JAMESTOWN, NY –A new era in storied-history of Jamestown baseball began today as the Jammers agreed to a two-year player development contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Jammers will serve as the Pirates’ Class-A affiliate in the New York-Penn League for the 2013 and 2014 seasons. The Jammers replace the State College Spikes, as the New York – Penn League affiliate; after signing with the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday afternoon. Jamestown had previously been affiliated with the Miami Marlins.
Meanwhile, the Batavia Muckdogs who had been affiliated with the Cardinals are without an affiliation at the moment. It is not known who the Muckdogs will affiliate with for the 2013 season. After October 1st, Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball will compare notes and figure out the most suitable affiliations for previously affiliated towns.
Partnering with Pittsburgh gives the Jammers a great regional partner and will provide the many Pirates fans in northern Pennsylvania and the Southern Tier with a fantastic opportunity to see the exciting young prospects in the organization.
“We’re extremely pleased to align the Jammers with an organization that is widely regarded as having some of the most exciting young players in all of minor league baseball,” said Bob Rich Jr., President/Owner of the Jamestown Jammers. “As the launching pad for the beginning of so many promising careers, Jamestown is the perfect place for area Pirates fans to see the future of their favorite team.”
“The Pirates are pleased to affiliate with the Jamestown Jammers and as importantly re-establish a professional relationship with Bob and Mindy Rich and their outstanding leadership team headed by Jon Dandes,” said Neal Huntington, General Manager of the Pirates. “The Pirates have a quality history with the Rich family from our prior Triple-A affiliation in Buffalo and we look forward to building on that relationship with a New York-Penn League affiliation.”
Along with the Jammers, Rich Baseball Operations also operates the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons of the International League and the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Texas League. From 1988-1994, the Bisons were the Triple-A affiliate of the Pirates in the American Association.
