Introduction

The impetus for this book was Monroe County's multi-year journey toward a new baseball stadium. Its beginnings can be traced back to the late 1970s, but the issue reached a critical point in the early 1990s, when it entered the realm of public debate. And while I could appreciate the arguments of those who felt that public money would be ill-spent on a new stadium, I could not fathom the feelings of those who simply responded that they didn't care if the Red Wings remained in Rochester.

I was disappointed (but not surprised) that there were those who didn't know and appreciate the rich history of the Rochester Red Wing franchise. Baseball in this area pre-dates the Civil War and 1877 was the first year a Rochester nine appeared in a professional league. Certainly an all-encompassing book from 1877 to the present was possible. But it would not allow me to do it in the manner in which I wanted. A one-volume book would not permit much more than a listing of yearly records, statistical leaders and some notable performances and incidents. For me, the story of a season is so much more than just a team's final record and a litany of statistical leaders. Was this team expected to do well? Did it fail? Did it play over its head? Did it blow a big league and finish out of first, or make a notable rush for the pennant? And anyone who knows team sports is aware that it is not just the stars that make teams successful. An injustice would be served if the role players, the part-timers, were ignored.

Most of all, baseball in Rochester did not exist in a vacuum. It was touched by events in the minor leagues, events in the major leagues, events in the legal system, events in the world. Beginning in 1957, the Red Wings were primarily influenced by events right here in Rochester, as a large group of local baseball fans took control of the franchise.

So this study had to be broken up. It didn't take much research to realize that there are three distinct eras in the history of Rochester baseball. The first dates from 1877 (Rochester's first pro team) and ends in 1927. This marks the independent era, when all Rochester teams were owned and operated by local interests and existed outside the direct control of major league baseball. The second epoch was the St. Louis Cardinal era, which dated from that major league team's purchase of the Rochester franchise in 1928 until its sale in 1957. That same year the third period began, with the creation of Rochester Community Baseball Inc.

Those divisions left me with a choice of where to start. Certainly the beginning is the most logical starting point; yet the St. Louis Cardinal era was perhaps the most successful time on the field. But it is my belief that the third era was coming to a close with the construction of a new ballpark. RCB still operates the team and so the end may not be as clearly defined as the others. However the move of the team from Silver Stadium to Frontier Field in 1997 does represent a closure. One aspect certainly is the departure from the stadium that has served the team since 1928. Yet another, equally important factor is the end of the last measure of true independence Rochester Community Baseball had - the ownership and operation of its own ballpark. While the financial burden of Silver Stadium almost brought the franchise to the brink of financial ruin, its possession gave the ballclub a modicum of control and a unique situation unlike almost any other minor league team.

It was not really a hard choice. This period from 1957-1996 represents the period in which Rochesterians held the most influence on the doings of its ballclub. Local fans helped to save the team in 1957 and in the 1990s their support certainly helped drive plans for a new ballpark, which undoubtedly saved the Red Wings from leaving Rochester. The history of Rochester Community Baseball stands alone as a story and represents the proudest chapter in the history of America's pastime in Rochester.

I will not wax philosophically on the sport of baseball. It is a game and sometimes we lose sight of that. On the major league level we over-pay and over-glorify its heroes and allow its operators to blackmail our cities to pay for facilities. But the minor leagues remain different. Those who have toiled in the minors include players that not have reached their goal, or, in previous years, former big-leaguers playing for the enjoyment, or because it was the only job they knew. Many minor league owners operate franchises with an eye toward the value such a team can add to an area, not just personal profits.

It is perhaps hard to imagine that just 25 years ago the Red Wing franchise was the envy of the minor leagues. There were those that said the team was better run than some of its major league counterparts. Rochester was the best baseball town in America, opined many. The franchise and city have since fallen from those lofty levels. There have been some unpleasant incidents and poor decisions made in the intervening years, but those involved always tried to put the good of the franchise at the forefront.

Despite the decline from the glory days, the Red Wings' continued existence is still a sizeable accomplishment. Western New York rivals in Buffalo and Syracuse have come and gone, and returned, but Rochester has been a constant presence in the International League since 1885. The construction of Frontier Field assures a continued place in the IL and many believe the new field will usher in another golden era for Rochester baseball.

My goal is simply to tell a story. It is not just about a baseball team. It is about Rochester and everyone who has gone to Silver to watch a game has taken part in it. Those people will no doubt find fond and familiar memories detailed in these pages. Beyond that, I have just one wish: an appreciation by the people in this community for the sacrifices that have been made so that professional baseball in Rochester would continue.

Brian A. Bennett
October 5, 1996

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