Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, September 20, 2000

Release #362-00

 
Contact: Sunny Mindel/Curt Ritter (212) 788-2958
  Gregory Miley/Bruce Brodoff (212) 312-3523 (EDC)


MAYOR GIULIANI AND STATEN ISLAND BOROUGH PRESIDENT MOLINARI
CONGRATULATE STATEN ISLAND YANKEES ON THEIR FIRST
NEW YORK PENN-LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP

Proclaims September 20th "Staten Island Yankees Championship Day"

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Staten Island Borough President Guy V. Molinari today congratulated the Staten Island Yankees on their first New York Penn- League Championship. The Mayor also proclaimed Wednesday, September 20, 2000 "Staten Island Yankees Championship Day" in New York City in recognition of the team's accomplishments.

The Staten Island Yankees finished their second season by clinching the New York Penn-League championship title in a best-of-three game series against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers. They compiled the best record in their division this season, and also posted a 10-game winning streak.

"I'm thrilled that the Staten Island Yankees have joined their legendary namesakes at the pinnacle of baseball," said Mayor Giuliani. "This is an exciting time for minor league baseball in New York, as the Staten Island Yankees had to beat the Queens Kings for the division title in order to face the Scrappers in the championship series.

"Next year should be even more exciting, with both teams playing in their new ballparks in St. George and Coney Island. I want to congratulate team owners Stanley and Josh Getzler, General Manager Jeff Dumas, Manager Joe Arnold, and all the fine young players for bringing another championship to The Baseball Capital of the World."

The competition between the two teams with the best records in the league was as dramatic as expected. The Staten Island Yankees trounced the Scrappers 9-0 in the first game of the series, suffered a devastating 9-8, 11-inning loss in game two, then battled back to win 4-2 in the third and final game of the championship series.

"As Borough President of Staten Island, I take great pride in our team's victory in what amounts to their World Series," said Borough President Molinari. "I look forward to opening day at the Richmond County Bank Ballpark at St. George, when we can raise that championship flag high above the Staten Island Yankees' brand new home and once again celebrate their wonderful triumph."

The Staten Island Yankees' second season was as successful in the stands as it was on the field. By offering exciting baseball in an affordable, family-friendly environment, the Staten Island Yankees attracted 102,897 fans - almost 3,000 people per game - to 35 home dates during the regular season, the sixth-best attendance in the 14-team New York Penn-League.

"We are extremely proud of 'Our Yanks,' and grateful to the New York Yankees for sending us such a terrific team," said Josh Getzler, Chief Operating Officer of the Staten Island Yankees. "They are a group of quality people, not just quality ballplayers, and we feel that they represent the Yankees - both New York and Staten Island - at the highest possible level. We are thrilled that we will be able to open our new ballpark with a pennant- raising ceremony."

The Staten Island Yankees' victorious season was built on outstanding pitching and hitting. The team's pitching staff led the league in nearly every category during the regular season, including finishing first in team pitching with a 2.85 ERA. Left-hander Andy Beal was the league's premier pitcher, with a 9-3, 2.34 ERA record.

The team also finished second in team hitting with a .264 average. Left-fielder Mitch Jones led the league with 11 home runs, 28 doubles, 42 extra-base hits and a .505 slugging percentage, and also finished second in the runs-batted-in category, with a team-record 54 RBIs.

In addition to winning the championship, left fielder Mitch Jones, pitcher Andy Beal, and third baseman Elvis Corporan have been named "New York Penn-League All-Stars" by the league.

In Baseball America's annual "Power Rankings," which ranks teams based on overall record and league dominance, the Staten Island Yankees were ranked #1 out of 40 teams in the short season category.

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