Paul Articulates – Things you didn’t know about Binghamton

When Mets fans hear, “Binghamton” they immediately think of the AA franchise that has been a stalwart partner in the Mets’ talent pipeline for decades.  So many major leaguers have spent time in Binghamton from lifelong Mets like David Wright to folks that pass through on their way to stardom in a different uniform like Jason Isringhausen.

But unless you have followed the franchise closely over the years or have read up on historians’ views in the literature, I would wager that there are many things you don’t know about the history of baseball in the Binghamton area.  I thought I knew quite a bit until I found a copy of “Baseball in Broome County” by Marvin A. Cohen and Michael J. McCann under my Christmas tree this year.

Before I get into some of the interesting history, you should know that the AA Binghamton club has been one of the longest running farm teams of the New York Mets.  The team as we know it today debuted in 1992 as the Binghamton Mets.  Their first game was played on April 19th, 1992 in a brand new Binghamton Municipal Stadium that had been built in just 9 months when the city was informed that they would become the new home of the club formerly known as the Williamsport Bills.  

That first year was a huge success, as they won the Eastern League championship behind ace Bobby Jones.  Two years later, they won their second Eastern League championship behind Bill Pulsipher, who pitched a no-hitter in game two of the best-of-five series.  

If you were following the Mets in the 1990s, you will remember the excitement surrounding the crop of starting pitchers coming up through the minors led by Bobby Jones and the trio of Pulsipher, Isringhausen, and Paul Wilson who were known as “Generation K”.  Unfortunately injuries slowed most of them down, and only Isringhausen became an impact player as the closer for the St. Louis Cardinals.

There are so many players (over 800) who have worn the uniform of the Binghamton franchise which was known as the Binghamton Mets from 1992 to 2016 and is now known as the Binghamton Rumble Ponies.  This post would be much longer than you could bear if I mentioned even a fraction of them but here’s one that will trigger your interest.  

In a brief appearance from 2002-2004, a fellow named Ronald Acuna roamed the Binghamton outfield for 264 games.  Ronald of course was the father of Atlanta Brave Ronald Acuna Jr. and current Binghamton Rumble Pony LuisAngel Acuna.

In all, 71 players who have passed through Binghamton have walked across the lines onto a MLB field in uniform to realize the dream that so many ballplayers have in common.  Here is a list of those that have made it:

Despite the lengthy 31 season tenure of the Mets’ AA franchise in Binghamton, it is just a sliver of Binghamton baseball history which dates all the way back to 1871.  On August 25, 1871 the Binghamton Crickets played a game against the Norwich Comets marking the inaugural contest in this baseball town.  Back then games were played without baseball gloves which led to some highly offensive contests.  

By 1892 the Binghamton Bingos as they were called then won the International League title behind a third baseman named Wee Willy Keeler.

Many years and many innings later, in 1923, the team known as the Triplets was formed which served as the area’s professional baseball franchise and became a farm club of the New York Yankees.  Names like Joe “Flash” Gordon, Clete Boyer, Steve Kraly, Joe Pepitone, and Ken Harrelson jump from the pages of the Triplets’ history book.

In all, professional baseball has been a steady presence in the Binghamton area and the current Rumble Ponies team with its trove of prospects is sure to add some pages to its history.

I’ll leave you with one other piece of Binghamton trivia: the subject of Ernest Lawrence Thayer’s iconic poem “Casey at the Bat” was Binghamton native Daniel Casey, who played in the 1890’s.