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.
River Cats Announce Partnership with Advanced Building Maintenance
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats and Sutter Health Park have announced a new multi-year partnership with Advanced Building Maintenance to lead engineering and janitorial services for the team and Sutter Health Park. “We are pleased to be partnering with Advanced Building Maintenance as we embark on a
The Nine — Reggie Crawford: Fluid as Water
Throughout February, MLB, MiLB and the Sacramento River Cats will celebrate the contributions and achievements of the Black baseball community, past and present, during Black History Month.
Kimberly-Clark Professional Becomes Proud Partner of Golden 1 Center and Sutter Health Park
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Today, the Golden 1 Center and Sutter Health Park announced a new multi-year, sustainability-focused partnership with Kimberly-Clark Professional™. Fans attending Kings and River Cats home games will benefit from Kimberly-Clark Professional’s high-quality paper towels, soap, and toilet paper, reinforcing both venues’ commitment to cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
The Nine — Spencer Bivens: Through the Valleys
Throughout February, MLB, MiLB and the Sacramento River Cats will celebrate the contributions and achievements of the Black baseball community, past and present, during Black History Month.
Sacramento River Cats Announce 2025 Coaching Staff
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats, proud Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, have announced their full coaching staff for the 2025 campaign. Returning in 2025 are four of Sacramento’s five on-field coaches from last season — Manager Dave Brundage, Pitching Coach Alain Quijano, Fundamentals Coach Jolbert
The Nine – Dusty Baker: A Baseball Life
Throughout February, MLB, MiLB and the Sacramento River Cats will celebrate the contributions and achievements of the Black baseball community, past and present, during Black History Month.
National Anthem Auditions Open for River Cats’ 2025 Season
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The opening of every ballgame starts with the National Anthem, and the Sacramento River Cats want to give you the chance to perform. The River Cats have announced their National Anthem auditions for the 2025 baseball season will take place at Sutter Health Park on Sunday,
River Cats Recognized as Top Triple-A Organization
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Sacramento River Cats, proud Triple-A affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, have been named the top Triple-A organization in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) as winner of the prestigious 2024 Bob Freitas Award by Baseball America. This is the second time that the River Cats have
First Half Single-Game Tickets on Sale, Promotions Revealed
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Fans will be sure to find plenty of fun and new surprises at Sutter Health Park next season as the Sacramento River Cats, proud affiliate of the San Francisco Giants, are excited to share the first half of their 2025 promotions schedule while also announcing single
River Cats 24-25 Offseason Update No. 1
With Thanksgiving (and all its leftovers) come and gone and all the kitchen stoves cooling off, the baseball hot stove is heating up as both MLB and MiLB teams start experimenting with their recipes for the 2025 campaign. Each team is building their holiday wish list, so let's dive in
River Cats Earn Gold, Three Bronze Medals from GOAL
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Thanks to the continued implementation of sustainability practices, the Sacramento River Cats have been awarded four medals from Green Operations & Advanced Leadership (GOAL) for their work on Waste Reduction, Diversity & Inclusion, and Sustainable Partnerships. For efforts throughout the 2024 season, the River Cats were
River Cats, Giants Set to Face Off at Sutter Health Park in 2025
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – For the second straight year and the fourth time in their shared history, the Sacramento River Cats will see the San Francisco Giants come to town for an exhibition contest to begin the season. Sutter Health Park will once more play host to the Giants, as
Close Contest Completed in Favor of Cats, 3-1
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – A single run in the first, third and seventh innings were all that were needed for the Sacramento River Cats on Saturday, as Sacramento snatched a win in the penultimate game of the season thanks to a 3-1 decision over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. During
Eldridge, Matos Knocks Lift Cats to Victory Over Space Cowboys
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Trailing by one through most of the game, the Sacramento River Cats unleashed a pair of runs thanks to consecutive singles from Bryce Eldridge and Luis Matos to secure a 2-1 victory over the Sugar Land Space Cowboys in game four of the series on Friday.
River Cats Rally, but Still Fall Shy Against Space Cowboys
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Both teams were deadlocked at 1-1 entering the eighth, leaving the game to be decided by a four-run top of the eighth despite a late rally from the Sacramento River Cats, ultimately ending in favor of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys by a 5-4 final on
Sacramento Scores 11 to Split Series with Round Rock
ROUND ROCK, Tex. – Needing a win to split their six-game set, the Sacramento River Cats did just that as they scored all 11 of their runs in just three innings leading to a 11-6 win over the Round Rock Express on Sunday. Starting things off hot, the River Cats
Eldridge Makes Triple-A Debut but Cats Slowed by Express
ROUND ROCK, Tex. – The first Triple-A hit in the debut game for Bryce Eldridge was the highlight of the night for the Sacramento River Cats, as offense was otherwise slow in a 7-2 loss to the Round Rock Express in game five of their series on Saturday. After the
Two Big Innings Undoing for Cats, Series Tied at 2-2
ROUND ROCK, Tex. – Two large innings were all that were needed to take down the Sacramento River Cats on Friday, as the Round Rock Express scored seven runs in two innings leading to a 7-5 win in game four of their series. It was the River Cats (32-35/76-66) that
Quick Pitcher’s Duel Ends in Favor of River Cats
ROUND ROCK, Tex. – One run in three of the first four innings was enough to last for the Sacramento River Cats on Thursday, as the pitching was sharp enough to limit the Round Rock Express to a pair of second-inning tallies during Sacramento’s 3-2 victory. Thairo Estrada put the
Four-Run Frame Levels Game but Cats Still Fall to Express
ROUND ROCK, Tex. – Four runs in the top of the sixth helped the Sacramento River Cats draw level in game two of their series with the Round Rock Express, but lone Round Rock run in the bottom of the seventh was the deciding factor in Sacramento’s 6-5 loss on
Three-Run Blasts in Extras Help Cats Outlast Express
ROUND ROCK, Tex. – After scoring once in the top of the eighth to get the game to extra frames, the Sacramento River Cats did what was needed to walk away victorious by blasting a pair of three-run homers, one from each David Villar and Trenton Brooks, to steal an
Pair of Ninth Inning Runs Clinch Sacramento Win and Series Split
SALT LAKE CITY – An early lead disappeared but the Sacramento River Cats responded with a pair of runs in their final chance at the dish, scoring twice in the top of the ninth to snatch a 7-5 win over the Salt Lake Bees on Sunday. Three of the four
Cats Pound Out 15 Hits, Coast to 8-2 Win Over Bees
SALT LAKE CITY – Six runs from the third through the fifth more than sent the Sacramento River Cats on their way to a victory, as they found a way to snap their three-game losing streak with a 8-2 victory over the Salt Lake Bees on Saturday. After the two
Kitties Stymied by Bees on Friday
SALT LAKE CITY – The Sacramento River Cats could not find much room to operate on Friday, as both the offense and pitching struggled leading to an 8-1 loss at the hands of the Salt Lake Bees in game four of their series. Thairo Estrada provided most of the offense
Big First Inning Sets Sacramento Back, Fall 11-5 to Salt Lake
SALT LAKE CITY – A pair of big innings early ensured the Sacramento River Cats did not get back into the win column, as the Salt Lake Bees cruised their way to an 11-5 win in game three of their series on Thursday. All six runs in the first were