Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
When we last checked in with the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, the New York Mets’ Double-A affiliate had just released their Bathtub Donkeys alternate identity. This tribute to an archaic and perhaps apocryphal state law will be complemented on the team’s 2025 promotional calendar by another, perhaps even more absurd, alter-ego:
The Southern Tier Spicy Meatballs.
"The primary logo features a meatball portrayed as an Italian gondolier on a bed of pasta making its way through a river of sauce with a baseball bat fork," wrote the Rumble Ponies in their press release, providing a perfect example of how, in Minor League Baseball, even straightforward descriptions carry a strong whiff of the whimsical. "The secondary logo features the baseball bat fork of the meatball bat gondolier with spaghetti noodles wrapped around the utensil."
That’s what the Spicy Meatballs look like, but why do they exist in the first place?
There is a significant Italian population throughout central New York’s Southern Tier region, of which Binghamton is a part. The Rumble Ponies specifically single out nearby Endicott as an epicenter of Italian heritage; this locale, along with Binghamton and Johnson City, makes up the Southern Tier’s “Triple Cities” metropolitan area. (From 1923-68, Binghamton’s Minor League team was known as the Triplets, a reference to the Triple Cities.)
"In the early days of Endicott, N.Y., an area known as the North Side was huge with Italian roots," according to the press release. "Many of the Italian immigrants moving to the region worked at the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, Inc. However, many property owners would not sell land to Italian immigrants, so Endicott-Johnson purchased properties for their employees and along the cobblestone streets of Endicott grew the vibrant community of Little Italy..."
The Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company, established in 1899, was for a time the largest manufacturer of footwear in the nation. Company president George Johnson, known for his philanthropy and generally enlightened approach to labor relations, bestowed the region with six carousels between 1919 and 1934. These carousels, still operating, inspired the Binghamton Mets to change their name from the Mets to the Rumble Ponies in 2016. A Rumble Pony, you see, is a slang for a carousel horse.
Despite the influence of the Endicott-Johnson Shoe Company within the Southern Tier region, the Rumble Ponies have yet to unveil a footwear-themed alternate identity. For an example of such, one doesn’t have to leave the state of New York, or the Mets' farm system. In 2018, the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs (now known as the Mets) played as the Devices, an homage to the ubiquitous Brannock Device foot measuring tool that was invented in Syracuse.
As for the Southern Tier Spicy Meatballs, the aforementioned meatball gondolier will be depicted within a uniform featuring a green, red and white color scheme (in a nod to the Italian flag). The Rumble Ponies will adopt this identity from Aug. 14-16, in conjunction with the annual bazaar staged by the nearby St. Mary of the Assumption church.
Though it remains to be seen how the Spicy Meatballs will fare on the field, their mere existence has already generated plenty of online enthusiasm. No less an entity than the State of New York was moved to weigh in, simply tweeting, "This eats."
Mangia, mangia!
Benjamin Hill is a reporter for MiLB.com and writes Ben's Biz Blog. Follow Ben on Twitter @bensbiz.
Suns Sets on 2020 Season Hopes
HAGERSTOWN, MD (June 30, 2020) – MLB has elected not to send players to its affiliated minor-league teams. As such, there will be no professional affiliated Minor League Baseball in the calendar year 2020. Therefore, the Hagerstown Suns, like all other Minor League Baseball affiliates, are officially on hiatus. The
Suns Release 2020 Promotional Schedule
The Hagerstown Suns return to Municipal Stadium on Thursday, April 16 to begin the 40th season of Minor League Baseball in the Hub City. The Single A affiliate of the World Series Champion Washington Nationals will celebrate both with a memorable season filled with promotions, giveaways, special deals and more
Sun Sets on 2019 Season
HAGERSTOWN, MD (September 5, 2019) - The 2019 Suns broke camp with an impressive roster boasting seven of the Washington Nationals' top 30 prospects according to MLB.com. Highlighted by 2018 second round pick Tim Cate and international signee Israel Pineda, manager Patrick Anderson was given a strong group to lead into the season starting versus the Greensboro
Suns Drop Final Game 10-5
HAGERSTOWN, MD (September 2, 2019) - A four-run seventh wasn't enough to rally in the Suns final game of the year, which came down to a 10-5 loss to the Lakewood BlueClaws at Municipal Stadium Monday afternoon.Niomar Gomez (L, 0-1) made his South Atlantic League debut and gave up eight runs in
'Claws Miscues Lead to Third Straight Dub
HAGERSTOWN, MD (September 1, 2019) - The Suns took advantage of two BlueClaw wild pitches to guide them to a 4-3 victory at Municipal Stadium Sunday afternoon.While knotted up 1-1 in the fourth with Justin Connell at third base, Francisco Morales (L, 1-8) threw an errant throw to the backstop that allowed Connell to score
Early Offense, Strong Pitching Culminates in 6-1 Win
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 31, 2019) - The Suns scored in each of the first three innings to upend the BlueClaws 6-1 in Saturday's contest at Municipal Stadium.Nic Perkins started the scoring for Hagerstown (64-74, 34-34), lacing a double down the left field line to score Jackson Cluff and Drew Mendoza in the first inning.
Suns Walk-Off Wild Game Vs Lakewood
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 30, 2019) - Armond Upshaw scored from a sacrifice bunt by Jackson Cluff and a throwing error from pitcher Taylor Lehman to give the Suns a 3-2 walk-off victory over Lakewood Friday evening at Municipal Stadium.Cluff's sacrifice allowed the third run to score off Lehman (L, 2-2) in his four innings of work
Suns Drop Kannapolis Finale 5-4
KANNAPOLIS, NC (August 29, 2019) - A sixth inning rally could not lift the Suns over the Intimidators in a 5-4 loss in Kannapolis Thursday evening.Jackson Stoeckinger (L, 2-3) got into trouble early, issuing a walk with the bases loaded to allow Kannapolis's first run to score in the home half of
Homestand #13 Preview: August 30-September 2
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 30, 2019) - The Suns welcome Lakewood to Municipal Stadium for a four-game series August 30-September 2 to close out the 2019 season.Hagerstown is 9-12 against the BlueClaws this season and has dropped two of the last three contests vs the BlueClaws at Municipal Stadium.
Rutledge Sets Season-High in Loss
KANNAPOLIS, NC (August 28, 2019) - Jackson Rutledge set a Suns' season-high nine strikeouts in Hagerstown's 3-1 loss to the Kannapolis Intimidators at Intimidators Stadium Wednesday night.Rutledge struck out the side in the third and fifth innings prior to leaving the game with a no-decision having allowed one run in his five
Five-Run Inning Eliminates Suns
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 27, 2019) - The Suns were not able to overcome a five-run Kannapolis fourth inning in their 5-4 loss to the Intimidators at Intimidators Stadium Tuesday.Hagerstown (62-72, 32-32) entered the fourth leading 1-0, but Alfonso Hernandez (L, 0-2) entered out of the bullpen and was ambushed by the
Pitching Staff Stays Dialed in for 4-1 Win
Kannapolis, NC (August 26, 2019) - Reid Schaller kept the pitching staff rolling in Hagerstown's 4-1 over Kannapolis at Intimidator Stadium Monday evening.Schaller (W, 4-3) spun the first five frames of Hagerstown's (62-71, 32-31) win, wringing up half a dozen batters while surrendering just two hits.
Suns Take Series with Emphatic Victory
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 25, 2019) - The Suns bats jumped on the Shorebirds early, and the pitching silenced the opposing bats in their 9-0 win over Delmarva at Municipal Stadium Sunday.Hagerstown (61-71, 31-31) struck for seven runs early which was plenty of support for starter Jake Irvin (W, 7-8), who spun
Suns Split Doubleheader with Delmarva
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 24, 2019) - The Suns dominated the Delmarva bats all day, but were forced to settle for a doubleheader split against the Shorebirds at Municipal Stadium Saturday. Tomas Alastre threw Hagerstown's (60-71, 30-31) first complete game of the season in their 5-1 game-one victory, but the Shorebirds (86-43, 38-22) took
Suns and Shorebirds Opener at Municipal Stadium Postponed
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 23, 2019) - The Hagerstown Suns and Delmarva Shorebirds have postponed their series opener tonight due to wet grounds. The game will be rescheduled in a doubleheader tomorrow at 5:05 p.m.Gates open at 4:00 p.m. and the first 1,000 fans through the gates will receive a Mike Mussina
Suns Take Series with Shutout Victory
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 22, 2019) - Suns pitchers dominated Greenville hitters and combined for a one-hit shutout in their 2-0 victory over the Drive at Municipal Stadium Thursday.Jackson Rutledge (W, 2-0) got the start for the Suns (59-70, 29-30) and put together an efficient five innings. The first-round pick worked five
Bullpen Ends Streak in 5-4 Loss to Drive
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 21, 2019) - The Suns bullpen surrendered four runs in as many innings in a 5-4 loss to the Greenville Drive at Municipal Stadium Wednesday night.Hagerstown (58-70, 28-30) took a 4-2 lead during a three-run sixth that started with a Drew Mendoza walk and a Jacob Rhinesmith single before Kyle Marinconz hit a one-out
Suns Pitching Dominates in 4-1 Win
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 20, 2019) - The Suns pitching staff held the Drive to only one run on four hits in their 4-1 win over Greenville at Municipal Stadium Tuesday.Reid Schaller (W, 3-3) got the start for Hagerstown (58-69, 28-29) and rolled through five innings. The righty allowed only one run
Homestand #12 Preview: August 20-25
The Hagerstown Suns welcome the Greenville Drive and the Delmarva Shorebirds to Municipal Stadium for a six-game homestand August 20-25. Each team will be in Hagerstown for a three-game series.The Suns are 1-2 against the Drive this season after dropping a series in Greenville April 22-24. Hagerstown is 6-13 against
Suns Drop Finale to West Virginia 4-2
CHARLESTON, WV (August 18, 2019) - Hagerstown couldn't overcome an early 4-0 deficit with a late rally in a 4-2 loss to the West Virginia Power at Appalachian Power Park Sunday afternoon.Jake Irvin (L, 6-8) ran into trouble early, loading the bases with no outs in each of the first two innings.
Suns Rise Late to Upend Power 4-1
CHARLESTON, WV (August 17, 2019) - Hagerstown beat up on the West Virginia Power bullpen to win 4-1 at Appalachian Power Park Saturday evening.With Hagerstown (27-28, 57-68) trailing 1-0 with two outs in the seventh inning, Phil Caulfield bounded a ball off the right field wall to bring Israel Pineda, who had reached on
Suns Claim 4-1 Win Behind Mendoza Bomb
CHARLESTON, WV (August 16, 2019) - The Suns pitching staff shut down the West Virginia Power in a 4-1 victory at Appalachian Power Park Friday night.Jackson Stoeckinger (W, 2-2) spun five, one-run innings to start the game off. He wrung up four Power (62-62, 25-29) batters before exiting the game and handing
Adon Earns League-Leading 11th Win in WV
CHARLESTON, WV (August 15, 2019) - Joan Adon pushed four, one-run innings of relief as the Suns charged ahead behind three runs in the eighth to win 6-3 versus the West Virginia Power at Appalachian Power Park Thursday night.Adon (W, 11-3) earned his league-leading 11th win after allowing a solo shot from Matt
Suns Release 2020 Schedule
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 15, 2019) - The Hagerstown Suns are excited to announce the release of their 2020 schedule. 2020 marks the Suns 40th season playing baseball at Municipal Stadium.Hagerstown kicks off their 40th anniversary season Thursday, April 16 vs the Delmarva Shorebirds. The home series marks four of the
Suns Bats Silenced Again by Lakewood
HAGERSTOWN, MD (August 14, 2019) - Hagerstown's bats faltered again as they fell to the Lakewood BlueClaws 5-1 Wednesday afternoon at Municipal Stadium.Reid Schaller (L, 2-3) looked good on the rubber, striking out six BlueClaw (22-28, 52-69) while allowing just one earned run to score, but his bats could not pick him