Introduction to Chapter 4:

1971-1976: The Altobelli Era

In the early 1970s Rochester Community Baseball was the most successful franchise in the minor leagues - if not all of Organized Baseball. The Red Wings were the shining light amidst the gloom of the still declining minors. Rochesterian Joe Altobelli returned to manage the team to a string of successes unequalled since the mid-1950s. He showed an ability to match style with talent; his squads ranged from the brute offensive power of the 1971 team to those of '74 and '76 that won on masterful pitching and defense.

During the years 1969-74, the parent Orioles captured five division titles, three American League championships and one World Series. The organization was ripe with talent and the glut pushed gifted players down to Rochester. Bobby Grich, Don Baylor, Roric Harrison, Richie Coggins, Jim Fuller and Eddie Murray were among those that helped produce three pennants and one memorable Junior World Series' crown in Altobelli's six seasons. (The franchise could well have captured five pennants in those six years - one flag was lost in a post-season series and yet another dropped via a one-game playoff.) The 1971 squad would later be named one of the Top 10 minor league clubs of all time.

Equally helpful was the organization's allure to older players. Veterans such as Terry Crowley, Tom Shopay, Bill Kirkpatrick, Mickey Scott and Jim Hutto all came and went - and later returned, willing to play in the minors only because it was Rochester.

The Red Wings continually led the International League in attendance and were annually near, if not at, the top of the turnstile charts for all minor leagues. The resulting profits were poured into keeping Silver Stadium the jewel of the minors. The level of prosperity in the five seasons between 1971-1975, as evidenced by gate figures and bank statements, was unmatched in Rochester baseball history.

But even as the team continued to win, the foundations of community baseball began to weaken. Two general managers resigned; one, if not both, forced to do so. The unexpected death of Morrie Silver in 1974 took away the strong hand that had guided and influenced the course of the Red Wings across three decades. Despite a pennant in Altobelli's last season, attendance dipped and RCB found itself in red ink for the first time in a decade. Silver Stadium was showing its age and yearly maintenance beginning to drain a larger chunk of income. A new set of challenges was evolving to test the leadership of Rochester Community Baseball.

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