Buffalo Bisons

The Buffalo Bisons (known colloquially as the Herd) are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. Located in Buffalo, New York, the team plays their home games at Sahlen Field, the highest-capacity Triple-A ballpark in the United States.

The current Bisons organization was founded in 1979 and assumed the history of previous franchises that also used the Buffalo Bisons name, most notably the 1886–1970 Buffalo Bisons minor league franchise, and the 1879–1885 Buffalo Bisons major league franchise. The team established the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985 to honor former players, managers and contributors to baseball in Buffalo.

The team holds the all-time record for single-season attendance in Minor League Baseball, selling 1,240,951 tickets in 1991 while being considered for 1993 Major League Baseball expansion. Forbes valued the Buffalo Bisons at $34 million in 2016, making it the 15th-most valuable Minor League Baseball franchise.^[3]

History

Mayor James D. Griffin and an investment group purchased the Jersey City A's of the Double-A class Eastern League for $55,000 in 1978, and the team began play as the Buffalo Bisons at War Memorial Stadium in 1979.^[4] This new franchise assumed the history of prior Buffalo Bisons teams that had played in the city from 1877 to 1970. Robert E. Rich Jr. purchased the Bisons for $100,000 in 1983,^[5] and upgraded the team to the Triple-A class American Association in 1985 after buying out the Wichita Aeros for $1 million.^[6][7] Rich Jr. grew the team's popularity and was known for his innovative promotional tie-ins, most notably an annual series of post-game concerts by The Beach Boys.^[8]

The Buffalo Bisons moved to the $42.4 million Pilot Field (now Sahlen Field) in downtown Buffalo in the 1988 season. In their first year at the venue after moving from War Memorial Stadium, the Bisons broke the all-time record for Minor League Baseball attendance by drawing 1,186,651 fans during the 1988 season.^[9][10] The team won two division titles and set subsequent attendance records on the heels of their unsuccessful 1993 Major League Baseball expansion bid. The team's 1991 single-season attendance of 1,240,951 remains a Minor League Baseball record.^[11]

The Cleveland Indians replaced the Pittsburgh Pirates as Major League Baseball affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 1995 season.^[12] The team won division titles in 1996 and 1997, and won the final American Association championship in 1997. Bartolo Colón threw the first no-hitter in franchise history on June 20, 1997 against the New Orleans Zephyrs.^[13]

In wake of the American Association disbanding following the 1997 season, the Bisons joined the International League in 1998. The team won the division and league championship in their first season, but lost the Triple-A World Series. The addition of regional rivalries allowed for the creation of the Thruway Cup, an annual competition between the Buffalo Bisons, Rochester Red Wings and Syracuse SkyChiefs.^[14] The Bisons went on to win division titles in 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005, and the league championship at home in 2004.^[15]

The New York Mets replaced the Cleveland Indians as Major League Baseball affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 2009 season.^[16] This era was plagued with poor on-field performance and low attendance.

The Toronto Blue Jays replaced the New York Mets as Major League Baseball affiliate of the Buffalo Bisons prior to the 2013 season.^[17] To kick off this era, the Bisons scored 27 runs on 29 hits against the Syracuse Chiefs on April 18, 2013, setting records for the most runs and hits in an International League game since 1973.^[18][19] The Blue Jays used Sahlen Field as their home field in 2020 after the Bisons season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, investing $5 million in upgrading the venue.

In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball and the closure of the International League, the Bisons joined the newly formed Triple-A East in 2021.^[20] Due to renovations at Sahlen Field as well as use of the stadium by the Blue Jays, the Bisons began their 2021 season at Trenton Thunder Ballpark in Trenton, New Jersey. At their home games, they wore the uniforms of the Trenton Thunder and were referred to as such, while on the road they were still known as the Buffalo Bisons.^[21][22]

With the reinstatement of the historical league names in 2022, the Bisons were returned to the International League.^[23]

Alumni

Retired numbers

National Baseball Hall of Fame members

International League Hall of Fame members

Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame members

All 25 Seasons Team (2012)

Season-by-season records

Radio and television

Bisons Baseball Network produces all radio broadcasts of Buffalo Bisons games. Their flagship station since 2009 has been WWKB, a clear-channel station in Buffalo. Select games are simulcast on WGR in Buffalo and CJCL in Toronto. Games were previously carried by WUFO/WXRL (1983), WEBR (1984), WBEN (1985–1988) and WGR (1989–2008).

Live video streams of all Buffalo Bisons games have aired on the MiLB.TV subscription service since 2013, and free via the Bally Live app since 2023.^[25] Select games have been televised on WNYO since 2023.^[26] Games were previously televised on WNYB (1988–1989, 1996), Empire Sports Network (1991–1995, 1997–2004), Time Warner Cable SportsNet (2007–2016), Spectrum Sports (2017) and WNLO (2019–2022).^[27]

Pat Malacaro has served as the team's play-by-play announcer since 2018.^[28] Pete Weber served as play-by-play announcer from 1983 to 1995, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the Nashville Predators. Jim Rosenhaus served as play-by-play announcer from 1996 to 2006, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the Cleveland Guardians. Ben Wagner served as play-by-play announcer from 2007 to 2017, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the Baltimore Orioles, after serving 6 years as play-by-play announcer of the Toronto Blue Jays.^{[29][30][31][32]}

Duke McGuire has served as the team's color commentator since 1996, and previously worked as the team's in-stadium public address announcer from 1979 to 1995.^[33] John Murphy served as color commentator from 1985 to 1988, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the Buffalo Bills. Greg Brown served as color commentator from 1989 to 1993, and is the current play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Weber, McGuire, Rosenhaus, and Brown were inducted into the Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame for their broadcast work.

Culture

Mascots

Donald Palmer was an acrobatic batboy who performed for the Buffalo Bisons as "The Butcher" from 1979 to 1988.^[34]

Earl Howze, Jr. was a beer vendor who performed for the Buffalo Bisons as "The Earl of Bud" from 1979 to 1997. He was known for dancing to the song "Tequila" atop the venue's dugouts, with a routine similar to the one made famous by Paul Reubens in the 1985 film Pee-wee's Big Adventure.^[35] The Buffalo Bisons honored him at an August 2012 game, with every fan in attendance receiving a bobblehead of his likeness.^[36] Howze, Jr. also performed for the Buffalo Sabres at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium.

Tom Girot is a beer vendor who has performed for the Buffalo Bisons as "Conehead" since 1979.^[37] The Buffalo Bisons honored him at a July 2018 game, with a beer launched in his likeness called Conehead IPA by Resurgence Brewing Company.^[38] Girot has also performed for the Rochester Red Wings at ESL Ballpark and the Toronto Blue Jays at Sahlen Field.^[39][40]

Buster T. Bison has been the official mascot of the Buffalo Bisons since 1983.^[41] He was later joined by his cousin Chip in 1994, and his future wife Belle in 2006.^[42][43]

Tracey B. Wilson was an actress who performed for the Buffalo Bisons as the mime "Loud Mouth" from 1993 to 1999.^[44]

Buffalo Bisons games since 2011 have featured the Wing, Cheese & Carrot (WCC) mascot race between costumed representations of various local foods just prior to the sixth-inning.^[45]

Music

"Stampede" has been the official fight song of the Buffalo Bisons since their inaugural season at Sahlen Field in 1988.

Tina Turner's recording of "The Best" is played after every Buffalo Bisons home victory at Sahlen Field.^[46][47]

A parody of the Gary Glitter song "Rock and Roll Part 2" featuring lyrics referencing Irv Weinstein was played at Sahlen Field during the seventh-inning stretch of Buffalo Bisons games in the 1990s.^[48]

References

1. ^ "Buffalo Bisons unveil new team logo". Minor League Baseball. MLB Advanced Media, LP. November 20, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2018.
2. ^ "Personnel News: High Point, Buffalo". Ballpark Digest. March 10, 2020. Retrieved March 10, 2020.
3. ^ Klebnikov, Sergei (July 8, 2016). "Minor League Baseball's Most Valuable Teams – 15. Buffalo Bisons". Forbes. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
4. ^ Moritz, Amy (July 14, 2017). "Buffalo's downtown ballpark: The house that Jimmy built". The Buffalo News
5. ^ "After 20 years, Bisons still a hit for Bob Rich Jr.". www.bizjournals.com. Archived 2004-05-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
6. ^ "A Major League Effort for Buffalo". Los Angeles Times. September 6, 1988.
7. ^ "The Daily Oklahoman from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on September 8, 1984 · 72". Newspapers.com. 8 September 1984.
8. ^ GELLER, KATHRYN (25 June 1989). "BEACH BOYS AND BISONS ARE A SUMMER TRADITION". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
9. ^ "Buffalo Bisons Set Minor League Attendance Mark". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. August 20, 1988. Archived May 17, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved May 15, 2014.
10. ^ "Buffalo Bisons Franchise History (1878-2019)". statscrew.com
11. ^ Malacaro, Pat. "2019 Buffalo Bisons Media Guide". binsons.com. Bisons Media Relations Department. Retrieved 14 Aug 2024.
12. ^ Harrington, Mike (30 June 2003). "'SIMPLY THE BEST' THE BISONS HAVE ESTABLISHED A WINNING TRADITION SINCE HOOKING UP WITH THE CLEVELAND INDIANS IN 1995". The Buffalo News
13. ^ "A trip back in time to the Bartolo Colon no-hitter you never knew about | MLB.com". MLB.com. 20 June 2018.
14. ^ "Triple-A still thriving after 1998 realignment". Minor League Baseball
15. ^ Harrington, Mike (2004-09-18). "BISONS SEAL THE DEAL THERE'S NO DOUBTING HERD AS THOMAS SHINES ON HILL". Buffalo News. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
16. ^ "Bisons meet the Mets - Buffalo Business First". Archived from the original on April 5, 2023.
17. ^ "Triple-A Buffalo switches affiliation to Blue Jays". ESPN.com. September 22, 2012.
18. ^ Bisbing, Brad (April 18, 2013). "RECORDS fall in 27–9 Bisons win – Unforgettable team performance as Buffalo earns sweep". Buffalo Bisons. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
19. ^ Parker, John (April 18, 2013). "Negrych cycles in Bisons' record rout". MLB.com. Retrieved April 20, 2013.
20. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (February 12, 2021). "MLB Announces New Minors Teams, Leagues". Major League Baseball. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
21. ^ Gardner, Steve (April 9, 2021). "Blue Jays' top minor league team temporarily moves home games from Buffalo to Trenton". USA Today. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
22. ^ Leaguer, Minor (9 April 2021). "Blue Jays' 2021 Triple-A Affiliate: The Trenton Buffalo Thunder Bisons". Bluebird Banter. SB Nation. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
23. ^ "Historical League Names to Return in 2022". Minor League Baseball. March 16, 2022. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
24. ^ "Buffalo Baseball Hall of Fame." Buffalo Bisons. Retrieved on August 19, 2018.
25. ^ Jones, Rory (April 3, 2023). "Minor League Baseball confirms Bally Live free streaming deal". SportsPro. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
26. ^ "Bisons Baseball to air on MyTV Buffalo WNYO with 13-game schedule". Minor League Baseball. April 7, 2023. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
27. ^ "Bisons and Nexstar Broadcasting partner to air 10-game schedule on The CW-23". WNLO. April 22, 2019. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
28. ^ Ingersoll, Ali (12 April 2018). "Meet Pat Malacaro: The new voice of the Buffalo Bisons"
29. ^ "Ben Wagner & Dan Shulman join Sportsnet's Blue Jays radio broadcast team". Sportsnet. March 27, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
30. ^ Harrington, Mike (March 27, 2018). "Bisons radio announcer Ben Wagner promoted to Blue Jays' booth; Pat Malacaro named replacement". buffalonews.com. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
31. ^ "Sportsnet's Ben Wagner out as voice of Blue Jays radio broadcasts". Yahoo Sports. 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
32. ^ Lucia, Joe (2024-02-23). "Baltimore Orioles add Ben Wagner to broadcast team". Awful Announcing. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
33. ^ "Bisons Broadcast Team". Minor League Baseball
34. ^ "Buffalo Bisons family mourns the passing of 'The Butcher' - Donald Palmer". Minor League Baseball
35. ^ GRAHAM, TIM (21 August 2007). "Whither the Earl of Bud? Local sports icon left town like a ghost in 1997". The Buffalo News
36. ^ Vogel, Charity & Kwiatkowski, Jane (24 June 2012). "Earl of Bud takes his act to Tennessee". buffalonews.com. Retrieved 14 Aug 2024. (subscription required)
37. ^ "Buffalo beer vendor Girot beloved by fans". Minor League Baseball
38. ^ McShea, Keith (21 June 2018). "Famed vendor 'Conehead' gets his own beer at Buffalo Bisons games". The Buffalo News
39. ^ "Nobody pours it on like beer vendor Tom 'Conehead' Girot at Rochester and Buffalo games"
40. ^ "For the first time in 640 days, Conehead gets set to sell cold ones at Sahlen Field". June 2021.
41. ^ "So three mascots walk into a photo shoot …". buffalospree.com. 24 October 2011.
42. ^ REPORTER, PAULA VOELL IS A. NEWS STAFF (15 December 1994). "BEST BETS". The Buffalo News
43. ^ "Bisons Introduce New Mascot, Belle". OurSports Central. May 7, 2006.
44. ^ CLAPP, KEVIN (18 July 1996). "JUST ASKING". The Buffalo News
45. ^ "WCC Race". Minor League Baseball
46. ^ Harrington, Mike (30 June 2003). "'SIMPLY THE BEST' THE BISONS HAVE ESTABLISHED A WINNING TRADITION SINCE HOOKING UP WITH THE CLEVELAND INDIANS IN 1995". The Buffalo News
47. ^ "The Bisons are back: Scenes from the opening week in Sahlen Field". Buffalo News. August 15, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
48. ^ "Irv Weinstein". June 2020.

External links

• Official website