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Syracuse Mets Founded in 1934 Syracuse, New York
Team logo Cap insignia
Class-level
Current	Triple-A (1946–1955, 1961–present)
Previous	Double-A (1934–1945) Class A (1956–1957)
Minor league affiliations
League	International League
Division	North Division
Previous leagues	Eastern League (1956–1957)
Major league affiliations
Current	New York Mets (from 2019)
Previous	Washington Nationals (2009–2018) Toronto Blue Jays (1978–2008) New York Yankees (1967–1977) Detroit Tigers (1963–1966) New York Mets/Washington Senators (1962) Minnesota Twins (1961) Detroit Tigers (1956–1957) Philadelphia Phillies (1954–1955) Cincinnati Reds (1942–1950) Pittsburgh Pirates (1940) Cincinnati Reds (1937–1938) Boston Red Sox (1934–1936)
Minor league titles
League titles .mw-parser-output .noboldfont-weight:normal (8)	1935 1942 1943 1947 1954 1969 1970 1976
Division titles (2)	1989 2014
Team data
Nickname	Syracuse Mets (from 2019)
Previous names	Syracuse Chiefs (2007–2018, 1934–1996) Syracuse SkyChiefs (1997–2006)
Colors	Blue, orange, white
Ballpark	NBT Bank Stadium (1997–present)[1]
Previous parks	MacArthur Stadium (1934–1957, 1961–1996)
Owner(s)/ Operator(s)	New York Mets[2]
Manager	Tony DeFrancesco
General Manager	Jason Smorol[3]

The Syracuse Mets are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets. They are located in Syracuse, New York, and play their home games at NBT Bank Stadium which opened in 1997 and has a seating capacity of 11,071.^[4] The Mets are named for their major league affiliate and owner, the New York Mets.

Throughout most of their existence, the team was known as the Syracuse Chiefs, from 1934-1996, then again from 2007-2018, while from 1997 to 2006, they were known as the Syracuse SkyChiefs. The club was rebranded as the Syracuse Mets in October 2018.^[5]

History

Establishment

The first Syracuse Chiefs baseball team was established in 1934, when the Jersey City Skeeters moved to Syracuse and were renamed the Chiefs.

The team played in the International League (IL) through 1955. They won five Governors' Cup championships during this stretch, including back-to-back championships in 1942 and 1943. The team was then sold and moved to Miami as the Marlins for the 1956 campaign.

Another team known as the Syracuse Chiefs competed in the Class A Eastern League (then two levels below the IL) in 1956 and 1957, but moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 1957.^[6]

Syracuse was without professional baseball until the 1961 season, when the Montreal Royals franchise was abandoned by its owners (the Los Angeles Dodgers) and relocated to Syracuse as the top affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, becoming the Syracuse Chiefs.

Rebirth

Baseball has been played in Syracuse without interruption since the rebirth of the Chiefs in 1961. The team was renamed the SkyChiefs in 1997 before reverting to simply "Chiefs" in December 2006.^[7]

From 1978 to 2008, the Chiefs were the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The three-decade Toronto–Syracuse affiliation is the longest of the 11 major league affiliations the team has had since 1936. While the Chiefs reached three Governors Cup finals during this time, many of the players who helped lead the Blue Jays to consecutive World Series titles in 1992 and 1993 passed through Syracuse.

In 1994, outfielder Shawn Green hit .344 for the Chiefs, winning the International League batting title and the International League Rookie of the Year Award.

The Chiefs played at MacArthur Stadium from 1934 to 1996, moving to new then-P&C Stadium (1997-2005) in 1997.

Washington Nationals

On September 20, 2008, the Chiefs signed a two-year affiliation agreement with the Washington Nationals, ending their relationship with the Blue Jays. That first season, the players wore a decal on their uniforms with the letters "HB" to commemorate Harold Berman, former member of the team's board of directors, who died after the 2007 season. In 2009, the Chiefs wore a decal on their uniforms with the letters "HM" to commemorate Hy Miller, former state assemblyman and former member of the team's board of directors, who died after the 2008 season.

In 2010, the Chiefs celebrated their 50th season of community-owned baseball (1961–2010), wearing 1961 jerseys for every Thursday home game. The team brought back radio announcers from the past, such as Dan Hoard and Syracuse University alumnus Sean McDonough. They had a 76–67 win–loss record, with pitching prospect Stephen Strasburg winning two games and losing one in five appearances.

In 2011, the Chiefs, wore throwback jerseys for every Thursday home game to commemorate the 35th anniversary of their last International League Governors' Cup championship team (managed by Syracuse Wall of Fame member Bobby Cox). The Chiefs added four alternate jerseys to their rotation for the season: one for Latin American Day, a second for Jackie Robinson Day (commemorating Negro League uniforms), a third for national holidays such as Independence Day and Memorial Day, and a fourth for Breast Cancer Awareness Night. The team played the Pawtucket Red Sox on August 20 at Fenway Park as part of a doubleheader in conjunction with the sixth annual Futures at Fenway event, featuring games involving Boston Red Sox minor league teams. The Chiefs, behind starter Brad Meyers, defeated the PawSox 3–1 before more than 29,000 fans. At Alliance Bank Stadium (now NBT Bank Stadium) the Chiefs added a "Home Plate Club" to the stadium: premium seating in the first four rows behind home plate, with waitstaff for merchandise, food and drinks.

On May 14, Chiefs DH Michael Aubrey went four for four, hitting four home runs in an 11–0 victory over the Durham Bulls and becoming the second player in team history to hit four home runs in a game; Gene Locklear was the first, on July 14, 1977. On August 27, Stephen Strasburg pitched his only rehab game for the Chiefs, against the Rochester Red Wings. Giving up two hits in the sixth inning (his only hits allowed before departing, with the Chiefs leading 1–0), he received no decision in Syracuse's 4–3 win. It did, however, clinch the Chiefs' third Thruway Cup victory; the team's other wins were in 1999 and 2010. The club's record for the season was 66–74, 14 games out of first place and fourth place in the six-team North Division.

On April 5, 2012, the Chiefs opened at home against the Rochester Red Wings. Top draft pick Bryce Harper, later that month promoted to the Nationals, made the opening-day roster. Randy Knorr did not return for a second season as manager, and Tony Beasley was promoted from the Harrisburg Senators. The Chiefs played all 16 of their games against the Scranton/Wilkes Barre Yankees at the now renamed Alliance Bank Stadium (2005-2013) due to stadium renovations at the Yankees' ballpark in Moosic, Pennsylvania. On May 7, the Chiefs unveiled a new high-definition video board in left field, replacing the board which had been in place since the stadium's 1997 opening.

The 2013 season, with manager Tony Beasley in his second season with the team, began on April 4 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs; the Chiefs' home opener was eight days later against the IronPigs. On Throwback Thursdays, the team wore jerseys from 1983 to 1996.

Fireworks following Syracuse Chiefs home game, August 2016

On September 30, 2013, it was announced that 16-year general manager John Simone and any family members associated with the team, including assistant GM Mike Vounitas, were fired. On October 8, former Auburn Doubledays general manager Jason Smorol became the Chiefs' GM, with Jason Horbal as his assistant. It was the first time since 1970 that someone not named Simone was general manager of Syracuse; John Simone had taken over the job from his father, Anthony (Tex) Simone, in 1997.

The Chiefs opened their 2014 season on April 3 with a loss at home to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and finished the season with the best record (81–62) in the International League, clinching a playoff spot for the first time since 1998 and the first IL North Division title since 1989. NBT Bank Stadium hosted its first ever playoff game on September 5, 2014, a 7–6 loss to the Pawtucket Red Sox which capped off a 3–0 first round series sweep for the Red Sox. The season featured an aggressive promotional campaign, including Social Media Monday, Two-for-One Tickets on Tuesday, Winning Wednesday, Dollar Thursday, Fireworks Friday, Giveaway Saturday, and Family Sunday. The Chiefs sold out the outfield wall, the dugouts, and the field tarp, earning $500,000 in advertising.

The 2015 season saw the Chiefs finish in fourth place in the six-team IL North Division with a record of 66–78. The Chiefs' early season struggles, including an 11-game losing streak extending from May to June, hurt the Chiefs too much to rebound despite going 39–26 after July 1 including an 11-game win streak in mid-July. Billy Gardner Jr. managed the team in his second season with the team. Stephen Strasburg went 1–1 with the Chiefs in two rehab starts. In the two games, Strasburg pitched ​9 ²⁄₃ innings with an ERA of 4.66. The team's best pitcher by record was Bruce Billings who went 8–5 in 27 games. The best pitcher by ERA with more than 25 innings pitched was Evan Meek who had an ERA of 2.15 in 30 games, with a record of 2–4. The Chiefs player with the most hits in 2016 was Darin Mastroianni with 114. Trea Turner, with an average of .314 in 188 at bats, including 3 home runs, 7 doubles, and 15 RBI, lead the team with the best average among those with over 100 at bats was .

The Chiefs experienced another last-place finish in the North Division in 2016 with a record of 61–82, their worst record since the 1997 season. Billy Garnder Jr. managed his third season with the team. Players such as Ryan Zimmerman and Jose Lobaton rehabbed for the Chiefs that season. Syracuse also had three all–stars that season, which included Trea Turner, Brian Goodwin, and Rafael Martin. Matt Skole also won a Gold Glove for his fielding performance at first base. The Chiefs players with the most hits in 2016 were Matt Skole and Brian Goodwin with 122 hits. Goodwin also had the highest batting average: .280 in 119 at bats, including 14 home runs, 25 doubles, and 68 RBI. The team's best pitcher by record was A.J. Cole who went 8–8 in 22 games. Sean Burnett had the team's lowest ERA among those with at least 25 innings pitched with a 2.27 mark in 40 games and a record of 0–3.

Syracuse's 2017 record of 59–87 placed them at the bottom of the division standings for the third year in a row, their worst record since 1966. Billy Garnder Jr. managed his fourth season with the team. Trea Turner and Jayson Werth rehabbed for the Chiefs that season. Brandon Snyder led the team with 110 hits, while Irving Falu has the best batting average (.280 in 382 at bats, including 9 home runs, 19 doubles, and 44 RBI). The team's best pitcher by record was Austin Adams who went 6–2 in 44 games coming out of the bullpen. The best pitcher by ERA with more than 25 innings pitched was Wander Suero who had an ERA of 1.70 in 36 games, with a record of 3–1.

New York Mets

The chief operating officer of the New York Mets, Jeff Wilpon, joined Governor Andrew Cuomo and Joanie Mahoney, Onondaga County Executive, at NBT Bank Stadium on October 11, 2017, to announce that the Mets would purchase the Chiefs from the Community Baseball Club of Central New York in early 2018. Under the deal, the Chiefs' affiliation with the Washington Nationals continued through the end of the 2018 season, with the Chiefs becoming the Mets' Triple-A affiliate beginning with the 2019 season.^[8] The team was rebranded as the Syracuse Mets, adopting the New York Mets' blue, orange, and white color scheme along with new logos and uniforms on October 16, 2018.^[9]

Current roster

Corporate structure

New York Mets

In October 2017, the New York Mets, headed by Jeff Wilpon, agreed to purchase the Chiefs for approximately $18 million pending approval by team shareholders. A vote was held on November 17, 2017, in which 88 percent of shareholders voted in favor of selling the team, thus meeting the required two-thirds vote needed for approval.^[10] The Mets organization assumed ownership in early 2018.^[11]

Community Baseball Club, Inc.

Previously, the Chiefs were owned by the Community Baseball Club of Central New York, Inc., "a community-owned club, controlled by a [13-person] board of directors,"^[12][13][14] acting on behalf of approximately 4,000 shareholders, who together held 15,857 shares from 1961 to 2017.^[14]

According to Dick Ryan, a former club chairman of the board and treasurer, a majority of the Community Baseball Club shares were "owned by people who own one or two shares."^[12] Shares in the club were first sold in 1961, at a price of $10 each; as of 2011, shares had a resale value of approximately $126, but were not publicly traded. A provision in the Chief's certificate of corporation stated that "no one may vote more than 500 shares."^[12] This provision was intended to make it difficult for the club to be sold and moved to another location, as happened earlier in its history.^[12]

Management

Before the team's sale to the Mets, officers of the Syracuse Chiefs/ Community Baseball Club of Central New York, Inc., included:

• Robert F. Julian, Chairman of the Board


• William Dutch, President


• Jason Smorol, General Manager^[3]

Among those serving on the organization's Board of Directors were Stephen A. Rogers, Chairman, Syracuse Media Group;^[13] and Crandall Melvin III, "a software executive from Syracuse and the team's largest single shareholder with 502 shares."^[14]

Dutch is a partner in Chiefs First LLC, an investment company established in September 2013, which loaned the Chiefs $500,000 in return for 600 shares and control of the team's new, 13-member board.^[15]

Finances

The Chiefs operated at a loss from 2006, except for the 2010 season when they ended the season $100,000 in the black. The team lost $973,516 in the 2013 season, on operating expenses of $3.1 million.^[16][17] Under general manager Jason Smorol, their losses were reduced to $241,584 in 2014, and $169,011 in 2015.^[18]

Attendance

Top season attendance

NBT Bank Stadium

* Includes playoffs

MacArthur Stadium

* Includes playoffs

Top 40 attendance dates since 1961

Titles and pennants

Governors' Cup

The Chiefs have won the Governors' Cup (the IL championship) 8 times, and have played in the championship series 17 times.

The Chiefs have won the International League pennant—finishing the regular season with the best record in the league—eight times.

Junior World Series

The Chiefs have played in the Junior World Series five times, winning it once, in 1970 against the Omaha Royals, 4–1.

Season standings

All-time records

Note: One playoff series is missing from the original Syracuse Chiefs. It will be added to the records when found.

People of note

Players

Shawn Green

Roy Halladay

Chien-Ming Wang pitching for the Chiefs, July 2011

• 
  Rafael Bautista, outfielder


• 
  Richard Bleier, pitcher


• 
  A. J. Burnett, one-time highest-paid pitcher in baseball


• 
  Chris Carpenter, 3-time All-Star pitcher, World Series Champion in 2011


• 
  Bobby Cox, Manager with Toronto Blue Jays and most notably Atlanta Braves
  


• 
  Carlos Delgado, 2-time All-Star first baseman. 4 HR game with Toronto vs Tampa Bay Rays
  


• 
  Tony Fernández, All-time Blue Jays hit leader, 5-time All Star infielder, 4-time Gold Glove winner


• 
  Shawn Green, 2-time All-Star outfielder


• 
  Ron Guidry, 4-time All-Star pitcher


• 
  Roy Halladay, 7-time All-Star pitcher


• 
  Bryce Harper, 2011 #1 MLB overall pick


• Aaron Hill


• Casey Janssen


• Zach Jackson


• 
  Jimmy Key, World Series champion


• Adam Lind


• 
  Gene Locklear Hit 4 Hr in one game, played for New York Yankees
  


• Fred McGriff


• 
  Denny McLain, won 31 games for the Detroit Tigers in 1968


• 
  Thurman Munson, 7-time All-Star catcher


• 
  Stu Pederson, Major League outfielder


• 
  Goody Rosen, All-Star outfielder


• 
  Deion Sanders, NFL Hall of famer, Super Bowl Champion


• 
  Dave Stieb, Toronto Blue Jays legend and has thrown a no-hitter


• 
  Hank Sauer, All-time Chiefs single season home run leader


• Travis Snider


• Luis Sojo


• Ed Sprague, Jr.


• 
  Stephen Strasburg, highest-paid contract for drafted player


• Johnny Reder


• 
  Trea Turner 13th overall draft pick in 2014


• 
  Alex Ríos, 2-time All Star


• 
  David Wells, owner of a perfect game with the New York Yankees
  


• Vernon Wells


• 
  Jayson Werth, World Series champion

Broadcasters

Marv Albert

• 
  Marv Albert (1962)


• 
  Hank Greenwald (1962)


• 
  Greg Papa (1982–83)


• 
  Sean McDonough (1982–84), current ESPN play-by-play man for Major League Baseball, NCAA Men's Basketball, NCAA Football, and the National Football League
  


• 
  Craig Minervini (1983)


• 
  Dan Hoard (1985–95), former Cincinnati Reds fill in broadcaster, now voice of the Cincinnati Bengals
  


• 
  Ken Levine (1988), film and television writer who also broadcast for the Baltimore Orioles, 1991, Seattle Mariners, 1992–94, 2011–12, San Diego Padres, 1995–1997, Los Angeles Dodgers, 2008–2010


• 
  Matt Vasgersian (1995)


• Bob McElligott (2000-2009), radio broadcaster for the Columbus Blue Jackets


• 
  Jason Benetti (2009-2014), broadcaster for the Chicago White Sox^[21]

Retired numbers and recognized people

Game broadcasts

Locally games are broadcast on the Mets' flagship radio station, WSKO "The Score" 1260 AM, and globally online via SyracuseMets.com. All games are broadcast by Eric Gallanty and Steve Grilli. In addition, all games are broadcast on MiLB.TV, an internet video subscription service. Select games were broadcast live on Spectrum Sports, provided on Spectrum Cable services throughout the Central and Northern New York area until Spectrum ceased operations of its sports channels in the state sometime around 2017. The games on Spectrum Sports were called by Steve Grilli, Syracuse Wall of Fame member and former major leaguer. All games against thruway rivals Rochester or Buffalo were broadcast on Spectrum Sports and fed between the cities, with the host city providing the presentation and announcers.^{[citation needed]}

In popular culture

Writer Ken Levine based the Springfield Isotopes minor league team in The Simpsons episode Dancin' Homer on experiences as an announcer for the Syracuse Chiefs. The episode includes references to former announcer Dan Hoard and owner Anthony "Tex" Simone (named Antoine "Tex" O'Hara in the episode).

The Chiefs gained national media attention for a promotion planned for 2014's Tattoo Appreciation Night, where anyone who got a tattoo of their "C" logo would receive free tickets to Chiefs games for life.^[22]

See also

• Star Park


• Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame


• Syracuse Orange baseball

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Syracuse Mets.

• Official website


• Syracuse Chiefs at Baseball-Reference


• Gersbacher, Ron. (2012). "History of Syracuse Baseball, 1858 to Present"


• Photographs of Alliance Bank Stadium, home of the Syracuse Chiefs - Rochester Area Ballparks