1961 Batavia Pirates Roster
Team Record: 65-59
Finished 3rd in the NYPL
Manager: James Adlam (0-0), Gene Baker (0-0)
Affiliation: Pittsburgh Pirates
Location: Batavia, New York
Ballpark: Dwyer Stadium
Attendance: 32,211, Avg. 520
Playoffs - Batavia Pirates 2 games, Erie Sailors 1
Finals - Olean Red Sox 2 games, Batavia Pirates 0
The Batavia Pirates of the New York-Pennsylvania League ended the 1961 season with a record of 65 wins and 59 losses, finishing third in the NYPL.
The Pirates plated 757 runs and surrendered 764 runs. Roberto Sanchez walloped 36 home runs for Batavia, while Art Blunt and Gilbert Watts added 15 or more also. Roberto Sanchez accounted for 117 RBI. Gilbert Watts led batters with significant playing time by hitting .316. Steve Blass topped the squad with 13 wins, and Gary Aldrich recorded a 2.58 ERA, leading hurlers with significant time on the mound.
Players from the 1961 Batavia Pirates who spent time in the Majors during their careers included Don Bosch, Dave Wissman, Gene Baker, Steve Blass and Buddy Booker.
James Adlam and Gene Baker served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Aldrich | L | L | January 2, 1938 | 6'4" | 198 | Sacramento, CA US |
| Gene Baker | R | R | June 15, 1925 | 6'1" | 170 | Davenport, IA US |
| Steve Blass | R | R | April 18, 1942 | 6'0" | 165 | Canaan, CT US |
| Art Blunt | L | R | 6'0" | 185 | ||
| Buddy Booker | L | R | May 28, 1942 | 5'10" | 170 | Lynchburg, VA US |
| Don Bosch | S | R | July 15, 1942 | 5'10" | 160 | San Francisco, CA US |
| Donald Comeaux | L | L | 6'1" | 175 | ||
| Mortimer Davis | R | R | 5'11" | 180 | ||
| Donald DiChiara | L | L | September 9, 1938 | 6'0" | 190 | |
| Larry Gable | R | R | May 28, 1941 | 5'11" | 185 | |
| Troy Giles | R | R | January 13, 1941 | 6'2" | 190 | Clinton, TN US |
| George Grant | R | R | March 13, 1939 | 6'0" | 165 | |
| Bob Hamilton | R | R | August 1, 1941 | 6'4" | 160 | Flint, MI US |
| James Johns | R | R | 6'1" | 180 | ||
| Harry Land | R | R | August 11, 1943 | 5'11" | 170 | |
| Charles Ling | R | R | October 17, 1941 | 6'3" | 190 | Marlin, TX US |
| Russell Mueller | L | R | 6'0" | 175 | ||
| Paul Murphy | R | R | 6'1" | 180 | ||
| Dick Newberg | R | R | June 28, 1937 | 6'3" | 207 | New Haven, CT US |
| Lyle Owens | R | R | 6'0" | 10 | ||
| Don Rahr | R | R | 6'0" | 185 | ||
| Anthony Rao | R | R | 6'2" | 200 | ||
| Joe Reddick | R | R | January 10, 1943 | 5'10" | 180 | |
| Roy Renfro | R | R | November 13, 1940 | 6'0" | 175 | |
| Ramon Saba | R | R | 6'3" | 185 | ||
| Roberto Sanchez | R | R | January 31, 1934 | 5'6" | 160 | Camaguey, Camaguey CU |
| Larry Schultz | R | L | 6'0" | 165 | ||
| John Sheerin | R | R | 6'3" | 195 | ||
| Robert Sinkewicz | R | R | August 27, 1941 | 6'2" | 170 | New Britain, CT US |
| Robert Slezak | R | R | 6'1" | 190 | ||
| Ronald Spring | R | L | January 27, 1940 | 6'1" | 170 | Rochester, NY US |
| Hector Urbano | R | R | September 28, 1941 | 5'11" | 175 | , Bolivar VE |
| Reinaldo Vasquez | R | R | 6'1" | 175 | ||
| Michael Vetovich | S | R | 6'4" | 190 | ||
| Gilbert Watts | R | R | 5'11" | 174 | ||
| Dave Wissman | L | R | February 17, 1941 | 6'2" | 178 | Greenfield, MA US |
| Lawrence Zuidmuider | R | L | 6'3" | 175 |
Average attendance is based upon the number of actual home dates where known (most leagues from 1992 and later). Where the number of home dates is not known, the average is calculated using half the team's total games.
