The Watertown Pirates were a Short-Season Class-A minor league baseball team located in Watertown, New York. The team played in the New York–Penn League from 1983 to 1998. They played their home games at the Duffy Fairgrounds Ball Park.
| Watertown Pirates | |
|---|---|
| Minor league affiliations | |
| Previous classes | Short-Season A |
| League | New York–Penn League |
| Major league affiliations | |
| Previous teams |
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| Team data | |
Previous names |
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| Mascot | Blizzard the Polar Bear (1996-1998) |
Previous parks | Duffy Fairgrounds |
From 1983 until 1988 the club was affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Some notable Pirates, players from this era are Tim Wakefield, Jay Buhner, and Moisés Alou. In 1989 the team became in an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and were renamed the Watertown Indians. The team relocated to Staten Island, New York for the 1999 season and became the Staten Island Yankees.
Notable alumni
- Moises Alou (1986-1987) 6 x MLB All-Star
- Jay Buhner (1983) MLB All-Star
- Sean Casey (1995) 3 x MLB All-Star
- Felix Fermin (1983)
- Brian Giles (1990) 2 x MLB All-Star
- Steve Kline (1993)
- Orlando Merced (1986-1987)
- Dave Mlicki (1990)
- Steve Soliz (1993)
- Kelly Stinnett (1990)
- Tim Wakefield (1988) MLB All-Star; 200 MLB Wins
- John Wehner (1988)
External links
- Photographs of Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, former home of the Watertown Indians – Rochester Area Ballparks
- Listing of minor league baseball teams in Watertown, New York, with rosters and statistics
- Last owner biographies
- NY-Penn League Team History (1998–2005)
- Move to Staten Island
- More on the move to Staten Island
- More on Sandlot Sports