New York Dragons

New York Dragons Founded in 1989 New York, NY
Team logo
Affiliations
League	Bull League
Subleague	Lake League
Division	East (From 2012)
Team Info
Name	New York Dragons (2017 (spring training) -present)
Previous names	New York Minutemen (1995-2017) North York Might (1993) North York Yankees (1992) New York State Fastballs (1991) New York Fastballs (1989)
Previous locations	Buffalo, NY (1995-2016) North York, ON (1992-1993) Buffalo, NY (1991) New York, NY (1989-1990)
Colors	Green, black, brown, white
Owner	Doug Persson, Jr.
General manager	Alex Sanderson (Since January 2017)
Ballpark
Ballpark	The Redoubt
Titles
Bull Cup titles	(5) 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008
League pennants	(5) 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008
Division pennants	(8) LL West - 1996—1999, 2001, 2003, 2009, 2011

The New York Dragons are an American Bull League baseball team based in New York, New York. The team is in the Lake League (LL) East division.

The team was founded in 1989 as the New York Fastballs and have gone through some name changes over the years. New York State Fastballs in 1991, North York Yankees in 1992, North York Might in 1993, and most recently the New York Minutemen. Current GM Alex Sanderson was able to convince the league and its owner Doug Persson Jr. that it was time to make a change to make the team his own, hence the Dragons name and logo came to be.

They are the team in the Bull League with the most championships, having won the Bull Cup Championship Series a total of five times (1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2008), and remain undefeated when reaching that championship series.

History

The New York Dragons are another Founding Team, first formed in 1989 as the New York Fastballs, and were based at that time in New York City, New York. The following year, the team moved to Buffalo, New York, to become the New York State Fastballs. Of all the teams founded in 1989, they have undergone the most name-changes and relocations throughout their long history.

In 1992, they moved to North York, Ontario, and became the North York Yankees. In 1993, the commissioner disallowed the team name "Yankees" and the team was simply referred to by it's city, North York. During the 1993 season, the team owner chose a new name, the North York Might, which was approved by the commissioner.

Former New York Minutemen logo (1995-2016)

The 1994 season was abandoned due to a work stoppage, and when the league reformed in 1995, the team no longer had an owner. The league renamed the team to the Minutemen, evoking the by-gone revolutionary militiamen that were called to action during the War of Independence. The team was moved back to Buffalo, NY, where it remained until after the 2016 season.

Then, during Spring Training of the 2017 season, with no prior rumor or announcement, the Minutemen came out dawning new jerseys and a complete rebrand to the new Dragons nickname currently used.

Since 1995, they have had 12 playoff appearances, and have won the Lake League Championship Series a total of five times, tying the all-time record. Those wins earned the team five entries into the Bull Cup Championship Series and won each won, making them the only team that is undefeated in the Bull Cup finals, and also the record holding team for the most Bull Cup championships won.

Retired Numbers

The New York Dragons have retired two uniform numbers, though both players numbers were retired while the team was called Minutemen.

New York Dragons Retired Uniform Numbers

Jim Sure Second base Retired 2005

Jack Stevens Pitcher Retired 2007

Awards and other achievements

Player awards

Most Valuable Player Award

• 1996 — Jim Sure
• 1998 — Jack Stevens
• 2010 — Tony Cruz

Sandy Koufax Award

• 1996 — Jack Stevens
• 1997 — Jack Stevens
• 1998 — Jack Stevens

Rookie of the Year Award

• 1996 — Juan Gonzales
• 2001 — Arjen van Leeuwen
• 2002 — Mike Taylor
• 2013 — Victor Jimenez

Woodchuck Trophy

• 2001 — Mike Black

Team Records

For career hitting percentage records, 1,460 plate appearances are required. For career pitching percentage records, 471 innings pitched are required.

Statistic	Single season record			Career record
	Player	Record	Year	Player	Record
Batting average	Chris Felix	.373	2000	Mark Fernandes	.315
On base percentage	Chris Felix	.511	2000	Mark Fernandes	.418
Slugging percentage	Jim Sure	.720	1996	Mark Fernandes	.644
At bats	Tony Cruz	348	2015	Setsuo Kimura	4,527
Runs	Chris Felix	81	2000	Setsuo Kimura	769
Hits	Setsuo Kimura	110	2008	Setsuo Kimura	1,364
Doubles	Corrosive Joseph	26	2013	Setsuo Kimura	248
Triples	Mark Fernandes Nick Runner	7	1996 1998	Tony Cruz	24
Home runs	Jim Sure	30	1996	Setsuo Kimura	250
Runs batted in	Mark Fernandes	88	1997	Setsuo Kimura	831
Stolen bases	Chris Felix	38	2000	Tony Cruz	93
Earned runs average	Ezra Doolittle Jack Stevens	2.04	2011 1998	Ezra Doolittle	2.83
Wins	Jack Stevens	13	1998	Jack Stevens	83
Losses	Eduardo Rodriguez	10	2010	Carlos Beltran	66
Saves	Mike Black	25	2001	Steve Tyler	88
Games pitched	Eye Suck	51	2003	Carlos Beltran	190
Games started	Jack Stevens	21	1995	Carlos Beltran	184
Complete games	Eduardo Rodriguez Eduardo Rodriguez	6	2010 2012	Carlos Beltran	17
Shutouts	Zachary Spurr	2	2002	Carlos Beltran Ezra Doolittle	3
Innings pitched	F.Y. Jackass	156.0	1995	Carlos Beltran	1,184.2
Strikeouts	Jack Stevens	193	1998	Jack Stevens	1,479

Hall of Fame Players

New York is the team with the most Hall of Fame members inducted, with a total of four. All of them were inducted as New York Minutemen.

New York Dragons Hall of Famers
Player	Position	Inducted
Mark Fernandes	Center fielder	2009
Flamer Flaherty	Pitcher	2010
Jack Stevens	Pitcher	2013
Jim Sure	Second baseman	2012

Championships

The New York Dragons are the winningest team in Bull League history, having won five Bull Cups, having never been defeated in any of their Bull Cup finals appearances. They are the only team in the Bull League to have won three Bull Cups in consecutive years (1997—1999). Each of the championship titles were won while the team was called Minutemen.

Bull Cup Champions
Preceded by: Richmond Ravens	1997—1999	Succeeded by: Kingston Battlements
Preceded by: Hamilton Industrials	2003	Succeeded by: Chicoutimi Cinquantes
Preceded by: Montreal Metros	2008	Succeeded by: Ohio Oxen
Lake League Champions
Preceded by: Kingston Battlements	1997—1999	Succeeded by: Kingston Battlements
Preceded by: Hamilton Industrials	2003	Succeeded by: Chicoutimi Cinquantes
Preceded by: Montreal Metros	2008	Succeeded by: Ohio Oxen
Lake League West Division Titles
Preceded by: Ohio Oxen	1996—1999	Succeeded by: Kingston Battlements
Preceded by: Hamilton Industrials	2001	Succeeded by: Hamilton Industrials
Preceded by: Hamilton Industrials	2003	Succeeded by: Ohio Oxen
Preceded by: Ohio Oxen	2009	Succeeded by: Ohio Oxen
Preceded by: Ohio Oxen	2011	Succeeded by: Ohio Oxen

Minor League Affiliations

Level	Team	League	Location
AAA	Anaheim Pharaohs	Cow League	Anaheim, California
AA	Sacramento Marauders	Heifer League	Sacramento, California
A	Duluth Trout	Calf League	Duluth, Minnesota
Short Season A	Long Beach Saxons	Milk League	Long Beach, California