The Cardinals organization joined the NY-Penn League in 1981, historically using the club as the initial stopping-off point for their recent college draftees. They first located their club in Erie, Pennsylvania, where they remained for seven years, not once making the playoffs.

Though the original focus of this series was the last quarter century, I am including the records from the first three Erie seasons for completeness. The farther one goes back in time, the closer one gets to an aggregate .500 mark. The overall win rate of the Cardinals in the league over their entire history is .492.

Cardinals SS-A	Year	Pct	W	L	Division	Playoffs	Manager
Team record	81-08	0.492	1037	1072		3
25 year record	84-08	0.488	921	966		3
Ten year record	99-08	0.479	360	391		1
Batavia	2008	0.622	46	28	1	WC	Mark DeJohn
Batavia	2007	0.419	31	43	5		Mark DeJohn
State College	2006	0.520	39	36	3		Mark DeJohn
New Jersey	2005	0.487	37	39	4		Mark DeJohn
New Jersey	2004	0.547	41	34	2		Tommy Shields
New Jersey	2003	0.425	31	42	5		Tommy Shields
New Jersey	2002	0.513	39	37	3		Tommy Shields
New Jersey	2001	0.461	35	41	5		Brian Rupp
New Jersey	2000	0.408	31	45	6		Jeff Shireman
New Jersey	1999	0.395	30	46	8		Jeff Shireman
New Jersey	1998	0.453	34	41	4		Jose Oquendo
New Jersey	1997	0.473	35	39	3		Jeff Shireman
New Jersey	1996	0.373	28	47	5		Scott Melvin
New Jersey	1995	0.461	35	41	3		Luis Melendez
New Jersey	1994	0.573	43	32	1	WC	Roy Silver
Glens Falls	1993	0.481	37	40	3		Steve Turco
Hamilton	1992	0.737	56	20	1	L1	Chris Maloney
Hamilton	1991	0.455	35	42	5		Rick Colbert
Hamilton	1990	0.395	30	46	5		Luis Melendez
Hamilton	1989	0.421	32	44	5		Joe Pettini
Hamilton	1988	0.480	36	39	3		Dan Radison
Erie	1987	0.480	36	39	5		Joe Rigoli
Erie	1986	0.481	37	40	2		Joe Rigoli
Erie	1985	0.564	44	34	2		Fred Koenig
Erie	1984	0.581	43	31	2		Rich Hacker
Erie	1983	0.493	37	38	3		Joe Rigoli
Erie	1982	0.479	35	38	4		Joe Rigoli
Erie	1981	0.595	44	30	2		Roger Freed/Sonny Ruberto

WC = won championship

L1 = lost in first playoff round

For the 1988 season, the Cardinals took their NY-P entry to the Great White North, Hamilton. Ontario. While they would remain there only five seasons, the fifth and final in 1992 was most memorable. Chris Maloney’s club put together the best record in the entire Cardinals system in at least the last 25 years.

That club won 56 and lost just 20 (.737), but fell in a one-game first-round playoff. 65,584 fans came out in 1992 to see the Redbirds. The team and league’s co-lead in wins were shared by then-future MLB pitcher T.J. Mathews and long-since forgotten Dave Oehrlein. Oehrlein also paced the league with 99 strikeouts.

Following is the subset of Cardinals system records over the last decade and quarter century held by this franchise. While the NY-P entry has experienced two excellent individual seasons, the overall picture is less positive. Their 17 losing seasons in the last 25 is the poorest across the system and their total of three playoff appearances is tied for the fewest. The complete list for all clubs is in the initial article of the series.

Cardinals system records

Last ten years (1999-2008)	Level	Mark	Record	Years	Club
Best single season	club	0.622	46-28	2008	Batavia Muckdogs (SS-A)
Most league championships	club	one			4-way tie: Mem/PB/QC/Batavia
Last 25 years (1984-2008)	Level	Mark	Record	Years	Club
Best single season	club	0.737	56-20	1992	Hamilton Redbirds (SS-A)
Most losing seasons	club	17			Bat/SC/NJ/GF/Ham/Erie (SS-A)
Fewest playoff appearances	club	three (tie)		92,94,08	Bat/SC/NJ/GF/Ham/Erie (SS-A)

Upon leaving Hamilton, Glens Falls, New York served as a one-year stopping point for the franchise in 1993, as the new ballpark in Sussex, New Jersey was not ready. The club drew a league-best 78,725, but finished third in their division.

The new New Jersey Cardinals got out of the gate quickly, taking the organization’s first New York-Penn League title in 1994. They would not even reach the playoffs again until winning the crown in 2008, however.

Among the many skippers to have led the club over the years was Jose Oquendo in 1998. It remains “Secret Weapon’s” only regular-season managing experience in professional baseball. More recently, he has managed in winter ball and for Team Puerto Rico.

In fact, look again at the early managers of the franchise. Including Oquendo, six of the former New York-Penn skippers are employed by the Cardinals today. They include Steve Turco, Joe Rigoli, Maloney, Dan Radison and Joe Pettini. I find that quite amazing.

In recent years, the facilities in New Jersey had begun to fall behind standards and ownership sold the franchise to a Pennsylvania group prior to the 2006 season. The buyers also owned the Altoona Curve, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Double-A club. The New Jersey Cardinals became the State College Spikes for 2006. The ballpark, located on the Penn State University campus, was brand new.

The handwriting was on the wall from the very start and the new owners formally strengthened their ties with Pittsburgh as soon as the Cardinals Player Development Contract (PDC) expired. In came the Bucs and out went the Cards following that one season in State College.

The Cardinals wanted to remain in the league for 2007 and beyond. After considering several destinations, they took over for the departing Philadelphia Phillies in Batavia, New York. While this is their first affiliation with the Cardinals, Batavians are most familiar with the New York-Penn League as the town is the only original member of the circuit, founded in 1939.

The 2008 Muckdogs capped a 46-20 season by taking the league championship, the first to be celebrated locally since 1963. It was the best record in the Cardinals system at any level in the last 15 years.

In recent years, local ownership has been on tenuous financial footing, but established a promising management agreement with the Triple-A Rochester Red Wings that is heading into its second year. In terms of supplying players, the Cardinals are committed to Batavia through the 2010 season, having extended their Player Development Contract last fall.

The club’s manager all the way back to their final season in New Jersey in 2005 is veteran minor league skipper and former Cardinals major league coach Mark DeJohn. “DJ” will return for his fifth consecutive season in 2009, extending his own franchise record.