New York Bucks

The New York Bucks are an independent American professional baseball team based in Canton, New York. They are a member of the Empire Professional Baseball League. Beginning in the 2018 season, the Bucks will play their home games at the Roos House Athletic Center at SUNY Canton.

New York Bucks
Information
LeagueEmpire Professional Baseball League
LocationPlattsburgh, New York
BallparkLefty Wilson Field
Year founded2015
Former league(s)North Country Baseball League (2015)
Colors         
ManagerErnesto Punales
Websitebucksprobaseball.com

History

The Watertown Bucks were an independent American professional baseball team based in Watertown, New York. The Bucks played in the newly formed Empire Professional Baseball League, which is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, during its inaugural season. The Bucks played in the North Country Baseball League in 2015. They were previously a member of the short-lived East Coast Baseball League.

In 2015, the Bucks were set to be a member of the East Coast Baseball League.[1] The team was owned by Bruce Zicari and was to be managed by Kelly Stinnett. General Manager and NCBL Executive was Matt McClusky.[2] Prior to the planned start of the ECBL's first season the American teams, including the Bucks, pulled out of the league to form the North Country Baseball League.[3]

2015 season

The Bucks posted a record of 16-23 in the start-up league.[4] The Bucks promoted no players to the higher Independent Leagues.[5] The team drew 9,250 fans, for an average of 237 a game.[6] The team played its first game against the Road City Explorers on Memorial Day.[7]

2016 season

The Bucks were announced to play in the newly formed Empire Professional Baseball League.[8] The Bucks announced Simon Walters as manager January 5.[9] The Empire League named Kyle Scodo as general manager and operations manager of the Watertown Bucks on January 12.[10] It was reported that Bruce Zicari would no longer own the team in 2016, and that it would be owned by the league.[11] On January 26, Watertown Superintendent of Park and Recreation, Erin Gardner, endorsed the Empire League's offer to sign an franchise agreement.[12] The Empire League Director stated with regards to the team that league will have "all the money in place before the season ever begins".[13] After finishing the season, the Bucks lost their lease for the stadium and ceased operations.[14]

2018 season

The franchise was revived for the 2018 season as the league expanded from 4 to 6 teams. The revived team was originally to be based in Georgetown, Delaware, but a reworking of the schedule to accommodate playing games in Puerto Rico resulted in the franchise being based in Canton, New York, instead.[15][16] Finishing with a league-leading 32-16 record,[17] the Bucks advanced to the postseason, losing the championship series to the Puerto Rico Islanders two games to one.[18]

2019 season

The 2019 Bucks relocated to Plattsburgh[19] and finished last in the league[20] with a 3-29 record.[21]

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References
  1. "East Coast Baseball League News: Munoz, OOB, Road City". www.baseballessential.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  2. "McClusky, Watertown Bucks learning on the job".
  3. "ECBL Folds, North Country Baseball League Formed". Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  4. "NCBL Standings". www.northcountrybaseballleague.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  5. "NCBL League". www.northcountrybaseballleague.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  6. "Watertown Bucks owner optimistic despite disappointing attendance figures". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  7. "Watertown Bucks manager Stinnett ready to get season started today". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
  8. "WE ARE A GO! | Empire League News". empireproleague.com. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  9. "Simon Walters Manager of Watertown Bucks | Empire League News". empireproleague.com. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  10. "GM and Operations Manager of Watertown in Place – Empire League". Retrieved January 14, 2016.
  11. "Local baseball: Watertown Bucks may be resurrected for new league". Watertown Daily Times. Retrieved January 27, 2016.
  12. "City of Watertown". www.newzjunky.com. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  13. "New Group Takes Another Swing at Baseball in Watertown". TWC News. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  14. "Weekly Sports League & Franchise Report". OurSports Central. November 7, 2016.
  15. Krieger, Dan (June 11, 2018). "Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report". OurSports Central. Retrieved June 11, 2018. The new 2018 team called the Delaware Bucks that was supposed to play in Georgetown (DE) is now called the New York Bucks and based in the far northern New York State town of Canton.
  16. St. Clair, Ricky (June 13, 2018). "RedBirds prepped for second EPBL season". Press-Republican. Plattsburgh, New York. Retrieved August 1, 2018. The Bucks, who were originally slated to play their home games at the Sports at the Beach complex in Georgetown, Delaware, will call SUNY Canton home.
  17. "2018 Standings". empireproleague.com. Empire Professional Baseball League. Retrieved May 17, 2019.
  18. "PUERTO RICO ISLANDERS WIN 2018 EPBL CHAMPIONSHIP". empireproleague.com. Empire Professional Baseball League. August 13, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  19. Reuter, Lou (July 17, 2019). "Surge return home with win". Adirondack Daily Enterprise. Retrieved September 17, 2019. the New York Bucks, who have been based in Plattsburgh
  20. "NEW YORK BUCKS OFFICIALLY ELIMINATED FROM PLAYOFFS". New York Bucks. Empire League Media. July 26, 2019. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
  21. "2019 Regular Season Standings". New York Bucks. Retrieved September 17, 2019.
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