Flying the coop

Rochester Red Wings end long affiliation with Orioles

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- Ending the longest Class AAA affiliation in baseball, the Rochester Red Wings parted with the Baltimore Orioles and signed a two-year agreement to become the top farm team of the Minnesota Twins.

The move ended 42 years with the Orioles as the Red Wings' parent club. Before that, Rochester spent 33 seasons as a St. Louis Cardinals farm team.

Naomi Silver, the Red Wings' chairman of the board, indicated that the split with Baltimore didn't come easily.

"They were very supportive of our decision," she said. "We've had a long and proud affiliation with the Orioles, but when we met with the Twins, within the first hour we felt these were people we could believe in."

Minnesota general manager Terry Ryan called Rochester on the first day major league teams could seek potential replacements for their working agreements with minor league teams. The Twins were affiliated with the Edmonton Trappers of the Pacific Coast League the last two seasons.

"The most important thing is the facility, and then the ownership," Ryan said. "The location close to our Double-A affiliate [New Britain, Conn.] was a factor, too. We want an organization that will promote and market and sell its product because our players like to play in front of people."

The Red Wings' ability to promote their team has been tested the last five years. Rochester has not had a winning season since winning the International League's Governors' Cup playoffs in 1997.

The Red Wings had the league's worst record in 2002. In contrast, Edmonton won the PCL championship on Saturday.

 

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