Watertown Pirates

Watertown Pirates
1983–1998 Watertown, New York
Minor league affiliations
Previous classes	Short-Season A
League	New York–Penn League
Major league affiliations
Previous teams	Cleveland Indians (1989–1998) Pittsburgh Pirates (1983–1988)
Team data
Previous names	Watertown Indians (1989–1998) Watertown Pirates (1983–1988)
Mascot	Blizzard the Polar Bear (1996-1998)
Previous parks	Duffy Fairgrounds

The Watertown Pirates were a Short-Season Class-A minor league baseball team located in Watertown, New York. The team played in the New York–Penn League from 1983 to 1998. They played their home games at the Duffy Fairgrounds Ball Park.

From 1983 until 1988 the club was affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Some notable Pirates, players from this era are Tim Wakefield, Jay Buhner, and Moisés Alou. In 1989 the team became in an affiliate of the Cleveland Indians and were renamed the Watertown Indians. The team relocated to Staten Island, New York for the 1999 season and became the Staten Island Yankees.

Notable alumni

• Moises Alou (1986-1987) 6 x MLB All-Star
• Jay Buhner (1983) MLB All-Star
• Sean Casey (1995) 3 x MLB All-Star
• Felix Fermin (1983)
• Brian Giles (1990) 2 x MLB All-Star
• Steve Kline (1993)
• Orlando Merced (1986-1987)
• Dave Mlicki (1990)
• Steve Soliz (1993)
• Kelly Stinnett (1990)
• Tim Wakefield (1988) MLB All-Star; 200 MLB Wins
• John Wehner (1988)

External links

• Photographs of Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds, former home of the Watertown Indians – Rochester Area Ballparks
• Listing of minor league baseball teams in Watertown, New York, with rosters and statistics
• Last owner biographies
• NY-Penn League Team History (1998–2005)
• Move to Staten Island
• More on the move to Staten Island
• More on Sandlot Sports