Facts and figures | New York-Penn League

Facts and figures | New York-Penn League

Background: The Mahoning Valley Scrappers are members of the New York-Penn League which is a minor league baseball league with operations in the northeastern United States. It is classified as a “Short-Season A” league; its season starts in June, after major league teams have signed their amateur draft picks to professional contracts, and ends in early September. The league is divided into the McNamara Division, the Pinckney Division, and the Stedler Division. The league includes teams in Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Vermont, as well as in New York and Pennsylvania.

History: The league was founded in 1939 with the name “Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League.” This was generally shortened to “PONY League.” The original teams included the Batavia Clippers; the Bradford Bees; the Hamilton Red Wings; the Jamestown Jaguars; the Niagara Falls Rainbows; and the Olean Oilers. Hamilton folded early in the 1956 season, and with no more teams in Ontario, the league adopted its current name in 1957. The league crossed back into Canada with the formation of the St. Catharines Blue Jays in 1986. They were joined by the Hamilton Redbirds in 1987 and the Welland Pirates in 1989, but all three clubs had moved back the U.S. by 2000.

Player limits and requirements: Teams may have no more than three players on their active lists that have four or more years of prior combined major league and minor league service, with the exception of position players changing roles to become a pitcher or a pitcher changing into a position player. Teams may get to eliminate up to one year of time of minor league service for players who have spent time on the disabled list. By July 1 of each year, all clubs must have at least 10 pitchers. The maximum number of players under team control is 35; 30 of those may be active, but only 25 may be in uniform and eligible to play in any given game.