Staten Island Yankees Down to Their Last Strike

From the desk: THE FORMER RICHMOND COUNTY NINE

Baby Bombers Take One Last Swing at Bronx County Bullies

That's it.  The Staten Island Yankees are officially folding.  With the New York Yankees essentially pulling the grass from under their cleats, Staten Island's ownership group, Nostalgic Partners, claims that joining the Atlantic League or newly created Draft League involves investitures they are not financially equipped to handle.  Nostalgic Partners have therefore filed a $20 million lawsuit against the Yankees and MLB.  Filed in the Supreme Court of New York State, the suit asserts the Yankees (who own 5% of the team) and MLB committed "breach of contract, promissory estoppel and tortious interference arising from Defendants' unlawful effort to destroy the business of 40 minor league baseball teams, including the Staten Island Yankees."

Cry as they might, Nostalgic Partners purchased the Baby Bombers in 2011 when they were one of the most successful teams of the NYPL, winning multiple championships and averaging upwards of 5,000 fans per game.  After assuming control, the operation experienced steady deterioration the Yankees understandably could no longer overlook.  That being said, addressing pressing issues with an affiliate and suddenly and completely turning your back on said affiliate are two entirely different matters.

I would gladly and routinely trek from Brooklyn over to Staten Island as a random walk-up just because I could.  When my teams were out of town, and I had an itch for baseball, I'd be at St. Goerge ballpark in twenty minutes, catch the game, and be home a mere twenty minutes later.  But overall conditions at the ballpark began taking a noticeable downturn.  The field itself became unkempt, marked by large blotches of brown dirt where lush green grass should have been growing.  Even worse was the ballpark food.  Simply put, it was terrible.  I've been to a great many minor league ballparks.  Some have outstanding food, while most have good selections.  The Ball Park at St. George offered nothing of the kind.  It was easily one of the worst parks to grab a bite.

However, the greatest factor I believe that led to the demise of the S.I. Yanks' daily operation has everything to do with all the massive ferry and waterfront reconstruction.  The team once featured one of the most convenient parking arrangements found anywhere.  But construction instantly made attending games an utter nightmare.  And therein lies a great deal of your day-to-day traffic.  I would endure the inconvenience for a Cyclones vs. Yankees showdown.  But my days of being a random walk-up ended through the fault of their own.

Then there are the New York Yankees lame justifications.  I'll say this: Richmond County Ballpark at St. George is a superior facility to Hudson Valley's Dutchess Stadium.  I'm not intentionally knocking Fishkill's field.  I've been there many times since their inaugural 1994 season, and they've made very nice improvements to the place.  But St. George is simply newer and better - just poorly run!

Home of the Hudson Valley Renegades

The Staten Island Yankees, on Dec. 3, 2020, issued a statement:

pic.twitter.com/Q5IjhztYk6

— Staten Island Yankees (@SIYanks) December 3, 2020

Truth be told, Staten Island may not have a bridge to stand on.  The once long-standing agreement between MLB and Minor League Baseball has officially expired.  No renegotiation; no extensions; the era of PDC's - player development contracts - at the present moment no longer exists.  Where is the binding language in the absence of a collectively bargained agreement?

Luring a team to Staten Island appears to be Richmond County's only remaining option.  Reportedly, Boro President James Oddo, the New York Economic Development Corporation, the New York Yankees, and MLB are looking into relocating an existing Atlantic League team to Staten Island.

At the end of November, the city pledged $5 million to update the stadium, including the installation of artificial turf.  Perhaps too little too late ...

The Somerset Patriots will be shifting over to the Eastern League as the Yankees new AA affiliate, while the Sugar Land Skeeters are in agreement to become an affiliate of the Houston Astros.  To date, that's two teams making their respective departure from the Atlantic League.

Not Even Close ..