. He spoke of him with respect, admiration, and maybe, just a little love. "George is a tough guy with a big heart. He is demanding, but loyal and compassionate. He would visit Oneonta with his family." When Sam lost his wife in an automobile accident (Sam suffered 54 broken bones himself), Steinbrenner personally paid his condolences to Sam, which meant more to Sam than the cards and flowers. "George saw to it that my son and I got World Series rings for 1998 and 1999. I have no ill will towards George or the Yankees. They moved to a $40 million stadium in Staten Island. What they left us was a training facility with $60,000 worth of equipment supplied by the Yankees. After the decision to move to Staten Island, George said, 'Keep the equipment. It belongs to your team.' Well, it helped us in our recruiting effort to get the Tigers to move to Oneonta."
As for the state of minor league baseball today, Sam had the following to say:
One last comment about Sam's approach to baseball as family entertainment: the Oneonta team is the only team in organized ball that doesn't sell beer. Not after the 7th inning, not before the 7th inning. Asked why, Sam shared his philosophy of what he called "beer bravery": "It's not like I'm against alcohol. I do it because my belief is that once the fan has had several beers, he becomes braver, louder, and annoying and finds the courage to yell things at the players that he ordinarily wouldn't." That's the Sam Nader way; always thinking about the players.
Ken Brett and Amos Otis were the notable names on that first team in 1966 , along with a cast of
players that probably didn't get too much further. Names of other players who were on
the Oneonta roster at one time or another that might be familiar to you include:
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