{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} <!-- Infobox begins --> {{Infobox Minor League Baseball | name = Pittsfield Cubs | firstseason = 1985 | lastseason = 1988 | allyears = | city = Pittsfield, Massachusetts | logo = | caplogo = | past class level = '''Class AA''' | league = '''Eastern League''' | conference = | division = | past league = | pastmajorleague = '''Chicago Cubs''' (1985-1988) | pastnames = Pittsfield Cubs (1985-1988) | pastparks = '''Wahconah Park''' (1985-1988) | classchamps = | leaguechamps = | conferencechamps = | divisionchamps = }}<!-- Infobox ends --> The '''Pittsfield Cubs''', located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, were a minor league baseball team that played in the Eastern League from 1985 to 1988. They played their home games at Wahconah Park and were affiliated with the Chicago Cubs.

==History==

The Cubs were founded in 1985 after an investment group acquired the Double-A franchise rights for $350,000 from the Buffalo Bisons.<ref name="Internet Archive 1988">{{cite web | title=Time 1988 all numbers : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive | website=Internet Archive | date=December 12, 1988 | url=https://archive.org/details/time-1988-12-12 | access-date=June 8, 2022}}</ref>

On the field, the Cubs were successful, making the playoffs in three of four years. In 1987, the team finished first during the regular season, although they failed to win the championship. In addition to Eastern League all-star selections, the team had two Eastern League Most Valuable Players, Rafael Palmeiro in 1986 and Mark Grace in 1987. The team also had two no-hitters during their existence. On August 1, 1985, Johnny Abrego threw a no-hitter against the Nashua Pirates winning by a 1-0 score. On July 18, 1988, Kris Roth pitched a no-hitter against the Harrisburg Senators, winning by a 3-0 score.

Off the field, the Cubs were plagued by attendance problems. They finished last or next to last in Eastern league attendance during each of their four years of existence.

==Season-by-season record== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Season !! Class !! League !! Affiliation !! Manager !! Record !! Finish !! Attendance !! Postseason |- | 1985 || AA || Eastern || Chicago Cubs || Tom Spenser || 59-79 || 7th || 60,585 || - |- | 1986 || AA || Eastern || Chicago Cubs || Tom Spenser || 76-64 || 3rd || 47,709 || Lost to Vermont in first round 3-2 |- | 1987 || AA || Eastern || Chicago Cubs || Jim Essian || 87-51 || 1st || 51,551 || Lost to Vermont in first round 3-1 |- | 1988 || AA || Eastern || Chicago Cubs || Jim Essian || 75-63 || 3rd || 53,121 || Lost to Vermont in first round 3-1 |}

==Legacy== The Pittsfield Cubs moved to Williamsport, Pennsylvania after the 1988 season, becoming the Williamsport Bills and affiliating with the Seattle Mariners. The community of Pittsfield gained the Pittsfield Mets for the 1989 season. The Chicago Cubs transferred their AA level affiliation to the Charlotte Knights.<ref>{{cite web|title=30 Teams in 30 Days 1989|url=http://sunsfanclub.blogspot.com/2010/09/30-teams-in-30-days-1989.html}}</ref>

==Future Major League Pittsfield Cubs== {{div col|colwidth=22em}} *Johnny Abrego (1985) *Mike Brumley (1985) *Mike Capel (1985-1986) *Steve Engel (1985) *Darrin Jackson (1985-1986) *Jamie Moyer (1985) *Gary Varsho (1985-1986) *Rich Amaral (1986-1988) *Damon Berryhill (1986) *Drew Hall (1986) *Les Lancaster (1986) *Greg Maddux (1986) *Mike Martin (1986) *Paul Noce (1986) *Rafael Palmeiro (1986) *Rolando Roomes (1986-1987) *Phil Stephenson (1986) *Doug Dascenzo (1987) *Mark Grace (1987) *Dave Pavlas (1987) *Jeff Pico (1987) *Laddie Renfroe (1987-1988) *Rich Scheid (1987-1988) *Dwight Smith (1987) *Héctor Villanueva (1987-1988) *Rick Wrona (1987-1988) *Jim Bullinger (1988) *Joe Girardi (1988) *Mike Harkey (1988) *Joe Kraemer (1988) *Ced Landrum (1988) *Kelly Mann (1988) *Jeff Schwarz (1988) *Jerome Walton (1988) *Dean Wilkins (1988) {{div col end}}

==Pittsfield Cubs with previous Major League experience== *Jeff Cornell (1985) *Steve Hammond (1985) *Jeff Jones (1985) *Dickie Noles (1987) *Al Chambers (1988)

==Eastern League All-Stars== *'''First Base:''' Phil Stephenson (1986), Mark Grace (1987) *'''Shortstop:''' Mike Brumley (1985), Paul Noce (1986) *'''Outfield:''' Rafael Palmeiro (1986), Dwight Smith (1987), Jerome Walton (1988) *'''Pitcher:''' Dean Wilkins (1988)

==Eastern League Season Leaders==

===Pitching=== *'''Winning Percentage:''' .813 (13-3), David Masters (1987) <br> .818 (9-2) Michael Harkey (1988)

===Hitting=== *'''Batting Average:''' .331, Jerome Walton (1988) *'''Runs:''' 87, Paul Noce (1986) <br> 111, Dwight Smith (1987) <br> 82, Ced Landrum (1988) *'''Hits:''' 156, Rafael Palmeiro (1986) *'''Runs Batted In:''' 95, Rafael Palmeiro (1986) <br> 101, Mark Grace (1987)

==References== '''Notes''' {{Reflist}} '''Sources''' {{refbegin}} *''Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball: The Official Record of Minor League Baseball'' – Lloyd Johnson, Miles Wolff. Publisher: Baseball America, 2007. Format: Hardback, 767 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-932391-17-6}} {{refend}}

Category:1985 establishments in Massachusetts Category:1988 disestablishments in Massachusetts Category:Baseball teams established in 1985 Category:Baseball teams disestablished in 1988 Category:Chicago Cubs minor league affiliates Category:Defunct Eastern League (1938–present) teams Category:Defunct baseball teams in Massachusetts Category:Baseball teams in Pittsfield, Massachusetts Category:Professional baseball teams in Massachusetts

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