The Wellsville Red Sox were a minor league baseball team, based in Wellsville, New York. The team played in the Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League, which remained in existence as the New York–Penn League until ceasing operations in 2020.
History The team began as the Wellsville Yankees, a class C affiliate of the New York Yankees from 1942 through 1946. In 1943, the team won its first league title. After the 1946 season the Yankees ended their affiliation and were replaced by the Boston Red Sox and the team was renamed the Wellsville Nitros. The Nitros were kept their affiliation with Boston until 1949. However, for the 1949 season, the club continued to play as the Nitros.
In 1950 the Nitros changed their name to the Wellsville Senators when they became a farm team of the Charlotte Hornets in the Washington Senators' farm system. The team became the independent Wellsville Rockets in 1951 when their one-year affiliation with the Senators ended. In 1952, the Rockets were affiliated with the St. Louis Browns, before becoming the Wellsville Braves, an affiliate of the Milwaukee Braves. During their time as the Braves the team, won 3 league titles; in 1956, 1959, and 1960. In 1963, the team once again became an affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and took up the Wellsville Red Sox name. In 1966, the Red Sox moved the team from Wellsville to Oneonta, New York, under the ownership of Sam Nader the team became the Oneonta Red Sox. The club played in Oneonta until 2010, when they were relocated to Norwich, Connecticut, and continue to play as the Connecticut Tigers.
Year-by-year record
Year Record Finish Manager Notes1942 65-60 T4th Walt VanGrofski Lost 1 game playoff for 4th place1943 58-51 3rd Herb Brett & Sol Mishkin League champs1944 51-73 7th Sol Mishkin 1945 57-68 5th Bob Crow & Sol Mishkin 1946 52-72 6th Joe Abreu 1947 64-59 4th Tom Carey Lost in 1st round1948 60-64 6th Tom Carey 1949 45-81 7th Tom Kister & Jimmy Wasdell 1950 50-75 7th Jimmy Wasdell & Bill Mongiello 1951 53-73 6th Walt VanGrofski 1952 36-89 8th Gene Crumling & Rocco Sgro 1953 59-67 6th Ted Sepkowski 1954 69-56 3rd Ted Sepkowski Lost in 1st round1955 68-58 4th Alex Monchak Lost in 1st round1956 74-46 1st Alex Monchak League Champs1957 74-43 1st Alex Monchak Lost in 1st round1958 70-56 1st Harry Minor Lost League Finals1959 80-46 1st Harry Minor League Champs1960 69-60 2nd Harry Minor League Champs1961 55-71 7th Bill Steinecke 1963 73-57 2nd Bill Slack & Matt Sczesny Lost in 1st round1964 70-60 3rd Larry Thomas 1965 62-64 4th Matt Sczesny
Notable alumni
Hall of Fame alumni
Phil Niekro (1959) Inducted, 1997
Notable alumni
Jerry Coleman (1942) MLB All-Star Tony Conigliaro (1963) MLB All-Star Elrod Hendricks (1960) Dick Littlefield (1947) Charlie Maxwell (1947) 2 x MLB All-Star Don McMahon (1950) MLB All-Star Don Nottebart (1954) Bill Robinson (1961) George Scott (1963) 8 X Gold Glove; 3 x MLB All-Star Jimmy Wasdell (1949-1950)
References Baseball Reference Wellville, New York