Lancaster Barnstormers
Encyclopedia
The Lancaster Barnstormers is an American
professional baseball team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
. From the 2005 season to the present, the Barnstormers have played their home games at Clipper Magazine Stadium
in the city's Northwest Corridor
.
Baseball fans in Lancaster waited 44 years for the sport to return after the Lancaster Red Roses
folded following the 1961 season. In 2003, Lancastrians chose the name "Barnstormers" in a team-sponsored fan ballot. The name refers to the act of "barnstorming
", which means to travel around an area appearing in exhibition sports events, especially baseball games. It was used to describe Lancaster's baseball teams as far back as 1906 by the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer: "There was a crowd of between seven and eight hundred persons out on Friday to see the Lancaster barnstormers play the Philadelphia Giants
." The team's primary logo was designed with local history in mind, as the team colors of red, navy blue, and khaki were the same as those used by the former Red Roses. The name and logo also allude to Lancaster County's agricultural heritage, notable for its inclusion of Amish
culture and lore. The Barnstormers organization lightheartedly calls its market the "Pennsylvania Clutch Country", referring to Lancaster's location in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
and the sports term, "clutch
". The Barnstormers represent all of Lancaster County
, even though they play in the city of Lancaster. The team designates many of its home games to honor the county's smaller communities.
. They learned the rules while serving in the military and wanted to continue playing. The very first professional baseball teams in Lancaster were the Lancaster Lancasters and the Lancaster Ironsides. The Lancasters played in the Keystone Association while the Ironsides played in the Eastern League
, both starting in 1884. The following season, the Lancasters joined the Eastern League, and the two teams became bitter rivals. They competed against each other for fan support, league affiliation, and money at the gate. At its peak, insults and refusals to play against each other were the norm. The teams finally agreed to play each other at the end of the 1884 season, in which the Ironsides defeated the Lancasters after seven very close games. The Lancasters were the only team to continue play in the next season.
Between the years 1896 and 1899, the first team called the Lancaster Maroons played in the original Atlantic League. In 1905, the second inception of the Maroons played in the Tri-State League.
In 1906, the Maroons became the Lancaster Red Roses. As both teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of the Roses
, the name change infuriated the rival White Roses
from the nearby city of York. The Red Roses were managed by former Boston Red Sox
infielder
Johnny Pesky
during the 1958 season.
, a Major League Baseball veteran and Lancaster native, as the team's first manager. At the press conference, Herr responded, "I have been looking forward to the return of baseball to Lancaster for quite some time. This is almost too good to be true, being able to manage in my hometown." His oldest son, Aaron
, signed with the Barnstormers for the 2009 season, after a severe groin injury compromised his promising career at the Class-AAA level. Jordan Herr, another son of Tom, joined the team in the first half of the 2008 season in lieu of completing his senior year at the University of Pittsburgh
. Following his first season of professional baseball that included a .202 batting average with four home runs and 16 runs batted in
, Jordan committed to the Great Falls Voyagers, a Rookie-level team in the Chicago White Sox
system.
The Barnstormers' first playing season came in 2005 at the newly-built Clipper Magazine Stadium
. On May 11, the Barnstormers lost their first game 4–3 to the Atlantic City Surf
, in front of 7,300 fans. They finished the 2005 season with a record of 64 wins and 76 losses. In finishing the first half of the 2006 season with a record of 38–25, the Barnstormers qualified for their first Atlantic League playoff berth. They followed this feat with a second-half win, posting a record of 37–26. After besting division challenger, Atlantic City, in the first round of the playoffs, the Barnstormers swept the Bridgeport Bluefish
on October 1, 2006 for their first ever Atlantic League championship, in only their second season. Pitcher Denny Harriger threw a complete game, breaking a franchise record for consecutive pitches. In doing so, the Barnstormers became the first Atlantic League team in history to sweep their way through both rounds of the playoffs on the way to a title. It was the city of Lancaster’s first professional championship since 1955, when the former Red Roses won the Piedmont League title.
The Barnstormers are heavily covered in the Lancaster press and receive a significant following from Lancaster-area fans, many of whom hail the organization as family-friendly in their planning of events for game nights. Even though some Lancastrians have speculated the possibility of the organization becoming a Major League
-affiliated club, two nearby affiliated teams in Harrisburg
and Reading
have made it clear that they will not waive their territorial claims over Lancaster.
The Barnstormers implemented a few changes prior to the 2009 season because of the 2008–2009 economic recession. The most significant was moving their spring training from Lakeland, Florida
, the traditional Atlantic League preseason location, to Lancaster. The Barnstormers spring training includes exhibitions with local colleges, Franklin & Marshall
and Elizabethtown
.
The Barnstormers are managed by Butch Hobson
, the most successful Atlantic League coach with a record of 654 wins to 549 losses. He succeeds Tom Herr
, who led the team from its inauguration to the 2006 championship season, and from 2009 to 2010. In 2008, the Barnstormers were coached by Von Hayes
, a former teammate of Herr from the 1989 and 1990 Phillies
. Rick Wise
, the winning pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series
, is also a managerial alumnus of the Lancaster Barnstormers. He was the team's third base coach from the inaugural 2005 season to the end of the 2008 campaign.
, a weather vane
, and the barn-planked "LB."
The Barnstormers' uniforms are traditional in design, with the caps produced by The Game Headwear
and the uniforms by Majestic Athletic
. The home cap is black with a red brim and button with the "LB" cap logo centered on the front. The secondary cap is red throughout with a stylized, cursive "L" colored white, navy blue, and khaki – interwoven with a streaking baseball centered on the front. The "Barnstormers" wordmark is centered on the back toward the lower edge on both of the caps. The team also has a tertiary cap that features a black crown with the "weather vane" logo. The home jerseys are plain white with the "Lancaster" wordmark arched across the front of the jersey in red lettering with black outline. The player's last name is arched above the number on the back in black. The away jersey is solid gray also with the "Lancaster" wordmark. The alternate jersey is black with the "Stormers" wordmark featured in red with khaki outline. The Barnstormers wear black belts with red socks and undershirts with all uniforms.
For the War of the Roses series, the Barnstormers wear throwback uniforms of the Red Roses. The caps are navy blue with a white, cursive "L" centered on the front. The jerseys are white with red piping and the Old English "L" centered on the left-side chest, also in red.
, it allows Lancastrians to meet the team's manager and several select players. Stops on the tour include the headquarters of two nationally-recognized companies, Auntie Anne's
and Turkey Hill.
boxes, provides food for the homeless in Lancaster, Lebanon
, Dauphin
, and York Counties, as well as the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware
. Video board announcements at Clipper Magazine Stadium require a $5 donation that is deposited into the Cylo Fund, which supports the Spanish-American Civic Association, the Lancaster Day Care Center, as well as the purchase and distribution of Christmas presents to children in homeless shelters during the holidays.
In 2008, the Barnstormers partnered with the James Street Improvement District (JSID) to reward those who commit random acts of kindness in the Lancaster community. The JSID Bike Patrol grants Good Deed Tickets, redeemable for a free game or winter activity. A Grand Prize winner is also selected from the pool of recipients. The Grand Prize is eight tickets to the final home game of the regular season, including the opportunity to throw the ceremonial last first pitch of season.
organization.
fan who used the cheer at the former Veterans Stadium
. The phrase is believed to be first used for the Barnstormers by a fan named Mert McHarg. McHarg also is known for his use of a cowbell to root for the team since their inaugural season, inspiring other fans to bring their own cowbells to clang. On Agriculture/Dairy Night of the 2008 season, the Barnstormers had a giveaway promotion of red cowbells including the primary logo.
The South Central Pennsylvania
cities of Lancaster
and York
have a historical rivalry in all sporting events from the high school level to the professional. As both cities are named after the English cities of Lancaster
and York
, the former Pennsylvania baseball teams were named for the opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses
. Just as in the English battles, the Lancaster Red Roses
and the York White Roses
fought intense baseball matches throughout their existence. With the addition of York to the Atlantic League, the Barnstormers continue the Red Roses tradition as they battle the York Revolution
for lower Susquehanna supremacy.
With the sound of cannons, the War of the Roses was rekindled in April 2007 in Wrightsville
, a borough on the natural boundary dividing Lancaster and York counties: the Susquehanna River
. The winner of the War of the Roses is presented with the Community Cup, while the defeated team is obligated to sing the ballpark classic "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and plant a rose garden at the opponent's ballpark with their representative color: red for Lancaster, white for York. The first Community Cup was championed by the Barnstormers in the 2007 season, though the Revolution avenged them by winning it in 2008.
The Barnstormers and the Revolution also compete in the Route 30
Showdown, an annual cross-county doubleheader inadvertently created at the conclusion of the 2008 season by a rain-delay.
Community Cup Record
, the team hosts the Hispanic Heritage Day celebration once every season. The Barnstormers pay homage to the county's populace by promoting a common Pennsylvania Dutch
dessert called the whoopie pie
. The dessert has been a regular concession at Clipper Magazine Stadium since its 2005 opening.
With the inaugural season of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
in 2008, the Barnstormers partnered with a local seafood restaurant to initiate the team's annual "Crack the Crabs" feast. The promotion is a jest to the "Blue Crabs" nickname – with all patrons given a free mallet.
with Dave Collins, the official "Voice of the Barnstormers." Since the 2009 season, all of the Barnstormers home games are broadcast on iBN Sports (Interactive Broadcast Network), an internet-based sports broadcaster.
is an anthropomorphic
, red cow named Cylo. He wears the team's home jersey with striped socks and retro-style sneakers. Cylo debuted on March 4, 2005 at the Mascot Roller Mill in the Lancaster County village of Mascot
. His name in full is Cyloicious L. Barnstormer, alluding to Hall of Fame
pitcher Cy Young
and to the silo
, representing the county's agricultural heritage. The mascot was designed by the Raymond Entertainment Group, which also produces the Phillie Phanatic
's costume.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
. They are a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
Atlantic League of Professional Baseball
The Atlantic League of Professional Baseball is a professional, independent baseball organization located primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, especially the greater metropolitan areas of the Northeast megalopolis. It operates in cities not served by Major or Minor League...
, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. From the 2005 season to the present, the Barnstormers have played their home games at Clipper Magazine Stadium
Clipper Magazine Stadium
Clipper Magazine Stadium is a 6,000-seat baseball park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 11, 2005, when the tenants of the facility, the Lancaster Barnstormers, lost to the Atlantic City Surf, 4-3...
in the city's Northwest Corridor
Northwest Corridor (Lancaster)
The Northwest Corridor is a Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA neighborhood. The name refers to the neighborhood's location within the city of Lancaster, and the importance of the corridor in connecting important economic and civic developments within the city, and nearby, suburban East Hempfield...
.
Baseball fans in Lancaster waited 44 years for the sport to return after the Lancaster Red Roses
Lancaster Red Roses
The Lancaster Red Roses baseball team, originally known as the Maroons, changed its name at the start of the 1906 season during a bitter match with the York, Pennsylvania-based White Roses. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of...
folded following the 1961 season. In 2003, Lancastrians chose the name "Barnstormers" in a team-sponsored fan ballot. The name refers to the act of "barnstorming
Barnstorm (sports)
Barnstorming in athletics refers to sports teams or individuals that travel to various locations, usually small towns, to stage exhibition matches....
", which means to travel around an area appearing in exhibition sports events, especially baseball games. It was used to describe Lancaster's baseball teams as far back as 1906 by the Lancaster Daily Intelligencer: "There was a crowd of between seven and eight hundred persons out on Friday to see the Lancaster barnstormers play the Philadelphia Giants
Philadelphia Giants
The Philadelphia Giants were a Negro league baseball team that played from 1902 to 1916. From 1904 to 1909 they were one of the strongest teams in black baseball, winning five eastern championships in six years. The team was organized by Sol White, H. Walter Schlichter, and Harry Smith.- Founding...
." The team's primary logo was designed with local history in mind, as the team colors of red, navy blue, and khaki were the same as those used by the former Red Roses. The name and logo also allude to Lancaster County's agricultural heritage, notable for its inclusion of Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
culture and lore. The Barnstormers organization lightheartedly calls its market the "Pennsylvania Clutch Country", referring to Lancaster's location in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Pennsylvania Dutch Country
Pennsylvania Dutch Country refers to an area of southeastern Pennsylvania, United States that by the American Revolution had a high percentage of Pennsylvania Dutch inhabitants. Religiously, there was a large portion of Lutherans. There were also German Reformed, Moravian, Amish, Mennonite and...
and the sports term, "clutch
Clutch (sports)
In American sports terminology, "clutch" means performing well under extreme pressure. It often refers to high levels of production in a critical game, such as Game 7 of a best-of-seven series, the last hole of a Major Championship golf tournament, or the final minute in a close match...
". The Barnstormers represent all of Lancaster County
Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Lancaster County, known as the Garden Spot of America or Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is a county located in the southeastern part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of 2010 the population was 519,445. Lancaster County forms the Lancaster Metropolitan Statistical Area, the...
, even though they play in the city of Lancaster. The team designates many of its home games to honor the county's smaller communities.
The beginning
Baseball first came to Lancaster County in the 1860s by soldiers returning home from the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. They learned the rules while serving in the military and wanted to continue playing. The very first professional baseball teams in Lancaster were the Lancaster Lancasters and the Lancaster Ironsides. The Lancasters played in the Keystone Association while the Ironsides played in the Eastern League
Eastern League (U.S. baseball)
The Eastern League is a minor league baseball league which operates primarily in the northeastern United States, although it has had a team in Ohio since 1989. The Eastern League has played at the AA level since 1963. The league was founded in 1923 as the New York-Pennsylvania League...
, both starting in 1884. The following season, the Lancasters joined the Eastern League, and the two teams became bitter rivals. They competed against each other for fan support, league affiliation, and money at the gate. At its peak, insults and refusals to play against each other were the norm. The teams finally agreed to play each other at the end of the 1884 season, in which the Ironsides defeated the Lancasters after seven very close games. The Lancasters were the only team to continue play in the next season.
The 1890s
In the 1894–1895 season, a team called the Lancaster Chicks played in the Keystone Association. An all-African-American team called the Lancaster Giants followed in 1887, and many Lancastrians supported the team despite the social pressure of the day. The Giants hosted many exhibition games against the Philadelphia Giants of the Keystone Club.Between the years 1896 and 1899, the first team called the Lancaster Maroons played in the original Atlantic League. In 1905, the second inception of the Maroons played in the Tri-State League.
Lancaster Red Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
, the name change infuriated the rival White Roses
York White Roses
The York White Roses was the name of a minor league baseball team in the city of York, Pennsylvania, USA, that existed from 1894–1969.-Early years:...
from the nearby city of York. The Red Roses were managed by former Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
Johnny Pesky
Johnny Pesky
John Michael Pesky , nicknamed "The Needle" and "Mr. Red Sox", was a Major League Baseball shortstop, third baseman, and manager. During a 10-year career, he played in 1942 and from 1946-1954 for three different teams. He missed all of the 1943, 1944, and 1945 seasons while serving in World War...
during the 1958 season.
Lancaster's new era: the Barnstormers
In 2003, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball formally announced an expansion team for the city of Lancaster. In November 2004, the Barnstormers announced the locally-anticipated signing of Tom HerrTom Herr
Thomas Mitchell Herr is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1979 to 1991 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets...
, a Major League Baseball veteran and Lancaster native, as the team's first manager. At the press conference, Herr responded, "I have been looking forward to the return of baseball to Lancaster for quite some time. This is almost too good to be true, being able to manage in my hometown." His oldest son, Aaron
Aaron Herr
Aaron Mitchell Herr is a professional baseball player who played for the Lancaster Barnstormers of the independent Atlantic League in 2011. He has played the majority of his minor league career with the Atlanta Braves organization. He is the son of Tom Herr, who was also a professional baseball...
, signed with the Barnstormers for the 2009 season, after a severe groin injury compromised his promising career at the Class-AAA level. Jordan Herr, another son of Tom, joined the team in the first half of the 2008 season in lieu of completing his senior year at the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
. Following his first season of professional baseball that included a .202 batting average with four home runs and 16 runs batted in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
, Jordan committed to the Great Falls Voyagers, a Rookie-level team in the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
system.
The Barnstormers' first playing season came in 2005 at the newly-built Clipper Magazine Stadium
Clipper Magazine Stadium
Clipper Magazine Stadium is a 6,000-seat baseball park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, that hosted its first regular season baseball game on May 11, 2005, when the tenants of the facility, the Lancaster Barnstormers, lost to the Atlantic City Surf, 4-3...
. On May 11, the Barnstormers lost their first game 4–3 to the Atlantic City Surf
Atlantic City Surf
The Atlantic City Surf were a professional baseball team based in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Surf was most recently a member of the Can-Am League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
, in front of 7,300 fans. They finished the 2005 season with a record of 64 wins and 76 losses. In finishing the first half of the 2006 season with a record of 38–25, the Barnstormers qualified for their first Atlantic League playoff berth. They followed this feat with a second-half win, posting a record of 37–26. After besting division challenger, Atlantic City, in the first round of the playoffs, the Barnstormers swept the Bridgeport Bluefish
Bridgeport Bluefish
The Bridgeport Bluefish is an American professional baseball team based in Bridgeport, Connecticut. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
on October 1, 2006 for their first ever Atlantic League championship, in only their second season. Pitcher Denny Harriger threw a complete game, breaking a franchise record for consecutive pitches. In doing so, the Barnstormers became the first Atlantic League team in history to sweep their way through both rounds of the playoffs on the way to a title. It was the city of Lancaster’s first professional championship since 1955, when the former Red Roses won the Piedmont League title.
The Barnstormers are heavily covered in the Lancaster press and receive a significant following from Lancaster-area fans, many of whom hail the organization as family-friendly in their planning of events for game nights. Even though some Lancastrians have speculated the possibility of the organization becoming a Major League
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
-affiliated club, two nearby affiliated teams in Harrisburg
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
and Reading
Reading Phillies
The Reading Phillies are a minor league baseball team based in Reading, Pennsylvania, playing in the Eastern Division of the Eastern League. Since the 1967 season, they have been the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies....
have made it clear that they will not waive their territorial claims over Lancaster.
The Barnstormers implemented a few changes prior to the 2009 season because of the 2008–2009 economic recession. The most significant was moving their spring training from Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
, the traditional Atlantic League preseason location, to Lancaster. The Barnstormers spring training includes exhibitions with local colleges, Franklin & Marshall
Franklin & Marshall College
Franklin & Marshall College is a four-year private co-educational residential national liberal arts college in the Northwest Corridor neighborhood of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States....
and Elizabethtown
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College is a small comprehensive college located in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania in Lancaster County. The school was founded in 1899 by members of the Church of the Brethren...
.
The Barnstormers are managed by Butch Hobson
Butch Hobson
Clell Lavern "Butch" Hobson, Jr. is a former third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. Hobson played for the Boston Red Sox , California Angels and New York Yankees . He batted and threw right-handed.After retiring, he managed the Pawtucket Red Sox and the Boston Red Sox...
, the most successful Atlantic League coach with a record of 654 wins to 549 losses. He succeeds Tom Herr
Tom Herr
Thomas Mitchell Herr is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1979 to 1991 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Minnesota Twins, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, and New York Mets...
, who led the team from its inauguration to the 2006 championship season, and from 2009 to 2010. In 2008, the Barnstormers were coached by Von Hayes
Von Hayes
Von Francis Hayes , was a Major League Baseball player from 1981 to 1992 for the Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, and California Angels...
, a former teammate of Herr from the 1989 and 1990 Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Rick Wise
Rick Wise
Richard Charles Wise is a former right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for 18 seasons...
, the winning pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
in Game 6 of the 1975 World Series
1975 World Series
The 1975 World Series was played between the Boston Red Sox and Cincinnati Reds . It has been ranked by ESPN as the second-greatest World Series ever played...
, is also a managerial alumnus of the Lancaster Barnstormers. He was the team's third base coach from the inaugural 2005 season to the end of the 2008 campaign.
Logos and uniforms
The primary colors of the Lancaster Barnstormers are red, black, and khaki. These are similar to the same colors used by the Red Roses, representing a conscious effort to connect the past and the present of Lancaster County baseball. The primary logo consists of a typical red barn outlined in black with a streaking baseball. Unlike most sports logos, the city name is prominently featured rather than the team nickname. Team management decided to emphasize the Lancaster community, so that the whole county could feel a sense of ownership and pride. In 2011, the Barnstormers added black to its color scheme and unveiled three barn-themed alternate logos: a stylized hex signHex sign
Hex signs are a form of Pennsylvania Dutch folk art, related to fraktur, found in the Fancy Dutch tradition in Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Barn paintings, usually in the form of "stars in circles," grew out of the fraktur and folk art traditions about 1850 when barns first started to be painted in...
, a weather vane
Weather vane
A weather vane is an instrument for showing the direction of the wind. They are typically used as an architectural ornament to the highest point of a building....
, and the barn-planked "LB."
The Barnstormers' uniforms are traditional in design, with the caps produced by The Game Headwear
The Game Headwear
The Game Headwear originated as Neil's Sporting Goods in the 1960s. Initially started to equip little league and school athletic teams, the company's business greatly increased in the 1970s and 1980s...
and the uniforms by Majestic Athletic
Majestic Athletic
Majestic Athletic is a maker of sports apparel. The company is also the current uniform provider for Major League Baseball. It has been a subsidiary of VF since 2007.-Origins:Majestic was founded by Faust Capobianco III in 1976...
. The home cap is black with a red brim and button with the "LB" cap logo centered on the front. The secondary cap is red throughout with a stylized, cursive "L" colored white, navy blue, and khaki – interwoven with a streaking baseball centered on the front. The "Barnstormers" wordmark is centered on the back toward the lower edge on both of the caps. The team also has a tertiary cap that features a black crown with the "weather vane" logo. The home jerseys are plain white with the "Lancaster" wordmark arched across the front of the jersey in red lettering with black outline. The player's last name is arched above the number on the back in black. The away jersey is solid gray also with the "Lancaster" wordmark. The alternate jersey is black with the "Stormers" wordmark featured in red with khaki outline. The Barnstormers wear black belts with red socks and undershirts with all uniforms.
For the War of the Roses series, the Barnstormers wear throwback uniforms of the Red Roses. The caps are navy blue with a white, cursive "L" centered on the front. The jerseys are white with red piping and the Old English "L" centered on the left-side chest, also in red.
Season-by-season records
| Lancaster Barnstormers – 2007 to 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | W – L Record | Winning Percentage | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2007 | 57–69 | .452 | 3rd in South Division | |
| 2008 | 64–76 | .457 | 3rd in Freedom Division | |
| 2009 | 67–73 | .479 | 3rd in Freedom Division | |
| 2010 | 63–76 | .453 | 3rd in Freedom Division | |
| 2011 | 69–56 | .552 | 2nd in Freedom Division | |
| Totals (2007–2011) | 320–350 | .478 | 5–0 | |
| War of the Roses | 36–40 | .474 |
- 1 Atlantic League Championship (2006)
Community outreach
In 2011, the Lancaster Barnstormers initiated the "Barnstorming Tour" around Lancaster County. Featuring a trolley lent by the Red Rose Transit AuthorityRed Rose Transit Authority
The Red Rose Transit Authority is a transit agency serving Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. RRTA is headquartered in downtown Lancaster.RRTA has routes both within Lancaster city, and between Lancaster and other areas of the county. RRTA coordinates a Paratransit service, Red Rose Access, which is...
, it allows Lancastrians to meet the team's manager and several select players. Stops on the tour include the headquarters of two nationally-recognized companies, Auntie Anne's
Auntie Anne's
Auntie Anne's, based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is an American chain of pretzel bakeries founded by Anne F. Beiler and her husband, Jonas, in 1988. Auntie Anne's serves products such as pretzels, dips, and beverages...
and Turkey Hill.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy is an important facet of the Barnstormers' representation of the Lancaster community. Many of the team's home game promotions are designed to benefit various philanthropic organizations. The specialty jerseys worn by the Barnstormers on commemorative home games benefit the Spanish-American Lancaster Sports Association (SALSA), Play Ball USA, Batters Up, and the Lancaster Art Museum. "Rally Roni", initiated by the shaking of macaroni and cheeseMacaroni and cheese
Macaroni and cheese, also known as "mac and cheese", "macaroni cheese" in British English, or "macaroni pie" in Caribbean English, is a casserole consisting of cooked macaroni and cheese sauce...
boxes, provides food for the homeless in Lancaster, Lebanon
Lebanon County, Pennsylvania
As of the census of 2000, there were 120,327 people and 32,771 families residing in the county. The population density was 332 people per square mile . There were 49,320 housing units at an average density of 136 per square mile...
, Dauphin
Dauphin County, Pennsylvania
Dauphin County is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and is one of the three counties comprising the Harrisburg–Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010 census, the population was 268,100. The county includes the city of Harrisburg, which has served as the state capital...
, and York Counties, as well as the cities of Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington, Delaware
Wilmington is the largest city in the state of Delaware, United States, and is located at the confluence of the Christina River and Brandywine Creek, near where the Christina flows into the Delaware River. It is the county seat of New Castle County and one of the major cities in the Delaware Valley...
. Video board announcements at Clipper Magazine Stadium require a $5 donation that is deposited into the Cylo Fund, which supports the Spanish-American Civic Association, the Lancaster Day Care Center, as well as the purchase and distribution of Christmas presents to children in homeless shelters during the holidays.
In 2008, the Barnstormers partnered with the James Street Improvement District (JSID) to reward those who commit random acts of kindness in the Lancaster community. The JSID Bike Patrol grants Good Deed Tickets, redeemable for a free game or winter activity. A Grand Prize winner is also selected from the pool of recipients. The Grand Prize is eight tickets to the final home game of the regular season, including the opportunity to throw the ceremonial last first pitch of season.
Fundraising
Prior to the 2009 season, the Lancaster Barnstormers initiated an Internet-based fundraising campaign. With this program, a charity can choose a specific game to attract ticket sales, with the team providing promotional materials containing a group password and link for fans to purchase tickets via the team's website. Once 100 tickets are sold through that link, the Barnstormers give the charity $4.00 for each seat sold. If ticket sales through that link reach 500 sold, then $4.50 of each ticket sold (half the value of a regular ticket)will go to the nonprofit. The team's motivation behind the new campaign is the lack of funds being given to charity and nonprofit organizations because of the 2008–2009 economic recession.Live Green Lancaster
In the latter part of the 2010 season, the Barnstormers wore green caps and auctioned them off to support Live Green Lancaster, an environmentalEnvironmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
organization.
Code Red
During the Barnstormers' 2006 playoff run, the team management created a new tradition: "Code Red." When a Code Red is called, all team employees and loyal fans dress in red and use red rally towels to support the Barnstormers. It is usually declared for important home games, especially when the team competes against their local nemesis in nearby York."Everybody hits!"
"Everybody hits!" is the common cheer used by Barnstormers fans, originating with a Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
fan who used the cheer at the former Veterans Stadium
Veterans Stadium
Philadelphia Veterans Stadium was a professional-sports, multi-purpose stadium, located at the northeast corner of Broad Street and Pattison Avenue, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as part of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex...
. The phrase is believed to be first used for the Barnstormers by a fan named Mert McHarg. McHarg also is known for his use of a cowbell to root for the team since their inaugural season, inspiring other fans to bring their own cowbells to clang. On Agriculture/Dairy Night of the 2008 season, the Barnstormers had a giveaway promotion of red cowbells including the primary logo.
War of the Roses
South Central Pennsylvania
South Central Pennsylvania is a region of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania that includes the fourteen counties of Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mifflin, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, and York....
cities of Lancaster
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster is a city in the south-central part of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lancaster County and one of the older inland cities in the United States, . With a population of 59,322, it ranks eighth in population among Pennsylvania's cities...
and York
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
have a historical rivalry in all sporting events from the high school level to the professional. As both cities are named after the English cities of Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
and York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, the former Pennsylvania baseball teams were named for the opposing sides of the Wars of the Roses
Wars of the Roses
The Wars of the Roses were a series of dynastic civil wars for the throne of England fought between supporters of two rival branches of the royal House of Plantagenet: the houses of Lancaster and York...
. Just as in the English battles, the Lancaster Red Roses
Lancaster Red Roses
The Lancaster Red Roses baseball team, originally known as the Maroons, changed its name at the start of the 1906 season during a bitter match with the York, Pennsylvania-based White Roses. Some sources indicate that the rival teams were named for the opposing factions in England's historic Wars of...
and the York White Roses
York White Roses
The York White Roses was the name of a minor league baseball team in the city of York, Pennsylvania, USA, that existed from 1894–1969.-Early years:...
fought intense baseball matches throughout their existence. With the addition of York to the Atlantic League, the Barnstormers continue the Red Roses tradition as they battle the York Revolution
York Revolution
The York Revolution is an American professional baseball team based in York, Pennsylvania. It is a member of the Freedom Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent league not affiliated with Major League Baseball...
for lower Susquehanna supremacy.
With the sound of cannons, the War of the Roses was rekindled in April 2007 in Wrightsville
Wrightsville, Pennsylvania
Wrightsville is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 2,310 at the 2010 census. Wrightsville borough has a police department, historic society, and a volunteer fire company.- History :According to a plaque at Samuel S...
, a borough on the natural boundary dividing Lancaster and York counties: the Susquehanna River
Susquehanna River
The Susquehanna River is a river located in the northeastern United States. At long, it is the longest river on the American east coast that drains into the Atlantic Ocean, and with its watershed it is the 16th largest river in the United States, and the longest river in the continental United...
. The winner of the War of the Roses is presented with the Community Cup, while the defeated team is obligated to sing the ballpark classic "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and plant a rose garden at the opponent's ballpark with their representative color: red for Lancaster, white for York. The first Community Cup was championed by the Barnstormers in the 2007 season, though the Revolution avenged them by winning it in 2008.
The Barnstormers and the Revolution also compete in the Route 30
U.S. Route 30 in Pennsylvania
In the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, U.S. Route 30 runs east–west across the southern part of the state, passing through Pittsburgh and Philadelphia on its way from the West Virginia state line east to the Benjamin Franklin Bridge over the Delaware River into New Jersey...
Showdown, an annual cross-county doubleheader inadvertently created at the conclusion of the 2008 season by a rain-delay.
| Year | Series Winner | Barnstormers W | Revolution W | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 2007 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champion – [Boston Red Sox]*Postseason – October 2 to October 28Click on any series score to link to that series' page.... |
Barnstormers | 10 | 8 | first Community Cup |
| 2008 2008 in baseball -Major League Baseball:* Regular Season Champions* World Series Champions – Philadelphia Phillies** American League Champions – Tampa Bay Rays** National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies* Postseason – October 1 to October 29... |
Revolution | 9 | 11 | |
| 2009 2009 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champions – New York Yankees**American League Champions – New York Yankees**National League Champions – Philadelphia Phillies*Postseason – October 7 to November 4... |
Barnstormers | 13 | 6 | |
| 2010 2010 in baseball -Major League Baseball:*Regular Season Champions*World Series Champions - San Francisco Giants**American League Champions - Texas Rangers**National League Champions - San Francisco Giants*Postseason - October 7 to November 4... |
Revolution | 4 | 15 | the earliest Cup win; July 24 |
| 2011 2011 in baseball -Major League Baseball:December*December 5: Last time to outright a player prior to the Rule 5 Draft – 5 p.m. ET.*December 7: Last date for player who declared free agency to accept an arbitration offer from former club... |
Barnstormers | 10 | 8 | |
| Overall | Barnstormers (3–2) | 46 | 48 |
Promotions
The Barnstormers host two annual promotions at Clipper Magazine Stadium that highlight aspects of the local culture. As the city of Lancaster is home to a large contingent of Puerto RicansPuerto Ricans in the United States
Stateside Puerto Ricans are American citizens of Puerto Rican origin, including those who migrated from Puerto Rico to the United States and those who were born outside of Puerto Rico in the United States...
, the team hosts the Hispanic Heritage Day celebration once every season. The Barnstormers pay homage to the county's populace by promoting a common Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch
Pennsylvania Dutch refers to immigrants and their descendants from southwestern Germany and Switzerland who settled in Pennsylvania in the 17th and 18th centuries...
dessert called the whoopie pie
Whoopie pie
The whoopie pie is an American baked good that may be considered either a cookie, pie, or cake...
. The dessert has been a regular concession at Clipper Magazine Stadium since its 2005 opening.
With the inaugural season of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
Southern Maryland Blue Crabs
The Southern Maryland Blue Crabs is an American professional baseball team based in Waldorf, Maryland. They are a member of the Liberty Division of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball, an independent baseball league which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball. From the 2008 season...
in 2008, the Barnstormers partnered with a local seafood restaurant to initiate the team's annual "Crack the Crabs" feast. The promotion is a jest to the "Blue Crabs" nickname – with all patrons given a free mallet.
Radio and television
Select home games are televised on Blue Ridge Cable-11. However, all Barnstormers games are broadcast by Fox Sports Radio 1490 am (WLPA)WLPA
WLPA is the Fox Sports Radio affiliate in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on the AM dial.The station offers coverage of the following sports teams, according to their official website:*Lancaster Barnstormers*Hershey Bears*Penn State Football...
with Dave Collins, the official "Voice of the Barnstormers." Since the 2009 season, all of the Barnstormers home games are broadcast on iBN Sports (Interactive Broadcast Network), an internet-based sports broadcaster.
Mascot
The Lancaster Barnstormers' official mascotMascot
The term mascot – defined as a term for any person, animal, or object thought to bring luck – colloquially includes anything used to represent a group with a common public identity, such as a school, professional sports team, society, military unit, or brand name...
is an anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
, red cow named Cylo. He wears the team's home jersey with striped socks and retro-style sneakers. Cylo debuted on March 4, 2005 at the Mascot Roller Mill in the Lancaster County village of Mascot
Upper Leacock Township, Pennsylvania
Upper Leacock Township is a township in east central Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,229 at the 2000 census....
. His name in full is Cyloicious L. Barnstormer, alluding to Hall of Fame
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
pitcher Cy Young
Cy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
and to the silo
Silo
A silo is a structure for storing bulk materials.Silo may also refer to:* Silo , a 3D modeling software* Silo , a defunct chain of retail electronics stores* SILO , used in Linux...
, representing the county's agricultural heritage. The mascot was designed by the Raymond Entertainment Group, which also produces the Phillie Phanatic
Phillie Phanatic
The Phillie Phanatic, is the official mascot of the Philadelphia Phillies Major League Baseball team. He is a large, furry, green creature that somewhat resembles a bird from the rear view with a cylindrical beak containing a extendable tongue.-Creation:...
's costume.
Retired numbers
 |
| Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947... |
| 2B Second baseman Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base... Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997 |
Official websites
Official blogs
- Barnstormin' – Expanded coverage of the Lancaster Barnstormers
- Atlantic League Baseball
- Atlantic League Independent
Media
- Barnstormers page from Lancaster Online
- Barnstormers game broadcasts
- Lancaster County baseball history