1961 Syracuse Chiefs Roster
Team Record: 56-98
Finished 8th in the IL
Manager: Gene Verble (0-0), Frank Verdi (0-0)
Affiliation: Minnesota Twins
Location: Syracuse, New York
Ballpark: MacArthur Stadium
Attendance: 126,016, Avg. 1,637
The Syracuse Chiefs of the International League ended the 1961 season with a record of 56 wins and 98 losses, finishing eighth in the IL.
The Chiefs plated 546 runs, worst in the league, and surrendered 714 runs, most in the circuit. Joe Altobelli and Woody Smith paced Syracuse with 10 home runs apiece. Woody Smith drove in 48 runs. Angel Scull led all regular hitters by hitting .283. Joe Bonikowski topped the team with 8 wins and a team-best 3.2 earned run average, tops among hurlers with significant time on the mound.
Players from the 1961 Syracuse Chiefs who spent time in the Majors during their careers included Jake Jacobs, Dan Dobbek, Bob Trowbridge, Ernie Oravetz, Joe Bonikowski, Rip Repulski, Lee Stange, Ron Stillwell, Jackie Collum, Bob Darnell, Dutch Dotterer, Bob Lennon, Willy Miranda, Ted Lepcio, Gerry Arrigo, Bill Pleis, Al Schroll, Sandy Valdespino, Rich Rollins, Mike Cuellar, Ted Sadowski, Tom McAvoy, Joe Altobelli, Gair Allie, Bob Wiesler, Larry Raines, Hal Griggs, Chet Boak, Bert Cueto, Ralph Lumenti, Frank Leja, Frank Verdi, Fred Bruckbauer, Jimmie Hall, Bob Porterfield and George O'Donnell.
Gene Verble and Frank Verdi served as manager.Click on column headings to sort.
| Player | Bats | Throws | Birth Date | Height | Weight | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gair Allie | R | R | October 28, 1931 | 6'1" | 190 | Statesville, NC US |
| Joe Altobelli | L | L | May 26, 1932 | 6'0" | 185 | Detroit, MI US |
| Al Antinelli | R | R | November 28, 1933 | 6'3" | 225 | |
| Gerry Arrigo | L | L | June 12, 1941 | 6'1" | 185 | Chicago, IL US |
| Tony Asaro | R | R | January 16, 1936 | 5'8" | 170 | San Diego, CA US |
| Chet Boak | R | R | June 19, 1935 | 6'0" | 180 | New Castle, PA US |
| Joe Bonikowski | R | R | January 16, 1941 | 6'0" | 175 | Philadelphia, PA US |
| Fred Bruckbauer | R | R | May 27, 1938 | 6'1" | 185 | New Ulm, MN US |
| Jackie Collum | L | L | June 21, 1927 | 5'7" | 160 | Victor, IA US |
| Mike Cuellar | L | L | May 8, 1937 | 6'0" | 165 | Las Villas, CU |
| Bert Cueto | R | R | August 14, 1937 | 6'4" | 170 | San Luis, Pinar del Rio CU |
| Bob Darnell | R | R | November 6, 1930 | 5'10" | 175 | Wewoka, OK US |
| Dan Dobbek | L | R | December 6, 1934 | 6'0" | 195 | Ontonagon, MI US |
| Dutch Dotterer | R | R | November 11, 1931 | 6'0" | 209 | Syracuse, NY US |
| Dan Gatta | R | R | April 19, 1935 | 5'10" | 185 | Niles, OH US |
| Hal Griggs | R | R | August 24, 1928 | 6'0" | 170 | Shannon, GA US |
| Jimmie Hall | L | R | March 17, 1938 | 6'0" | 175 | Mount Holly, NC US |
| Jake Jacobs | R | R | June 9, 1937 | 6'0" | 175 | Youngstown, OH US |
| Frank Leja | L | L | February 7, 1936 | 6'4" | 205 | Holyoke, MA US |
| Bob Lennon | L | L | September 15, 1928 | 6'0" | 200 | Brooklyn, NY US |
| Ted Lepcio | R | R | July 28, 1929 | 5'10" | 177 | Utica, NY US |
| Ralph Lumenti | L | L | December 21, 1936 | 6'3" | 185 | Milford, MA US |
| Samuel Mauney | R | R | December 16, 1932 | 6'1" | 195 | Belmont, NC US |
| Tom McAvoy | L | L | August 12, 1936 | 6'3" | 200 | Brooklyn, NY US |
| Willy Miranda | S | R | May 24, 1926 | 5'9" | 150 | Velasco, CU |
| George O'Donnell | R | R | May 27, 1929 | 6'3" | 175 | Winchester, IL US |
| Angel Oliva | R | R | February 6, 1937 | 6'0" | 185 | San Jose de las Lajas, Mayabeque CU |
| Ernie Oravetz | S | L | January 24, 1932 | 5'4" | 145 | Johnstown, PA US |
| Bill Pleis | L | L | August 5, 1937 | 5'10" | 170 | St. Louis, MO US |
| Bob Porterfield | R | R | August 10, 1923 | 6'0" | 190 | Newport, VA US |
| Larry Raines | R | R | March 9, 1930 | 5'10" | 165 | St. Albans, WV US |
| Jim Raugh | R | R | September 22, 1934 | 6'1" | 185 | Cleveland, OH US |
| Rip Repulski | R | R | October 4, 1928 | 6'0" | 195 | Sauk Rapids, MN US |
| Rich Rollins | R | R | April 16, 1938 | 5'10" | 185 | Mount Pleasant, PA US |
| Ted Sadowski | R | R | April 1, 1936 | 6'1" | 190 | Pittsburgh, PA US |
| Al Schroll | R | R | March 22, 1932 | 6'2" | 210 | New Orleans, LA US |
| Angel Scull | R | R | October 2, 1928 | 5'8" | 165 | Central Mercedes, CU |
| Woody Smith | R | R | February 25, 1927 | 6'0" | 180 | University City, MO US |
| Lee Stange | R | R | October 27, 1936 | 5'10" | 170 | Chicago, IL US |
| Ron Stillwell | R | R | December 3, 1939 | 5'11" | 165 | Los Angeles, CA US |
| Edward Stogoski | L | R | December 29, 1936 | 5'11" | 190 | |
| Bob Trowbridge | R | R | June 27, 1930 | 6'1" | 180 | Hudson, NY US |
| Sandy Valdespino | L | L | January 24, 1939 | 5'8" | 170 | San Jose de las Lajas, Mayabeque CU |
| Frank Verdi | R | R | June 2, 1926 | 5'10" | 170 | Brooklyn, NY US |
| Bob Wiesler | S | L | August 13, 1930 | 6'3" | 188 | St. Louis, MO US |
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.
