Binghamton Rumble Ponies
The Binghamton Mets are a minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club. The Mets play in NYSEG Stadium, located in Binghamton.
History
The current franchise began as the Williamsport Bills in 1987, but was affiliated with several different major-league teams during its five seasons. The parent New York Mets bought the Bills franchise in late 1990 and announced they would move the club a short distance north to Binghamton. The Bills played out their final season in Williamsport in 1991 while a new stadium was constructed. Then, in 1992, minor league baseball was back in the Triple Cities for the first time in 24 years. (The Binghamton Triplets, a New York Yankee affiliate, had played at Johnson Field in nearby Johnson City until 1968.)
In their first year as the Binghamton Mets, the team set a still-standing attendance record by drawing just over a quarter-million fans to the ballpark. They also proceeded to win the Eastern League championship
In 1994, the New York parent club sold ownership of the team to a group of local investors led by Michael Urda. That year, the team went on to another EL title and a league-best record of 82-59. Binghamton also hosted the double-A All-Star Game in July of that year.
The Mets alternated between 2nd- and 4th-place finishes for the next four years, and although they made the playoffs with their runner-up showings in 1996 and 1998, they were eliminated in the first round both times.
After a dreadful season in 1999 where the team finished 38 games out of first place, the Mets pulled off a "worst-to-first" turnaround in 2000, winning the EL Northern Division but losing to New Haven in the playoffs. Binghamton posted identical 73-68 records in both 2001 and 2002 but failed to make the postseason.
Notable Alumni
- Outfielder Benny Agbayani
- Third baseman Edgardo Alfonzo
- Outfielder Jason Bay
- Outfielder Jay Payton
- Outfielder Preston Wilson
- Pitcher Octavio Dotel
- Pitcher Corey Lidle
- Pitcher Jason Isringhausen
- Pitcher Bobby J. Jones
- Pitcher Scott Kazmir
- Pitcher Paul Wilson
- Shortstop Rey Ordóñez
- Shortstop José Reyes
- Third baseman David Wright
- Catcher Alberto Castillo
- First baseman Brian Daubach
- Catcher/First baseman Jason Phillips
Current Roster
Active Roster
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Coaching Staff
- Manager -
- Hitting Coach - John Valentin
- Pitching Coach - Mark Brewer
- Trainer - Joe Golia
Season Records
(Place indicates finish in Eastern League 1992-93, in Northern Division from 1994)
- 1992:
- 1993: 68-72 (5th)
- 1994: 82-59 (1st)
- 1995: 67-75 (4th), manager John Tamargo
- 1996: 76-66 (2nd), manager John Tamargo
- 1997: 66-76 (4th), manager Rick Sweet
- 1998: 82-60 (2nd), manager John Gibbons
- 1999: 54-88 (6th), manager Doug Davis
- 2000: 82-58 (1st), manager Doug Davis
- 2001: 73-68 (4th), manager Howie Freiling
- 2002: 73-68 (3rd), manager Howie Freiling
- 2003: 63-78 (5th), manager John Stearns
- 2004: 76-66 (2nd), manager Ken Oberkfell
- 2005: 63-79 (6th), manager Jack Lind
- 2006: 70-70 (3rd), manager Juan Samuel
Playoffs
- 1992 season: Defeated Harrisburg, 3-1 in first round; defeated Canton-Akron 3-2 for league championship.
- 1994 season: Swept New Haven, 3-0 in first round; defeated Harrisburg 3-1 to win second league title in three years.
- 1996 season: Lost to Portland, 3-2 in first round.
- 1998 season: Lost to New Britain, 3-1 in first round.
- 2000 season: Lost to New Haven, 3-1 in first round.
- 2004 season: Lost to New Hampshire, 3-1 in first round.