Magazine2 7/22/04 12:33 PM Page 35 “PLAY BALL” AT JOE BRUNO STADIUM by David Filkins With summer in place. Construction of the $14 mil- approaching, lion stadium began in 2001, with a the Tri-City completion date set for the next year. he ValleyCats are HVCC, which owns and operates sp poised to pro- the stadium, named it Joseph L. Bruno vide another Stadium in honor of the State Senate mou exciting season of baseball in 2004. majority leader. Construction was l The Valleycats are a Class-A affiliate of completed in time for the 2002 sea- the Houston Astros, the Valleycats son. The 4,500 seat facility boasts me have spent the past two seasons in many of the accommodations of Troy, New York. Playing in Troy for the today’s major league ballparks; individ- nes last two seasons has not only revital- ual seating, luxury boxes, outfield le ized the ValleyCats organization, but grass seating, a picnic area, and a also provided the Capital Region with a video scoreboard. brand of baseball fans can be excited While moving from Pittsfield to about. The organization moved to its Troy, management decided to do a ? former location of Pittsfield, Mass. in thorough makeover in hopes of rein- an 1989, and at the time was playing as venting the franchise. The club would t an affiliate of the New York Mets. remain a Houston Astros affiliate, but pa Waconah Park was the home of the would drop the Astros nickname in 4 Pittsfield Mets for 12 seasons. Former favor of something new. After a “name Pittsfield Mets players include a host of the team” contest, “ValleyCats” was former and current Major Leaguers, finally chosen. In addition, public including Jay Payton, Terrence Long, response was so far reaching that the and Jeremy Brunitz. team settled on “Tri-City” as a first After 12 years of serving as an name, rather than just Troy. affiliate of the New York Mets, the The arrival of a professional base- organization began a player develop- ball team was a welcome addition not ment contract with the Houston only for Troy, but the Capital District all Astros in 2001. The team moved from together. Minor League baseball had Pittsfield to their current home in Troy flourished in the area throughout the the year after. 80’s and 90’s with the Albany-Colonie The move was due in part to the Yankees and the Albany-Colonie franchise’s inability to reach a contract Diamond Dogs. 2002 marked the end for a new stadium in Pittsfield. Hudson of more then 20 years of baseball at Valley Community College was willing Heritage Park in Albany, New York, as to provide one, and the move was put the Diamond Dogs franchise folded, m 35 Magazine2 7/22/04 12:34 PM Page 36 Business Management Let Mildred Elley Computerized Bookkeeping get you started on Office Technologies Information Technology the right Paralegal Studies Medical Studies game plan. Travel & Tourism Massage Therapy Call (518)786-3171 today to kick off your new career. Financial aid for eligible students. Weekend classes available. Latham Circle Mall, Latham NY mildred-elley.com Also located in Pittsfield MA Magazine2 7/22/04 12:34 PM Page 37 concurrent with the ValleyCats arrival. was alive and well. The team saw a Although the ValleyCats struggled drastic improvement in 2003, finishing to a 27-48 record in their first season with a 44-32 record, missing the play- in Troy, the relocation was a success. offs by only 1.5 games. The Valleycats More than 100,000 fans made it to the have now turned their attention to this ballpark during its first season, ensur- season, and making it a success both ing that baseball in the Tri-City area on and off the baseball diamond. Valleycats Schedule JUNE AUGUST 18-20 @ Lowell Spinners 1-3 vs. Vermont Expos 21-22 @ Oneonta Tigers 4-6 @ Mahoning Valley Scrappers 23-26 vs. Brooklyn Cyclones 7-9 @ Hudson Valley Renegades 27-28 vs. Batavia Muckdogs 10-12 vs. Oneonta Tigers 13-14 @ Lowell Spinners 29-30 @ Vermont Expos 15-16 vs. Vermont Expos 18-20 @ Vermont Expos JULY 21-23 vs. Lowell Spinners 1-2 vs. Vermont Expos 24-26 vs. Jamestown Jammers 3-4 vs. Lowell Spinners 27-29 @ Vermont Expos 5-7 @ New Jersey Cardinals 30-31 @ Aberdeen Ironbirds 9-11 vs. Lowell Spinners 12-14 @ Oneonta Tigers SEPTEMBER 15-16 vs. Oneonta Tigers 1 @ Aberdeen Ironbirds 17-19 @ Auburn Doubledays 2-4 @ Oneonta Tigers 20-22 vs. Staten Island Yankees 23-25 @ Oneonta Tigers GAME TIMES 26-27 @ Lowell Spinners Monday through Saturday - 7 PM 29-31 vs. Williamsport Sunday - 6 PM Crosscutters *Tuesday, August 3 - 12 PM www.tcvalleycats.com • Phone (518) 629-2287 37 Magazine2 7/22/04 12:34 PM Page 38.