The Staten Island FerryHawks are an American minor-league professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of Staten Island. They are a member of the North Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, a "partner league" of Major League Baseball.[2][3] They play their home games at SIUH Community Park, the former home of the Staten Island Yankees, which is in the St. George neighborhood and overlooks the Manhattan skyline across New York Harbor.
| Staten Island FerryHawks | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
| Information | |||||
| League | Atlantic League of Professional Baseball | ||||
| Location | Staten Island, New York | ||||
| Ballpark | SIUH Community Park | ||||
| Founded | 2021 | ||||
| Colors | Rock Gray, Carolina Blue, Ferry Orange, White, Greenbelt Green | ||||
| Ownership | Staten Island Entertainment LLC | ||||
| Manager | Mark Minicozzi | ||||
| General Manager | Gary Perone[1] | ||||
| Media | Staten Island Advance | ||||
| Website | FerryHawks.com | ||||
In 2021, Staten Islanders chose the name "FerryHawks" in a team-sponsored fan ballot. The name refers to the iconic Staten Island Ferry, which connects the borough to Manhattan across the Harbor, and to the red-tailed (Buteo jamaicensis) and Cooper's hawks (Accipiter cooperii) native to Staten Island.[4]
History
editThe start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before ultimately being cancelled on June 30.[5][6] On November 7, 2020, the New York Yankees announced that they were withdrawing from Staten Island along with abandoning their affiliation with the Trenton Thunder and moving forward with the Somerset Patriots, but they would seek to place an Atlantic League team at Richmond County Bank Ballpark in 2021.[7] On December 3, 2020, the Staten Island Yankees announced that the club would cease operations.[8]
In 2021, the New York Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) was in talks with the Atlantic League to have an expansion team play at the stadium in 2022.[9][10] On June 5, 2021, Atlantic League President Rick White announced that Staten Island "is close" to getting a franchise for the 2022 season.[11]
On July 24, 2021, Staten Island Borough President James Oddo, announced that the new franchise would be owned by Staten Island Entertainment LLC, an investment group including Yankee Global Enterprises, RedBird Capital Partners, John Catsimatidis, Dany Garcia, Eric Shuffler (a New Jersey politician), Colin Jost, Pete Davidson, and Michael Che.[12][13] On August 2, 2021, the Atlantic League board of directors approved the ownership group's application to join the league.[14] On August 17, 2021, it was reported that the ballpark's lease was transferred from the Staten Island Yankees to Staten Island Entertainment.[15]
On April 8, 2022, Kelsie Whitmore signed with the Staten Island FerryHawks.[16] She debuted with them as a pinch runner on April 22[17] and while with them became the first woman to start an Atlantic League game on May 1, playing as a left fielder.[18] She was hitless in three plate appearances but recorded two putouts in two chances in the field, catching fly balls hit by Gastonia Honey Hunters batters Reece Hampton (sacrifice fly) and Johnny Davis.[19] On May 4, Whitmore became the first woman to pitch in an Atlantic League game when she made her first pitching appearance for Staten Island; entering the game with the bases loaded and two outs, she retired Ryan Jackson, a former major leaguer, on a fly out to end the inning.[20]
Season-by-season record
edit| Atlantic League of Professional Baseball | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Regular season | Post-season | |||||||
| Record | Win % | Finish | Record | Win % | Result | ||||
| 2022 | 48–84 | .364 | 5th (North) | DNQ | |||||
| 2023 | 49–75 | .395 | 5th (North) | DNQ | |||||
| 2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||
| Totals | 97–159 | .379 | — | — | — | — | |||
Logos and uniforms
editThe Staten Island FerryHawks logo features a copper-colored hawk wearing a baseball uniform, a ballcap, and holding a bat. The "Staten Island FerryHawks" wordmark arches over the logo in navy blue and orange. The cap logo includes the interlocking letters "SI" in orange and sky blue outlined in navy blue.[21][22]
Roster
edit| Active (25-man) roster | Coaches/Other | |||
|
Pitchers
|
Catchers
Infielders
Outfielders
|
Manager
Coaches
| ||
References
edit- ^ Reichard, Kevin (October 27, 2021). "Perone inaugural GM for new Staten Island Atlantic League team". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. Retrieved October 27, 2021.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 23, 2020). "Indy Atlantic League designated MLB Partner League". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (September 24, 2020). "American Association, Frontier League now MLB Partner Leagues". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ "Introducing Your Ferryhawks!!". Staten Island Entertainment. November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ O'Conner, Pat (March 13, 2020). "A Message From Pat O'Conner". Minor League Baseball. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- ^ "2020 Minor League Baseball Season Shelved". Minor League Baseball. June 30, 2020. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- ^ "New York Yankees announce new Minor League affiliation structure". MLB.com (Press release). November 7, 2020. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ Smith, Alex (December 3, 2020). "Staten Island Yankees ceasing operations, filing lawsuits against big-league club and MLB". SportsNet New York. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
- ^ Michel, Clifford (April 13, 2021). "NYC Looks to Bring Staten Island Yankees' Old Baseball Stadium Back to Life Next Season". The City. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (April 13, 2021). "Atlantic League closes in on Staten Island team". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
- ^ D'Amodio, Joe (June 5, 2021). "Atlantic League president says Island "is close" to getting a franchise in 2022". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
- ^ D'Amodio, Joe (July 24, 2021). "NYC officially announces agreement to bring Atlantic League team to Staten Island". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (July 21, 2021). "SNL performers part of Staten Island Atlantic League ownership". Ballpark Digest. August Publishing. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
- ^ Bascome, Erik (August 2, 2021). "Atlantic League officially approves new team coming to Staten Island". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ Reichard, Kevin (August 17, 2021). "Richmond County Bank Ballpark lease transferred". Ballpark Digest. August Publications. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
- ^ Murphy, Brian (April 8, 2022). "'I'm ready': Kelsie Whitmore to play for FerryHawks". MLB.com.
- ^ Farlow, Rick (April 22, 2022). "Kelsie Whitmore makes baseball history for Staten Island FerryHawks". Charleston Gazette-Mail.
- ^ Axisa, Mike (May 1, 2022). "Kelsie Whitmore becomes first woman to start game in Atlantic League of Professional Baseball". CBSSports.com.
- ^ "Ferry Hawks 5, Honey Hunters 10 (Final Score) on Gameday". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. May 1, 2022. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Randhawa, Manny (May 4, 2022). "Kelsie Whitmore makes history pitching for FerryHawks". MLB.com. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ "Introducing Your Ferryhawks!!". Staten Island Entertainment. November 17, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Staten Island's baseball team finally has a name—and a sweet new logo". Staten Island Advance. November 18, 2021. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
External links
edit