Lancaster Barnstormers

The Lancaster Barnstormers are 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. The Barnstormers have played their home games at Clipper Magazine Stadium in the city's Northwest Corridor since 2005.

Lancaster Barnstormers
Team logo Cap insignia
Information
League	Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (Freedom Division)
Location	Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Ballpark	Clipper Magazine Stadium
Year founded	2003
Nickname(s)	The Stormers
League championships	(2) 2006, 2014
Division championships	(2) 2006, 2012
Former name(s)	Lancaster Barnstormers (2005–present)
Colors	Red, black, khaki, white
Mascot	Cylo
Retired numbers	42
Ownership	Dakota Baseball, LLC
Manager	Ross Peeples
General Manager	Michael Reynolds[1]
Media	LNP
Website	lancasterbarnstormers.com

The team's name, selected in a fan ballot,[2] refers to the tradition of "barnstorming", which means to travel around an area appearing in exhibition sports events, especially baseball games.[3] The term was used to describe Lancaster's baseball teams as early as 1906.[4] Their primary logo incorporates the colors red, navy blue, and khaki which were previously used by the Lancaster Red Roses of affiliated Minor League Baseball from 1940 to 1961.[5] The name and logo also allude to Lancaster County's agricultural heritage and its inclusion of Amish culture and lore.[6]

History

Prior Lancaster teams

Baseball first came to Lancaster County in the 1860s by soldiers returning home from the Civil War. They learned the rules while serving in the military and wanted to continue playing.[7] 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 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. Only the Lancasters continued play the next season.[8]

In the 1894 to 1895 seasons, 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.[9]

Between 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.[10]

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.[11]

The Barnstormers

Tom Herr, pictured here as a St. Louis Cardinals player in 1983, was the Barnstormers' first manager. He led the team to its first championship in 2006.

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 signing of Tom Herr, a Major League Baseball veteran and Lancaster native, as the team's first manager.[12] The Barnstormers' were set to begin competition in 2005 at the newly built Clipper Magazine Stadium.

On May 11, they 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 also won the second half, posting a record of 37–26. After defeating division challenger, Atlantic City, in the first round of the playoffs, the Barnstormers swept the Bridgeport Bluefish to win their first Atlantic League championship, in only their second season. Pitcher Denny Harriger threw a complete game, breaking a franchise record for consecutive pitches. It was the city of Lancaster’s first professional championship since 1955, when the former Red Roses won the Piedmont League title. The Barnstormers played in the 2012 Atlantic League Championship Series but were ultimately defeated by the Long Island Ducks in Game 5.[13] In 2012, the Lancaster Barnstormers set an Atlantic League record with 88 wins.[14]

Herr managed the team from 2005 to 2006 and from 2009 to 2010. In 2008, the Barnstormers were coached by Von Hayes, a former teammate of Herr from the 1989 and 1990 Philadelphia Phillies.[15] 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. Herr, in his second term, was succeeded by Butch Hobson.[16]

The Lancaster Barnstormers were originally owned by Opening Day Partners (ODP), a company that specializes in baseball club and stadium operations. ODP also created Atlantic League clubs in York, Pennsylvania, Southern Maryland, and Sugar Land, Texas. On November 12, 2014, ODP transitioned their ownership of the Barnstormers to Dakota Baseball, LLC to focusing solely on the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Dakota Baseball comprises Ian Ruzow, Rob Liss, Steve Zuckerman, and Bob Zuckerman, Lancastrians and founders of Clipper Magazine - the Barnstormers' naming rights partner.

Logos and uniforms

Hex sign logo

The primary colors of the Barnstormers are red, black, khaki, and white. These are similar to the colors previously used by the Red Roses so as to reflect the area's baseball heritage. The primary logo consists of a typical red barn outlined in black with a curving baseball. Unlike most sports logos, the geographical location is prominently featured rather than the team nickname, thus emphasizing the Lancaster community.[17] In 2011, the Barnstormers substituted black for navy blue and unveiled three agriculture-themed alternate logos: a hex sign, a weather vane, and the barn-planked "LB" initials.[18] The hex-sign logo incorporates the team's initials and a Pennsylvania Dutch design complete with a baseball and two crossed bats. Additionally, it includes two red roses symbolizing Lancaster's nickname, "Red Rose City."

For the 2015 season, the Barnstormers partnered with Zephyr Headwear for their caps and with the Pennsylvania-based Majestic Athletic for their uniforms. The home cap is red throughout and is charged with a stylized cursive "L" in white with black and khaki outline interweaving with a curving baseball. The away cap is black and also features the cursive "L" logo. The home jerseys are white with red piping and the cursive "Lancaster" wordmark across the front in red, khaki, and black. The away jersey is solid gray, featuring the blocked "Lancaster" wordmark arched across the chest in red with black outline. The alternate jersey is black with the barn-planked "Stormers" wordmark and the primary logo on the right sleeve. The Barnstormers wear red belts, socks, and undershirts with all uniforms.

In 2016, the Atlantic League partnered with Rawlings to design unique catcher's gear for all eight teams. The design for the Barnstormers features a golden sunrise over a red barn, symbolizing the Lancaster County's agricultural heritage.[19]

Season-by-season records

Lancaster Barnstormers – 2005 to 2020[20]
Season	W–L	Percentage	Finish	Playoffs
2005	63–77	.450	6th, South Division	Did not qualify
2006	75–51	.595	2nd, South Division	Won championship over Bridgeport 3–0
2007	57–69	.452	3rd, South Division	Did not qualify
2008	64–76	.457	3rd, Freedom Division	Did not qualify
2009	67–73	.479	3rd, Freedom Division	Did not qualify
2010	63–76	.453	3rd, Freedom Division	Did not qualify
2011	69–56	.552	2nd, Freedom Division	2–3
2012	88–52	.629	1st, Freedom Division	5–3 (won division final), 4–6 (lost championship)
2013	72–67	.518	3rd, Freedom Division	Did not qualify
2014	70–53	.569	2nd, Freedom Division	Won championship over Sugar Land 3–0
2015	75–65	.536	1st, Freedom Division	1–3
2016	67–73	.479	3rd, Freedom Division	Did not qualify
2017	76–64	.543	1st, Freedom Division	Did not qualify; York Revolution won the second half; Southern Maryland won the first half
2018	74–52	.587	2nd, Freedom Division	2–3
2019	51–89	.364	4th, Freedom Division	Did not qualify
2020	Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Totals (2005–2020)	1031–993	.520		23–20
War of the Roses	49–50	.494

• 2 Atlantic League Championships (2006, 2014)

Culture

Code Red

When the team issues a "Code Red", all employees and fans wear red shirts and wave red rally towels to support the Barnstormers. It is usually declared for important home games, especially when the club competes against the York Revolution, their local rival. It was first instituted during the Barnstormers' 2006 playoff run.[21]

War of the Roses

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. Since 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. As a metaphor, "War of the Roses" describes the intense baseball matches fought between the Lancaster Red Roses and the York White Roses. 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.

The "War of the Roses" was rekindled with the sound of celebratory cannon-fire at the start of the 2007 Atlantic League season in Wrightsville, a borough located on the Susquehanna River, the natural boundary between Lancaster and York counties. 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 Ball Game" 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.[22] The clubs also competed in the Route 30 Showdown in 2009–2011, an annual cross-county doubleheader inadvertently created at the conclusion of the 2008 season by a rain-delay.[23]

Community Cup Record[24]

Year	Series Winner	Barnstormers W	Revolution W	Notes
2007	Barnstormers	10	8	first Community Cup
2008	Revolution	9	11
2009	Barnstormers	14	6
2010	Revolution	4	16	the earliest Cup win; July 24
2011	Barnstormers	10	8
2012	Barnstormers	10	10	Lancaster retains cup in tie
2013	Revolution	8	12
2014	Revolution	7	13	first consecutive Cup win
2015	Barnstormers	15	11
2016	Barnstormers	11	9
2017	Revolution	9	10
2018	Barnstormers	10	8	[25]
2019	Revolution	8	11	[26]
2020	Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Overall	Barnstormers (7–6)	125	133

Radio and television

Every Barnstormers game was broadcast on WLAN (1390 AM) and WPDC (1600 AM) by Dave Collins, their announcer.[27] Select home games are televised on Blue Ridge Cable-11.[28] However, the cost of airtime became too expensive so all games are now only streamed on Youtube.

Mascot

Cylo, mascot of the Lancaster Barnstormers

The Lancaster Barnstormers' mascot 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 silos, representing the county's agricultural heritage.[29] The mascot was designed by the Raymond Entertainment Group, which also produces the Phillie Phanatic's costume.

Current roster

Lancaster Barnstormers roster
Active (25-man) roster				Coaches/Other
Pitchers 30 Huascar Brazoban -- Brooks Hall -- Jared Lakind -- Anthony Marzi -- Scott Shuman Utility player -- Kelly Dugan		Catchers Infielders -- Luis Marte  1 Michael Martínez -- Melvin Mercedes Outfielders -- B.J. Boyd -- LeDarious Clark -- Alejandro De Aza 15 Caleb Gindl -- Destin Hood -- Devon Torrence		Manager 23 Ross Peeples Coaches -- Cody Eppley (pitching) 15 Caleb Gindl (hitting) Disabled list ‡ Inactive list § Suspended list Roster updated March 18, 2020 Transactions

Retired numbers

42 (Jackie Robinson)

2B, Retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997

Major League Baseball alumni

• Scott Patterson
• Jason Perry
• Matt Watson
• Daryle Ward
• Jerome Williams
• Phil Coke
• Marcus Walden

References

1. Wilson, Burt (21 April 2017). "New general manager Mike Reynolds looks to reinvigorate the Barnstormers experience". LancasterOnline. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
2. "Name Chosen for Lancaster's Baseball Team". WGAL. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
3. "Definition for "barnstorm"". The Free Dictionary. Retrieved May 1, 2006.
4. "Stepping Up to the Plate - Lancaster takes a twenty-first century swing at professional baseball". Lancaster County Historical Society. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
5. "Lancaster Barnstormers unveil logo". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved June 13, 2006.
6. "Lancaster County's Amish". The New Agrarian. Archived from the original on August 12, 2006. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
7. "Baseball Comes to Lancaster". Lancaster County Historical Society. Archived from the original on May 3, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
8. "Lancasters, Ironsides, and Chicks". Lancaster County Historical Society. Archived from the original on May 3, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
9. "Black Baseball in Lancaster". Lancaster County Historical Society. Archived from the original on May 3, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
10. "Lancaster Marooned". Lancaster County Historical Society. Archived from the original on May 3, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
11. "Lancaster's Roses Bloom and Wither". Lancaster County Historical Society. Archived from the original on May 3, 2006. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
12. "Barnstormers Make Herr Theirs". FOX23 News. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved May 6, 2006.
13. "Long Island Ducks Take Atlantic League Title". Yahoo.com. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
14. "Stormers coaching staff". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved October 1, 2008.
15. "Barnstormers hire Hayes, Herr duo". Lancaster Online. Archived from the original on December 22, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2008.
16. "Hobson Comes to Lancaster". Atlantic League. Archived from the original on November 13, 2010. Retrieved October 21, 2010.
17. "Lancaster Barnstormers unveil logo". lancasterbarnstormers.com. Retrieved June 13, 2006.
18. "Barnstormers unveil enhanced look". Lancasterbarnstormers.com. 2011-04-28. Retrieved 2012-03-15.
19. "Barnstormers unveil enhanced look". AtlanticLeague.com. 2016-04-29. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
20. "Atlantic League information". nbpfaus.net. Retrieved April 2, 2011.
21. "Code Red". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved April 22, 2010.
22. "Revolution Home and Alternate Uniforms Unveiled". York Revolution. May 2, 2007. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2007.
23. "Barnstormers Announce Fifth Anniversary Home Schedule". Lancaster Barnstormers. November 13, 2008. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2008.
24. "War of the Roses". Lancaster Barnstormers. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012.
25. Marcantonini, Michael (August 23, 2018). "Revs Drop Finale". York Revolution. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
26. Pietrzak, Brett (September 20, 2019). "Revs Win the Cup!". York Revolution. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
27. "Barnstormers announce radio network". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
28. "See the Barnstormers on Blue Ridge Cable". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
29. "Introducing Cylo". Lancaster Barnstormers. Retrieved March 31, 2007.

External links

• Lancaster Barnstormers (official website)
• Lancaster Barnstormers Booster Club

Achievements
Preceded by Long Island Ducks 2013	Atlantic League Champions Lancaster Barnstormers 2014	Succeeded by Somerset Patriots 2015
Preceded by Somerset Patriots 2005	Atlantic League Champions Lancaster Barnstormers 2006	Succeeded by Newark Bears 2007

Achievements
Preceded by York Revolution 2011	Freedom Division Champions Lancaster Barnstormers 2012	Succeeded by Somerset Patriots 2013
Preceded by Somerset Patriots 2005	South Division Champions Lancaster Barnstormers 2006	Succeeded by Somerset Patriots 2007