On Monday afternoon, officials from the city of Morgantown, W.V. joined those from West Virginia University, the New York-Penn League and the Pittsburgh Pirates in announcing that the Pirates’ class A affiliate Jamestown Jammers  would be moving to the West Virginia city for the 2015 season.

During the media conference, Pirates President Frank Connelly explained why the Pirates wanted to relocate the team from Jamestown to Morgantown.

“When we look at a community for one of our minor league affiliates, we really look for a number of factors that are critical to us,” Connelly said. “One – the community itself. Do they support the team. Secondly – the facilities. And third – the minor league operators. Here in Morgantown, we have the perfect blend of all of those.”

In making the announcement, league president Ben Hayes also said that the effort to land a team in Morgantown has been underway for the past several years, especially with the university, city and Monongalia County working together to construct a new state-of-the-art ball park for the WVU baseball team.

“We have been working on this project for three to four years now,” Connelly said. “The New York-Penn league is the oldest continuously operating Single A  baseball league in professional baseball and we believe this is going to be one of the premiere sites in the New York-Penn League.”

Hayes also extended his appreciation the community of Jamestown for being an integral part of the New York-Penn League since its inception in 1939.

The Jammers are owned by Rich Baseball, which also owns the Buffalo Bisons (Class AAA; International League) and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (Class AA; Texas League).

Teresi Address Departure, Says Possibility Baseball Will Return in Jamestown

A member of the Jamestown Jammers slides into third during a baseball game at Diethrick Park. The Jammers played in Jamestown from 1994 to 2014 and during that time were affiliated with the Detroit Tigers, the Miami Marlins, and, most recently, the Pittsburgh Pirates. On Aug. 25, 2014, it was announced that the team would relocate to Morgantown, W.V. (Photo by Jason Sample; Courtesy of The Chautauqua Star)

While the city of Morgantown, WV was celebrating the arrival of a new professional baseball team on Monday, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi took time out during the monthly city council voting session to address the news.

Teresi said that he and so many others are obviously disappointed that the team is relocating to Morgantown, but was also impressed that the community was able to hold onto a team as long as it did, considering the recent shift the New York Penn League was making to bigger and wealthier markets.

“During the past couple of decades, minor league baseball as a business has changed dramatically,” Teresi said. “Short season ‘A’ ball clubs that existed successfully in small cities like Elmira, Niagara Falls, Schenectady, Utica, Watertown, Geneva, Newark and Oneonta area all but gone from the landscape and have relocated to major markets like Brooklyn, Staten Island, Youngstown (Ohio), Aberdeen (Maryland), Tri-Cities (Albany area), State College (Pennsylvania) and now the WVU campus in Morgantown, West Virginia.”

The mayor also said that while its disappointing to see the New York Penn League leave town, there is an effort by local stakeholders to start looking into other leagues with hopes of bringing another team to Jamestown.

“There’s already a community group out there that’s working with the city to look at other franchise possibilities in other leagues to bring competitive baseball back to the city,” Teresi said, also noting “In the words of the great Yogi Berra, ‘It ain’t over ’til it’s over.”

During its time in the league, Jamestown as had several well known players and managers play professional baseball for the local team, including hall-of-famer Nellie Fox, Jim Leyland, Randy Johnson, Marquis Grissom and Andres Galarraga. According to the mayor, the annual economic impact of professional baseball on the city is close to $3.5 million.

• Read Teresi’s Full Statement on the Jammers Relocation below, or Click Here for PDF version.

A member of the Jamestown Jammers slides into third during a past baseball game at Diethrick Park. The Jammers 2014 season begins Friday, June 13 with a home opener. It marks the 75th consecutive year of professional baseball in Jamestown. (Photo by Jason Sample, courtesy of Chautauqua Star)

JAMESTOWN – Professional baseball has had a presence in Jamestown for 75 years, but if the city wants to continue to keep a single A team, it will need the support of the entire community. That’s according Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi, who admits it’s going to be a struggle and a challenge to keep the Jamestown Jammers in town – but it can happen.

During a recent interview with WRFA, Teresi said there are only 150 markets in North America that have professional baseball. He also said that Jamestown ranks among the smallest – not only when compared to other markets across the country, but also within the New York Penn-League.

“We are the equivalent of the Green Bay Packers of the New York-Penn League. Twenty years ago we were one of the larger markets within short season, Single A baseball. Now we’re among the smallest markets.”

Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi recently talked to WRFA about the Jamestown Jammers and what it will take to secure a future for pro baseball in the city.

Not long ago, Jamestown was the ideal market in the New York-Penn League. But during the past two decades, there’s been a push by much larger markets in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and elsewhere to have their own team.

“Places like Brooklyn, Staten Island, Aberdeen, Maryland, the [Albany] area with the Tri-City Valley Cats, and Youngstown Ohio – these are the places that are now in the league. It’s difficult for us to compete with those areas and there’s other bigger areas out there trying to poach and steel what we already have here in Jamestown,” said Teresi.

The mayor also said that it’s not impossible for Jamestown to compete, but it will require commitment from the entire community.

“It is going to be a struggle. It’s going to be a combination of showing that there is continued corporate, community and fan-based support for this team,” Teresi explained, adding, “Also maintaining the facility up to the minimum standards of professional baseball – which our facility meets – but the unofficial standards of what has become the criteria throughout the New York Penn League.”

The Jamestown Jammers are currently a minor league affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Recent reports have said, however, that Pirates may want to relocate the team to Morgantown WV. Even if that were to happen, there’s still a chance the Jammers could stay in town and simply change affiliation to another major league team.

A recent economic impact study found that the Jamestown Jammers help to generate more than $3.4 million for the local economy on an annual basis. Gate receipts have totaled an estimated $92,000 per year and concessions have accounted for an estimated $120,000 a year. The team plays 38 home games a year and leases Russell Diethrick Park from the city at a cost of $15,000 annually.

The first pitch of the 2014 season is this Friday night at Diethrick Park. For more information on the team visit JamestownJammers.com.

Steve Blass

WARREN – Due to unfortunate circumstances, Kent Tekulve, a former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher, will be unable to attend the Jamestown Jammers luncheon April 28at the Conewango Club in Warren, PA.  However, Steve Blass, another former Pirates pitching great, will now be the guest speaker.  All other aspects of the event will go on as scheduled.

2014 will mark Steve Blass’ 54^th year of involvement with the Pirates organization, having been associated with the club since signing his first professional contract on June 27^th, 1960.  As a right-handed pitcher, Blass played for the Pirates for 10 seasons (1964-1974), and compiled a record of 103-76.  He currently ranks seventh on the club’s all-time list in strikeouts (896), and 14^th in wins.  In the 1971 World Series, he picked up complete-game victories in games three and seven, while sporting an ERA of 1.00.

”It’s  unfortunate that Kent Tekulve won’t be able to attend the luncheon, but the Jammers are thrilled and appreciative to have Pirates legend Steve Blass as his replacement,” said Jammers General Manager Matt Drayer.

Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., and the luncheon is scheduled to run from noon until 1 p.m.  A traditional buffet lunch featuring chicken, pasta, and additional sides will be served to all attendees. Blass will be available for a short period of time for an autograph signing after the speaking portion of the event is completed.

The Jamestown Jammers are the Class A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.  They are owned and operated by a local Buffalo company, Rich Products Corporation, which also owns the AA Northwest Arkansas Naturals and AAA Buffalo Bisons.

The Pirates Caravan stop in Jamestown will take place on the Jamestown Community College campus from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event will occur inside the student union in the Hamilton Collegiate Center.

Admission to the event is $5 per person.  The event will act as a fundraiser for the Downtown Jamestown Development Corporation.  Tickets are very limited at this point so the call the DJDC at 664-2477 or the Jammers front office at (716) 664-0915 to reserve your ticket.